Through nine games this season, the Packers sit at 7-2 atop the NFC. While the wins haven’t always been as pretty as the coaching staff or players would have liked, this team is finding ways to get the job done. 

Sunday’s victory over the Jaguars at Lambeau Field was another example of the team starting flat but finding its momentum as the game went on. It didn’t help that, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers put it, the team had so many “uncharacteristic” things happen in one day, like him throwing his third interception of the season, Davante Adams’ fumble, and special teams allowing a punt to be returned for a touchdown. 

One thing the Packers won’t do is blame the weather, because it is Lambeau Field after all. 

“We live in these conditions every day, we practice in them every day, so we’re pretty used to being able to go out and throw in the winds and know what passes we can throw and what passes we can’t throw,” said wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling who had a career day. “And then we’ve got Aaron Rodgers, he can pretty much get any football through any wind so it doesn’t really matter.”

Valdes-Scantling hauled in four receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown, his highest yardage total as a pro. His quarterback, despite windy conditions, had 24 completions for 324 yards and three total touchdowns, throwing another to Adams and rushing for his third. 

Adams left the game with an ankle injury mid-way through but returned in crunch time to snag Green Bay’s go-ahead score that would seal the game 24-20. 

“17’s built different,” Rodgers said of Adams and the way he fought to get back into the game despite battling through an ankle injury. “The dude’s a special player. He’s one of a kind. He never ceases to grow my respect.” 

Despite having no fans in the stands, which players have admitted to missing in regards to getting amped up to make plays, Rodgers thought the team brought the energy it needed on Sunday. 

“I think the energy was really good today, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” he said, adding that it felt reminiscent of a game from 2019 where they needed the defense to come through in the clutch to secure a win.

“We have got to do a better job from before we start the game to show that kind of energy, show that kind of emotion, show that kind of support for one another that we saw at the end of the game, and if we don’t get that, we aren’t gonna be at our best,” added Head Coach Matt LaFleur, saying there needs to be more energy as a whole starting with him and his coaching staff. 

The defense did its job, too, allowing only one touchdown all game, even with starting corners Kevin King and Jaire Alexander out for the matchup. 

“I thought our secondary did a really nice job,” said LaFleur, adding that his guys were asked to play a lot of man. 

Safety Adrian Amos snagged his first interception of the season against the Jaguars, bringing the team’s turnover total to seven. His pick gave the Packers an opportunity to score before halftime. 

“We try to play complementary football,” said Amos. “We want to give the offense the ball with good opportunities and good field position.”

Amos felt the defense made the plays it needed to, adding that they “just need to find more ways to get after the ball.”

Defensive lineman Kenny Clark agreed. “Happy about how guys played. Guys are way more locked in with the run. But we’ve still gotta be more consistent on stopping it and putting guys behind the sticks and all that stuff.”

On Jacksonville’s final drive, the Packers got back-to-back sacks from Rashan Gary and Preston Smith to force a 4th-and-26 that the Jaguars couldn’t convert. 

“When we needed to make stops we made stops today and I just think we played good football as a whole on defense today,” said Amos. 

Of course, the biggest news of the day came off the football field, as news of David Bakhtiari’s contract extension broke mid-game. The four-year deal makes Bakhtiari the NFL’s highest paid offensive lineman. 

“That was something that I had been chasing for a while,” Bakhtiari said, adding that it’s a title he’s chased and a goal he’s set for himself since entering the league. “To have that monetary validation for all the hard work I’ve put in really meant a lot.

“I always wanted to say that I was the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history, and today I get to say that.” 

General Manager Brian Gutekunst spoke with the media post-game to discuss the Bakhtiari deal, calling him a “consummate pro” since he’s been in Green Bay. 

“David’s a very important part of our team,” said Gutekunst. “He approaches it the right way. Takes care of himself, works really hard. It’s very important to him, I think he really wanted to be here."

While Gutekunst added that the ‘21 cap situation is “problematic,” the emphasis has always been on taking care of Green Bay’s own players first whenever possible. 

The Packers will travel to Indianapolis next with the league’s highest paid offensive lineman in tow to take on the 6-3 Colts. 

“It’s going to be a really good game,” said Clark, calling the Colts offensive line one of the best the defense will face this season. “It’s going to be a really good test for us to see where we’re at as far as defensive line, our run defense and all that kind of stuff. We’re going to be excited for the challenge and we’re going to be ready to go.”

For LaFleur, he summarized his feelings by saying he’s happy his team found a way to win against the Jaguars “without playing our best,” but he knows there’s more out there for Green Bay. 

There will be fans in the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium when the game kicks off at 3:25 p.m. central time. Maybe there will be juice, too.