Four takeaways from Packers’ NFC North-clinching win over Lions

Geronimooo!

Geronimo Allison is a great NFL story.

Plummeting grades put his football future in jeopardy while at Spoto High. But Allison sharpened his focus and went on to earn a spot at Illinois. Two years later he was forced to take the long route into the NFL, going undrafted last spring before eventually signing with the Packers.

An encouraging preseason wasn’t enough to land a place on Green Bay’s 53-man roster, despite the team keeping seven receivers. Yet here we are, wrapping up the regular season and it’s Allison, not Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis or Trevor Davis, making critical plays with his quarterback’s trust.

Allison caught four passes for a team-high 91 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night. Think Aaron Rodgers is comfortable firing his way? The 6-foot-3 pass catcher continued to make plays in Randall Cobb’s absence, his size and sure hands making him an interesting matchup.

Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams will grab the attention of New York’s premier defensive backs next week, and a returning Cobb would add another difference maker to the mix. But at some stage, Rodgers will need to count on Allison to produce.

So far, he hasn’t let his quarterback down.