Packers are the #2 seed after their win at Detroit
The Green Bay Packers will have a first-round bye in the playoffs as the #2 seed after their 23-20 road win over the Detroit Lions.
The Packers got off to a rough start and trailed 17-3 at halftime. They outscored Detroit 20-3 in the second half, including the game-winner.
My thoughts about the game and the playoffs:
The offense struggled right from the start as Jimmy Graham was wide-open and dropped a pass that would have given them a nice chunk of yards. They trailed 14-0, the first Detroit score coming on a trick play where WR Danny Amendola hit a wide-open David Blough for a walk-in touchdown. Mason Crosby hit a field-goal with 20 seconds left in the half, but the Packers gave up a 40-yard run to Ty Johnson. Kicker Matt Prater nailed a 42-yard field goal three plays later. For a team that was trying to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs, coming out flat and sloppy like that on offense and defense is inexcusable.
They played better in the second half. The offense still struggled somewhat but Aaron Rodgers started to move the ball downfield. They scored 10 straight points before Prater nailed another field goal, a 56-yarder. That guy just doesn’t miss. The Packers scored the final 10 points of the game, including the game-winning field goal by Crosby on the final play of the game.
I don’t know what it is with these slow starts and terrible first halves lately. It looked like the Packers were the ones with only three wins on the season the way they played. The offense played a little bit better in the second half and the defense played a lot better. Of course, the Lions were missing WR Kenny Golladay, who exited the game with an apparent concussion. Their offense is nowhere near the same without Golladay in there.
A key defensive sequence came in the fourth quarter with the Packers trailing 20-13. The Lions were right on the outside of field-goal range and were looking to put more points on the board. Blake Martinez sacked Blough and on the next play, Blough’s deep pass was intercepted by Martinez, who had a nice runback and the Packers got 15 more yards on a personal foul by Detroit.
Following the interception, the Packers drove down the field and Allen Lazard had a nice catch for a touchdown to tie the score. The Packers got the ball back with 1:20 remaining in the game. They drove to their own 49, where Rodgers hit Aaron Jones with a short pass and Jones took off for a long gain to the Detroit 20-yard line. After a few runs and a kneeldown by Rodgers, Crosby came out and nailed the game-winning field goal, giving the Packers the win and a week off.
In an amazing stat, the Packers swept Detroit despite leading for a total of 0:00 in game time. Both field goals were on the final play of their respective games and the Packers did not lead at any point in either game prior to those winning field goals. I may be wrong but I think the last team to do it was the 1977 San Francisco 49ers in two games vs the New Orleans Saints.
So here is the NFC playoff picture:
- San Francisco 49ers
- Green Bay Packers
- New Orleans Saints
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings
Next Sunday, the Saints host the Vikings and the Eagles host the Seahawks. The Packers get the highest seed remaining from those two games. If the Saints win, they come to Green Bay. If the Vikings upset the Saints, the winner between the Eagles and Seahawks will come to Green Bay. The Packers are scheduled to play their first game on Sunday January 12th at 5:40 pm Central Time.
The Packers have a bye and will host every team except the 49ers. It will not be an easy road through the playoffs by any means, but the Packers are 13-3 and have earned their playoff position. From what we witnessed in their game at Detroit, they have a lot to work on before their next game. They have extra time to practice and correct their mistakes. They will definitely need it.
You can call the win ugly, sloppy, or whatever, but they did win and that is much better than the alternative. A loss would have meant the Packers would play in the wild-card round and host the Vikings. Let the Saints deal with them instead. Drew Brees and the Saints will be tough enough should the Packers have to face them, but at least the game would be in Lambeau Field and not in the Superdome.
The regular season is now over. The real season begins and the Packers will be a part of it. They will have to be a lot better than what they have shown lately, but they have defied the odds so far this year. I will not put any limitations on how far they can go. Enjoy wild-card weekend Packer fans. We have a much-needed and much-deserved week off.
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #NFCNorthChampions #GregGoshaw @gg901
