Top five performers for Packers in Week 17 loss vs. Lions

5. Packers fans

They booed, they got frustrated with play calling, decisions and just a lack of effort by the players in Sunday’s game. They have been criticized for doing the wave during play, and have been accused of getting loud at wrong times. But you can’t say they don’t show up.

With the game meaning nothing and with stars leaving the game early due to injury, no one would have blamed the Packers fans if they decided to pack it up early and head home. But they didn’t, they stayed right there until deep into the fourth quarter and endured an ugly loss, one they are not used to seeing, in sub-freezing temps.

One benefit of the Packers’ season was the ticket cost of the last two home games dropped drastically. This allowed some fans a chance at attending a game they may not have been able to otherwise.

If the Packers would have been in the playoff hunt, it would not have been an exaggeration to say the cheapest ticket for the game would have been somewhere in the $300 range for the cheapest seats.

I have had the privilege of attending all sorts of games at Lambeau, preseason, regular, playoff, warm games, cold games, meaningless and meaningful. It doesn’t matter when, it is a unique experience. One that not every Packers fan gets a chance at living.

So, when they get their chance and they sit through sub-freezing temperatures and support this team in a down year, you get a thumbs up.

Now the Packers can start to turn the page on a sub-standard year. Changes will come and there will be drastic differences come next season. How can there not be when you hire a new head coach? After this past Sunday’s effort, a total cleansing of the coaching staff may be in order.

Players will come and players will go. While there won’t be a championship banner coming from this season, there’s always next year.

Let the countdown begin. Four months until OTAs, under four until the draft, seven months until training camp and nine months until the next meaningful game.