View from the North: Packers impressive win over Lions a throwback to 2014

1. Sunday’s win a throwback to 2014

After watching his quarterback put together a string of 14 games with a passer rating below 100, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy had a plan: build a time machine.

The Packers’ 34-27 victory over the Lions was by far their best offensive performance for a year, and it drew a number of parallels to a game with Atlanta two years ago.

That night Jordy Nelson was Rodgers’ best friend, hauling in eight passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, a similar stat line to the six-catch, 101-yard, two-score performance he posted on the Lions Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers was in the midst of an MVP-winning season, and he marched the Packers to 31-7 lead at the half. Sound familiar? It appeared to be game over, yet like the Lions, the Falcons weren’t going down without a fight.

Julio Jones proved too tough to cover, lighting up Lambeau with 259 receiving yards and a touchdown. It was Marvin Jones this week, putting up six catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

In both contests, the Packers held onto win by a touchdown.

Before Week 3, the 2014 Packers offense felt a million miles away. Sunday’s win oozes optimism in Titletown.

Sep 25, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) huddles with teammates prior to their game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports

2. Bye week perfect for Packers

A Week 4 bye week was hardly welcomed during April’s regular season schedule release, but there will be no such complaints this week.

As usual, the injury bug has wreaked havoc on the Packers. They entered Week 3 without defensive starters Clay Matthews, Sam Shields, Datone Jones and Letroy Guion. Now we can add two names from offense: Jared Cook and Aaron Ripkowski.

With a week off, the Packers should return healthier when the New York Giants come to town in Week 5. Perhaps more importantly, no game this week ensures there will be no fresh injuries added to the ever-growing list.

Losing Shields and Burnett proved to be a killer blow for the secondary, Damarious Randall sloppy in coverage once again.

It’s unclear how many, if any, of these players will be back following the bye, but the week off at least gives the entire roster a chance to heal up.

For head coach Mike McCarthy, three games worth of tape can be studied. What was done differently on offense to turn the Week 2 horror show into a 2014 throwback in Week 3?

Suddenly, an early bye doesn’t seem so bad.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

3. Will injuries catch up with the Vikings?

It’s not just the Packers plagued with injuries, the entire NFC North has been hit. Minnesota is without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, star running back Adrian Peterson and left tackle Matt Kalil. At least two are gone for the season, possibly all three.

Yet Mike Zimmer’s Vikings remain undefeated, picking up convincing victories over Tennessee, Green Bay and Carolina. Their most recent, a demolition of the reigning NFC champs, sent a statement to the rest of the league.

The Vikings defense is a force to be reckoned with, as the Packers learned in Week 2. And while Zimmer’s unit keeps games close they will always have a chance to win.

But will injuries catch up with Minnesota?

Losing your starting QB, RB and LT is no joke. Defense can take the Vikings so far, but will the offensive struggles hold them back this year? Despite Sam Bradford’s heroics against Green Bay paired with Stefon Diggs’ rising star, Minnesota is No. 31 in total offense. Is this sustainable?

If defense doesn’t win the day, can the offense get it done? New York’s dangerous trio of Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz will stretch Minnesota next week. If the Giants put up points, will poor health on offense result in defeat?

At this stage, I’m not going to write this team off.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jared Abbrederis (84) looks on against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

4. Where is Jared Abbrederis?

Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams continue to earn the lion’s share of snaps on offense, but a notable absence on Sunday was Jared Abbrederis.

Abbrederis put together a strong preseason and seemingly earned the trust of Aaron Rodgers, but he remains on the outside looking in. Rookie Trevor Davis played 12 offensive snaps, the ball fired his way twice (a potential 66-yard reception ruled out due to defensive pass interference).

Ty Montgomery featured on just four snaps, while Jeff Janis’ only appearance on the field came during three victory formation snaps. No Abbrederis.

The Packers’ decision to keep seven receivers on the roster is yet to be justified. Why keep Abbrederis in town if his only influence on offense is as a motivator on the sideline? He, along with Montgomery and Janis, have largely been limited to special teams.

As the season moves forward and Mike McCarthy continues to open up his playbook, maybe we’ll see more from Abbrederis. He certainly has talent to offer, and Aaron Rodgers doesn’t hesitate to fire the football his way.

Davis’ inclusion is a positive one for the Packers, particularly when lined up opposite Jordy Nelson. Suddenly, the offense threatens two deep threats on either side of the field.

Abbrederis appears to be the odd man out. Time will tell whether he gets more snaps after the bye.

Sep 25, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) celebrates a touchdown catch during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

5. Lions rejuvenated offense loaded with talent

Enter the Calvin Johnson comparisons.

Not only are these inaccurate, but also unfair to Lions wideout Marvin Jones, fresh off a career-best, 205-yard, two-touchdown performance at Green Bay this past week.

Jones isn’t Megatron, but he doesn’t need to be. Detroit’s offense has been transformed over the summer, and oddly Matthew Stafford looks better off without his Hall-of-Fame target.

Without Johnson, Stafford has been forced to spread the ball around and there are no shortage of targets. Eric Ebron offers a large threat in the middle of the field, while Golden Tate and savvy veteran Anquan Boldin further stretch defenses. Running back Theo Riddick’s best work comes as a pass catcher rather than between the tackles.

The Lions used to isolate Calvin Johnson on one side of the field, with Stafford often jamming the ball to his star receiver. Jones has filled in as the primary pass catcher, but the entire offense is now more balanced.

As the Packers secondary learned in Week 3, the Lions have snapped out of their offensive slump and looked revitalized under Jim Bob Cooter.

Marvin Jones grabbed the headlines for his stunning performance at Lambeau last week, but he is only a single piece to the puzzle for Detroit.