Green Bay Packers News: Offense took quantum leap forward in Detroit

There has been plenty of consternation and frustration about how Matt LaFleur has managed the Green Bay Packers’ offense this season, but the hand-wringing can be put to rest for a week. LaFleur, Jordan Love, and company put together a tremendous performance on Thanksgiving Day in a 31-24 defeat of the Lions, and if this offense continues to look like that, this team could well be back in serious Super Bowl contention.

Between aggressive decision-making, a balanced game plan, and a couple of big deep shots, the game had everything a Packers fan should want out of the offense. And it should come as no surprise, either, since Jordan Love has been nothing but exceptional in Thanksgiving Day games over the last three years. Still, the offense looked light years better than it did just a few weeks ago when it struggled in back-to-back losses to the Panthers and Eagles.

As it stands, the Packers are now a half-game out of the NFC North lead and a half-game back of the #1 seed in the conference. And they have a chance to take the division lead back as well as put themselves right in the thick of that top seed discussion on Sunday afternoon when they host the Chicago Bears.

Let’s look back at the impressive performance from Thursday’s game before we start diving into preparation for Bears week.

Jordan Love had especially hot hand in Packers win over Lions | Packersnews.comIt wasn’t just the 4th down plays or the deep shot to Christian Watson that were impressive. Love also made a number of big plays under pressure and was accurate on the run. Perhaps his best throw of the day was on a bootleg to the right, when he found Luke Musgrave for a huge gain.

Packers’ Dontayvion Wicks even impressed the official | ESPNIt was Wicks’ first touchdown catch that drew a bit of awe from the NFL’s vice president of instant replay, as he was ruled to have had control of the football before his right foot came up off the turf.

Game notes: Micah Parsons keeps making history, big plays | Packers.comParsons now is the first player in NFL history with 12-plus sacks in each of his first five seasons, with one more than Reggie White had in his fifth year. And he’s still got five more games to go.

Packers PFF grades: Best, worst players from win over Lions in Week 13 | Packers WireThere aren’t many surprises here — Love and Wicks led the way on offense, while Isaiah McDuffie and Parsons were the top players defensively.

Frank Ragnow fails physical, will not rejoin Lions after attempting to end retirement | NFL.comThere was a lot of excitement in Detroit about Ragnow’s impending return, but apparently he has a grade 3 hamstring strain and won’t be able to play this season.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the division standings, the Minnesota Vikings are in complete freefall. Here’s a look at just how bad it was for the Vikings offense with Max Brosmer in at quarterback:

The Packers should be salivating over having the chance to play them one more time in Week 18, given the recent returns.