The 2022/23 NFL season has reached its apex. The country’s 32 franchises have been whittled down to just four, and the conference championships are right around the corner. And the postseason divisional round wasn’t without its talking points.
A late interception at Arrowhead Stadium stopped the underdog Jacksonville Jaguars in their tracks, and in turn, brought to an end quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s perfect record of winning every time he’s played on a Saturday. In the end, the Florida-based franchise went down 27-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs. But you feel that Patrick Mahomes and co. are going to have to up their game if they are to ensure that they aren’t pipped to the AFC Championship again.
That’s because the Cincinnati Bengals stole the show in the divisional round. Their opponents, the Buffalo Bills, were huge favorites to secure a neutral championship game against the Chiefs, with the NFL already selling tickets to the proposed showdown in Atlanta. But as Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said after the game, they “better send those refunds.” And that’s because he had his Cincy teammates were in scintillating form as they ripped apart the bills away from home to secure a 27-10 victory and a second consecutive trip to the conference championships.
The performance was so impressive that online sportsbook Bovada, who offer better NFL odds than most other websites, have made the Bengals the joint favorites to lift the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LVII. The other side which holds that favorites tag is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles were the top seed in the NFC this season and they duly thumped the New York Giants to secure their spot in the NFC Championship game. They will face the San Francisco 49ers, who squeezed past the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium.
But one has to admit that the 2022/23 playoffs have felt a little empty without the Green Bay Packers. The Wisconsin outfit are one of the most successful sides in the NFL, but a final-day defeat to the lowly Detroit Lions scuppered their hopes of appearing in the postseason. With that being said, we take a look back at happier times.
The Immortals of 2011
The Green Bay Packers made a historic run to Super Bowl XLV in the 2010-2011 season. Their remarkable season was led by Aaron Rodgers, who had one of his most impressive performances yet. The Packers put together a 10-6 record in the regular season and earned a wild card spot in the playoffs.
In the Wild Card round, the Packers traveled to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. Aaron Rodgers threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the 21-16 victory. The Packers then traveled to Atlanta to face the top-seeded Falcons. Led by a defense that limited future Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Ryan to only 186 passing yards and a touchdown, the Packers emerged with a 48-21 victory and advanced to the NFC Championship.
In the NFC Championship, the Packers squared off against the archrival Chicago Bears. Despite entering the game as underdogs, the Packers used a strong defensive performance and a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Rodgers to wide receiver Greg Jennings to beat the Bears 21-14. The Packers had officially punched their ticket to Super Bowl XLV.
First Super Bowl in 13 Years
Super Bowl XLV pitted the Packers against the AFC-champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Aaron Rodgers had an MVP-caliber performance in the game, throwing for 304 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Packers’ defense also held the Steelers to only 25 points in a game that ended in a 31-25 victory for the Packers.
The Packers’ run to the Lombardi trophy was one of the biggest shocks in recent years, especially the victory over the Falcons in the Divisional Round. That season, the Georgia-based outfit had one of its greatest seasons in recent memory. They finished the regular season with a record of 13 victories and just three losses and were the best team in the entire league.
As number one seeds in the NFC, they were expected to blow away the Packers in the divisional round, but instead, it was the Falcons who were the flops. From there on, the Packers had an air of invincibility about them, which culminated at the 105,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Aaron Rodgers’ performance throughout the 2010-2011 season was one of the best in NFL history. He threw for 3,922 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, with a 101.2 passer rating. Rodgers was awarded his first career MVP award and the Packers had won their fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history.
The Green Bay Packers’ run to Super Bowl XLV was one of the most memorable seasons in NFL history. Their dominant defense, potent offense, and MVP-caliber performance by Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a fourth Super Bowl title and cemented the team’s place in NFL lore.