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GREEN BAY, Wis. — After crushing the Vikings 41-17 on Sunday, the Packers’ playoff method heading into the ultimate week of the season is as clear because it will get.
Win and also you’re in; lose or tie and also you watch the playoffs from the consolation of your sofa.
Given up for lifeless 4 weeks in the past, the Packers (8-8) can safe the NFC’s seventh and ultimate playoff spot with a win at dwelling in opposition to Detroit (8-8) subsequent weekend. Inexperienced Bay acquired a lift when Washington (7-8-1) misplaced to Cleveland 24-10 on Sunday.
The loss mixed with the Packers’ fourth straight win on Sunday eradicated the Commanders.
“Nicely, we all know we’ll have a giant problem subsequent week,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned. “I believe you take a look at Detroit, a staff that was, what had been they like, 2-6? Or 1-6. And the place are they now to claw their approach to the top? They’re 8-8 and also you’re speaking a couple of playoff sport.
“So the stakes are going to be excessive and whoever goes on the market and performs the most effective ball is clearly going to win,” he mentioned. “It is determined by the execution each week. However you will not get there if you do not have numerous preparation throughout the week.”
Within the first half in opposition to Minnesota, the Packers had 105 punt returns and 75 interceptions for touchdowns; For the primary time since 1967, that they had one in all every in the identical sport. After the Vikings’ Greg Joseph was left on a 50-yard discipline purpose try with 41 seconds left, Mason Crosby, 38, kicked a 56-yarder to place Inexperienced Bay up 27-3 on the half.
Inexperienced Bay jumped out to a 41-3 lead earlier than the Vikings scored a pair of late touchdowns to place the Packers one win away from a playoff berth.
Detroit’s 15-9 win over Inexperienced Bay within the first week of November was the Packers’ fifth straight loss, dropping them to 3-6, whereas the Lions snapped a five-game skid to enhance to 2-6.
Within the first assembly, Inexperienced Bay outgained the Lions 389 yards to 254, however Aaron Rodgers had three interceptions and the Packers went 0-for-4 within the pink zone.
Inexperienced Bay bounced again with a win over former Dallas and Packers coach Mike McCarthy, however then went 4-8 in opposition to Tennessee and Philadelphia.
“I nonetheless imagine in myself and I really feel like I have to at instances,” Rodgers mentioned. “It is sort of bizarre, however after we had been sitting at 3-6 and I regarded on the subsequent three, that is when Tennessee was enjoying very well, clearly the Cowboys had been enjoying effectively and Philly was primary within the league. And I simply felt like if we acquired a type of, we may win the subsequent 5 and it was going to be 9-8 entering into.”
This is not the primary time the Packers have made a late-season dedication.
In 2016, Inexperienced Bay misplaced 4 straight and fell to 4-6, however closed the common season with six straight wins to win the NFC North, adopted by playoff wins over the Giants and Cowboys earlier than shedding to Atlanta within the NFC Championship Recreation. , 44: -21.
“I had religion, like, 4-6 years previous, I believe 16,” Rodgers mentioned. “Typically you must trick your self slightly to imagine slightly extra. However I had a agency perception that I’d positively go together with the scrap. However I imagine within the energy of manifestation and I imagine in momentum and I imagine very strongly within the energy of thought. And once you begin believing in one thing strongly, some miracles can occur.”
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