The Green Bay Packers have a passing offense to rival any in the league. Whether it can take them back to the top of the NFC North remains to be seen.
Aaron Rodgers will be looking to go a sixth straight game without an interception when the Packers visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Sitting one game behind the Chicago Bears in second place in the NFC North at the moment, Green Bay (8-4) has some work to do if it wants to win the division - and making the playoffs is no sure thing either at this point.
The Packers own the same record as the New York Giants but would miss out on the playoffs if the season were to end today because of the Giants’ superior record within the conference.
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn’t exactly get easier at the end of the season. After finishing with the Lions, Green Bay travels to New England to face the 10-2 Patriots before hosting the Giants in Week 16 and finishing up with what could be a showdown for the division crown when the Bears visit in Week 17.
The Packers could do some damage with that schedule with the way they have been playing lately. Green Bay has won five out of its last six games, with the lone loss coming at Atlanta on Nov. 28.
Last week’s victory was particularly impressive, as Rodgers threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Greg Jennings caught two touchdown passes and Donald Driver shook off food poisoning to haul in another.
Defense has occasionally been a problem, however, and the Packers will be short-handed Sunday after defensive end Cullen Jenkins suffered a strained calf against the 49ers. Jenkins, who has a career-high seven sacks this season, will be replaced by some combination of Jarius Wynn and rookie C.J. Wilson.
That’s good news for the Lions (2-10), who are down to their third quarterback in Drew Stanton. Making his first start in four years, Stanton did not embarrass himself in a 24-20 loss to the Bears last weekend, completing 16 of 24 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score.
Stanton and the Lions will be swimming uphill when facing Green Bay, which has taken 10 straight in the series. Detroit made it close back on Oct. 3, falling behind by two touchdowns before clawing back into it and coming up just short 28-26.
Shaun Hill started at quarterback for the Lions that week and carved up the Packers for 331 yards and a pair of touchdowns - both to Calvin Johnson.
Detroit may be suffering through another losing season but it is not rolling over for its opponents, with seven of its 10 loses coming by one touchdown or less.