Davante Adams

Davante Adams isn't focused on whether he will be franchise-tagged by the Green Bay Packers as he chases a Super Bowl title.

"I'm not sure how to answer that safely, so we'll just cross that bridge when we get there," he said, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "I like to be professional on here."

His comments come after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported there is a belief the Packers giving the star wide receiver the tag after the campaign is an "eventuality" at this point.

Talk about the future in Green Bay has been a central storyline in the NFL since before the season even started with Aaron Rodgers not reporting to minicamp and being coy, to say the least, about whether he would be a member of the Packers for the foreseeable future.

While many of the headlines were about the quarterback, he and Adams did notably post a picture of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on their Instagram Stories at the same time in July in what could be interpreted as a reference to The Last Dance documentary chronicling the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.

This could, in theory, be Adams' final dance with the Packers since his contract is set to expire after the 2021 season, but Rapoport reported the franchise tag of approximately $20 million would then lead into the team attempting to work out a long-term deal with the pass-catcher.

Yet the report also highlighted the fact "there have been no talks whatsoever about a new deal" ever since negotiations ended in July.

It seems like the Adams situation will be one that is worked out one way or the other during the offseason, but even salary-cap concerns may not hold the Packers back if they attempt to keep him aboard.

After all, he is arguably the team's most important player outside of Rodgers and was named to his fifth straight Pro Bowl this season. He has 117 catches for 1,498 yards and 11 touchdowns after leading the league with 18 touchdown receptions a season ago.

Green Bay has already clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with one regular-season game remaining in large part because of the connection between Rodgers and Adams.

It may take some negotiating to ensure they are still together next season, but the wide receiver isn't worried about that for the time being given his comments.          

The Green Bay Packers are already the NFL's best team after extending their record to 13-3 with Sunday's dominant 37-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Packers have yet to reach their peak. 

They should get better once the postseason gets rolling because a handful of key contributors could be back in the fold, and the offense thrives with quarterback Aaron Rodgers taking full advantage of all of the weapons at his disposal. 

Rodgers has been exceptional, of course. He's once again one of the top names in the MVP conversation and could very well be considered the favorite depending on how a person feels about Joe Burrow's recent run with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Either way, Rodgers has been his normal, exceptional self, as his 288-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Vikings can attest. In fact, the 38-year-old quarterback has thrown one interception since Week 5.

Tonight was his sixth straight game with two or more touchdowns and no picks, which tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

To better understand just how amazing Rodgers' precision is, he could finish this season with four or fewer interceptions despite 500 or more passing attempts for the third time in his career. No one else has ever accomplished the same feat. 

The new year should bring plenty of treats, too, after claiming the NFC's No. 1 seed and thus the first-round bye to start the postseason. 

"I don't want to say a sense of relaxation because that's not what it is at all. But it's comforting to know we have that to lean on because we're pretty banged up," wide receiver Davante Adams told reporters. 

As good as Rodgers is—and he's a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game—he benefits from his supporting cast, which has been amorphous this season thanks to numerous injuries. But the lineup could solidify once the postseason begins. 

Obviously, the offense flows through Adams. The wide receiver set the Packers' single-season record for the second-straight year with 117 receptions. 

The Rodgers-Adams connection is one of the best in NFL history, yet they'll need help for Green Bay to finally make the Super Bowl under Matt LaFleur's supervision. In order to reach the right balance, an all-time great quote from college coach Mike Leach applies.  

"There's nothing balanced about 50 percent run, 50 percent pass, because that's 50 percent stupid," Leach told reporters when he still served as the Washington State Cougars' head coach. 

Sunday's effort also showed a better run-to-pass ratio, with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion combining for 139 yards on 22 carries. The two backs averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

Arguments will be made in favor of featuring Jones and Dillion to take full advantage of the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field. However, the duo should get the ball based on them being quality offensive threats, not just as running backs to churn out yards because it's supposedly too cold to pass the pigskin.

Jones is both a slashing runner and a viable receiving threat out of the backfield. The duality of his difference-making ability keeps defenses on their heels because he can burn opponents in either manner.

Dillon is different. At 247 pounds, the second-year ball-carrier can punish opponents, particularly in short-yardage or red-zone situations. This doesn't mean Dillion is incapable of busting big plays or even catching the ball—he simply brings a different dynamic to the offense.

Dillon doesn't need to be a workhorse, but he can certainly be the closer, as he was against the Vikings.

Adams is going to get the ball. Frankly, no one can stop the game's premier wide receiver. He managed six or more receptions in 13 of 15 games. It's everyone else around Rodgers who can make the offense better. 

The running backs and their usage have already been mentioned, but the wide receiver corps beyond Adams should receive a significant boost. Marquez Valdes-Scantling already returned to the lineup after being on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He only caught one pass for three yards against the Vikings. Still, his involvement should grow as he gets his legs back under him. 

