Packers Playoff Push

Sent Packing: Arizona become Green Bay's fourth victim on the bounce as Packers seek playoff berth

Any team that finishes 15-1 in the regular season one year, is bound to be smothered with expectation the next. Often such assumptions can become over-encumbering for a team, especially one that struggles with early season form, is plagued with injuries and is still lamenting what could have been eight months ago.

Indeed, the Green Bay Packers were brought back to earth rather suddenly as the 2012/2013 season kicked off in September, and after five weeks (involving several sub-par performances) found themselves in a slight predicament at 2-3.

With their division rivals, Chicago and Minnesota, beginning the season in surprisingly dominant fashion, the Packers were lying third in the division they had clinched so convincingly a year ago.

Linebacker Clay Matthews, when asked about his team's struggles after the loss to Indianapolis on October 7th, stated that 'we need to be doing the fundamentals right'.

When a reporter inquired as to how much trouble the all-pro linebacker thought the Packers were in, Matthews admitted that 'we're not where we want to be'.

He went on to say 'It's a long season, and we need to fix it so that we can hopefully make some plays in the post-season'.

Matthews touched on a strong point - at that stage in the season, there was plenty of football still to be played, and four successive wins have put Green Bay on the heels of the Bears in the race for the division title.

Lambeau Leap: Jones pulls in one of Aaron Rodgers four touchdown passes on Sunday

The victory against Arizona this past week emphasized the ability of Aaron Rodgers to make up for significant injuries in perhaps the most dangerous passing attack in the NFL. Since week four the Packers quarterback has thrown 22 touchdowns at the expense of only three interceptions. 

Notably, his improving numbers have come through the breakout sophomore performance of Randall Cobb and the red zone threat of James Jones, proving Rodgers' qualities in making plays, despite the loss of studs Greg Jennings and (in part) Jordy Nelson. 

Cobb found the end-zone twice against the Cardinals, while Jones pulled off a spectacular leaping catch to hit pay dirt himself.

The Packers have this week off on a bye, and will be hoping for the 7-1 Texans to snatch a win against the Bears, who boast the same record, as the NFC North teams start to make their respective playoff pushes.