At 5-0 at home this season, the Packers have been just as good at overcoming deficits as running up the score.
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The Green Bay Packers at home and on the road have been two remarkably different teams. In the first three weeks the Packers got embarrassed on the road and only narrowly won at home after overcoming an 18-point deficit. But the Week 3 loss to the Lions ended just about any talk of the Packers not being ready for the season as they went on a four-game winning streak over the Bears, Vikings, Dolphins and Panthers, with three of those four wins coming by 21 points or more. A loss to the Saints in New Orleans before the bye brought the Packers back with a vengeance: Two straight home wins over the Bears and Eagles, each where Green Bay scored over 50 points, each where Green Bay scored 5 TDs or more before the opponent could get on the board, and each game with QB Aaron Rodgers playing like the 2011 NFL MVP version of Aaron Rodgers that many people thought would never return.
Now the Packers are 7-3, neck and neck with the Detroit Lions (who already have a win over Packers) for control of the NFC North title and looking like undoubtedly the hottest team in the NFC. And with the Arizona Cardinals in control but poised for a collapse with their starting QB out for the year, the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed and a chance to host the NFC Championship game could very well be in the Packers hands right now.
Here are the five best teams in the NFL heading into Week 12:
5. Dallas Cowboys – The move comes simply by virtue of the Eagles moving down. Nonetheless, a healthy, well-rested Tony Romo makes for a very happy (and successful) Cowboys team. The two games the Cowboys and Eagles play against each other over the next month will likely determine the futures of many, many NFL stars.
4. Denver Broncos – Either the Rams defense is just that good (a very distinct possibility) or the Broncos offense is more reliant on their star receivers as opposed to Peyton Manning’s excellence than we were led to believe.
3. Green Bay Packers – In the last four home games the Packers have outscored opponents 188-61. That’s an average win of 47-15. Can they continue that kind of home domination against the New England Patriots in two weeks?
2. Arizona Cardinals – If Drew Stanton can beat the Seahawks in Seattle next week there’s no reason to believe the Cardinals won’t be the No. 1 overall seed this year.
1. New England Patriots – The road to the AFC Championship goes through New England. End of story.
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