5 Reasons Green Bay Packers Will Win the NFC North

By Fansided and Dan Schmelzer/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone
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The Green Bay Packers may be trailing the Detroit Lions still after Week 15, but here’s why they’ll win the NFC North.

There may not be a hotter team in the NFL than the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers and company are rolling, now having won four games in a row. In Week 15, the Packers took down the Chicago Bears by a score of 30-27.

That win coupled with the Detroit Lions’ 17-6 loss to the New York Giants has the Pack only a game behind with two weeks to go. The Lions are still in the driver’s seat, but the Packers are going to win the NFC North this season.

How am I so confident? Allow me to give five reasons to explain.

Dec 18, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery (88) is congratulated for scoring a touchdown by quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

5. Tiebreaker

Before the Packers hit their midseason slump, they had a huge early season victory over the Lions in Week 3. Rodgers and company raced out to a quick 31-3 lead in that game, but Matthew Stafford and the Lions made it close with a strong second half.

Even with Stafford’s second-half triumphs, the Packers were able to hold on to a 34-27 victory over the Lions in Week 3. With that win, the Packers hold the current tiebreaker against Detroit.

Everything could change in these last two weeks, but that Week 3 victory makes the Lions’ one-game lead seemingly worthless. The two teams are basically tied in the standings. If the Packers can take care of business these last two weeks, they will walk away as champions of the NFC North.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) carries the ball against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

4. Schedule

The Packers also seemingly have the edge in the schedule department the next two weeks. In Week 16, the Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings, while the Lions will travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers did lose to the Vikings earlier this season, a 17-14 road loss in Week 2. However, this is a completely different Minnesota team than what the Packers saw earlier in the season.

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    The Vikings raced to a 5-0 start to the season, looking like on of the elite teams in the NFC. However, they have fallen off, going 2-7 in their nine games following their hot start. Also, the Vikings are coming off of an ugly 34-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

    Simply put, the Packers are clearly the better team in this game and should take care of business against the Vikings at home. The Lions on the other hand, will have to take on the 12-2 Cowboys at their place.

    The Cowboys are a well-oiled machine who will give the Lions everything they can handle. Detroit is also a good team. They have a chance against anyone, but they will be the clear underdogs in this game, while the Packers will be obvious favorites against Minnesota.

    As long as the Packers can take care of business in Week 16, the NFC North title will come down to the Week 17 matchup between Detroit and Green Bay. Nothing is guaranteed, but give me a  hot Packers team against the Lions coming off of two really tough games.

    Dec 18, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery (88) runs for a four yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

    3. New-Found Rushing Attack

    Aaron Rodgers is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He puts the Green Bay Packers offense on his shoulders week-in-and-week-out. More often than not, Rodgers’ ability is enough for the Packers to take home a win. That being said, they are much better when they have a more balanced offensive attack.

    The injury to Eddie Lacy earlier this season seemed to kill any chances that the Packers had of having a strong rushing attack this season. Yet, they have found lightning in a bottle in a converted wide receiver.

    Ty Montgomery is now a full-time running back and he has become an extremely important part of the Packers’ offense. Montgomery is not just a gimmicky receiving back, making plays in the passing game, he is a legitimate threat on the ground.

    Montgomery had his best game yet this past week against the Bears, rushing for 162 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. He is an extremely natural runner who shows great burst and breakaway speed. The best part is that Montgomery is coming into his own as a running back when the Packers need him the most.

    A true weapon in the backfield, Montgomery is a game-changer for the Packers. Add in guys like Christine Michael and James Starks when he gets back from injury, and the Packers have a great rushing attack to pair with Rodgers and the aerial assault.

    Dec 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after the game at Ford Field. Green Bay won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

    2. Track Record

    The Green Bay Packers are one of the most successful organizations in the history of the NFL. While their dominant teams in the 1960s have nothing to do with 2016, successful franchises get the job done more often than not.

      Let’s compare the recent history of the Packers and Lions real quick. Detroit has certainly had some successful years, but they have never won an NFC North championship. In fact, their last division title, came in the old NFC Central all the way back in 1993.

      On the other hand, the Packers have won eight NFC North championships in the 15 years that the four current teams have made up the division. Simply put, they are clearly the class of the NFC North and the Lions are probably the worst of the four teams over the years.

      While track record does not necessarily mean anything on the field, give me the team that knows how to win championship as opposed to the franchise who never seems to pull it off. The NFC North champion is likely going to be determined based on the Week 17 matchup in Detroit between the Lions and Packers. The Packers’ championship pedigree simply puts them in a better position to win this game. They have been there many times before, while the Lions have not.

      Dec 18, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks onto the field prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

      1. Aaron Rodgers

      The Green Bay Packers did not play well earlier this season. They were able to scrape by with wins early on, but the middle of the season was as ugly as it gets. Their season hit a crossroads after Week 11. The Packers were coming off of an ugly 42-24 loss to the Washington Redskins, their fourth consecutive defeat. At that point in the season, they basically had to win the rest of their games in order to win the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers was confident that they could.

      “I feel like we can run the table, I really do,” Rodgers told reporters following the Redskins’ loss. “The offense is starting to click a little bit more. We just have to put together a game where we’re consistent from the first snap to the last.

      Since that “run the table” comment, the Packers have reeled off four consecutive impressive victories and look to be among the best teams in the entire NFL. There is still work to be done, but the Packers now control their own destiny.

      Just like Rodgers has confidence in his team, he is the reason I have confidence that they will get the job done. Rodgers has been as incredible as ever this season, completing 65-percent of his passes for 3,781 and 32 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. He has not been perfect, but Rodgers is playing his best when the games matter the most. The Green Bay Packers are a huge threat down the stretch, and their future Hall of Fame quarterback is the number one reason why I think they will take home the NFC North title.