Montreal Gazette

Niners face potent Packer threat

Return of Rodgers, Cobb have NFC North champs filled with confidence

- GENARO C. ARMAS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GREEN BAY, WIS. — The gang’s back together, mostly, for the Packers in the playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb pulled off a fourth-down stunner last week against the Chicago Bears in each player’s first game back from injury. Now imagine what Green Bay can do with the franchise quarterbac­k and speedy receiver practising without limitation­s for a full week, joining Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Eddie Lacy on the list of playmakers.

Just in time for Sunday’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC wild-card game.

After a roller-coaster season, the Packers (8-7-1) are brimming with confidence. They took the NFC North title by winning three of their last four games, and getting help from collapses by the Lions and Bears. Rodgers and Cobb helped seal a third straight division crown by connecting on an unlikely 48-yard touchdown pass on fourthand-eight with 38 seconds left.

With Rodgers back, anything is possible.

“He runs our offence at a very, very high level,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “When he’s on the field, we’re different.”

That left collarbone injury that kept him out for seven games is fine, so much so that McCarthy has no worries about him for practice this week. McCarthy isn’t worried about the leg injury that kept Cobb out, either.

In fact, Rodgers was bothered more by cramping in his calves. He was facing his first game action in nearly two months, but Rodgers said his legs are fine, too.

“Well, myself and Randall are back. That helps. We had a couple good connection­s on Sunday. It’s doing the stuff we want to do,” Rodgers said. “We want to be an up-tempo team, we want to get a lot of plays run, we want to try to wear the defence down a little bit.”

Rodgers’ impact on the offence is a no-brainer. The 2011 NFL MVP excels as a decision-maker and can make pinpoint throws for big plays.

But Cobb’s recovery from his October injury got lost in the soap opera surroundin­g when Rodgers might come back. Cobb may not be at full speed, but just his mere presence and versatilit­y might cause defenders to think twice about what might be coming. Against the Bears, he manoeuvred his way open for two touchdown catches.

 ?? CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Green Bay Packers quarterbac­k Aaron Rodgers, right, celebrates wide receiver Randall Cobb’s game-winning touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears to capture the NFC North title on Dec. 29.
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Green Bay Packers quarterbac­k Aaron Rodgers, right, celebrates wide receiver Randall Cobb’s game-winning touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears to capture the NFC North title on Dec. 29.

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