Aaron Rodgers brings Packers to brink of NFC North title

The Green Bay Packers have made it all the way back from their 4-6 start.

Their fifth consecutive win – a 38-25 blowout of the rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday – means the Packers’ visit next week to Detroit will be for the NFC North title, regardless of what the Lions do Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

As we’ve documented plenty, these Packers (9-6) would be dangerous in January as long as quarterback Aaron Rodgers is upright. And Rodgers seemed to be moving just fine Sunday after battling hamstring and calf injuries, spinning out of the pocket past Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen and darting to the goal line for a 6-yard touchdown to make it 28-13 just before halftime.

Rodgers did receive medical attention after his neck bent awkwardly on a sandwich sack by Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks early in the third quarter. But Rodgers was back in on the Packers’ next series and broke out of linebacker Anthony Barr’s grasp for another key completion.

The Packers’ defense continues to heal up, too. Their top pass rusher, Clay Matthews, played his best game since injuring his left shoulder last month – breaking up a pass in the red zone, strip-sacking Sam Bradford for the turnover that set up Rodgers’ TD scramble and drawing a holding call that wiped out a third-down conversion.

Following a Nov. 20 loss to the Washington Redskins, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said: “We understand clearly what’s in front of us, so six losses puts your ass against the wall.”

The Packers have gotten off it and given themselves the opportunity they wanted: a shot to take the North and earn an eighth consecutive playoff trip by sweeping the Lions (9-5), who lost the first matchup 34-27 on Sept. 25, giving Green Bay the tiebreaker with another win in Week 17.

That game figures to be a prime candidate to be flexed into the primetime slot Jan. 1.

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.

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