50 weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers won on the road, beating the winless Cleveland Browns 27-21, needing an overtime to do it.
Subsequent stops in Charlotte and Detroit to close out the 2017 season, followed by trips to Washington, Detroit again, Los Angeles, New England and Seattle this year has resulted in unhappy flights home.
It's an uncanny seven game road losing streak for the Pack and if they're not careful, it'll be a crazy eight Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium when they get the rematch with the Minnesota Vikings.
In the first meeting between these two at Lambeau Field back in September, the Packers took a 20-7 lead into the fourth quarter and were up 29-21 with 1:45 to play before the Vikes tied it up, thanks to a phantom roughing the passer penalty on Clay Matthews that wiped out a game sealing interception. Adam Thielen's falling on the seat of his pants 22 yard touchdown catch with :31 to play in regulation brought Minnesota within 2 and then Kirk Cousins found Stephon Diggs for the game tying conversion. Neither team scored in overtime in the 29-29 tie.
The rematch in the Twin Cities has both teams still tied in knots, Minnesota is 5-4-1, the Packers are 4-5-1 and each team is chasing the Chicago Bears who pulled further in front of the NFC North race at 8-3 with a Thanksgiving Day victory against the Lions at Ford Field.
The loser Sunday night won't mathematically take the knockout punch but at the very least, it'd be a standing 8 count with five games to play.
So from the land of 10,000 lakes, I've found a handful that appropriately set the stage for a do or die, black and blue battle.
Medicine Lake (5 miles west of downtown Minneapolis)
Maybe the Packers can take a quick dip in this pond before the game. It might heal Jimmy Graham's broken thumb, Mike Daniels' bum foot, not to mention Nick Perry's ankle, Kevin King's groin, Kentrell Brice's ankle. You know where I'm going with this. The Packers have been thinned and if the backups can't hold up, it could be a long night.
Dean Lake (just outside Shakopee)
In honor of Dean Lowry who will have to play his best game in place of Daniels on the front line. The Vikings have made no bones about wanting to run the ball more. They've been badly out-balanced since Dalvin Cook got nicked up and Latvious Murry hasn't been the answer. Cook is better and Lowry has to be much better or the Vikes will find that balance.
Rush Lake (not far from Fergus Falls)
While the Vikes want to run more, the Packers need to run more with Aaron Jones. He's been dynamic on nearly every touch but for some reason, the Packers just don't get him many touches after intermission. Minnesota's front seven is a challenge but the Packers put up 98 yards on the ground in the week two matchup, and that was without Jones.
Thief Lake (near Thief River Falls)
The Packers defense must play like thieves and the Vikings have been pretty generous, particularly Kirk Cousins. He's thrown seven interceptions and has fumbled the ball eight times, losing six. That's more than a turnover a week. The Packers need to give the offense extra possessions, just like the Seattle game started.
Lake Camelot (just north of Plymouth)
It might take all of the round table's knights for Green Bay to win but their King Arthur (Aaron Rodgers) has to wield Excaliber (his right arm) like there's no tomorrow, because there may not be. Even Rodgers said this week he needs a near perfect game. With a limited Graham, a still not 100% Randall Cobb and rookies behind his one proven weapon in Davante Adams, Rodgers must be Arthur, Lancelot and the entire castle guard wrapped into one.
I expect another spirited effort. The Packers have had and extra couple of days to rest up and prepare. But it's a road game and in the end, you can add Minneapolis to the list of miserable trips that don't seem to end.
I like the Vikes, 23-21.