Packers month in review: A bitter end
Sitting at 4-8 at the beginning of December, the Packers found themselves in a spot they were not normally accustomed to: being near the bottom of the NFC standings and virtually one loss away from being eliminated from playoff contention. Before the game in Chicago, the Packers had anywhere from a 1%-3% chance of making the playoffs, meaning it would take more than just winning out to be a wild card in mid-January.
As it would turn out, they would embark on their strongest month of the season. But would winning be enough to make it?
Week 13 @ Chicago Bears
Despite the fact that the Packers were towards the bottom of standings in the NFC, the Bears were (and would end up being) at the bottom. Although the game was not trending in the Packers’ favor early on, with the team being down 10-19 at one point, the Packers would end up pulling away in the 4th quarter, which saw AJ Dillion score a 21-yard TD, a field goal from Mason Crosby to take the lead, and a 46-yard rush by rookie sensation Christian Watson to ice the game.
Aaron Rodgers played his normal role of “owning the Bears,” stating after the game: “It has truly been a second home for me.” “It’s fun to come back here, get a win, and let the fans know I’m still here.”
He finished the day 18/31. 182 yards and one touchdown. Not a normal outing for him, but nevertheless a major contributor in the Packers victories against the Bears since 2008. Moreover, the Packers overtook the Bears for most wins in league history with the win, with 787 wins.
The Packers were now 5-8, and with their bye week on the horizon, they had a chance to finally regroup and get healthy for their next tilt on Monday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Los Angeles Rams…without most of their starters.
Week 15 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Fresh off the bye, the Packers found themselves in a better position to make the playoffs than just two weeks prior, now sitting at about 15%-30% chance of making the playoffs. A few games, including the Seahawks loss to San Francisco and the Commanders loss to the Giants the day before, played a role in this, but now it was up to Green Bay to take down the team that, while a far cry from their Super Bowl winning season, was riding a bit of momentum off a Week 14 victory in the Rams, now with Baker Mayfield (Go Sooners) at the helm.
The Packers would not give the Rams the satisfaction of repeating anything this season.
Instead, Green Bay would win the game relatively easily with a 24-12 victory. The defense came to play, forcing five sacks and an interception to knock the Rams out of postseason contention. The offense didn’t need to do much (as even Christian Watson’s touchdown streak came to an end) and the team now sat at 6-8, only a game and a half out of a wildcard spot. The same day, CB Jaire Alexander would be the only Packer selected to the Pro Bowl, a drop off from their seven and three from the previous two seasons.
The Packers then would hit the road for their second consecutive game on Christmas Day and the team they’d be facing was trending the opposite direction since the start of December: the Dolphins.
Week 16 @ Miami Dolphins
When looking back at this season on Christmas Day, the Dolphins were two teams that had high expectations coming into the year. Miami had bolstered seemingly every aspect of their team, and even made trades at the deadline in October, getting DE/OLB Bradley Chubb from Denver and RB Jeff Wilson from San Francisco. They started off 8-3 and looked prime to go head to head with the Bills for the AFC East, as well as being the second seed in the AFC at one point. However, as the month changed, they were in free fall and had lost three straight. The Packers looked like a good game for them to rebound and for a time, they were up 20-10.
This did not last.
The Packers were able to make a comeback in the second half, winning the contest 26-20. Since it was the season of giving, the Packers did spot the Dolphins three points early in the game after a botched fake punt, but were able to intercept Tua Tagovailoa thrice in the second half (partially because of yet another undiagnosed concussion) to set up a comeback victory and put the team at 7-8.
The win also came with more help the previous day as well. The Lions, Seahawks, and Commanders all lost their respective games, and the Packers were now a half game out from securing a playoff berth. Everything was looking up for Titletown again. A win the following week plus a Commanders loss would put the Packers in position to have a “win and in” situation in the final week. They were also closing the season with two home games. But their first task would be to take on the team that beat them 23-7 in Week 1: the Minnesota Vikings, fresh off back-to-back wins, including a 33-point comeback against the Colts. The Packers had their work cut out for them against a formidable opponent that could end their season with a loss.
