Packers Assert Themselves as Cream of NFC North's Crop with Win in Title Game

Entering Sunday's match, the Green Bay Packers needed to beat the Detroit Lions at home to take the NFC North title, earning them a first-round bye in the playoffs. Had they lost, the sixth seed in the NFC race was theirs, a stark contrast to a week off and hosting at least one game at Lambeau Field, where quarterback Aaron Rodgers has still yet to throw an interception in over a calender year.

In a victorious 30-20 effort, Rodgers did more than enough to come away with the win.

With a calf issue lingering from the previous game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ESPN Wisconsin's Rob Demovsky noted the quarterback warming up earlier than usual pregame:

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That's Aaron Rodgers getting some throws in. He doesn't normally come out his early. #Packers pic.twitter.com/RaQQTxrD7x

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 28, 2014"

When the inactives were announced, reserve quarterback Scott Tolzien was left off the list, making him the third passer available for the squad on game day—a rarity.

Evidence was mounting that Rodgers may not have been at 100 percent heading into the match. Still, the MVP candidate started the game. Demovsky also stated a source thought there was "a little concern" with the quarterback.

Beginning slow, Rodgers didn't complete a pass in the first 17 minutes of the game. In spite of that, the team was able to score seven points, the only points of the game at that point, despite a missed opportunity for the offense in the red zone which netted them no reward—other than defensive field position.

As noted in this week's game-plan preview, the Packers had previously struggled against good defensive lines. Against Pro Football Focus' (subscription required) top-10 defensive lines, Green Bay had averaged 17 points per game, 13 points lower than its season average. One of those qualifying teams was the Lions, who they had previously faced and lost to earlier in the year.

There were trends on the other side of the ball, too, though. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, the leader of Detroit's team, still had yet to beat a team with a winning record in his career on the road. After the game, that record was set at 0-16, per Fox's broadcast, a less-than-stellar pill for Lions fans to swallow.

During the game, armed with a 14-0 lead, Rodgers left the game with what appeared to be an aggravation of his calf injury. When he returned to the match, Detroit had squared up the score at 14-14.

Limping back to the huddle at times, the quarterback managed to put together one of the best games of his career, leaving the whimpering entrance of the game behind him. With a final stat line of 17 completions off 22 passes for 226 yards, two scores and a passer rating of 139.6, his MVP status seemed to rise across social media.

The game capped off the first time a quarterback had hit the 100-point mark in passer rating for a season in six straight seasons in NFL history, per Acme Packing Co.'s Aron Yohannes. Even ESPN's Adam Schefter was believing the hype:

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So Aaron Rodgers returned to win the NFC North title, a first-round bye and MVP.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2014"

Not only did the Packers display dominance through the air, but they also did so on the ground, putting up only the second 100-yard team rushing performance against the Lions all season. The Lions, the top run defense in the league in terms of yards per game, also gave up their first 100-yard rusher of the season, giving the title to 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy.

As former NFL personnel man Greg Gabriel put it: "If anyone ever questioned Rodgers toughness you can't anymore."

Head coach Mike McCarthy has led the Packers to four straight NFC North titles. At some point, more aspects of the team become unquestioned. Green Bay's reign over the division ranks high on the list.