Despite losing at home to the Minnesota Vikings in week 17, the Green Bay Packers may have gotten a more favorable WildCard matchup than Minnesota even though they must go on the road. Paul International Airport early Monday morning following a raucous 45-minute flight from Green Bay, Zimmer already had turned his attention to the next challenge, a red-hot Seattle Seahawks team that torched the Vikings by 31 points a month ago. If not, Aaron Rodgers will absolutely make them pay, as he is the cream of the crop when it comes to picking apart opposing defenses who are unable to supply a decent pass rush.
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Stephen Davis, who ran for 1,444 yards for that 2003 team, was in the Panther’ locker room Sunday after Carolina’s 38-10 victory over Tampa Bay.
The Packers took over in Vikings territory but, unfortunately, failed to capitalize. Moments after QB Teddy Bridgewater’s left-handed pass was intercepted, DE Everson Griffen stripped the ball from Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
As for the upcoming weekend, what they are thinking in Las Vegas is that none of the division winners – Redskins, Texans, Bengals or Vikings – is impressive.
With that fast start, the Packers had put themselves in good position to win the NFC North and perhaps have the road to the Super Bowl run through Lambeau Field. But if you are still mulling over whether or not it was a mistake to have done so because they could have encountered an easier fate, don’t. The long-overlooked defensive coordinator in Cincinnati and Dallas took the Vikings to the playoffs in just two seasons, and he overhauled the unit that needed overhauling most. “We know how to win, we know what it takes to win and we have a clear understanding of the things that you can’t do to win”, McCarthy said. The teams have not met in the playoffs. Eventually ending with a Xavier Rhodes interception in the endzone. C Kory Lichtensteiger, eligible to come off injured reserve this week, “feels really, really good”, Gruden said, making it sound as if Lichtensteiger will regain his job as the starter, replacing Josh LeRibeus. Their struggles have been going on for the majority of the second half of the season. “That drought is over”.
Minnesota finished the regular season with victories over the Bears, Giants and Packers and lost 23-20 to NFC West champion Arizona (13-3) on December 13. “We’ve just got to do it. There’s no magic to it, right?”
“I hope this is just a step honestly,” he said.
And who knows, maybe this team can get on a similar roll.
But before the Vikings left Lambeau Field late Sunday night for the airport, the Star Tribune did snap a picture of Zimmer sitting shotgun on the team bus with a big grin and his feet kicked up on the dashboard. Zimmer smiled and raised both arms after Rodgers’ final pass fell incomplete. He posted 19 attempts for 67 yards and a touchdown. He gave the Vikings a scare after leaving midway through the third quarter with a lower back injury before returning late in the fourth.
But the defense stopped Green Bay’s dysfunctional offense at almost every turn until the fast-paced fourth quarter.
“It wasn’t fun, to be honest with you”.
“It’s playoffs”, Zimmer said, smiling.
So for once, it’s not the Packers parading its division title and preparing for some poor opponents’ visit to their frosty home. And because CBS and Fox seemed to get the two best AFC/NFC games (Steelers at Bengals for CBS, Packers at Redskins for Fox), the remaining two games were divided between NBC and ESPN.
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NOTES: Peterson said he had an X-ray taken of his back to make sure there was nothing wrong with his spine. The Packers finished the season 4-6 after starting 6-0.
