The Packers defense forces four takeaways as Green Bay looks forward to Week 18 showdown versus Detroit
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin— It’s hard to imagine this scenario five weeks ago after Green Bay’s game in Philadelphia. Aaron Rodgers looked like a shell of his former MVP self, receiver troubles were brewing, and the defense had just given up 363 yards on the ground to Jalen Hurts and his sidekick Miles Sanders. It’s hard to believe that this is the same team that has somehow catapulted themselves in prime position to capture the seventh seed in the playoffs with a ‘win-and-in’ date with the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
Packers’ Special Teams Kicked Things Off
Right off the bat the Green Bay special teams unit played what seemed to be a critical role. From their own 27 yard line Minnesota had forced a Pat O’Donnell punt which they subsequently blocked in order to get Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense in a goal-to-go situation from 2 yards out.
While significant, it certainly wasn’t telling of the unit as a whole. After Green Bay’s defense held the Vikes to a field goal, Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bissacia’s group took firm control. Keisean Nixon, one of the NFL’s hottest returners as of the past month took a Greg Joseph kickoff 105 yards to the house, showing why he was selected to be a Pro Bowl alternate pick. Nixon has brought new life to a previously dismal Packers special teams unit, the same one who gave up a blocked punt in the 2021 Divisional Round playoff game versus the 49ers to give them the go-ahead score.
Nixon, a fourth year cornerback by trade from the University of South Carolina was thrust into the kick return specialist role after Green Bay felt fed up with past returner Amari Rodgers woes and tendency to fumble. Since taking over, Nixon has had five kick returns of 50 or more yards… no other player this season has more than two. Coming into this game, Nixon was leading the NFL with an average of 30.0 yards per return, a figure that’s sure to go up since the conclusion of the game.
Jaire Alexander and Company Stifle a High-Powered Vikings Offense
Early this week, star cornerback Jaire Alexander set the record straight of what he thought about wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the league leader in receptions and yards, “He don’t jump in no super suit and get dressed and jump outside, you hear me? I don’t either. He’s human, is what I’m saying.”
Alexander went on to reference the Week 1 matchup where Jefferson torched the Packers for 184 yards off 9 receptions in a 23-7 drubbing of the Packers’ defense. “You don’t want to put too much focus on that one person because, that first game, that was a fluke,” Jaire states.
Jefferson and his partner in crime, Adam Theilen, were very much held in check by the Packers’ defense. Jefferson, who was covered one-on-one by Alexander for the brunt of the game only recorded one catch over the middle for 15 yards, along with Theilen who was relegated to an abysmal stat line of 1 nab for 16 yards. This continues a promising trend of stellar defensive play for Green Bay over the 4 game winning streak, forcing 3 interceptions last week versus Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in Miami, and holding the Rams to 156 yards total.
The Packers defense showed up big time against the Vikings, limiting the away team to only 3 points until garbage time deep in the fourth quarter. Kirk Cousins spun the wheels multiple times, throwing 3 interceptions including an early one returned for a touchdown by Darnell Savage. A tipped ball landed in Adrian Amos’ hands as well as a long shot deep post shot was picked off by Rudy Ford to give Aaron Rodgers the clinching touchdown. Cousins was also sacked 2 times by Justin Hollins and strip-sacked by Kenny Clark who subsequently recovered the fumble as well.
Aaron Rodgers Looks Connected on Offense
While it wasn’t the 4-time MVPs greatest showing, 15-of-24 with 159 yards in the air, Aaron Rodgers definitely looked like a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Rodgers and the offense looked seamlessly connected, especially in the running game with Aaron Jones having a nice day posting 111 yards on the ground. When Rodgers threw a 2nd quarter touchdown pass to tight end Robert Tonyan, it looked like vintage Rodgers, evading the rush and patient in the pocket. If this is a sign of what to expect down the stretch as the Packers have their backs against the wall, Cheeseheads have reason to be excited as the team seems to be firing on all cylinders.
AJ Dillon has continued to be a wrecking ball, scoring a touchdown that looked more like a bulldozer coming through the hole rather than a NFL runningback. The duo of Jones and Dillon is posing to be a deadly threat come playoff wintertime in Lambeau, establishing the ground game early. QB1 even got in on some of the action rushing for a six paired with a nasty pump fake, plus a little Discount Double Check at the end.
Winter is Coming
It’s here, and the Packers seem to be enjoying every bit of it. Green Bay has now won four straight games en route to a late playoff push. With the Commanders losing to the Browns, all that has to be done is for the Packers to win their season finale versus the Detroit Lions in order for the Pack to clinch a spot in the dance.
Defeating the Lions won’t be the easiest task in the world, as they themselves are coming off a blowout victory over the Chicago Bears. Could the Packers complete one of the biggest midseason turnarounds in recent NFL history and make a deep run in the playoffs? The last time Green Bay was the last seed in the playoffs was 2010, the same season they won the Super Bowl.
