One thing to keep an eye on for the Packers is their breakout rookie wide receiver Christian Watson, who left the Christmas Day matchup with a hip injury. Rodgers improves to 15-0 in December starts since Matt LaFleur became the Packers head coach in 2019, and he has thrown 32 passing touchdowns and five interceptions for a 103.7 passer rating in those 15 games. It was a pretty impressive turnaround after they allowed Miami wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to take a crossing route over the middle and run away for an 84-yard receiving score, the longest offensive touchdown scored on Christmas Day in NFL history. On Christmas Day, the Packers defense put on the cape and played the Superman role by shutting out the Dolphins' explosive offense in the second half, courtesy of three consecutive interceptions of Tagovailoa to seal the comeback.
Most years, this section of a Packers win story would include many lines about Aaron Rodgers' heroic brilliance. The Dolphins have lost four in a row, but they still have control of the AFC's No. Green Bay needs to win its last two games against the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, both at Lambeau Field while needing Washington to lose just one of their final two. The Packers, winners of three in a row, improve to 7-8 and have a real shot at the playoffs, sitting just a half-game behind the Commanders for the seventh and final NFC wild card. However, their much-maligned defense won the game and kept their playoff hopes alive. Dillon leading the Packers with 36 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground spells out how tough of a day it was for Green Bay's offense. Aaron Rodgers had an inefficient day, throwing for 238 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception on 24-of-38 passing. However, Tagovailoa ended the game with his third interception in a row as Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas stepped in front of the throw with 1:34 left. Their red zone struggles opened the door for Tagovailoa to redeem himself and end the Dolphins' three-game losing streak. Green Bay came away with two Mason Crosby field goals, a combined six points, as drives stalled in the red zone whether it be passes or runs coming up just a few yards short of the line to gain on multiple occasions. Green Bay squandered multiple chances to come away with touchdowns in the first half for a variety of reasons - red zone sacks, overthrows resulting in turnovers on downs, and even a fake punt gone wrong, and the same held true in the second half. Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander corralled Tagovailoa's first interception early in the fourth quarter, and middle linebacker De'Vondre Campbell flashed out of nowhere to intercept the Dolphins quarterback with just over six minutes left in the game. The Packers defense buckled many times as both Dolphins speedsters, wide receivers Tyreek Hill (four catches, 103 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (five catches, 143 yards and an 84-yard touchdown) totaled over 100 yards receiving, but they broke the Dolphins' passing game at just the right times. Green Bay trailed by as many as 10, 20-10. Green Bay didn't take their first lead until a Mason Crosby 28-yard field goal following a Tua Tagovailoa interception put the Packers on top 23-20 with 11:45 left in the game.
The Packers received plenty of Christmas Eve presents, getting the losses around the NFL that they needed, and they were able to make the most of that assistance with a come-from-behind 26-20 victory in Miami against the host Dolphins. The Green Bay Packers entered Week 16 with their playoff hopes looking slim, needing not only to win out, but also receive plenty of help from other teams.
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