Skip to content

Don't count the Packers out just yet

Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Four consecutive losses at the midway point of the season appeared to signal a relative likelihood that the Green Bay Packers would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Not only had the disappointing run dropped the perennial Super Bowl contenders to a previously unfathomable 4-6 record, but it's not as if any of those losses came in an otherwise promising effort, either.

And let's not get too crazy. There's still plenty of work to do before anyone will start believing that a turnaround from that low point is truly in the works. It's entirely possible that wholesale changes are on the way regardless of the club's record at season's end.

If Monday night's win against the Philadelphia Eagles can be taken as any indication, though, perhaps there's still hope.

With the season hanging in the balance, and the bright lights of the prime-time stage putting his team even further under the proverbial microscope, Aaron Rodgers was, well, Aaron Rodgers.

You know, that future Hall of Famer who, for the majority of the eight seasons after taking over for Brett Favre, had effectively rendered any debate surrounding the title of the NFL's premier quarterback useless.

Rodgers was downright surgical in putting forth his most efficient performance of the year, completing 30-of-39 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns against an Eagles defense that had allowed no more than 287 passing yards in 10 games to open the season.

Some incredible movement within the pocket and stellar performance from his offensive line stifled one of the league's most dangerous groups of pass-rushers.

Davante Adams was once again the beneficiary of some absolute lasers from behind center, racking up five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns to further cement his status as an elite No. 3 option behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.

Rodgers and the rest of the offense playing at that level down the stretch would be the first step in helping Green Bay to accomplish what the quarterback, backed by his head coach, had openly suggested as a possibility earlier this week.

The only option, barring some significant help elsewhere around the conference, is to run the table.

A porous defense would certainly need to do its part in those efforts, at the very least emerging as a passable complement to the offense's ability to put points on the board. Hopes weren't exactly high for such a development after allowing 153 points amid the four-game losing streak, but Monday night's game is reason for optimism in that regard as well.

No doubt aided by the healthy return of starting cornerback Damarious Randall, Green Bay's defense held the Eagles to just 13 points and 292 total yards on the evening.

Should the group continue to get healthy in the weeks ahead, particularly in the defensive backfield and at inside linebacker, there's still the potential for some of that much-needed progress.

Either way, Green Bay now sits at 5-6. That mark puts them well within striking distance in races for both the division lead and the NFC wild-card picture.

It's an uphill climb, to be sure. But if you're putting this team up against the other fringe playoff contenders in the NFC, why not give the advantage to the one with Rodgers throwing darts all over the yard?

They've been there countless times before.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox