5 Areas the Green Bay Packers Should Be Focused on During Bye Week

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have a lot to work on during their bye week
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The Green Bay Packers have turned their season around, winning their last four games. Aaron Rodgers has been finding open receivers, the defense has been playing better and the running game has actually shown up a few times. 

While they may be back to their winning ways, everything isn't peachy keen in title town. 

The Packers have a lot of things to work on during the bye week as they prepare for the Detroit Lions and the rest of their schedule.  

1. Injuries

Bryan Bulage is one of the many injuries that the Packers have had to deal with this season.
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It's no secret that the Packers have had major injury problems this season. They have lost a number of big-name players in the first half of the season. Cedric Benson went down with a foot injury, Bryan Bulaga is out with a hip injury, Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings are both hurt and even Clay Matthews has been bitten by the injury bug. 

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for Green Bay. Head coach Mike McCarthy and company need to focus on getting healthy this week so they can come back stronger than ever. 

Not all of the Pack will be back after the bye week, but the possibility of getting back a few of the big names would be huge for Green Bay.

Even with the injuries, Packer fans shouldn't be too worried. The last time the Packers dealt with similar injury issues? 2010. The same season that they won the Super Bowl.

2. The Running Game

James Starks and Alex Green have been growing from week to week.
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Green Bay fans (and shareholders) haven't been treated to a 1,000 yard-rushing season by a single back since 2009, when Ryan Grant put up over 1,200 on the ground. 

The running backs for Green Bay are averaging 99.7 yards per game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. The Packers don't necessarily need a thousand-yard back, but they need more than they're getting. 

Cedric Benson started the season looking pretty solid before going down with an injury. From there the Packers were left with Alex Green, who only had three carries in his rookie season last year. 

With James Starks working his way back into the lineup, the running game has been better, but it needs to keep improving if the Packers want to get into the postseason. 

The bye week has potential to do great things for the Packers. Starks can continue to get healthier and Alex Green can get a week to rest and study up for the Lions. 

3. The Offensive Line

The Packers' offensive line has been better, but it faces some very tough defensive lines to end the season.
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The offensive line is another spot the Packers need to focus on this week. The line hasn't been able to open many holes for the Packer backs and hasn't been too kind to their MVP QB Aaron Rodgers. Opposing defensive squads have brought down A-rodg 29 times, good enough for the second-most sacks allowed this season. 

The offensive line has been dealing with injuries, inexperience and the new arrival of center Jeff Saturday. Having this off week will allow the line to keep drilling the playbook and will give the backups a chance to get more acquainted with the game plan. 

4. The Detroit Lions

Regardless of their records, the Packers and the Lions always play close games.
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Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions need to be another main focus for the Packers this week. The Lions are the first team Green Bay will face after the bye in a game that will have very serious implications in the NFC North.

The Lions may not be having the best year, but they always play the Packers close. Last season, the Packers beat Detroit in two close games. In 2010, the teams split the series in two even contests.  

The Packers need to focus on the Lions during the off week, not only because they play them next, but because a win against Ndamukong Suh and company could be a huge confidence booster for the Pack as they come to the meat of their schedule.

It wouldn't hurt for the Packers to pick up a NFC North win right out of the bye. 

5. The NFC North

Brandon Marshall and the Chicago Bears are in the driver's seat in the NFC North.
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While the Packers need to focus their bye-week practices on the Lions, they need to focus their time off the field on the rest of the NFC North. 

With their win over Arizona, the Packers slid into second place in the NFC North at 6-3. The Packers need to keep an eye on the rest of the NFC North during their time off to prepare for the end of their season. 

The Packers will end the regular season with five out of their last seven games against NFC North opponents. They have one more game with the Bears and two with both Minnesota and Detroit. 

The Packers need to keep the NFC North in mind this week if they want to reach every team's main goal, the postseason.