Week 17 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Now remember just a moment ago when I said the Vikings would be a formidable opponent for the Packers?
I meant to say “Fraudulent.”
Even with the special teams spotting the Vikings three points following a blocked punt to put Minnesota in the redzone, the Packers were able to run away with the game by the half, going up 27-3. The scoring begin with a 105-yard kick return by Keisean Nixon, the Packers first kick return touchdown since Randall Cobb did it on opening day in 2011 (the last time the Packers were defending Super Bowl champions…sigh).
From there, it more looked like their Week 10, 2011 game, with the Packers holding a 41-3 lead with about nine minutes to play in the game. The Vikings would score two touchdowns late, but a final of 41-17 would see the Packers open the new year on the right foot. The game was also noticeable for Jaire Alexander holding Justin Jefferson to just one catch all game, after claiming all week that he would do so (something that usually backfires in the NFL)
Now sitting back at .500 for the first time since Week 7, and with a Browns win over the Commanders, the Packers were officially in a “win and in” situation. The talk of Jordan Love coming in to finish the season had waned, and now the Packers were poised to take the final wild card spot after being left for dead at the end of November. Like in seasons past, the final game of the regular season would feature the Packers on Sunday Night Football with playoff implications on the line. All they had to do was take down the Lions in Lambeau.
Intermission
There is an old saying about how football is the most unforgiving sport in the world. The players put their bodies on the line physically for the sport for (now) 17-20 games a season and it will take its toll long term. Prior to this game, the entire world learned first-hand how devastating it can be.
While the situation has taken a positive turn, what happened to Damar Hamlin on January 2nd was harrowing, to put it lightly. I hope that Damar, his family, and everyone else involved will be able to recover from this. If you would like to donate to his charity, you may do so here.
This situation was too important for me to ignore on here because it is something that is bigger than football, and it was endearing to see the teams, the fanbases, and people not in the football realm to come together and support during this extremely tough week.
Week 18 vs. Detroit Lions
There’s a funny thing about football. One day your team can look like they can beat anyone when they are on point and executing everything right, then the next they look like they should be near the bottom of the league, tanking for a top pick in the draft the next season. This Packers team looked like both during the season. They were one of the hottest teams in September, looked lost by the end of November, and once again looked like world beaters by the final week of the season.
On Sunday Night, in a game similar to that they’ve won several times over the last thirty years, they would find themselves on the opposite end for the first time in a very long time.
Despite holding a lead at the half, the Packers would fall 20-16 to the Lions. Detroit, who was knocked out with a Seattle win just about an hour before kick-off, had done something that not many teams had accomplished in the regular season since the 1990s: knock the Packers out of the playoffs in a “win and in” game. Detroit would outscore the Packers 13-7 in the second half, and would ice the game following Kirby Joseph’s third interception on Rodgers this season and the offense securing crucial first downs on their final drive. It was almost akin to the end of their 2007 season in some ways even, an almost poetic end to a season full of dysfunction on the field.
The Packers finished the season 8-9, one game out of the 7th seed in the NFC.
Final thoughts
I was hoping that I would not have to end the season review here back in September, and I was almost expecting it by November 30th. I almost called this piece Pack From the Dead if they had beaten Detroit (which I thought for sure I was going to be the title, but alas). That all being said, I had a blast covering this season of Packers football. I was finally able to (hopefully) convey the season in an articulate manner to someone that may want to read about this particular team, and how they went from looking like favorites in the NFC again, to nearly dead, to a resurgence, to missing out of the playoffs by five points. It wasn’t a typical season for the team, and it was a bit humbling.
What awaits now is an offseason that will determine the Packers future (actually this time). While they were able to secure a few players (including LG Elgton Jenkins in late December) to long term contracts, the biggest question will once again be about Aaron Rodgers. He’s currently on the books through 2026, and has a contract that is unmovable.
Not only that, but what will happen with Jordan Love? Will the Packers have to move on from veterans that shaped this team over the last few years? Will they find stability at wide receiver? Will the defense have a new coordinator next year? (I certainly hope). These and so many more that will effectively shape the team in the 2020s. I feel like this is the last year of the current era.
If it is, it was one heck of a ride.
