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| Adams TD, Photo by Leon Halip, AP |
The Packers' win against the Lions on Sunday (31-24) was a momentous one, because it clinched a playoff spot for the Packers, as well as the NFC North division title. It also moved the Packers into the number one seed in the NFC, because of the Saints having been upset by the Eagles. The Packers are now in the driver's seat, since they control their own destiny.
Maybe you don't remember those years where the Packers had to play their last game and then wait to see if the Vikings, or the Rams, or whoever, would lose to let the Packers sneak into the playoffs. I do remember them. So I savor the fact that the Packers have clinched the division with three weeks to go. It is worth noting that the toughest game left on the schedule for either the Packers or the Saints is this week's Kansas City at New Orleans game. Assuming that the Chiefs win (as they are favored to do), this would give the Packers a little cushion in case they stumble in one of their final three games.
Meanwhile, there were more milestones on Sunday. Davante Adams became the first player ever to have 90+ catches, over 1100 yards, and 14 TDs over the first 13 games of the season. Which sounds great enough just as it is. And then you stop to realize that he only played in 11 games. And for Rodgers, his milestone of the day is that he is the first player ever to have 39+ TDs, and fewer than 5 interceptions, after 13 weeks of a season. I know, these records being set are a little funky - 14 TDs? 39 TDs? 13 games? These are not nice round numbers. But still, it says something about the monster year these two stars are having.
The first half was not all that satisfying, being that the Packers went into halftime tied at 14. Time of possession was almost even, and the Lions had more passing yards than the Packers did in the half. But the third quarter was dominated by the Packers. They possessed the ball for over 13 and a half minutes, allowing only a 3 and out to the Lions. The Packers scored once in the third quarter, and again early in the fourth quarter, to make it 28-14. At that point, the game was under control.
Except it wasn't, really. Remember that fourth quarter slump problem we have discussed in prior blog posts? I had it in mind, and was concerned that the Lions would claw their way back into the game. Our Lions' fan friend, Al, threw out a prediction that the Lions could score a touchdown on the ensuing drive if there were 5 penalties on the Packers. Sure enough, that is exactly what happened, as the Lions drove 75 yards on 13 plays, with 5 penalties on the Packers. Well, the Packers did manage to keep it together enough to win the game, but not until they endured a scary onside kick, that had to be reviewed to confirm that the ball was out of bounds before it was recovered by the Lions. I tend to see this as another special teams issue. The onside kick almost played out like the one in a Dallas game earlier this year, where the receiving team (the Falcons) just watched the ball until it had gone 10 yards and was then recovered by the Cowboys. Apparently it may be illegal for the receiving team to intentionally bat or kick the ball out of bounds. But as the ball gets to 8 or 9 yards downfield, the receiving team can no longer afford to just watch it spin and hope for the best. They have to pick it up, or better yet, dive towards it and "inadvertently" push it out of bounds.
Fresh off the victory over the Lions, another ferocious feline team comes to Lambeau Field Saturday night. The 4-9 Panthers now come to Green Bay for a game that means a lot more to the 10-3 Packers, because of their quest to retain the only NFC bye in the playoffs. I was very concerned about this game a few weeks ago, because I assumed that Christian McCaffrey would be back and would run all over the Packers. But now it looks like McCaffrey won't play, and besides, as I have been saying for a couple of weeks, I think the Packers defense is looking better despite their custom of taking some time off in the middle of the fourth quarter. Mike Davis can still do some damage, but he is not the difference-maker that McCaffrey is. The Packers just need to take care of business, come out without any injuries, and with any luck they will find themselves a full game ahead of the Saints (plus the tiebreaker) after the Chiefs get done with the Saints.
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