PACKERVILLE, U.S.A.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

2024 Wild Card — Packers at Eagles

Eagles and Packers head into their wild-card matchup with QBs Hurts and Love fighting injuries

Associated Press

Green Bay (11-6) at Philadelphia (14-3)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 3:30 p.m., CST, FOS

Series record: Green Bay leads the regular-season series 27-17, but the Eagles have won two of the three playoff matchups. All three of the previous postseason games were also played in Philadelphia.

Last meeting: The Eagles defeated the Packers 34-29 in the season opener on Sept. 6 in a game that was played at São Paulo, Brazil.

Last week: Packers lost to the Bears 24-22. Eagles rested many starters in a 20-13 win over the Giants that had no effect on their playoff seeding.

Packers offense: overall (5), rush (5), pass (12), scoring (8)

Packers defense: overall (5), rush (7), pass (13), scoring (6)

Eagles offense: overall (8), rush (2), pass (29), scoring (7)

Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (10), pass (1), scoring (2)

Turnover differential: Packers plus-12; Eagles plus-11

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts returned to Eagles practice after a two-week layoff with a concussion without cameras and social media posts and fans present to dissect his performance. As the only eyes available, Hurts’ teammates largely praised his comeback. Hurts was sharp. He was dialed in. He played with energy. It was dope. They were the kind of encouraging reviews the Eagles needed as they host Sunday’s NFC wild-card game against Green Bay still unsure what to expect from a quarterback recovering from a head injury.

QB concerns ran high in Wisconsin, as well. Jordan Love said his elbow — injured in the regular-season finale — was still sore, and he felt pain when he did some limited throwing in practice. The expected marquee matchup between Hurts and Love may come down more to which one can survive 60 minutes in one piece — with temperatures expected in the 20s — rather than one healthy enough to fill a game of stupendous plays.

“It’s really just him getting back into his daily routine,” Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith. “I think with us, football is football.” The NFC East champion Eagles (14-3) have played football about as well as any team this season — one that started with a win in Brazil over Green Bay. Hurts guided the Eagles to 10 straight wins and Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards rushing. They boast the No. 1 defense in the NFL — a key reason they are 4½-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Yes, it’s a different team and a new year, but the Eagles are acutely aware of last season’s playoffs when the Packers pulled off a road upset as a No. 7 seed in Dallas. The Packers (11-6) are again a No. 7 seed and again hitting the road for the playoff opener. The similarities largely end there for a Packers team that has lost two straight games. Love’s elbow is an issue and wide receiver Christian Watson suffered a season-ending torn ACL last week. Watson had 29 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns this season.

“If Love doesn’t go, there’s a little bit of change in their offense,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said, “but not a gross change.” The Eagles would rely less on Hurts’ running should he be slowed by any lingering effects of a concussion. Hurts, who played late in the season with a broken finger on his non-throwing hand, threw for 2,903 yards this season with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw only one interception after the Eagles returned from their Week 5 bye. Thanks to the tush push, Hurts has 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Thanks to a 17th game, the 25 combined regular-season wins are the most ever in a wild-card game.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, who has two 14-win seasons and a Super Bowl trip on his resume, believed his team was playing its best football of the season. “You see that through the fundamentals. You see that through the guys being on the same page,” Sirianni said. “You see that with how the guys interact with each other because connecting is such a big deal here. We feel like we’ve continued to get better, but we’ve got to go out and show it.”

Backup plan

Packers backup QB Malik Willis injured the thumb on his right hand on a Bears defender’s helmet during the fourth quarter. He also was limited this week in practice and his status is uncertain for Sunday. Eagles No. 2 QB Kenny Pickett was limited with sore ribs and could lose the backup spot this postseason to Tanner McKee. McKee got the start in the season finale and threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He threw for two TDs on just four pass attempts a week earlier in relief of Pickett in a win over Dallas.

