“We gotta get our groove back”: Packers look ahead to Washington

“I never heard a whistle”, Munnerlyn said. “I don’t want this to be the defining moment in my career for sure”.

“I was just trying to do a little throwback”, he joked.

Seattle, 10-6 and coming off a 36-6 dismantling of NFC No. 2 seed Arizona on the road, has everyone’s attention.

The Jets (10-6) would have made the postseason for the first time since 2010 with a win, but the defeat, combined with Pittsburgh’s win at Cleveland, ended those hopes. Maybe the swift Ty Montgomery comes back from the ankle problems that doomed his promising rookie season to become a capable tandem to Nelson and take the pressure off Randall Cobb.

McCarthy said that for his team to succeed in Washington on Sunday, they have to handle all that comes with playoff football on the road, and do something that his team perhaps appeared to struggle with Sunday against Minnesota. The Redskins defense is allowing 23.7 points and 380.6 yards per game with 11 interceptions, 38 sacks, and 22 fumble recoveries. He’s a vital part of the team’s run defense, but the Vikings still were able to stuff the Packers’ running game, which averaged just 2.9 yards on 26 carries.

The Vikings also have the Seattle game to serve as motivation for yet another week.

The Vikings struck first on a Blair Walsh 39 yard field goal on the opening possession, set up by Adam Thielen’s fake punt dash around the left end for 41 yards.

Walking toward the locker room after the game he shouted “You like that?!” to a reporter a few times, and the rest is history. “If you watch us play, without getting too specific, I think it just looks different to me”. “I think it’s great”. We have to be a team that plays like that.

“He’s been preaching to us since Day 1 the type of team that we have and the types of things that we can accomplish, and how much he believes in us”, wide receiver Mike Wallace said.

“We know it’s going to be a challenge for us”.

It’s a better prognosis than tight end Rhett Ellison got. On the ground, Alfred Morris rushed for 100 yards in 19 attempts while Pierre Thomas added 30 yards in seven attempts. His 3-yard touchdown was a powerful burst that moved the pile. Putting the play calling back in coach Mike McCarthy’s hands didn’t get things right and the chances are that the Packers offense we saw all season is the one that’s going to take the field in Washington on Sunday afternoon. Bridgewater almost blew the game in the closing seconds when he lost control of a handoff before Peterson could get the ball.

When Packer QB Aaron Rodgers fumbled the ball away for a Minnesota touchdown-his third such giveaway for a TD in two games-he all but handed the trophy to the Vikings. He went into the game with an 11-4 record against Minnesota. That was enough to give Bridgewater a 45.7 passer rating. Aaron Rodgers threw for 291 yards and one touchdown with one interception in 28 of 44 passes.

Everson Griffen had two sacks, and the Vikings held on at the end after being left out of breath defending the Packers’ late no-huddle attack.

The Packers also kicked a field goal on their first drive of the night to tie the score.

During their 4-6 stretch the Packers lost all three home games to division foes for the first time since 1968.

Running back Eddie Lacy had a strong start, but finished with just 34 yards on 13 carries.

-SPECIAL TEAMS: C minus.

The Redskins have the day off before they resume practice on Wednesday to prepare for their home playoff matchup against the Packers.

The Vikings and Seahawks play Sunday.