The Green Bay Packers have spent the last couple of weeks operating in an odd state of preparation.

Head coach Mike McCarthy says the goal, every year, is 10 wins.

Once a team gets to that point, it’s OK to take a moment to evaluate the playoff situation. In fact, after winning that 10th game against Atlanta on Dec. 8, McCarthy said it may take 11 or 12 wins to make the NFC playoffs.

As you would expect, quarterback Aaron Rodgers fell in line with that way of thinking.

Yet, others in the locker room professed no desire to look ahead – you can’t they said – and all the focus was on Buffalo.

So, the Packers come back off a loss to the Bills and what do they do? They vote for team playoff captains.

Rodgers loved the confidence McCarthy showed in them by having it done. The players selected were honored. Those who did the voting heaped praise on the men they chose to wear the "C" on Sunday in Tampa Bay.

Yet during the week, it wasn’t about the playoffs. There was no looking ahead or wondering what the implications meant.

In fairness, not all players professed to not know, or care, about the looming NFC playoffs. But for the most part, that was the prevailing sentiment in the locker room.

And, it worked in Tampa Bay, as the Packers statistically dominated the lowly Buccaneers but had issues putting them away nonetheless (more on that later).

But what the win did do is take away all ambiguity about this weekend at Lambeau Field as the Detroit Lions come to town.

It’s not "one week at a time" anymore. This, literally, could make or break the Packers Super Bowl chances.

It’s simple: win, earn a bye and at least one home field playoff game. Lose, and start the playoffs on the road with a likely trip to Seattle to go to the Super Bowl.

The latter point brings us to the game Sunday.

The Packers won – beating the Buccaneers, 20-3 – and really that’s all that matters. It secured a playoff spot, the sixth straight for the franchise and it moved McCarthy past Vince Lombardi on the all-time victories list.

Pretty good stuff.

The offense however, continued to struggle when outside the friendly confines of Lambeau Field.


Yes, the final numbers from Rodgers, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and Eddie Lacy were impressive. They won you the fantasy Super Bowl.

But …

Four first quarter possessions: Punt, fumble, punt, 27-yard Lacy TD.

Two second quarter possessions: Missed field goal, field goal.

The 10-0 halftime lead didn’t feel very good even as the defense was turning in its most dominant victory of the year. The Packers teed off on a terrible quarterback (Josh McCown) and a bad offense in general, limiting the Bucs to zero (yes, zero) total yards in the first half of football.

The half turns over.

The team moved the ball, but not where it mattered.

The Packers ran 10 plays from inside the 15-yard line, including six plays from the Tampa Bay 1-yard line, and scored 10 points.

If the Packers weren’t so dominant defensively — the Buccaneers managed just six first downs, had 109 yards of total offense and McCown was sacked seven times — this game would’ve been another defensive nailbiter.

Just how dominant was the defense?

From PR man @thirdtom3: The 109 yards the #Packers D allowed today is the fewest since it allowed 104 yards vs. Minnesota on 12/21/06. — Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) December 21, 2014

The last time the #Packers had more sacks than the seven they recorded today was Week 17 of 2004 (9 vs. the Bears) — Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 22, 2014

For the year, the Packers went 4-4 on the road, which is again is another preseason goal. But this offense averages just 21 points per game outside of Green Bay, a number inflated thanks to the 38-point effort in Chicago.

The issues were never resolved after the Packers opened the season scoring 16 and 7 points, respectively, in Seattle and Detroit.

All of Rodgers’ five interceptions (throw in an additional four fumbles, but just one lost) on the road and you can see why this Sunday matters so much.

Win, and stay home. Lose … and well, the road will definitely tougher.