Power Rankings: Packers finish strong
After their victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers rose one spot in the USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings. They are now at No. 5.
Green Bay is preparing to face the New York Giants, who stayed at No 8 this week despite beating the Washington Redskins and keeping their division rivals out of the playoffs.
Here’s USA TODAY's blurb about the Packers:
Can they run table for another four weeks? Their fortunes are heavily reliant on QB Aaron Rodgers, but no better player to hitch the wagon to.
And the rankings had this to say about the Giants:
Their 2007 and 2011 clubs parlayed playoff wins at Lambeau Field into Super Bowl glory. It feels like this edition capable of similar heroics.
Elsewhere around the web, the Packers jumped three spots in ESPN’s Power Rankings, which puts them at No. 5.
Aaron Rodgers said the Packers could "run the table," and that's exactly what the Packers did, winning six straight to close the season. Here's a look at Rodgers' passing stats during the winning streak: 71.0 completion percentage, 15 TDs, no interceptions.
Over at NFL.com, Elliot Harrison has the Packers at No. 6 in his Power Rankings.
Remember when the Packers lost by three touchdowns to the Titans ? Aaron Rodgers was no better a quarterback than Lynn Dickey. Mike McCarthy was going to be banished to coaching ITT Tech. Ted Thompson was in jeopardy of losing his general manager gig, too. Funny how the baddest QB on the planet — when he's hot, anyway — can become the great elixir for all that ails an organization. That said, might tap the brakes on Rodgers being a shoo-in for the MVP. As phenomenal as the franchise quarterback has been in his last six games, he was partly responsible for the team starting 4-6 in the first place. Not saying he's a bad choice, but would love to hear from unbiased Cheeseheads whether Rodgers has been more valuable than Matt Ryan or Derek Carr for the entire season.
Finally, Pete Prisco has the Packers as his biggest mover with Green Bay jumping eight spots to land at No. 8 overall.