Stopping Barkley

When the Packers played the Eagles in Week 1, Barkley scored three touchdowns. Packers rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper watched most of the game from the bench. The second-round pick played 11 snaps in his NFL debut. Now, he’s almost an every-down player and arguably the most impactful player on the defense. Among this year’s rookie off-the-ball linebackers, he is first in tackles, tackles for losses, sacks and quarterback hits. He leads all off-the-ball linebackers with his 13 tackles for losses. And that’s while starting only four games. Cooper’s blend of athleticism, instincts and power will be critical in trying to limit the exploits of the Eagles’ 2,000-yard rusher. “He’s just running the ball good. That’s it,” Cooper said.

The Packers’ run defense is playing well, too. It finished third in the NFL in yards allowed per carry. “I just listen to the play call and look at my assignment and just try to whoop the man in front of me,” he said. “That’s it.” The Eagles will have their hands full with 1,329-yard rusher Josh Jacobs.

Second time around

Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns and A.J. Brown caught five passes for 119 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown, in Brazil. Green Bay’s Jayden Reed scored on a 33-yard jet sweep and a 70-yard reception. Reed became the first player to have a touchdown catch of 30-plus yards and a touchdown run of 30-plus yards in a season opener since Hall of Famer Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns against Washington in 1963.

Getting older

Last year, the Packers became the youngest team to win a playoff game since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, last year’s team was the youngest by weighted age to make the playoffs since 1980. This year’s Packers are the second youngest. The Packers might be young, but they’re not inexperienced. Last year as the No. 7 seed, they routed the second-seeded and NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round. On Sunday, they’ll try to do it again against this year’s NFC East champs, the Eagles.

How much will that experience help? “We’ve got new people and new pieces. I just think it’s about trying to not make the game bigger than what it is. Yes, it’s a playoff game,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “We all understand that. “But this is the same thing that these guys have been doing for 18 weeks now and, really, their whole career. So, it’s another football game. Obviously, we know the margins are razor thin in this league, and you’ve got to be at your best when your best is required and, certainly, against one of the premier football teams in this league.”

Last year in his playoffs debut vs. the Cowboys, Love had a perfect passer rating until throwing a late incompletion. Now, he has the experience needed to possibly take the Packers deeper in the playoffs. “Man, it’s just about doing your job,” Reed said. “Age is nothing but a number. It’s about how you carry yourself, how you be a pro.”

Packers player to watch

WR Jayden Reed. Green Bay’s best player in the Week 1 loss to the Eagles was Reed, who caught four passes for 138 yards and one touchdown and added a 33-yard TD run. He was relatively quiet down the stretch and had a big fumble against the Bears on Sunday, but without big-play receiver Christian Watson, lost to a torn ACL in his right knee, someone must step up in the passing game.

Eagles player to watch

RB Saquon Barkley returns to the field after a day off in Philadelphia’s final regular-season game last week. Barkley finished 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Two weeks ago, Barkley rushed for 167 yards against the Cowboys to become the ninth player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season.

Key matchup

Green Bay’s defense against Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. Assuming Hurts plays after getting concussed Dec. 22 at Washington and spending the past couple of weeks in league protocol, the Packers will want to test him early. The Packers keeping Hurts in the pocket and not running the ball is likely their best chance of success.

Key injuries

Packers: QB Jordan Love suffered an elbow injury vs. Chicago and did not return. He was limited in practice on Wednesday but said he was “hopeful” to play on Sunday… Along with Watson, CB Jaire Alexander is out following knee surgery… Two defensive starters, LB Quay Walker and S Evan Williams, have missed the past three games.

Eagles: Hurts did not play two weeks ago against Dallas and missed the final three quarters the previous week against Washington after getting concussed early against the Commanders. Hurts was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Also limited in practice on Wednesday were A.J. Brown (knee/rest), Kenny Pickett (ribs) and RB Will Shipley (ankle).

Series notes

Green Bay has a three-game road winning streak in the wild-card round, going back to a win at Philadelphia that jump-started its run to a Super Bowl championship in 2010… This is the Packers’ 37th postseason appearance, most for any franchise in NFL history. Their 37 playoff wins trail only San Francisco’s 38… The Packers have a league-high 16 playoff appearances since realignment in 2002. That includes five since Matt LaFleur took over as coach in 2019. Only Buffalo and Kansas City (six each) have more… On Jan. 11, 2004, in a divisional round playoff contest, the Eagles defeated the Packers 20-17 in overtime in a game that is remembered for Freddie Mitchell’s catch from Donovan McNabb on fourth-and-26.

