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Two games, both guaranteed to take place at Lambeau Field. That is what stands between the Green Bay Packers and Super Bowl LV thanks to the team’s 35-16 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon.
That win secured the top seed in the playoffs for the Packers, something they last achieved almost a decade ago. Furthermore, the Packers haven’t played in an NFC Championship Game at home since 2007, going 1-3 in those games over Aaron Rodgers’ tenure as starting quarterback.
En route to the top seed, the Packers have demonstrated over the past month that they do have a capable defense to pair with one of the league’s very best offenses. In fact, the defense has allowed more than 16 points just once in the last five games, giving up 24 to the Detroit Lions in week 14. Outside of that, they have allowed 16 points three times and 14 points once, with that latter performance coming in the snow against the Tennessee Titans’ elite offense.
It’s the right equation for playoff success — having the defense playing its best football heading into the playoffs to help complement an explosive and productive offense, led by the like NFL MVP. Now the whole team can sit back and watch as six teams battle next weekend for the right to advance to the Divisional round.
Packers’ defense peaking at the right time | Packers.com
Yes, the Packers' defense allowed the Bears to convert five of six opportunities on fourth down. That was frustrating, but they held Chicago to just one touchdown on five red zone chances and kept the Bears to 16 points after they had hit the 30 mark in each of their past four games.
Green Bay Packers don't miss a beat without David Bakhtiari | Packersnews.com
Perhaps the three games that Bakhtiari missed earlier this season were fortunate, since the Packers had a plan ready to go to fill in for him. Green Bay allowed just one sack for three yards in the game and although the running game didn't have a big day, it did enough to help keep the passing game on track.
Packers' Aaron Rodgers tosses 46th TD pass with 72-yarder to Marquez Valdes-Scantling | ESPN.com
Rodgers broke his previous team record in touchdown passes on Sunday, throwing for four in total and bringing his season total to 48. MVP? You bet.
Aaron Rodgers is just getting started | Packersnews.com (subscription)
Rodgers has talked at length down the stretch about wanting to get that top seed, and they have it now, something that they have not achieved since 2011. With Rodgers' ability to process things at the line of scrimmage and his accuracy way up, it will be a tall order for any team to come into Lambeau Field and win.
Packers finish regular season with more TD passes than punts | Packers Wire
Rodgers threw 48 touchdown passes this year. JK Scott punted 46 times. That's absurd.
Man spent £89 legally changing his name to Celine Dion after getting drunk watching her concert over Christmas - Manchester Evening News
That headline pretty much says it all.