Randall Cobb is expected back as well, despite going on injured reserve after requiring core muscle surgery. 

"He said, 'Don't worry, I'll be back,'" Packers receivers coach Jason Vrable told reporters about Cobb's response to the injury. "And for some people, it could have maybe been season-ending. But for him, he told me that, and he's that type of guy where I knew if anybody's going to come back, it's going to be him. He doesn't want to miss this playoff opportunity, and he's just excited about it."

Cobb practiced last week. He'll likely get another weekend to heal before he's reinserted into the lineup. 

A full complement of wide receivers is only part of the potential impactful returns. David Bakhtiari's return has long been rumored and could have been saved for this specific point in the season. The Packers have taken their time with his recovery after Bakhtiari tore his ACL in December 2020.

When healthy, Bakhtiari is an elite left tackle with no one counted as a better pure pass-blocker. 

"Obviously, Dave is a great player, a Pro Bowl player, he's one of the premier players in this league at that position. He's doing everything he can," LaFleur said two weeks ago. "Our athletic training staff is doing everything they can to get him back out there, and when the time's right, he'll be back out there."

The Packers' front five has done well for itself even without its two best players in Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, who is on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Right tackle Billy Turner required a knee procedure this season as well. 

Nonetheless, the group continues to persevere. The added push of Bakhtiari taking over the blindside could solidify and improve the entire unit if the three-time Pro Bowl selection is capable of returning this season. 

Similar expectations can be found on the defensive side of the ball. Za'Darius Smith is an NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate when healthy. Unfortunately, he continues to deal with a back surgery he required in September. His possible return remains up in the air as well.

The Packers are fine at outside linebacker with Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, but a handful of quality reps from Za'Darius Smith each game would make the Packers' front even more potent. 

On the back end, Jaire Alexander's recovery from an in-season shoulder surgery still has him on the shelf. The team activated the 24-year-old defensive back from the injured reserve on Wednesday. 

Alexander is arguably the game's best pure cover corner when he's operating at full tilt. He may not be the same player during the playoffs, but he can definitely lengthen the bench and provide a much deeper secondary during the most crucial point of the season. 

With Sunday's victory, the Packers became the first team in NFL history to win 13 games in three straight seasons, per ESPN Stats & Info. Historically, the squad has been very good during LaFleur's tenure, but the previous two seasons ended with a loss in the NFC Championship Game.

For that to change, proper distribution between Rodgers and all of his weapons, as well as some fortuitous medical evaluations, could easily push the Packers past everyone else in the conference. 

The road to the Super Bowl runs through Green Bay.

The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed and only first-round bye with a 37-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday's NFC North showdown at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams led the way for the victors, who improved to 13-3 with their fifth consecutive win and will now have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Minnesota was without quarterback Kirk Cousins and was eliminated from playoff contention as it fell to 7-9.

Notable Player Stats

• Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB: 29-of-38 passing for 288 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
• Davante Adams, WR, GB: 11 catches for 136 yards, 1 TD
• AJ Dillon, RB, GB: 14 carries for 63 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches for 20 yards
• Aaron Jones, RB, GB: 8 carries for 76 yards; 5 catches for 30 yards
• Allen Lazard, WR, GB: 6 catches for 72 yards, 1 TD
• Sean Mannion, QB, MIN: 22-of-36 passing for 189 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs

Rodgers, Offense Look Unstoppable as Packers Clinch Bye

This year is championship-or-bust for the Packers, meaning Sunday's game took on even more importance because clinching the first-round bye would both eliminate a necessary playoff game and give them an opportunity to rest their stars in Week 18 to further preserve their health for the postseason.

It took them some time to seize that opportunity, though, as three of their first four possessions stalled in the red zone for two field goals and a turnover on downs.

However, it was just a matter of time before Rodgers broke through, and he did just that with a perfectly placed ball to Allen Lazard for the game's first touchdown in the second quarter. He was far from done and extended the lead to a seemingly insurmountable 20-0 before halftime with another touchdown pass to Adams.

Green Bay's offense started operating with surgical precision after the initial slow start, as Adams went over the century mark for yardage in the first half and Aaron Jones exploded through holes at the line of scrimmage while also getting involved in the aerial attack.

It wasn't difficult to envision the Packers lifting the Lombardi Trophy as the onslaught continued into the second half. Rodgers, Adams and Jones generate most of the headlines, and deservedly so, but AJ Dillon got into the fun by churning out tough yardage between the tackles before finding the end zone multiple times.

Everything was clicking for Green Bay as it enacted some revenge against its rivals and clinched that No. 1 seed with an entire week remaining.