Stats and stuff

Love’s 157.2 passer rating during last year’s wild-card win at Dallas tied for No. 1 all time in a quarterback’s first playoff start and is No. 1 among all quarterbacks in a road start… This will mark just the second time the Packers faced a 14-win team in the playoffs. In 2001, they were trounced by the St. Louis Rams… Pro Bowl Packers S Xavier McKinney has four interceptions in five games against the Eagles, including one in Week 1… RB Josh Jacobs ended the regular season with eight consecutive games with a rushing touchdown, tops in Packers history… The Packers finished third in the NFL with 3.96 yards allowed per carry, their best mark since 2017… Philadelphia finished with a single-season record of 3,048 rushing yards… The Eagles fell 15 points shy of eclipsing the club record of 477, set in 2022… DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson tied his career high with six interceptions… LB Josh Sweat led the Eagles in sacks with eight.

NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND

All Times Central

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Los Angeles Chargers 12, Houston Texans 32

Pittsburgh Steelers 14, Baltimore Ravens 28

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Denver Broncos 7, Buffalo Bills 31

Green Bay Packers 10, Philadelphia Eagles 22

Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

Monday, January 13, 2025

Minnesota Vikings 9, Los Angeles Rams (in Arizona) 27

Saturday, January 04, 2025

2024 Week 18 — Bears at Packers

Packers look to finish regular season by beating the Bears for 12th straight time

The Associated Press

Chicago (4-12) at Green Bay (11-5)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 12:00 p.m. CST, Fox

Series record: Packers lead 108-95-6

Last meeting: Packers won 20-19 in Chicago on Nov. 17, 2024

Last week: Bears lost 6-3 at home to Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 26. Packers lost 27-25 at Minnesota on Sunday.

Bears offense: overall (32), rush (25), pass (29), scoring (29)

Packers offense: overall (7), rush (5), pass (12), scoring (8)

Bears defense: overall (25), rush (27), pass (18), scoring (12)

Packers defense: overall (8), rush (6), pass (17), scoring (6)

Turnover differential: Bears plus-8, Packers plus-12

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Gaining momentum matters more to the Green Bay Packers than improving their playoff seeding as they gear up for the postseason against their longtime punching bag, the slumping Chicago Bears.

Green Bay (11-5) is currently positioned as the No. 7 seed in the NFC, which would result in a trip to Philadelphia for the wild-card round. The Packers could earn the sixth seed if they beat the Bears (4-12) on Sunday and the Washington Commanders lose at Dallas. “I think for us the mindset really is it doesn’t matter,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “I think we’re going into this knowing that we’re obviously going to be on the road and go play some teams we’ve already played before. We’re excited obviously for the playoffs to start.”

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he intends to treat this game like any other and will play his starters. Tight end Tucker Kraft believes an impressive outing on Sunday could serve as a “springboard” into the playoffs. The Packers are trying to bounce back from a sloppy 27-25 loss at Minnesota last weekend. “I want to see juice,” Kraft said. “I want to see us out there right away getting the ball to our back (Josh Jacobs), letting him just be him. And then getting some flavor going in the next couple of drives and just execute.”

The Packers are 1-5 against NFC teams that have clinched playoff berths, but they’re 10-0 against everyone else. That includes a 20-19 victory at Chicago on Nov. 17 that gave the Packers 11 straight wins over the Bears, the longest active winning streak by an NFL team over an opponent. Chicago began the season 4-2 but has lost 10 straight since. Quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, says he has taken notes throughout his rookie season on areas where he must improve. “Things are going to take time,” Williams said. “I’m well aware of that and OK with that. But I am definitely going to try to push myself to exhaustion mentally and physically this offseason to be able to withstand the long season.”

Jacobs’ touchdown streak

Jacobs has run for a touchdown in seven straight games to match Paul Hornung in 1960 for the longest such streak in Packers history. Jacobs enters the weekend ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,285 yards rushing. He earned his third Pro Bowl selection this week.

