For half of the football season, the Green Bay Packers seemed in charge of the NFC Central Division.
All was as it should be. The Packers started out 6-0, and it seemed as if they would sail through the regular season. No one could head them off, it seemed, let alone a Detroit team that started the season 1-7.
Why, then, are the Packers going in different, unexpected directions.
The Lions have won three in a row behind quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Packers have lost four of their last five. Included in the streaks are an 18-16 victory by Detroit over Green Bay a month ago.
The Lions have the worst rushing offense in the NFL with 74.5 yards per game. But Stafford has 761 yards and seven touchdown passes during Detroit’s winning streak.
Meanwhile, everyone seems to have a theory as to why Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers has struggled. Reasons include trying too hard, the missing status of receiver Jordy Nelson and a possible injury.
