When the Vikings met the Packers on Oct. 15, Minnesota was six days removed from a three-point victory over the Bears — a game in which the Vikings pulled injured Sam Bradford before halftime — and in danger of falling two games behind in the NFC North. Then Anthony Barr's first-quarter hit left Aaron Rodgers with a broken right collarbone, the Vikings beat the Packers 23-10 and everything changed. Here is a look at the NFC standings before and after the hit:
THROUGH WEEK 5
Green Bay — 4-1 record; first place in NFC North; second place in NFC
Vikings — 3-2 record; third pace in NFC North; seventh place in NFC
THROUGH WEEK 15
Green Bay — 7-7 record; third place in NFC North; 10th place in NFC; eliminated from playoff contention
Vikings — 11-3 record; first place in NFC North; second place in NFC; clinched division title
PACKERS BY THE NUMBERS
5.6: The Packers' backfield-by-committee gets its acceleration from rookie running back Aaron Jones, whose 5.6 yards per carry leads Green Bay. Jones' six explosive runs of 20-plus yards, including two last week in Carolina, are tied for the seventh most in the NFL.
538: Packers receiver Jordy Nelson is on pace for 538 receiving yards this season, which would be his lowest since 2009, before he became a full-time starter. Nelson is averaging three catches per game in starts by Brett Hundley.
100.5: The Packers are allowing opposing quarterbacks an average passer rating of 100.5, which is the third-worst mark in the league, better than only the Raiders (102.6) and Browns (102.7). Only four defenses have given up more than the Packers' 26 passing TDs allowed.