That means Rodgers and the red-hot offense won't play a meaningful game in three weeks, but they also proved Sunday they can quickly bounce back from something of a slow start with plenty of playmakers. Perhaps there will be some rust to overcome, but No. 12 is operating an offense that looks ready to win the Super Bowl.

Shorthanded Vikings Had No Chance

Minnesota may have beaten the Packers the first time they faced each other this season, but doing so again Sunday figured to be quite the daunting task with Cousins on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

That was apparent right out of the gates.

The Vikings' first five possessions ended with a turnover on downs and four punts as Sean Mannion struggled to find anything downfield and was far too reliant on safety valves and short throws. Green Bay's defense made a point of containing Dalvin Cook, and the fact the visitors fell behind 20-3 by halftime largely neutralized the threat of the consistent run game.

Playing from behind against Rodgers and Co. is a recipe for a loss for basically any quarterback in the league, and that certainly applied to Mannion.

After all, he hadn't appeared in a game since 2019 and entered play with zero touchdown passes and three interceptions. A dramatic comeback against arguably the NFL's best team wasn't in the cards, especially with the ability to rely on the dynamic Cook largely out of the picture because of the rough start.

Green Bay's defense deserves plenty of credit as well.

Not only did it swarm to Cook's running lanes, it kept Justin Jefferson in relative check while the game was still hanging in the balance and pressured Mannion enough to make him even more uncomfortable on the road. Combine that with the dominant Packers offense, and the Vikings didn't have much of a chance Sunday.           

What's Next?

Both teams finish their regular seasons against division foes in Week 18 when the Packers travel to face the Detroit Lions and the Vikings host the Chicago Bears.

The Green Bay Packers are reportedly expected to use their franchise tag on wide receiver Davante Adams this offseason.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the tag is viewed as an "eventuality" before the Packers try re-engaging Adams in long-term contract talks.

The franchise tag would cost roughly $20 million, a more than reasonable number for a player of Adams' caliber but tough to swallow under Green Bay's current cap situation. The Packers are slated to be $37.6 million over the 2022 cap without accounting for Adams' contract.

Interestingly, trading Aaron Rodgers may give Green Bay the best chance at keeping Adams. The Packers would save $19.3 million on their 2022 cap by trading or releasing Rodgers after this season, which is by far their biggest potential source of savings. Green Bay could also greatly lower Rodgers' cap hit by signing him to an extension with several voidable years.

The Packers will also look hard at restructuring the contract of linebacker Za'Darius Smith, who has a $28.1 million cap hit, along with safety Adrian Amos ($12 million). Wide receiver Randall Cobb seems like a mortal lock to be released given his $7.9 million base salary and lack of production.

Adams said Rodgers' status will help determine whether he wants to remain in Green Bay. 

"I mean, I'm sure. ... Naturally. Why wouldn't it? I'm playing with the best quarterback to play the game," Adams told reporters Wednesday. "There's nothing other than having a connection that I built up with my guy, and playing a certain way, so there's that expectation, there's that friendship built up in it. 

"There's a lot that goes into it, so obviously to a certain extent it won't be the end-all, be-all, but it'll definitely be something I'm monitoring and paying attention to, to see where his head is at after all of this."

Adams and Rodgers both hinted the 2021 season could be their last during the offseason when they posted The Last Dance images on social media.

As speculation continues about Aaron Rodgers' future with the Green Bay Packers, Davante Adams is keeping an eye on how things play out between the star quarterback and the organization.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, Adams said he is "monitoring" what's going on with Rodgers.

"Naturally," Adams explained. "Why wouldn't it? I'm playing with the best quarterback to play the game. There's a lot that goes into it, so it won't be the end-all, be-all, but it'll definitely be something I'm monitoring and paying attention to, to see where his head is at."

After spending last offseason trying to get traded by the Packers, Rodgers agreed to terms on a revised contract in July that will void his deal before the start of the 2023 league year.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported in August the Packers have agreed they will trade Rodgers after this season if he still wants to leave the organization.

Rodgers told reporters Wednesday he won't take long after the season to make a decision about his future.

"It won't be something where I'll drag it out for months and months," Rodgers said.

Amid all of the offseason drama, Rodgers and Adams posted matching images on Instagram Live of Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan that were used as promotional material for The Last Dance documentary that traced the final season of the Chicago Bulls' dynasty:

Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd in May, Adams said that Rodgers' status with the Packers could "potentially" impact his future:

Adams can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, but the Packers do have the ability to place the franchise tag on the five-time Pro Bowler if the two sides don't agree to a long-term deal.

Per CBS Sports' Joel Corry, the franchise tender for wide receivers in 2022 is estimated to be $18.42 million based on a $208.2 million salary cap.

