Balance has brought Packers to brink of playoffs

It's hard to explain the Green Bay Packers' season, but the mere fact they're facing a win-and-in situation is rather stunning. Let's not forget that fans were asking if Jordan Love should get the nod over Aaron Rodgers just five weeks ago after a prime-time loss to Philadelphia on Thanksgiving weekend.

In going from 4-8 to 8-8, the key for Green Bay has been rediscovering offensive balance. During their four-game win streak, the Packers have 126 pass attempts and 125 runs. The two-headed monster of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon has led them to a stellar 124.5 rushing yards per game in that span. Jones continues to be one of the league's most versatile backs and needs just 32 rushing yards in Week 18 to set a new career high. Dillon, the thunderous "Quadfather," has scored six touchdowns in the past five contests.

"For sure, one of the best running combos in the league," an AFC executive told me. "This is how they envisioned it: cold-weather, nasty running with Dillon, and slashing toughness with Jones. But they're finally giving those guys the chance to really be successful, and the offense has been better, too, especially Aaron."

Rodgers, to his credit, has played more like the league’s two-time reigning MVP. In the first 12 weeks, his expected points added per dropback rate was barely in the positive range (.002). But in the last five games, he's been at .158, which is 11th among passers with at least 50 dropbacks in that span, according to the data at Ben Baldwin's site. More impressively, Mr. Discount Double Check guided the Packers to a critical fourth-quarter comeback against the Bears to jump-start the win streak.

"I do believe in the power of manifestation and I do believe in momentum and I believe very strongly in the force of the mind. And when you start to believe something strongly, some miraculous things can happen," Rodgers told reporters after the Packers' 41-17 Week 17 win over Minnesota.

The last hurdle for Green Bay is a Sunday night home matchup against a Detroit Lions team that'll also be harboring playoff hopes, as long as the Seattle Seahawks lose their game against the Rams. The Lions are 1-4 against the Packers at Lambeau Field in December and January since Rodgers took over the team in 2008.

The Packers hope that this season unfolds just as the 2010 campaign did. Then, Rodgers and Co. needed to win their final two games over the Giants and Bears to secure a three-team tiebreaker over New York and the Buccaneers for the final wild-card spot. Green Bay then reeled off three straight postseason road victories before beating a young Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

It's a path other teams have followed before. In 2020, Tom Brady's Buccaneers were floundering after a 1-3 November before they rattled off four straight wins to secure the NFC's fifth seed. TB12 then won three road games before defeating Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs in the Super Bowl to earn himself his seventh championship.

Short yardage

◾️ The Jim Harbaugh rumors are swirling again and for good reason. Harbaugh has now guided Michigan to consecutive College Football Playoff berths. ESPN's David Newton reported that he spoke with the Panthers, although Harbaugh told the local FOX station in Charlotte last night that he expects to coach the Wolverines next year.

It's my understanding that while the Broncos have contacted him as well, they have yet to make an offer, and the team still plans to interview a series of candidates.

I've also been told other considerations will be at play. How much control will Harbaugh have? Does he have full autonomy or close to it? If it is Denver, how enticing is it for him to work with Russell Wilson?

Sources say the Broncos are likely to prioritize experience with their new hire. They're looking for someone who won't make the same rookie mistakes Nathaniel Hackett made, someone who knows how to assemble a staff, and someone who's coached in big games. Harbaugh fits the bill: He's coached in a Super Bowl and isn't afraid to confront or bench a successful veteran passer, as he did in 2012 when he replaced Alex Smith with Colin Kaepernick midseason. Did we mention Harbaugh is 44-19-1 as an NFL head coach?

There's also the matter of Greg Penner, the new co-owner and CEO, saying that both coach and general manager will report to him directly. It's a strong message that the new coach and GM George Paton are more or less operating on the same level. All this to say, should Harbaugh ultimately be Denver's top choice, I'd be surprised if he didn't want the job.

◾️ He wasn't named a Pro Bowler, but Chargers running back Austin Ekeler has rather quietly been one of the best offensive players in football - again. After a 20-touchdown season in 2021, Ekeler - a former undrafted free agent from Division II Western Colorado - has sparked L.A.'s offense with his physical, game-breaking running style.

Certain players seem to have a nose for the end zone, always making that final cut or push for even when it seems the defense has them stopped cold. It's hard to describe until you've seen it, but Ekeler clearly has that quality. In fact, after scoring two rushing touchdowns each of the past two weeks, Ekeler joined Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson as the only Chargers players to record back-to-back games with multiple rushing touchdowns since the start of the 2007 season.

"Ekeler's one of the best four or five backs to me," a former GM told me. "He can do it all. He's faster than he seems, he's really good in between the tackles. He has great hands, he can beat you so many different ways."

◾️ A ton of credit should go to Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks, who took over a hapless 1-4 team following Matt Rhule's dismissal. Wilks nearly turned that same team into a playoff contender after trading Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco following Week 6. Wilks may not be the favorite to land the gig, but he should be in the mix. He's earned the right. A true leader of men, he's galvanized the locker room and created synergy when it didn't exist.

Rhule, as it's been described to me, wasn't well prepared, didn't lead, and, most certainly, didn't command the respect of his players. The former GM described him as "a glorified offensive college coach" who "never should have gotten that job."

Wilks, 53, has been in the NFL since 2005. Several Panthers players have told me Wilks is their top choice. He's been around the league, he knows how to compile a veteran staff, and he knows how to hold players accountable. If I'm owner David Tepper and GM Scott Fitterer, I'm giving him a very good look.

◾️ The more I watch Jacksonville's Devin Lloyd, the more I believe he'll become one of the game's elite linebackers. It's hardly a surprise: Lloyd was a consensus first-team All-American at Utah and a first-round draft choice by the Jaguars.

Despite being a rookie, he plays with the knowledge and instinctual nature of a veteran. He's also really fast and laterally sound, making him a very special talent with an ultra-high ceiling. I'm big on Formula 1 these days, so the blend for Lloyd would be something like Max Verstappen's handles and swag coupled with Lewis Hamilton's pedigree and talent. Lloyd's 112 combined tackles rank third among rookies. He's added three interceptions and two fumble recoveries as well.

◾️ I can't wait for the national title game Monday night at SoFi Stadium. Watch for Georgia's all-world defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. He's on the verge of becoming a top-three pick and is a freakish athlete in the same mold as Zion Williamson or Myles Garrett. "He's just different," a longtime NFL scout told me. "His first step, his explosiveness, his power … his swim move - everything is different and unique." Carter, who checks in at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, has a viral video that showcases these traits better than any description could.

On the other side of the ball for Georgia is Broderick Jones, a terrific left tackle prospect who's held up against some of the country's best defensive players. Jones, at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, has long arms and quick feet. A good performance Monday will further cement him as a top 15-20 pick in the draft. "Really good prospect on the outside with a lot of natural ability," the scout said. "I like his mentality, I like his approach. I like him a lot."

I really like TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston, a true 50-50 ball assassin who went for 163 yards and a touchdown in the semifinal against Michigan. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder possesses all the tools to become a true No. 1 receiver, but none are more important than the pure speed to complement his prototypical frame. When he broke his 76-yard score against the Wolverines, Johnston, a junior, reached 21 mph. In three seasons at TCU, he's averaged a stellar 19.2 yards per catch. It all makes him precisely the type of player teams covet early in drafts. "I think he's an exceptional prospect," the scout told me. "Great size, great speed. You can't teach either."

Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.