Time to rest; you can, too

GREEN BAY—It’s been a tough five weeks. The players aren’t the only ones that need a long weekend; so do you. Remember Richard Sherman? That’s how the season began, with a disappointing loss in Seattle. Packers fans expressed their anger and outrage the Packers would do something as unthinkable as losing to the reigning Super Bowl champs in their noise nest, by blaming the loss on the decision not to throw at Sherman.Week 2 began with a lost fumble and a 14-0 deficit, from which the Packers had to rally to score a 31-24 win over the Jets. Whew! Then came the meltdown in Detroit. Seven points! Adjustments! Scheme, scheme and more scheme. Why did the Packers run that slow-developing play that resulted in a safety? Why this, why that? At 1-2, the Packers were desperate as they headed to Chicago just six days ago. The quarterback was telling the team’s fans to R-E-L-A-X, but the quarterback was coming off one of the worst games of his career, the running game was stuck in a rut, the defense couldn’t stop the run, and worry was everywhere in Packernation. No worry today. All is well with the Packers following two blowout wins against division rivals. How about Packers 79, Bears/Vikings 27? Are you chortling? Yeah, you are. We all need a rest. “Tough stretch for us,” the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, said following Thursday night’s 42-10 win over the Vikings. “We’re going to enjoy this victory and then try to get better on offense.”The Packers got better last night because Eddie Lacy got better. For the first time in 2014, Lacy broke the 100-yard mark. He’s back and so is the Packers’ running game, which means defenses don’t dare load up to stop Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, as the Lions did. Just two short weeks ago, Rodgers walked into the postgame interview room in Ford Field and talked about adjustments that needed to be made, but weren’t made. Following Thursday night’s win over the Vikings, Rodgers credited his coach for the 66-yard touchdown pass Rodgers threw to Nelson. Safety Harrison Smith had no chance; he was all alone with Nelson in the open field. By the time the pass reached Nelson’s hands, Smith was a dot on the horizon. Mike Zimmer got pencil whipped. “You have to give the play-caller credit. I didn’t make some spectacular read. Mike (McCarthy) dialed it up,” Rodgers said. Peace and harmony have returned to Lambeau Field. At 3-2, including 2-1 in the division, and with Richard Sherman, the Seahawks and the Lions in the rearview mirror, the Packers are on a two-game, blowout winning streak, and with a weekend to put their feet up and rest. You can, too. COMPLETE GAME COVERAGE Instant replay: Packers 42, Vikings 10

Time to rest; you can, too

Packers on 79-27 roll after first five weeks