As he had done so many times in his career in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers stepped up in a big spot to help the Packers. However, this time, he did it while playing in the AFC, delivering a dagger through the heart of another NFC North team.
Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers entered Detroit as underdogs and exited victorious, which also put the Packers in a prime position to make the playoffs.
After their loss to Chicago Saturday night, Green Bay was still in the No. 7 spot in the NFC, but playoff hopes were on shaky ground, to say the least.
Jordan Love's status entering the week is unknown after exiting the Chicago Bears game with a concussion. Zach Tom and Evan Williams may miss multiple weeks. And the team is already without Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft, Elgton Jenkins, Devonte Wyatt, and John FitzPatrick for the rest of the season.
The Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings are all that's left on the schedule, which isn't exactly murderer's row for the Packers. Still, this squad has shown it can absolutely lose to anyone (like, say, the Cleveland Browns).
Green Bay was staring at a reality that forecasted two must-win games to make the playoffs. Following Rodgers' heroics against the Detroit Lions, the Packers now must beat either the Ravens or the Vikings to punch a ticket. Either a Green Bay win or a Detroit loss will seal it. The Packers can thank Rodgers for that.
Perhaps it's a bit poetic that Rodgers' Packers career ended with a Week 18 loss to the Lions at Lambeau Field in 2022. All the Packers needed to do was beat Detroit in that regular-season finale to get to the postseason. Instead, they lost, and the Rodgers era was over.
Aaron Rodgers was reminded of this after Sunday's win and asked if revenge was on his mind as he reflected on that 2022 tilt.
Rodgers’ win over the Lions pushed Green Bay's odds to make the playoffs to 94%, per The Athletic. The doomsday scenario of the Lions winning out over Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Chicago, with the Packers slipping up once against either Baltimore or Minnesota, was heavy on the mind after the inexplicable collapse against the Bears. Shame on all of us who doubted Rodgers could go into Detroit and do the damn thing one more time.
It was an equally massive game for the Steelers. Their win, coupled with Baltimore's loss to New England on Sunday night, gave Pittsburgh a stranglehold on their division. The Steelers now lead the Ravens by two games with two weeks to go, and the two are set to square off in Week 18. A win over Cleveland next week or a Packers win over the Ravens on Saturday night will wrap up the AFC North.
Wouldn't it be appropriate for Green Bay to repay the favor with a win over Baltimore to help Rodgers out? Keep in mind, the Packers-Ravens game is Saturday, while the Steelers play Sunday. Rodgers could clinch a playoff spot while kicking his feet up on Saturday.
It almost seems too perfect a scenario.
Aaron Rodgers has done his part. Sunday's win wasn't one where the Steelers leaned on their defense and grinded it out. Pittsburgh’s offense hung up 29 on Detroit. Rodgers looked vintage, finishing 27 for 41 for 266 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions.
Per Rodgers, after the game:
The nightmare the Packers experienced against the Bears was eerily similar to the 2014 NFC Championship loss in Seattle. For the Lions, Sunday's loss was a repeat of one of the 19 times they have seen that movie before against A-Rod. As fate would have it, it helped the Packers immensely in their pursuit of a playoff spot and put the rival Lions in a terrible position.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.