When Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers started off the season with an embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints, some people didn't hesitate to say that they were done and that Rodgers' desire to leave was going to be a distraction.
They even said that he threw the game and didn't want to play at all.
Fast-forward to Week 11 and the Cheeseheads are at the top of the NFC with a nearly-perfect record of eight wins and just a couple of losses.
But even though the reigning MVP has been as sharp as ever and Davante Adams continues to be one of the best receivers in the league, it's been the Packers' defense that's carried them for most of the season.
That's why Rodgers didn't hesitate to give his teammates his flowers after another dominant defensive performance last weekend:
"That was championship-level defense, for sure," Rodgers told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "(...)So I'm really, really happy for Joe and his staff. He's got a great staff, they do a great job and there (are) guys within that scheme who are glue who've been really, really important to the success."
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The Packers' defense spoiled Russell Wilson's return from a 3-week absence and a hand injury, handing him the first shutout of his career.
“We said that at halftime, that’s what we wanted to do,” Packers safety Adrian Amos said, per Packers News.. “When it carried over to the fourth quarter, we’re looking over at the score, like ‘let’s keep this shutout.”
Wilson completed just 20 of 40 passes for 161 yards and 2 interceptions, with the Seahawks logging just 15 first downs and 208 total yards.
The Packers continue to improve as a defensive unit as the weeks go by. They're putting the offense in a position to succeed and making big plays even when things aren't going their way.
“It's so important to be able to win games in different fashions in this league and I thought our defense really carried the night,” head coach Matt LaFleur told the media.
They currently rank 3rd in points allowed per game (18.0) and have forced 16 turnovers over 10 games.
The Packers have become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, as proven by Field Yates of ESPN:
_"Opposing quarterbacks when targeting wide receivers against the Packers this season:
Completion %: 56% (last in NFL) Yards/attempt: 6.7 (31st in NFL) Interceptions: 10 (t-2nd most in NFL)
By the way, All Pro CB Jaire Alexander has been out since Week 4,"_ Yates tweeted.
For the first time in years, it seems like Rodgers doesn't have to do it all for the Packers to be contenders. Now, they're once again the team to beat in the NFC, maybe even in the whole league.
