At various points of the last few years, much as been made of the leadership of either Rodgers, LaFleur, or both. But I can think of no more of a ringing endorsement of the leadership and culture of this team than the fact that they haven’t quit. Not when the injuries piled up, not when the playoff odds were under 10 percent, not when they reached the point where they needed to win out. No matter what happens the last two weeks, the fact that they are still alive at all is a testament to the character forged in the locker room and in the organization.
And as a PS, it occurred to me yesterday that a stretch run like this probably doesn’t happen if Z Smith is still on the team. I don’t see a guy like that handling a losing streak very well, and I think he’d be checked out with an “injury” by now. I know he’s having something of a resurgent year in Minnesota, but it seems clear to me that he’s not the kind of character the Packers need in a season like this. Credit to Gute for keeping the glue guys and excising a cancer.