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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- An athletic tight end added to the passing game. Deep balls turned into game-changing plays.And in the backfield, a former receiver has turned into a breakaway threat on the ground.The Green Bay Packers have found offensive balance and more options for quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the teams late-season surge back into the playoff picture.That run the table comment that Rodgers made when the Packers were 4-6 -- referring to Green Bay needing to win its final six regular-season games -- isnt such a far-fetched idea after all.Obviously its a leap of faith, but also a feeling based on seeing these guys every single day, understanding how close I felt like we were to being a better offense, Rodgers said Tuesday.The passing game was already the strong point for the Packers (8-6), even before their current four-game win streak. The Packers relied on a quick-passing attack to receivers Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb to help compensate for an injury-riddled backfield and a foot injury to tight end Jared Cook.Slowly but surely, more threats are emerging, just in time for a game against Minnesotas tough defense coming up Christmas Eve at Lambeau Field.The Packers now have at least a couple of avenues to return to the playoffs for an eighth straight season, though the most direct road involves beating the Vikings to set up a winner-take-all showdown in Detroit for the NFC North on New Years Day against the Lions.If something else happens, then thats great, but were worried about this week and trying to get one more win and put ourselves in position to win the division, Nelson said.The Packers have hit on deep balls the last two weeks, with Adams snaring a 66-yard touchdown catch against Seattle before the Rodgers-to-Nelson bomb against the Bears that set up the winning field goal.The 6-foot-4 Cook is a matchup problem in coverage, as evidenced by his six catches for 85 yards on eight targets against Chicago.Ive talked about it since I got here, the fastest way to the end zone is through the middle of the field, so the bigger target you have going down the field the better it is for your quarterback, coach Mike McCarthy said.In the backfield, after losing Eddie Lacy to a season-ending ankle injury in October, the Packers finally seemed to have found a lead back in the most unconventional of ways.Former receiver Ty Montgomery erased any lingering doubt that he was just a novelty after rushing for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries against Chicago. McCarthy disclosed last week that Montgomery was now a full-time running back, and the Bears treated him as such in coverage -- a first for an opposing defense this year, Rodgers said.Behind Montgomery, Christine Michael also appears to be settling in with Green Bay after being claimed off waivers from Seattle last month. Montgomery and Michael provided a one-two backfield punch against Chicago that the Packers havent had since Lacy and James Starks were healthy at the start of the season.The added diversity on offense comes at just the right time, too, with Rodgers working through calf and hamstring injuries.Even then, Rodgers arm remains sharp, even if his mobility might be limited.I felt like regardless of how our defense was playing, if we could set the tone offensively ... it would help out the defense, Rodgers said about his run the table comment. Give them a little confidence when they took they field that theyre not behind or against the field position every single time, as they were many times in that four-game stretch.Game notes The Packers didnt practice Tuesday. Rodgers said he expected to be limited when practice resumed Wednesday. ... McCarthy was hopeful that LB Nick Perry (hand) could practice on Wednesday. Perry, who leads the team with eight sacks, has missed the last two games.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Ryan Reaves Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Brandon Pirri Golden Knights Jersey . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-malcolm-subban-golden-knights-jersey/ .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Mark Stone Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Paul Stastny Golden Knights Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Dual premiership-winning coach Chris Anderson fears rugby league may be dead in 10 years if the NRL doesnt get its house in order.Anderson is pleading with selfish club bosses to end their war with ARL Commission chairman John Grant for the greater good of the game - or face catastrophic consequences.But while he is seriously concerned about the threat from AFL and soccer, those two rival football codes arent Andersons biggest worry.Our biggest danger is rugby union, the former Canterbury, Melbourne, Cronulla, Sydney Roosters and Kangaroos coach told AAP.Not as in it taking it over, but a Murdoch or a Packer coming in and saying rugby union in Australia needs grassroots competition. They (the ARU) havent got enough money to make it happen.Weve got the best grassroots competition in Australia so if Murdoch came in and said to every player were going to double your wages and youre going to play rugby union next year.Its a big world sport. Its taken over Europe. Rugby leagues died in Europe. All good players now go to union; in England, in France.So its a big game. Its growing in America. Thats our danger. If we dont get our house in order, our danger is well be playing rugby union in 10 years.Anderson can understand NRL club boosses for being upset at having their promised funding from 2018 cut.ddddddddddddBut hes still siding with Grant and the commission, who instead want to invest in grassroots rugby league to address declining player numbers.Theres more than just NRL. The clubs dont see that. They just see themselves, Anderson said.Clubs are a little bit selfish. I think the structures not right. The structure needs to be that the clubs cant run head office. Head office has to run the clubs.You cant throw a ton of money at the clubs and not put it into development.And we need to change the way that weve treated country rugby league. The demographics have changed there.If we dont change those things, rugby league will die. AFL are genius in grassroots (development). They throw a lot of money at grassroots.If we dont do that, theyll hurt us.As well as rugby union, Anderson worries about the continuing surge of AFL and football on the back of the Socceroos three straight World Cup appearances.All our kids played soccer til they were eight or nine and then came to rugby league. Now theyve got a reason to stay in soccer. ' ' '