A Green and Gold Present

 Mid-afternoon Sunday, I looked under our Christmas tree where I saw a late addition, a win gift-wrapped to Green Bay by the Miami Dolphins.

 

 The Packers were coming off two-straight wins for the first time all season and in need of a third to stay in contention for a playoff berth.  

 Miami marched down the field to start the game but settled for a field goal.  The Packers answered with a 94-yard kick return.  They didn't take any momentum creating a 3-all tie.

 The Dolphins scored on their next offensive play, an 84-yard touchdown pass that was thrown about 10 yards then run downfield.  Green Bay couldn't answer and Miami put up the next 10 points for a 17 - 10 lead early in the second quarter.

 The Packers pulled a fake punt out of their bag of tricks but Miami was ready. and took over deep in Green Bay territory.

This is where the Green Bay defense made a statement.  The Dolphins couldn't score a touchdown, settling for a field goal and a 10 point lead near the end of the half.  A fumble created by the Packer defense lead to another Mason Crosby field goal, trailing at half-time by 7, 20 - 13.

My Packer flag is flying high!

It didn't feel like it at the time but Miami wouldn't score again.  The Packers took the ball downfield for a touchdown to open the second half.  Miami missed a field goal and threw two interceptions while Green Bay used two Crosby field goals for to take a 26 - 20 lead with just over 2 minutes to play.

 

The Packers made their third interception after the two-minute warning, which put the game on ice for the good guys.

 

Coming into Sunday's game, the Packers needed to win out and get a lot of help.  Four teams - New York, Washington, Seattle, and Detroit - all needed to lose, and they did.

The Packers aren't in the play-offs yet but the math is easier.  Two more Packer wins and either two New York losses or one by Washington puts Green Bay in the play-offs.

 

It was good to see the defense play their best game (although Miami's passing game threatened to kill GB early) and forcing four turnovers is the kind of thing that will push the Pack into the post-season.

"So you're saying there's a chance?"  Go Pack, Go!