Lopsided rivalry

Green Bay’s 11 straight victories over Chicago represent the longest winning streak by either team in the history of this rivalry, which has been played more than any other NFL matchup. The Packers’ only longer winning streak over an opponent was 15 straight over the Chicago Cardinals from 1937-46. Green Bay kept the streak alive back in November when Karl Brooks blocked Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

Bears’ collapse

The Bears had big hopes coming into the season. Instead, it fell apart. They fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after nine games and let a head coach go during a season for the first time in franchise history when they gave Matt Eberflus the boot after a Thanksgiving Day loss at Detroit. But the losses continue to pile up. They’re 0-4 under interim coach Thomas Brown. They’ve never lost more than 10 straight in one season. “I think just overall there has to be more accountability, I think, up close and personal and more so just talking to guys and pulling them aside,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. “I think it’s one thing to say something when everyone is saying something. But I think if you can pull a guy to the side, maybe, and have a personal conversation and try to really get them to understand the magnitude of what’s going on and how much we need him, I think that can do something better.”

Love avoiding interceptions

Love threw his 11th interception of the season when Chicago’s Terell Smith picked off a pass at the goal line in that Nov. 17 game. He hasn’t thrown a pick since. After getting picked off 11 times in his first eight starts this season, Love has thrown nine touchdown passes without an interception over his last six games.

On the line

Williams defended Chicago’s offensive line, calling it a “stupid idea” that his soaring sack total is all on his blockers. “The connotation behind my offensive line has been annoying and frustrating because they work their tail off to be able to go out there,” he said. has been sacked 67 times, the fourth-highest single-season total in league history. David Carr has the record with 76 as a rookie with Houston in 2002. Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham took 72 sacks in 1986, and Carr was sacked 68 times in 2005.

Bears player to watch

QB Caleb Williams. The Bears are opting to give the No. 1 overall draft pick one more start, believing the benefits outweigh the injury risks. Williams’ franchise-record 67 sacks lead the NFL and is the fourth-highest total in league history. David Carr has the highest single-season total with 76 as a rookie with Houston in 2002. Williams has started every game and thrown for 3,393 yards — fifth on Chicago’s single-season list — with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. His league rookie-record streak of passes without an INT ended at 353 when he got picked off by Riq Woolen near the end of last week’s game.

Packers player to watch

LB Edgerrin Cooper, a second-round pick from Texas A&M, continued his rookie season by getting his heaviest workload yet and responding with four tackles for loss against the Vikings. This regular-season finale gives Cooper a chance to build on his momentum as he tunes up for his first playoff game.

Key matchup

Bears running game vs. Packers run defense. The Packers allowed a season-high 179 yards rushing in their victory over the Bears at Soldier Field. D’Andre Swift rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and Williams ran for 70 yards on nine attempts that day. The Bears have struggled ever since and now have a banged-up offensive line, but Chicago’s rushing success in that previous matchup gives the Packers reason for concern.

Key injuries

Bears LG Teven Jenkins (calf), who missed last week’s game, would not have participated Wednesday had the team practiced rather than held a walkthrough. The same goes for LT Larry Borom and WR Rome Odunze, who were ill… Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) has missed six straight games… Packers LB Quay Walker (ankle) has missed two straight games… Packers WR Christian Watson (knee) didn’t play at Minnesota… Packers DL Devonte Wyatt and S Zayne Anderson left the Vikings game with concussions.

Series notes

Green Bay has won its past 11 matchups with the Bears, which represents the longest winning streak by either team in the history of the NFL’s most-played rivalry. This is also the longest active winning streak by any NFL team against a specific opponent. The Packers’ only longer winning streak over any opponent in history came from 1937-46, when they beat the Chicago Cardinals 15 straight times… Chicago nearly ended the streak earlier this season. The Packers escaped with a 20-19 victory only after Karl Brooks blocked Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal on the game’s final play. Jordan Love’s 1-yard touchdown run put the Packers ahead for good with 2:59 left… The Bears have scored over 20 points in just two of their past 11 meetings with the Packers… During its 11-game winning streak over the Bears, Green Bay has a plus-15 turnover margin with 19 takeaways and four giveaways… The Packers have outscored Chicago 450-244 in their past 16 home games against the Bears.

