Packers look to spread some Christmas cheer with a win vs Cleveland
The Packers play their third Christmas Day game in team history as they play host to the Cleveland Browns at 3:30 pm Central Time this Saturday.
The Packers come into the game 11-3 after their exciting 31-30 win on the road vs the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns are 7-7 and in last place in their division after losing 16-14 at home to the Las Vegas Raiders on a field goal as time expired. Had they won, they would have been in first place in the AFC North.
Baker Mayfield is expected to play. The Packer defense needs to make him feel anything but at home. Their strength is their running game. They have to contain Nick Chubb. Force Baker to throw the ball. Good things will happen if you pressure him all day and make him uncomfortable back there. Sacks and interceptions will follow.
Aaron Rodgers keeps rolling despite that broken toe. They might be without Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which is a big loss, but they have overcome that before this season. Look no further than the Arizona game. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are quite a duo. Marcedes Lewis is really starting to become a significant part of the offense in the passing game. The offensive line continues to hold its own, and they will have to do it again with Myles Garrett on the other side. That guy can take over a game. They need to keep him from disrupting the offense.
The Packers lead the all-time series 13-7. The last time they met, the Packers won it 27-21 in overtime on a pass to Davante Adams. Rodgers was out with a broken collarbone and Brett Hundley was starting. He threw three TD passes in the game, the winning score going to Adams for 25 yards to end the game. The Browns would go on to finish 0-16 that year.
The Packers defeated the Browns in the 1965 NFL Championship Game 23-12. That was Jim Brown’s final game. It was a game that probably should have never been played in Green Bay because of what happened the week before. Kicker Don Chandler appeared to miss a 22-yard field goal that ended up tying the game at 10-10 vs the Baltimore Colts. He would go on to kick the game-winning FG in overtime. I am a Packer fan until the end, but I believe they caught a major break as it looked like he missed that FG vs the Colts. Look it up on YouTube if you have the time. Type in “Don Chandler missed field goal” and see for yourself.
The Packers have already swept one division, the NFC West. They have a chance to sweep another. The Browns are also currently 3-0 vs the NFC North. Sound familiar? That was the record the Baltimore Ravens had before they faced the Packers. The Packers are also the only team left in the NFL with a perfect home record. Let’s keep it that way.
I mentioned this is their third Christmas Day game. All are at home. The first two were against the Chicago Bears. They lost 24-17 in 2005 but defeated them 35-21 in 2011.
The Packers have already won the NFC North. They now set their sights on getting that #1 seed and the only bye week in the NFC during the playoffs. That is huge for a team battling injuries. Let’s be like the Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge (before they both changed their ways of course) to the Cleveland Browns and be like Santa Claus to their teammates and their fans.
For the last nine games, the Browns have alternated wins and losses. Let’s hope that comes to an end since they lost their last game. For whatever reason, they haven’t built on last year when they made the playoffs and stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in the first round. The Packers need to focus on themselves and getting that top seed. Let’s cheer our team to victory wherever you are. Enjoy this wonderful time of year!
Get Loud Lambeau!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GetLoudLambeau #GregGoshaw @gg901
