Green Bay Packers: Having a short memory pays big dividends

Following consecutive wins in prime time, Aaron Rodgers and the talented Green Bay Packers are looking like themselves again.

In the span of three games, veteran kicker Mason Crosby went from scoring the only points for his team in a loss to being the difference in a victory over the 49ers at San Francisco.

After Week 1, no team in the NFC North had won a game. But it was the Green Bay Packers’ 38-3 loss to the relocated New Orleans Saints that was arguably the biggest eye-opener. The highest-scoring team in the league in 2020 was held to a field goal at Jacksonville. The NFL’s MVP in 2020 — off a year in which he threw for 48 scores and only five interceptions — was held out of the end zone and picked off twice.

But after two wins in a span of seven days, suddenly the Packers have a different but much more familiar look to them. They have been far from perfect. But suddenly they are the only club in the NFC North with a winning record.

They trailed the Lions, 17-14, at halftime in Week 2 at Lambeau Field before pitching a shutout in the second half on the way to a 35-17 triumph. Matt LaFleur’s club squandered a 17-0 second-quarter lead on Monday night at San Francisco. Down by a point with just 37 seconds to play and without any timeouts, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company put Crosby in position for the game-winning kick in the 30-28 triumph.

"“I don’t know (if that) sealed it,” explained Rodgers (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN). “We still had a 51-yard field goal, but my old partner Mace, I felt good about him nailing that. He’s made some big kicks over the years.”"

So after a few days of wondering what was wrong with the Packers, a second-half statement vs. Detroit followed by handing the 49ers their first loss of the season has put the Packers on even keel, at least for now.

"“I feel good about our team,” explained Rodgers (via Josh Dubow of the Associated Press). “Week 1 was an anomaly. I said that and I believe that. We bounced back Week 1. Played a great team tonight right down to the wire. This plane ride is going to feel incredible.”"

Will the good momentum continue with a pair of AFC North battles coming in the next two weeks? Fans in Green Bay certainly hope so.