Make no mistake, Rodgers came right out and said the Packers "have to play a lot better than we have" in order to win in the coming weeks. They're right in the thick of things at 3-2-1, in second place in the NFC North, but just how seriously they'll be taken as a playoff contender could depend on the next month or so.

If Rodgers can get his full complement of veteran receivers back, that would help. Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison have missed multiple games with hamstring injuries. They were back on the practice field Tuesday, but no one was saying for certain they'd be playing Sunday in L.A.

While praise for rookies Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown and the progress they've made is well-deserved – Rodgers went out of his way to recall the "fantastic catch" St. Brown made on a back-shoulder throw to help set up the walk-off field goal to beat San Francisco last Monday night – the Packers went into the season planning for Davante Adams, Cobb, Allison and tight end Jimmy Graham to be the top four targets in the passing game.

Adams leads the team with 557 receiving yards and six scores, while Cobb started the season with a 142-yard night that included the game-winning touchdown, and Allison averaged 72 yards per game the first four weeks before he went down. Meanwhile, Graham has been settling in, with 11 catches for 180 yards over the last two contests.

The veteran gang hasn't been all together since Week 3, but the reunion could pay dividends, especially if the Packers go up-tempo with the no-huddle to keep up with the Rams.

"(The rookies) filled those voids and helped us out the best they can," Allison said. "I think me and Randall, having (us) back will help us. There will be more maturity out there, and 12 can be more comfortable too with us.