Green Bay Packers Keep Pace With Bears, Vikings In NFC North With Difficult Schedule Ahead

The Green Bay Packers (3-2-1) avoided disaster Monday night by defeating the San Francisco 49ers (1-5) in the final game of Week 6. Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on a game-winning drive in the final minute to keep Green Bay tied for second place with the Minnesota Vikings (3-2-1) in the NFC North and just percentage points behind the first-place Chicago Bears (3-2).

Green Bay was favored by nearly double digits at Lambeau Field against C.J. Beathard and San Francisco, but the team had to score 10 points in the final two minutes in order to pull out a 33-30 victory. It was extremely important for the Packers to defeat the one-win 49ers, considering the difficult schedule they face in the coming weeks.

The Packers don’t face a team that currently has a losing record until Week 13. Four of their next five games are on the road.

After a bye in Week 7, Green Bay will visit probably the NFL’s two best teams in consecutive weeks. The Packers are set to play the undefeated Los Angeles Rams (6-0) on the road in Week 8. In Week 9, Green Bay will visit the New England Patriots (4-2), who just handed the Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) their first loss of the 2018 season.

The Miami Dolphins (4-2) visit Lambeau Field in Week 10. The Packers are back on the road in Week 11 for a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks (3-3) in arguably the most hostile environment for a visiting team. Week 12 will see the Packers and Vikings do battle in Minnesota.

If the Packers didn’t blow a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Vikings at Lambeau Field in Week 2, they would have sole possession of first place. Green Bay is 1-1-1 in divisional games. They came back from a 17-point deficit in the season opener to defeat the Bears. Green Bay lost on the road to the last-place Detroit Lions (2-3) in Week 5 when Mason Crosby missed four field goals.

The NFC North might be the conference’s best division with at least three legitimate playoff contenders. Green Bay is always a threat to make a postseason run when Aaron Rodgers is on the field, and the quarterback seems to be much healthier than he was earlier this season when he sprained his knee. Minnesota began the year as one of the Super Bowl favorites, and they are rounding into form with two straight victories. Chicago has the division’s best record and one of the league’s top defenses.

Despite playing through a knee injury for almost the entire season, Rodgers is second in the NFL in passing yards to go along with 12 touchdowns and just one interception. Green Bay’s defense is tied for 15th in points allowed per game after allowing San Francisco’s backup quarterback to put up big numbers in Week 6.

Four of the Packers’ final five games will come against teams that are currently under .500. Their final two NFC North matchups come in Chicago in Week 15 and at home against the Lions in the regular-season finale.