At 6-0 going into their bye week, the Green Bay Packers are already in control of the NFC North. Again.
They've taken a slightly different path to the top of the division this time around.
The offence has been choppy, at least by Titletown's high standards. Coach Mike McCarthy's team is persevering by winning defensive tussles and close games.
"You know you look at the style of wins we're having," said linebacker Clay Matthews said, "hopefully that means something later on down the road."
Especially if quarterback Aaron Rodgers can get a full complement of healthy playmakers back on the field.
Receivers Randall Cobb (shoulder) and James Jones (hamstring) have nagging injuries. Running back Eddie Lacy, typically a slow starter, sprained his right ankle in Week 2.
It is the same week that Davante Adams sprained his left ankle, an injury that has limited Adams to three games.
"So it'd be nice to get a couple of those guys back, but I like the guys we've got and I think we can be efficient," Rodgers said after the 27-20 win last week over San Diego.
One guy definitely isn't coming back this year. Top receiver Jordy Nelson was knocked out during the preseason with a torn right ACL.
This injury hurt the most, depriving the Packers of their best deep threat. Defences are pressing receivers and focusing on stopping the run. Cobb especially is drawing extra attention.
Last year during the bye week, Green Bay was figuring out ways to shore up its run defence. McCarthy and co-ordinator Dom Capers came up with the successful plan to give Matthews snaps at inside linebacker.
Maybe McCarthy will figure out something new after pouring over film during this bye week. The Packers next play on Nov. 1 against the Denver Broncos.
"That's partly what's going on right now. That's what the coaches are doing," McCarthy said. "Just make sure that we keep it fresh and creative when our team gets back and we'll move into Denver."
Fill-ins have stepped up to keep the offence going, even if points aren't coming in bunches.
Jones has six touchdown catches in six games since rejoining the Packers the week before the opener to help replace Nelson. Rookie Ty Montgomery, who has two touchdown catches, will use the bye week to rest his sprained left ankle. Reliable backup running back James Starks has been splitting carries more evenly with Lacy.
Jeff Janis, a seventh-round draft pick last season, might be slowly gaining Rodgers' trust after making two catches for 79 yards against San Diego. He has the speed to go deep but has lacked consistency.
On the other side of the ball, the defence has showed promise, notwithstanding the 503 yards passing allowed last week to the Chargers' Philip Rivers.
Matthews' shift to the middle on early downs is the linchpin. Julius Peppers remains a presence on the edge, while B.J. Raji's return from an arm injury last season has solidified the defensive front.
But the defence goes deeper than the veteran trio.
The draft-and-develop philosophy has paid off. Cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins are off to good starts for rookies. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has become a fixture at safety in his second year in the league.
Undrafted free agent Joe Thomas, who first joined the Packers as a rookie on the practice squad last season, has emerged to become a competent enough inside linebacker on passing downs to give Matthews more pass-rushing opportunities again.
Two other second-year undrafted free agents, linebacker Jayrone Elliott and lineman Mike Pennel, have become key rotation players.
The pass rush has an NFC-high 23 sacks. The run defence has had its moments containing top backs Marshawn Lynch and Jamaal Charles.
"These aren't games in which it's over, like you saw you in the second half of the season last year," Matthews said. "Sometimes offence has to step up, sometimes defence does, and special teams. Real gritty wins, especially against good teams."
The bye week will also give safety Morgan Burnett (calf) and Raji (groin) another week to get healthier. They're important pieces in stopping the run.
Games haven't been pretty. The Packers aren't winning many style points.
But they're still winning.
"I have a 6-0 football team that needs to get healthy," McCarthy said. "And we have a chance to get a lot better."
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