afternoon https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Demetri-Goodson-Jersey , but the Green Bay Packers (6-8-1) found a way to knock off the New York Jets, 44-38, to avoid a winless road schedule in 2018 and clinch third place in the division standings.Behind Aaron Rodgers’ 442-yard passing day and two rushing touchdowns, the Packers were able to escape New York with an overtime win despite improbable chances early in the fourth quarter. Green Bay will finish up its schedule with an NFC North tilt against the Detroit Lions next week.Perhaps the more intriguing divisional matchup in Week 17 is Minnesota’s home matchup with Chicago. After the Bears’ ugly win in San Francisco and some Christmas luck for the Vikings in Detroit, each team has its eyes set on the playoffs. While the Bears are locked in and can improve their playoff position next week, the Vikings’ season hinges on their ability to get a win or get help from a down-and-out Arizona squad.Some updates on those scenarios and what’s next for the Lions in today’s rundown.Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1)Won 27-9 at Detroit; Next vs. ChicagoReady or not, Vikings’ playoff fate comes down to final gameWin and they’re in. Minnesota can also clinch a postseason spot if it loses, but could also still earn the fifth spot. Those scenarios can be found in this article.5 Takeaways from the Vikings Win Over the LionsA “Hail Merry Christmas!” worked to perfection for Minnesota, but penalties did not. Those were two observations from Sunday’s game.Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell inactive for Lions gameIn what appeared to be a healthy scratch, the former first round pick Treadwell was inactive once again for the Vikings. The third-year pro would seemingly be on thin ice in Minnesota.Detroit Lions (5-10)Lost 27-9 vs. Minnesota; Next at Green BayLions assured of last-place finish after loss to VikingsDetroit will officially finish at the bottom of the division for the first time since 2012, thanks in part to finishing on the other end of a converted Hail Mary once again.Detroit Lions stock watch: DeShawn Shead struggles; Zach Zenner doesn’tOne corner looked promising while another was...not so much. Matthew Stafford and the Lions’ wide receivers also struggled as Detroit averaged just 3.6 yards per passing play.Buckle up. The Lions are headed for even more turnover.The Lions were not supposed to be a project when Matt Patricia took over as head coach and recent player comments suggest that not all have bought in to the new regime. More offseason changes look to be around the corner to improve the roster.Chicago Bears (11-4)Won 14-9 at San Francisco; Next at MinnesotaNFL shifts Bears-Vikings start to 3:25 p.m. because of playoff implicationsFive games with playoff implications will be played simultaneously in the later afternoon game next Sunday and the Bears-Vikings matchup will be one of them.Bears need Rams loss in Week 17 to earn first-round playoff byeChicago has minimally secured the NFC’s third seed and will play for a chance to tout a first round bye next Sunday with a win and an LA Rams loss.Bears-49ers postgame: Bears win ugly in 14-9 nail biterA mini brawl and “cute” offensive tricks were two of the quick-hitters from Sunday’s close game. GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — When the Green Bay Packers used a fifth-round draft pick on Cole Madison last year JK Scott Jersey , there was optimism that the former Washington State standout would be able to fill an opening at right guard.Madison didn’t report for training camp. He put football on hold to focus on his life.“I love football, but, at that point, it was my health and my life was on the line,” Madison said. “I had to go help myself before my football career. If I didn’t get my chickens in order back then, I don’t think I’d be here right now.”After sitting out his entire rookie season, Madison joined the team for the start of offseason workouts in April and was expected to be on the field this weekend for the Packers’ rookie camp.Madison would not detail exactly what had gone wrong, only saying that his issues had deep roots and were exacerbated by the suicide of Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski in January 2018.“I was going through some stuff for a long time that I was putting off and they caught up to me with the decisions off the field I was doing. I wasn’t making good decisions and it led to bad thoughts,” Madison said. “Tyler, if anything, helped me with knowing that other people go through things, too. It was a little light at the end of the tunnel — light in a dark area.“It was a first beginning step of a wakeup call for me Brett Favre Color Rush Jersey , how I needed to handle my mental health, was after that entire situation. Me and him were great friends. I would have never known any of that was going on or vice versa. I had my demons going on and no one had any idea what was going on. It’s just one of those things of taking that step when you’ve got those things and not to just bat them down and talk to someone and opening up.”Through those conversations, things improved. By November or December, he said, he began to feel like his old self.“After that, it was getting over the hump, that period of, ‘I feel like me again,” Madison said. “I haven’t felt like me in God knows how long and I finally started to feel positive, feel like, ‘Hey, I can do this’ and no second-guessing myself.”With that https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Paul-Hornung-Jersey , Madison began to think about football again; he didn’t even watch football last year. He began to focus on getting ready physically. He’s listed at the same 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds as he was at the scouting combine in 2018. He called his stamina “great.”“I’m ready to roll,” Madison said. “Took a year off, twiddling my thumbs, now I’m back and letting it loose.”The Packers are eager to see if Madison can reach his potential. There remains a hole at right guard, though they fortified the offensive line with free agent Billy Turner and second-round draft pick Elgton Jenkins.“It was great to see Cole back in the building and doing some football things again,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “That was a really, really pleasant surprise. I think he was very appreciative about the way we handled things last year. We’re excited to see what he can do for us because he had a really good offseason last year before everything transpired. Very optimistic.”New coach Matt LaFleur is implementing an outside-zone running scheme that is fueled by linemen with a blend of athleticism and power. Gutekunst called Madison an “absolute fit” for what LaFleur is trying to build.“We were really high on Cole when he was coming out,” LaFleur said, thinking back to 2018 when he was offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. “So, we feel like he adds a lot of value to what we can do with him in our system.”Madison’s return will be a day-by-day process. He hasn’t put on pads or blocked somebody since the Senior Bowl in January 2018.His football comeback, however, is secondary to his personal comeback.“I can’t remember the last time I’d wake up and feel positive and not go into bed with negative thoughts in my head Bart Starr Jersey ,” Madison said. “Just living life and being happy doing it, it’s a blessing.”NOTES: The Packers announced Friday the signings of six draft picks, including linebackers Rashan Gary (Michigan) and Ty Summers (TCU), defensive backs Darnell Savage (Maryland) and Ka’dar Hollman (Toledo), defensive lineman Kinglsey Keke (Texas A&M), running back Dexter Williams (Notre Dame), and 11 rookie free agents.