Stats and stuff

Chicago has lost 10 straight — its second double-digit skid in three seasons under GM Ryan Poles. The Bears dropped the final 10 games in 2022 as part of a franchise-worst 14-game streak. They have never lost more than 10 in a row in one season… The Bears’ 67 sacks allowed surpassed their previous mark of 66 in 2004, when they used four quarterbacks… Chicago’s defense did its part last week, allowing a season-low six in points and its second-lowest total in yards (265)… Odunze’s 716 yards receiving are the fourth most by a Bears rookie… Bears P Tory Taylor’s 48.1-yard gross punting average is the highest in franchise history, and his 32 punts downed inside the 20 are a Bears record… Santos has made seven field goals of 50 yards or more, tying his franchise record from last season… Green Bay is currently slotted as the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, which would have the Packers visiting the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. The Packers can move up to the No. 6 seed if they beat the Bears and the Washington Commanders lose at Dallas… The start of the Packers’ 11-game winning streak over Chicago coincides with Matt LaFleur’s arrival as Green Bay’s coach. The only other coaches ever to be undefeated against a particular team through at least 10 games (including the playoffs) are Joe Gibbs (12-0 vs. Detroit), George Allen (11-0-1 vs. Atlanta), Blanton Collier (11-0 vs. Washington) and Curly Lambeau (10-0 vs. Cleveland Tigers, 9-0-1 vs. Milwaukee Badgers)… The Packers have trailed at halftime in all their NFC North games, and they have been outscored 85-27 in the first half of their divisional games. They’ve outscored all other opponents 192-89 in the first half… The Packers are the only NFL team with four players who have at least 25 receptions, 600 yards receiving and multiple touchdown catches (Romeo Doubs, Tucker Kraft, Jayden Reed and Watson)… Packers S Xavier McKinney has seven interceptions to rank second in the NFL, two behind Detroit’s Kerby Joseph… Packers RB Josh Jacobs has rushed for 1,285 yards to rank fifth in the NFL… Jacobs has run for a touchdown in seven straight games, matching the longest such streak in franchise history. Paul Hornung had a touchdown run in seven straight games in 1960… Packers K Brandon McManus is 17 of 18 on field-goal attempts… Packers QB Jordan Love has thrown nine TD passes and no interceptions over his past six games. The most recent player to intercept Love was Chicago’s Terell Smith on Nov. 17.

Week 18 NFL Schedule

All Times Central

Saturday, January 4

Cleveland Browns 10, Baltimore Ravens 35

Cincinnati Bengals 19, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Sunday, January 5

Carolina Panthers 44, Atlanta Falcons 38

Washington Commanders 23, Dallas Cowboys 19

Chicago Bears 24, Green Bay Packers 22

Houston Texans 23, Tennessee Titans 14

Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Indianapolis Colts 26

Buffalo Bills 16, New England Patriots 23

New York Giants 13, Philadelphia Eagles 20

New Orleans Saints 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27

Kansas City Chiefs 0, Denver Broncos 38

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Las Vegas Raiders 20

Seattle Seahawks 30, Los Angeles Rams 25

Miami Dolphins 20, New York Jets 32

San Francisco 49ers 24, Arizona Cardinals 47

Minnesota Vikings 9, Detroit Lions 31

Saturday, December 28, 2024

2024 Week 17 — Packers at Vikings

Packers visit Vikings in clash of surging clubs, the 1st time in series both teams have 11-plus wins

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota (13-2)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox

Series record: Packers lead 66-59-3.

Last meeting: Vikings beat Packers 31-29 on Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay.

Last week: Packers beat Saints 34-0, Vikings beat Seahawks 27-24.

Packers offense: total (4), rush (4), pass (12), scoring (7).

Packers defense: total (6), rush (8), pass (8), scoring (6).

Vikings offense: total (12), rush (16), pass (8), scoring (9).

Vikings defense: total (15), rush (2), pass (30), scoring (3).

