Despite being on the outside, looking in, the Packers continue to impress and make a strong push for the playoffs with just four games remaining. After a game with the 2-10 Detroit Lions, who came close to upsetting the NFC North leader Chicago Bears, the Pack play against the Patriots, Giants, and close out the season with a home game against Chicago.
The Packers failed to score in the first quarter against the visiting 49ers and looked a little out of sync. However, Rodgers got the offense going in the second quarter with a long touchdown to Greg Jennings on a free play after a defensive encroachment call.
The Pack struck again with under a minute on a 1-yard John Kuhn touchdown run to go up 14-6. However, the Packers gave up a 66-yard touchdown to Vernon Davis after a long kickoff return by Ted Ginn Jr.
It looked as if the Packers would struggle to beat the offensively-challenged and Frank Gore-less 49ers at Lambeau Field.
Then the Packers turned it on in the second half, outscoring the 49ers 20-3 including a 61-yard strike to Donald Driver that screamed Sportscenter Top 10 play.
Driver caught the ball on the run near the 49ers 38-yard line. Then he broke multiple tackles and carried two 49ers defenders with him into the end zone for the score.
With the Packers 34-16 victory, there were a few bright spots and a few negatives to come from the game. For starters, Packers rookie running back James Starks seems to have emerged as the Packers primary ball carrier for the remainder of the year. Starks had been on the physically unable to perform list for most of the season. Yet, Starks rebounded to carry the ball 18 times for 73 yards against the 49ers defense.
One of the few negatives besides the slow start by the Pack, defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who recorded two sacks in the game, strained his calf and will likely sit out this week against the Lions and possibly the following week.
Not to mention, did you see those throwbacks?
Ugly.
Hopefully, the Packers get back to their green and gold and beat Detroit at the always tough Ford Field. The Packers narrowly escaped defeat by the Shaun Hill-led Lions at Lambeau, winning 28-26. With Matt Stafford still out, and Shaun Hill likely to be out for the season, the Packers will most likely see the Michigan State Spartan product Drew Stanton.
As long as the Packers don't look ahead to their upcoming battle at Foxborough against the 10-2 Patriots, the Packers should be able to handle their business and defeat the Lions.
However, the Pack will be cheering for the Patriots this week as they take on the Chicago Bears in what appears to be shaping up as one of the best divisional races in the NFL with the Bears playing in Green Bay in week 17 which could determine which team goes to the playoffs.
Here's to December football.
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