NFL Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers Survive Major Scare From Minnesota Vikings

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Jordy Nelson

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers may still be the best team in the NFC, but until Week 12 they had to share top billing with the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.

That all changed on Sunday, but it wasn’t easy.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers told the fans to relax after the Packers’ early-season struggles, and the team is now 8-3 following a 24-21 victory over a Minnesota Vikings team that was out to score a major upset.

The Packers overcame a low-yardage effort from Rodgers, who threw for 209 yards in the win. What was the big difference? It may have been the running effort put in by Eddie Lacy, who rushed for 125 yards and showed why the Green Bay running game can be very effective at times.

Green Bay has settled into a rhythm these past several weeks, in part because everyone is finally on the same page. Early in the season, the running game suffered and hindered Rodgers’ ability to get the ball in the air. Teams can easily target the quarterback when the ground attack isn’t working.

It is why the Packers are favorites among Las Vegas oddsmakers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, along with the New England Patriots in the AFC.

Are the Packers safely in the drivers seat? Hold everything. The Packers are only one game up on the Lions in the division, and if Green Bay goes down to defeat anytime before the end of the year we could be back in a tie for the division lead. That would set up a winner-take-all showdown at the end of the season between Green Bay and Detroit, at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay can’t have many more games like this, but the important thing is the Packers are back in first. It isn’t time to celebrate yet for Packers fans, but what Rodgers said earlier this season is true.

Relaxing pays off.

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