Turnover differential: Packers plus-12, Vikings plus-10.

Even though their long-shot hopes of winning the NFC North have vanished, the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers believe they can make a legitimate run at their first Super Bowl appearance since their 2010 championship season. A rapidly improving defense gives them ample reason for confidence.

The Packers (11-4) followed up a seven-sack performance in a 30-13 victory at Seattle by producing the first shutout of the NFL season, a 34-0 playoff-clinching blowout of the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. Green Bay delivered its first shutout since a 17-0 triumph over Seattle in 2021 and its most lopsided victory since a 55-14 rout of the Chicago Bears in 2014. “We’ve noticed all along that the defense is a lot different this year, and they’ve been making some big-time plays all along,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “But any time you can hold anybody to zero points in the National Football League is pretty awesome.”

The Packers were seeking to produce a championship-caliber defense to go along with their dynamic offense when they fired Joe Barry as coordinator in the offseason and replaced him with former Boston College coach Jeff Hafley. Green Bay switched from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3, with Hafley emphasizing the need to produce more big plays. Green Bay has done just that by collecting 28 takeaways — 10 more than it had all of last year — to match the NFL’s third-highest total. The Packers haven’t forced this many turnovers since 2011, when they had 38 takeaways.

That’s not the only area in which the defense has made strides. Green Bay is allowing just 19.1 points per game to rank sixth in the league in scoring defense. The Packers haven’t finished a season among the top six teams in scoring defense since their 2010 title run, when they yielded just 15 points per game to rank second. The Packers are giving up 312.1 yards per game for the league’s seventh-best total. That also puts them on pace for their highest season-ending rank since 2010, when they finished fifth in total defense. “We’re all working together, and we’ve just got some nice playmakers,” linebacker and rookie second-round pick Edgerrin Cooper said.

The Packers have given up as many as 20 points just once in their last six games, a 34-31 defeat at Detroit on Dec. 5. That is the only time Green Bay has lost during that stretch. Whether this kind of success can carry over to the playoffs remains uncertain. The Packers’ shutout performance came against a New Orleans offense that was starting rookie fifth-round draft pick Spencer Rattler at quarterback in place of the injured Derek Carr and was missing five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara.

Green Bay’s defense faces a much tougher task Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings (13-2), who beat the Packers 31-29 at Lambeau Field on Sept. 29. This will mark the first time in the series’ 64-year history that both teams had at least 11 wins when they face off. The Packers are eager to see what they can do against another team headed for the playoffs as their defense gears up for another postseason. “We can do whatever we want to do,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “We write our own story at the end of the day. We’ve just got to keep on building.”

What’s working

Green Bay outrushed New Orleans 188-67 and improved its season total to 2,209 yards rushing. The Packers haven’t rushed for that many yards in a season since 2003, when they had 2,558… The pass rush has produced 16 sacks over Green Bay’s last four games… Green Bay is outscoring teams 102-34 in the first quarter… The Packers didn’t give up a sack Monday and have allowed just five over their last eight games. That represents the fewest sacks the Packers have given up over an eight-game stretch within a single season since 2004.

What needs work

Penalties remain a bit of an issue. The Packers were penalized six times for 60 yards.

Stock up

Love has thrown eight touchdown passes without an interception over his last five games… RB Josh Jacobs has run for a touchdown in six straight games. His 13 TD runs this season are a career high… K Brandon McManus made field goals from 55 and 46 yards to improve to 16 of 17 this season. His 55-yarder was a season long… S Zayne Anderson had his first career interception in his first career start… DL Brenton Cox Jr. has three sacks over his last four games.

Stock down

There really aren’t any candidates for this category, considering the Packers produced their biggest victory margin in a decade.

Key number

30 – The Packers have scored at least 30 points in each of their last five games. That represents the second-longest string of games with 30-plus points in franchise history. Green Bay had seven such straight games in 1963.

Next steps

The Packers close the regular season with two divisional games, visiting Minnesota on Sunday before hosting the Bears (4-11). Green Bay is 1-3 against NFC North opponents this season.

