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As long as the Packers have Aaron Rodgers -- even with a broken toe -- they're going to be the favorites on most days. The offense has closely resembled the 2020 version that led the NFL in scoring. The Packers have scored over 30 points in each of the past two weeks, and they now have a bye week to get a little healthier for a stretch run that includes only two more road games -- one of which is at winless Detroit. -- Rob Demovsky

Aaron Rodgers was limping around Lambeau Field by the end of Sunday's win over the Rams, but a bum pinkie toe is the extent of the bad news around Green Bay these days. The Packers dressed down the "all in" Rams and hit the bye at 9-3, a mark that gives them a commanding lead in the NFC North and leaves them just a half-game behind the top-seeded Cardinals, whom they have the head-to-head tiebreaker over, thanks to their Week 8 win. On Sunday, Green Bay got key contributions from Rasul Douglas (the game-icing pick-six), Randall Cobb (95 yards and a touchdown before he left at halftime with a groin injury) and A.J. Dillon, who out-touched Aaron Jones despite the latter's return from a knee injury. This is a deep and talented team.

Beating the Rams the way they did shows they are one of the league's best. That game wasn't as close as the score indicates. Matt LaFleur is doing a heck of a job.

Absent a clear-cut juggernaut, Green Bay has as good a case as any club as the league's top outfit. QB Aaron Rodgers, despite his "toe-vid," is coming off consecutive strong performances -- he looked plenty mobile in Sunday's dispatching of the Rams -- and gets a week off just in time. The Pack's other walking wounded will also benefit from rest ahead of the stretch run, which includes a favorable schedule offering up middling-to-bad NFC North opponents. A second straight No. 1 seed is very achievable.

Problem area: Aaron Rodgers' toe. Don't worry, we're not going to post the photo again. But what the last month or so has taught us is that when the Packers have Rodgers on the field, they can make a strong argument they're the best team in the NFC. And with defensive stars Za'Darius Smith and Jaire Alexander potentially returning later this season, Rodgers' toe is the key injury to watch. He limped at times in Sunday's win, and he's likely going to just have to manage the pain, play through it and hope he can avoid further injury.