The Green Bay Packers got off to a slow start this season, but have come alive lately, taking control of the NFC North from the Chicago Bears and taking the form of the team that won the Super Bowl in 2010.
Two years ago the Packers entered the playoffs as the sixth seed, but were the hottest team in all of football and won six straight to finish the year and win the championship.
Green Bay won two against the Giants and Bears to finish the season and make the playoffs, then proceeded to win three-straight road games, including a 48-21 win over the Falcons in Atlanta, before making it to the Super Bowl.
As the NFL season enters its final stretch, the Packers are starting to take the form of that high-powered offensive group that won the championship and are a team that no one wants to face going forward.
Green Bay is coming off of a 27-20 win over the Detroit Lions at home and has won two in a row as they prepare to take on the Chicago Bears on the road on Sunday. The Packers finally found a running game against the Lions, rushing for 140 yards, including 69 from Alex Green.
"We're first in the division by a game and we put ourselves in good position, not only for the division but potentially for a first-round bye. The division is our first goal," Rodgers said to the Associated Press following Sunday's win. "We can wrap things up next week. It's a tough opponent, a tough place to play. There's a lot on the line."
The success of the running game will only help quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been stellar over the past five games, throwing eight touchdowns and just four interceptions. Rodgers has been pressured constantly all season due to injuries on the offensive line, but also because the Packers haven't been able to run the ball successfully.
The team is ranked just 18th in rushing in the NFL, but has steadily improved from earlier in the season. Alex Green is leading the team with 420 rushing yards, while James Starks has 255 yards and one touchdown on the year.
The running game gives Rodgers the chance to run the play-action offense Rodgers loves and will allow the Packers to send the ball deep to receivers Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. It also opens up the screen game, which the Packers run as well as anyone in football.
The Packers have dealt with numerous injuries on both sides of the ball this year, including to Nelson. He has been bothered by a hamstring issue all season and has only made 46 catches for 658 yards and six touchdowns after going to the Pro Bowl last season.
The injury to Nelson has led to the emergence of receiver Randall Cobb, who has proven to be one of the most versatile and dynamic players in the NFL.
This season Cobb has made 71 receptions for 777 yards and seven touchdowns and has been targeted 91 times by Rodgers. He has been used in the running game at times ot open things up and has made at least one reception in every game this season, including against Detroit when he had seven catches for 102 yards on Sunday.
The biggest thing to look at with the Packers is their record, which sits at 9-4 after the win against the Lions. The team has overcome a devastating and controversial loss against the Seattle Seahawks earlier this season that was marred by a bad call from the replacement officials and has since won eight of the past ten games.
The combined record of the four teams the Packers have lost to is 34-17-1, meaning Green Bay hasn't had a bad loss against a bad team, like the Atlanta Falcons did on Sunday when they lost to the 3-9 Carolina Panthers.
The Packers have placed seven played on injured reserve this season, but has had stellar play from reserves and has proven how deep the roster is. The loss of Bryan Bulaga to a season-ending hip injury on the offensive line has been tough for the Packers to overcome, but the unit has been much better over the past few weeks, allowing just five sacks over the past two weeks.
The defense has been solid but not exceptional this season, ranking 16th in total yards. Both linebacker Clay Matthews and defensive back Charles Woodson have been sidelined by injuries, but may return over the next three games, which should give the unit a boost.
The Packers only allowed 135 rushing yards to the Lions on Sunday and has played better over the past four games, allowing 20 points or less in three of those contests. Green Bay was efficient during a five-game winning streak through October and November, scoring at least 24 points in each game, including in a 42-24 win over the Houston Texans.
The win over Houston on Oct. 14 was particularly impressive. The Packers were coming off of a tough 30-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, while the Texans were 5-0 and considered the best team in the NFL at the time.
The Packers rolled over the Texans on the road, gaining over 400 total yards, including 338 yards passing and a season-high six touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay took a 28-10 lead in the game and never looked back.
Green Bay lost a rematch of the NFC Championship game to the New York Giants three weeks ago, but that has been the only blemish on the team since losing to Indianapolis in early October.
If the Packers continue to play as well as they have been in the second half of the season, they will be the team to beat in the playoffs in the NFC. The way things sit now, the Packers would play the Chicago Bears in the first round of the playoffs.
Green Bay still has a chance at home field advantage for the playoffs, but are ranked third in the NFC behind the Atlanta Falcons (11-2) and San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1).