Packers player to watch

QB Jordan Love had a roller-coaster performance against Minnesota earlier this season, going 32 of 59 for 389 yards with four touchdown passes to establish career highs in all four categories, but he also matched his career most with three interceptions as Green Bay’s comeback from a 28-0 deficit fell short. Love has eight TD passes and no interceptions over his past five games.

Vikings player to watch

RB Aaron Jones, who will face his former team for the second time, has 440 total yards and four TDs from scrimmage over the past five games. Though the 30-year-old is averaging a career-low 4.5 yards per rush, he topped the 1,000-yard mark last week for the fourth time in eight seasons. Jones has 233 carries, three short of his career high. He had 139 total yards from scrimmage against the Packers in Week 4, his second-highest total of the season.

Key injuries

Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) has missed five straight games… Packers S Javon Bullard (ankle) has missed two consecutive games… Packers LB Quay Walker (ankle) and S Evan Williams (quadriceps) didn’t play against the Saints on Monday night and were listed as non-participants on Wednesday’s estimated injury report in lieu of a formal practice… Packers WR Christian Walker (knee) exited the game on Monday night, but coach Matt LaFleur said the initial diagnosis of a bruise was promising for his availability this week… Vikings LB Ivan Pace (hamstring) has returned to practice after a four-game absence… Vikings S Harrison Smith (foot) missed the previous game and was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday’s estimated injury report in lieu of a formal practice, but coach Kevin O’Connell sounded optimistic about his availability this week… Vikings backup DL Jalen Redmond (concussion) was held out against the Seahawks last week. He was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday’s estimated injury report.

Series notes

This marks the first time in the 64-year history of the rivalry that both the Packers and Vikings have had 11 or more wins going into the game… The all-time series in Minnesota is tied at 31-all… The road team has won the past three games in this matchup… The Vikings have won five of the past eight meetings overall and five of the eight matchups at U.S. Bank Stadium since it opened in 2016.

Stats and stuff

The Packers have won nine of their past 11 games to clinch a playoff spot. They’ve been eliminated from NFC North title contention… The Packers have 2,209 rushing yards this season, which represents their highest total since 2003, when they had 2,558… Packers RB Josh Jacobs has rushed for a TD in six straight games. He’s one away from the franchise record set by Paul Hornung, who scored in seven straight games in 1960… Jacobs is the fifth player in Packers history to reach the 1,200-yard mark, following Jim Taylor (1961-62), Dorsey Levens (1997), Ahman Green (2001-03) and Ryan Grant (2008-09)… The Packers offense has allowed three sacks and committed just two turnovers over their past five games. This is the first time since the 1970 merger that the Packers have allowed three or fewer sacks and have committed two turnovers or fewer over a five-game span… Keisean Nixon is the first Packers DB with multiple sacks and multiple forced fumbles in a season since Tramon Williams in 2013… The Vikings have won eight straight games and are tied with Detroit for the NFC North lead and control of the No. 1 seed for the playoffs. If they lose to the Packers, the Lions clinch the division. If they win, they’ll set up a division title game in Detroit in Week 18… O’Connell is the third coach in NFL history to win at least 13 games in two of his first three regular seasons, joining LaFleur (2019-21) and San Francisco’s George Seifert (1989-91)… Vikings QB Sam Darnold is the seventh QB in NFL history with 13 or more wins as a starter in his first season with a team, following Dak Prescott (2016, Cowboys), Peyton Manning (2012, Broncos), Steve McNair (2006, Ravens), Ben Roethlisberger (2004, Steelers), Earl Morrall (1968, Colts), Daryle Lamonica (1967, Raiders)… Vikings WR Justin Jefferson has 92 receptions for 1,387 yards. In just his fifth season, Jefferson can become the fifth player in NFL history with three seasons of 100 receptions and 1,500 yards, joining Andre Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones… Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel had two sacks against the Seahawks to raise his career high to 11 for the season. He has joined Jason Taylor (2006, Dolphins) as the only players in NFL history since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 with 10-plus sacks and at least two interception returns for touchdowns in the same season. Taylor was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year that season… The Vikings lead the NFL with 22 interceptions. Their team record is 27, set in 16 games in 2003.