The Packers at one point this season were 3-6, on a 4-game losing streak, and all hope seemed lost. Green Bay had lost key defensive players like Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes, and a Joe Barry lead defense was doing what his defenses do best: fall apart. The offense wasn’t moving the ball, and there was little production from 2nd round pick Christian Watson, and other rookie WR Romeo Doubs had just gotten injured. What was supposed to be a challenging, yet hopeful season had turned into a nightmare. Until it turned into something no one could have expected to come. The start of the turnaround was week 10, when the Packers beat the Cowboys in OT on a Mason Crosby FG after a clutch defensive stop on 4th and 4. This game marked the start of the Christian Watson era in Green Bay, as he caught 4 passes for 3 touchdowns and 107 yards. The Packers also ran the ball extremely well, with Aaron Jones having an amazing game against the Cowboys as he usually does with 24 rushes for 138 yards and a touchdown.
The Packers would then go on to lose to Derrick Henry and the Titans and then also lose a shootout with the eagles 33-40. This was where many Packers fans, including myself, started looking towards the offseason, some of us towards the draft to see who Green Bay may be getting with a potential top 10 pick. But then the Packers would do what very little believed that they’d be able to do: make a serious run for the playoffs. Entering week 13, the Packers faced Aaron Rodgers owned franchise the Chicago Bears. The game wasn’t the prettiest through the first 3 quarters and entering the 4th, the bears lead 19-10. The Packers then proceeded to score 6 points of 2 Mason Crosby field goals, a rushing touchdown from AJ Dillon, and a 46-yard rushing touchdown from none other than Christian Watson, who also had a receiving touchdown already on the day.
The Packers were then 5-8, and then 6-8 as they easily beat the Rams 12-24, with this game never having been a threat for Green Bay to lose at any point.
They then headed to Miami to play a highlight anticipated game against the Miami Dolphins, a team also fighting to make the playoffs. After allowing a huge catch and run TD to Waddle and having the score be 13-20 at half, it seemed like the game was heading to a shootout and with Watson not returning for the 2nd half, it seemed as if the Packers luck had run out. That was until the defense stepped up, holding Tua to 81 passing yards in the 2nd half and Jaire Alexander, De’Vondre Campbell, and Rasual Douglass all getting interceptions, with Rasual’s being the game winner.
At this point, the Packers were on a 3-game win streak and entering a division matchup against the 12-3 Vikings. This game was critical for both teams, as the Packers would control their own destiny at this point and were required to win out to make the postseason and the Vikings would knock out a division rival from the playoff race with a win, and most likely move into the number 1 seed. Before the game, Jaire Alexander made it clear Jefferson week 1 game against the Packers wasn’t going to happen again, and he made sure of it. Alexander, when matched up on Jefferson, allowed 0 catches for 0 yards with one target, and at many times was seen in press coverage jamming Jefferson at the line and throwing him off. Nixon continued off what has been a stellar season for him in Green Bay as he had a 105-yard kick return touchdown, Darnell Savage had a pick 6 in the first quarter, Rudy Ford had a late game pick off Kirk Cousins, and the Packers got a FG to end the second quarter 30 seconds after a missed kick from Greg Joseph. The Packers straight up dominated the Vikings all game, the Vikings 2 garbage time touchdowns made the score look not as bad for them, but this was a pure domination.
Now, the Packers stay in Lambeau for the last game of the regular season, a win and in game vs the Detroit Lions. With a playoff spot on the line, you can bet your butt the Packers are going to go out and play as hard as they can. A team no one thought would be where it is 7 weeks ago, they have done things that have truly shown how great a team can be when they have Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback.
