Why Packers’ win-and-get-in game may be different this time

MINNEAPOLIS – The loudest, most celebratory moment after Sunday's win over the Minnesota Vikings occurred on the way to the visitors' locker room when Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson mobbed Bo Melton, the unlikeliest of pass catchers of the Green Bay Packers. team's first 100-yard receiving game of the season.

But as long as the memory of Melton's six-catch, 105-yard, one-touchdown performance remained in his mind, things quickly became more serious.

After the normal locker room rah-rahs that follow a win, coach Matt LaFleur provided a reminder of what's going to happen and what could happen if his 8-8 team doesn't follow up that 33-10 domination with something similar during Sunday's season finale. against the Chicago Bears at home (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). A win puts the Packers in the playoffs.

“It really doesn’t mean anything if we don’t take care of business next week at Lambeau,” LaFleur said. “We were in a similar situation a year ago and we couldn't get it done. So we know it's going to be a huge challenge. I think Chicago has improved as much as any team when you looks at them from week 1 to where they have been.are now.

“Obviously they've done a really, really good job over the last few weeks in particular, they're kind of on a roll, so we know it's going to be a big challenge, we know we're going to make the most of it. of us, and I'm sure they would love nothing more than to eliminate us from the playoffs.”

The Lions enjoyed it a year ago, when they kept the Packers out of the playoffs with a 20-16 victory in Week 18 at Lambeau Field in Aaron Rodgers' final game at Green Bay.

Now it's Jordan Love's turn. What better way to close out his first season as a starter than to beat the Bears and make the playoffs. One of Love's best games — a four-touchdown outing (three passing, one rushing) that knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs — started all of this.

What was unimaginable in late October when the Packers were 2-5 is now just one game away from reality.

“It hasn't been easy all year,” said Love, who became the fourth Packers quarterback to throw 30 touchdowns in a season. “There were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of adversity, and we didn't know what to expect at the beginning of the year. We had no expectations, so I think everyone just kept going to work, continued to find ways to get better, and we control our destiny right now. So, I'm excited to go take care of business next week.

Love has Melton partly to thank for that. The Packers entered Week 17 as one of only two teams without a player with a 100-yard receiving game this season. The receiver was cut from the practice squad Saturday after it became clear Watson and Dontayvion Wicks would be unavailable. Before the Vikings game, he had five catches for 51 yards in his entire professional career.

Closing out a 91-yard drive!

BO MELTON WITH THE TD.#GBvsMIN | #GoPackGo

📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/WFLmaTFDRD

– Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 1, 2024

Melton's performance could provide insight into why this Week 18 game could play out differently than last season. While the Packers may not have a star receiver, they have proven time and time again that they are not dependent on one player.

They have Jayden Reed, who, before leaving with a chest injury Sunday, caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns to break Sterling Sharpe's franchise record for rookie receptions (55 set in 1988).

They have Doubs, and maybe they will have Watson and Wicks back on Sunday.

They have rookie tight end Tucker Kraft, who has become as reliable as anyone in the absence of fellow rookie Luke Musgrave, who may also be back from a lacerated kidney.

And they have running back Aaron Jones, who is now having back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.

It was Jones who summed up the feeling of those who lived through last season's disappointment in the finale.

“We know how it felt to fail last year. It was one of the worst feelings,” he said. “You're out there and you're losing to a team that can't make the playoffs, so we're not going to let that happen again.”