Packers’ Slow Starts Against Divisional Rivals Continue to Haunt Them

The Green Bay Packers’ continued struggles against NFC North clubs make it unlikely that they will win the division title this season.

After losing 34-31 to Detroit on Thursday night, the Packers’ divisional record fell to 1-3. Their only division win was a 20-19 triumph over Chicago on November 17, which came only after Karl Brooks blocked a 46-yard field goal at the end of the game.

The Packers are now three games behind Detroit (12-1) and 1.5 games behind the Minnesota Vikings (10-2) in the NFC North. Detroit also has the edge in tiebreakers over the Packers, having won both of their regular-season meetings.

Despite this, the Packers are in a strong position to earn a wild-card playoff spot, with an 8-1 record versus teams outside the NFC North.

“The main thing is definitely getting into the dance,” centre Josh Myers said. Would we wish to be higher up? Absolutely. But we’ll make the best of it and accept where we are.”

If the Packers make the playoffs, their path to their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2010 triumph may require them to travel and defeat the Lions or Vikings in the postseason. The Packers defeated 31-29 at home to the Vikings on September 29 and will play them again in Minnesota on December 29.

On Thursday, the Packers rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit to briefly take the lead. However, Detroit won with a 35-yard field goal from Jake Bates on the final play.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stated, “I thought we just started, especially on the offensive side of the ball, too slow.”

The Packers have frequently fallen behind early in NFC North games, which hasn’t happened in their previous games.

The Packers have trailed at halftime in all four NFC North games, being outscored 72-24 in the first half. In their previous nine games, they outscored their opponents 151-86 before halftime.

With the setback, the Packers have now lost six of their previous seven games against the Lions, with the only victory coming last Thanksgiving Day, 29-22. They are still optimistic that they can win if they face Detroit again in the playoffs.

“I think we could beat them,” said linebacker Isaiah McDuffie. “And I think at the end of the day, I hope we see them again and I hope we prove ourselves and we do beat them.”

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