Adams, a second-round pick out of Fresno State in 2014, has spent his entire career in Green Bay.

Since the start of 2016, he has averaged 94 receptions, 1,167 yards and 11 touchdowns per season. The 29-year-old ranks second in the NFL in receptions (106), third in receiving yards (1,362) and is tied for third in touchdown catches (10) this season.

Green Bay has already clinched its third straight NFC North title. The Packers can clinch the No. 1 overall seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs Sunday with a win over the Vikings and a loss by the Dallas Cowboys.   

Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams both made references to The Last Dance heading into the 2021 NFL season.

While it's possible one or both stars winds up leaving Green Bay this offseason, Peter King of NBC Sports has an idea that could keep them together outside the greater Wisconsin area.

King delved into a scenario where the Denver Broncos fire coach Vic Fangio in favor of Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, land Adams in free agency and then trade first- and fourth-round picks in 2022 and a first-round pick in 2023 along with wideout Jerry Jeudy to the Packers for Rodgers.

While that scenario playing out exactly how King envisioned is unlikely, an Adams-Rodgers pairing in Denver cannot be discounted. The Broncos have one of the most promising young cores of skill-position players in football, making them attractive to Rodgers if he were to decide to force a trade out of Green Bay this offseason.

Green Bay seems unlikely to allow Adams to walk into free agency; he looks like a prime candidate for the franchise tag, even if the Packers' messy cap situation tries getting in the way. Adams is the type of player who can command multiple draft picks in trade talks, so even a short-term tag before trading him feels like the likelier option.

If the Broncos want to throw all their chips to the middle of the table, there are worse ways to do it than keeping Rodgers and Adams together.

The Green Bay Packers earned their fourth straight win by defeated the Cleveland Browns 24-22 on Christmas Day. Aaron Rodgers threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns as Green Bay improved to 12-3.

Rodgers surpassed Hall of Famer Brett Favre's franchise passing touchdowns record of 442 in the victory. Rodgers now has 445 passing scores in his career. 

With the win, the Packers maintain their top spot in the NFC standings. Green Bay already clinched the NFC North after last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Browns fell to 7-8 after their second consecutive loss, causing a major blow to their playoff hopes. Baker Mayfield threw two touchdowns and four interceptions in the loss. Nick Chubb had 184 total scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

Notable Stats

Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB: 24-of-34 for 202 YDS, 3 TD

Davante Adams, WR, GB: 10 REC for 114 YDS, 2 TD

Baker Mayfield, QB, CLE: 21-of-36 for 222 YDS, 2 TD, 4 INT

Nick Chubb, RB, CLE: 17 CAR for 126 YDS, TD; 3 REC for 58 YDS

Packers Perform on Both Sides of the Ball

Green Bay played complementary football on Saturday, using strong defense to ignite its offense. The Packers forced three first-half turnovers and scored touchdowns on each ensuing possession. Chandon Sullivan, Rasul Douglas and Darnell Savage each recorded an interception in the first half.

Packers receiver Allen Lazard got things going with an 11-yard score, which was Rodgers' record-breaker.

Adams made his presence felt in a big way early on, recording nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns before halftime.

Cleveland kept the game competitive, but Green Bay was able to get timely stops to put the brakes on any momentum the Browns were trying to build.

The Browns broke through with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to make it a two-point game, but Douglas got his second interception of the day to put the game away. Saturday's win was the first game that the Packers have held an opponent to under 28 points since their Week 10 shutout win over the Seattle Seahawks.

If Green Bay's defense can continue to make opportunistic plays that its offense can take advantage of, the Packers will be a tough out in the playoffs.

Mayfield's Mistakes Too Much for Cleveland to Overcome

Cleveland played a competitive game on Saturday, but the team couldn't bounce back from early mistakes by Mayfield. It was the first four-interception game of his career.

The polarizing quarterback made some questionable decisions throughout the game. Each of his first-half interceptions came on badly thrown balls.

The Browns had success when they made their rushing attack the focal point of their offense. With Chubb leading the way, Cleveland totaled 219 yards on the ground.

Mayfield's first three interceptions led to touchdowns by Green Bay. The Packers had just one other scoring drive throughout the game, so it's safe to say Cleveland could've been in position to earn an upset win had Mayfield avoided so many costly errors. The back-breaker came on his fourth interception with 50 seconds remaining in the game.

The Browns had an opportunity to steal a win against the top team in the NFC, but Mayfield's subpar performance was too much for them to overcome. Cleveland will have some crucial decisions to make this offseason regarding whether it will sign Mayfield to a long-term extension. Saturday's outing may have damaged his case to earn a big-money deal.

What's Next?

The Packers will host the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings next Sunday night. The Browns will remain on the road for a division matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 3 on Monday Night Football.