5 Takeaways From Packers' Dramatic Win Over Browns: Game Recap

1. Rasul Douglas did it again.

Apparently, it wasn't sufficient that Douglas had one of the Packers' 3 interceptions withinside the first 1/2 of that the offense transformed right into a landing.

The former Arizona practice-squander needed to be the hero again, getting the protection's fourth choice of Browns QB Baker Mayfield with forty-three seconds left in the sport and the Browns much less than 20 yards from a shot at the sport-prevailing subject intention.

It changed into the 1/3 time Douglas has made both a game-saving or game-changing play, following his closing-2d interception ultimately area to overcome the Cardinals in Week eight and his pivotal choose-six in opposition to the Rams in Week 12.

Receiver Davante Adams referred to as him "a celeb on the cornerback position," and there's "now no longer sufficient" he can say approximately him. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers accompanied up:

"I do not assume Rasul is a position player. He's a star," Rodgers said. "He's were given high-quality ball skills, he is across the soccer all of the time, and he is modified our crew. He honestly has."

All this from a man signed in mid-October. Douglas changed into simply named a Pro Bowl exchange and now leads Green Bay's protection with 5 interceptions at the season.

"I've by no means visible something like this, I recognize, in my time withinside the National Football League, wherein anyone that is available in midseason has had this type of first-rate effect for your soccer crew," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "I love what he is all approximately. I love how he competes. I love his method on an everyday basis.

"There may not be all of us on our crew that watches greater tape than him. He's simply continuously grinding, operating at it, and it is paying off for him."

2. But the Packers recognize the sport should not have come right all the way down to the closing force.

An early 1/3-region subject intention gave Green Bay a 24-12 lead, however on its subsequent 3 possessions, the offense produced simply one first down. Meanwhile, the protection gave up a subject intention, was given a key forestall in Green Bay territory with lower back-to-lower back sacks, and gave up a landing whilst it persevered getting gashed with the run.

The Browns piled up 219 dashing yards, with Nick Chubb getting 126 of them on 17 carries, with a landing.

3. Plenty of records changed into made on this one.

Rodgers' 11-backyard landing toss to receiver Allen Lazard with 5:thirteen left withinside the first region gave the Packers a 7-6 lead and exceeded Brett Favre's franchise report for TD passes. It changed into No. 443 in his career and the instant changed into accompanied via way of means of a scoreboard message from Favre and a video tribute to the brand new record holder.

"This is a unique place," Rodgers said. "To be part of records like this isn't misplaced on me at all. There changed into a part of me that changed into satisfied we were given it over with … now with a bit of luck we get Davante a landing so he can get his report."

Which he did at the Packers' subsequent force, a 9-backyard TD on a blitz-beater over the center that changed into the 66th landing connection withinside the ordinary season among Rodgers and Adams, beating the mark of sixty-five set via way of means of Rodgers and Jordy Nelson.

Adams went directly to get a 2d TD and completed with 10 catches for 114 yards, whilst Rodgers published a 115.1 passer score via way of means of going 24-of-34 for 202 yards with 3 TDs.

4. It's tough to recognize this type of mixed-bag overall performance via way of means of protection.

The Packers picked off Mayfield 4 times, maintaining him to a 55. threescore (21-of-36, 222 yards, TDs), and could've had 5 is now no longer for a drop via way of means of cornerback Eric Stokes.

They additionally sacked him 5 times, the largest being the aforementioned consecutive ones via way of means of Preston Smith and Dean Lowry to pressure a punt early withinside the fourth region with the Browns on the threshold of subject-intention range. Stokes preventing a -factor conversion withinside the first 1/2 of proved large as well.

But the Browns rolled up 408 yards in all, received 28 first downs, transformed eight-of-thirteen on 1/3 and fourth downs, and reputedly had the Packers on their heels whilst that very last force began.

"It's as much as us to win the sport," changed into the protection's mentality regardless of the struggles, in accordance to Rashan Gary, who had of the 5 sacks. "They cannot score. We gotta hold them to wherein they are at.

5. The NFC's No. 1 playoff seed is square withinside the Packers' sights.

At 12-three, Green Bay stays in command withinside the playoff chase. In essence, the magic quantity to clinch the No. 1 seed withinside the convention is right all the way down to.

The Packers can both clutch the pinnacle seed via way of means of prevailing their closing games, or one win plus a loss via way of means of the Cowboys could do the trick as well.

Dallas performs Washington on Sunday night, a time off for the Packers earlier than they go back to paintings Monday to start arrangements for their Week 17 domestic matchup with Minnesota.