If we run the table and get into the Super Bowl this year, our defense is going to have to play the way many of us expected it to play prior to the start of the season.

The biggest difference that matters is the Lions are good and match up well against the Packers.
THIS is MLFs chance to really show his stuff and concoct a game plan that keeps the Lions from leveraging any matchup advantages.
A five game losing streak will be forgotten with a win. A loss will nullify a four game winning streak.
It’s a big game for reasons more than a playoff berth. MLF had a three year Aaron Rodgers carpet ride. That’s over.. his game planning looms large now.
As Lombardi said .. “If we don’t win, we’re gone!”

“… all that matters is winning one more game to make the postseason and complete a remarkable season turnaround.”

To be a 'remarkable' turn around, this team needs to reach at least the NFCCG as like the 2016 team used as comparison. Anything less is 'normal' for the many Packer teams since 2010-11 SB team, get in, and then kicked out by their own lack of volition. A carry-over from McCarthy era into the MLF years.

I'm hoping the Packers win, but I cannot ignore that the win streak is being overrated by ignoring what each opponent lacked and can be insinuated as being, though perhaps to a lesser degree than the obvious so-called one, 'frauds'.

Yes, the mantra, “You can only play who is on the schedule”, holds true enough, but ignoring what they offered at game time is paramount to keeping exaggerations in check. Something, I call reality, that too many easily toss aside, at the drop of a debatable win streak based on over blown narratives to instill a likely false hope than a truer expected ending.

With all my heart, Go Pack Go, but my brain says, not so fast, ride this train slow, and see if the wheels have truly stopped spinning and grab the tracks.

Gil, you are correct. Packers finally do not depend on any single player. And that is something that gives me the hope to make a lot of noise if they will reach postseason.

I already mention that ACR played as one of the pieces of team, not as king or imperator who expects all to listen and obey what he demands. That is huge improvement. And the best attitude he can present. Let use his knowledge and experience to lead the team, not to rule over team.

That kind of attitude brings all players under one hat. They finally started to play as team (or units that make team as whole).

I have no problem of trying from time to time deep throws, that will keep opponent honest and open groud game possibilities (Packers has very good RB unit), and, consequently, make passing more easier and dangerous.

I pray to God that he finally accept that and, no, I do not think he is game manager, but he need to manage the game on offense and help defense and ST with that approach.

Seems like the article was written in an attempt to inspire hope. "Don't worry, we've found other ways to win!"

Well, OK, but this is definitely a glass half full sort of article, and there's no problem with that. But is the situation you describe an advantage or a disadvantage in comparison to 2016?

In 2016 people certainly could have said (and they did say), "Too bad we're not getting more out of Eddie Lacy/Ty Montgomery and the ground game. Good thing we have other ways to win with Aaron Rodgers being on fire."

Now it seems we're saying, "Too bad we're not getting more out of Aaron Rodgers and the passing game. Good thing we have other ways to win with Aaron Jones being on fire."

Which would you rather have... a QB on fire or someone else? Take 2016 and the red-hot quarterback 10 times out of 10.

"FInding other ways to win" in 2023 isn't so much a sign of hope as it is an admission that Rodgers has not been able to carry the team as he once did. It's more worrisome than hopeful.

When, or rather if, to make no offense to some, the other ways to win don't win, I'm sure those who bought that will attack Rodgers for not finding the way to win, as in the past. And the most recent 3 year past with MLF as HC.

Many wanted to move on from the arm of Rodgers, so don't blame him if the new ways to win fails. You got what you wanted, so, feel the blame with as much acceptance as you would if a success.

I remember a 2016 team go to the NFCC game and be about as flat as one could imagine. A FB putting the ball on the ground at the first instant of life in the game to extinguish the spark. It's how you finish and GB has not done it in 10 yrs. as a team. I like our OL finally as healthy as it has been in 3 years. I like the recent run game because of our OL health. I believe the key is our run game and Detroit will do everything possible to shut it down. If this happens to a large degree ML MUST use our RB's in the passing game...and I'm so tired of no RB passes to anyone as a fake run or option. It works...With our run game it should at least be in the play book especially with Watson to do the rest after the catch. Detroit is building a formidable team and have some very good pieces in the pass and run game. It's gonna be a dog fight. Let's hope AR earns his salary for a game this season. GPG

I am at peace with whatever happens...win or lose, candles will be lit, Yanni on vinyl, vanilla bean bath soap, dream catchers where the mistle toe use to hang, Rumi quotes at the ready...

I am a Crow....I like beer...I like to drink with big Swallows.

Superb article, Gil. I think that GB is a team nobody in the nfc wants to face right now. From last years epic meltdown, which was laid at Rodgers doorstep, it was really about a team that was imbalanced, and Shanahan leveraged GB's flaws.
GB when healthy, has one of the top O lines in football. U don't nurse a player like Bak along for 2 yrs unless he is the definitive O lineman, and he definitely is. With that stout O line, that running duo in the backfield, and now a special teams returner that actually gains chunks of real estate rather than turning the ball over or getting caught well behind the 25, look out for GB. The passing game is only half there, and that half being Rodgers. Aaron got caught in the receiver rebuild years, and was gracious to take the stats beating to help it evolve. It will be exciting, and that will be good enough. Realistically, as good as GB has been playing in the D and ST phases, they will have lots of trouble competing against another balanced club WITH an elite passing game.....

Aaron Rodgers is our most highly paid player at the most important position and he'll have to play well for us to win. In order for him to play well, it would be helpful to have blocking, and to have some people help him move the ball. If Rodgers plays well, we're gonna win. And by well, I mean he protects the ball, keeps the offense on the field, and puts some points on the board.

Rodgers doesn't have to carry the team with his arm, but it's vitally important he play well.

Rodgers does not need to carry the team
as he did in 2016. However Rodgers does need to play to his strengths. His needs to make good decisions, protect the football and move the sticks. Score points and keep the Lions offense off the field.

If the OL plays solidly our run game and our defense should be able to carry the day. The passing game should be play action with quick passes. Take deep shots strategically on good down and distance situations when we can still use 3rd and even 4th down to move the chains. Second and short inside Lions territory would be the time for a deep shot off of play action.

Build a lead and then pound away with the ground game.

STs can help win the field position battle.

The 2022 Packers are a different team from the 2016 team. The current team can win in every phase of the game. As long as the Packers don’t beat themselves they should have another game next week. Thanks, Since ‘61