Giants-Packers: Judgment day for Packers’ defense

By Kevin Seifert,ESPN.com

~

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Star cornerback Charles Woodson is among those to express concern about the Packers’ defense.

(Note: I hope everyone is good with pushing forward on our football discussion even as the Green Bay Packers are mourning the death of a family member. I considered holding off out of respect for those impacted by the death of Michael Philbin, but in the end I think we can be respectful while also providing an outlet for those who want to read about Sunday’s divisional playoff game.)

Fear is a strong word. I don’t think the Green Bay Packers fear the consequences of their historically porous pass defense. They won 15 games with it during the regular season, after all. I’m not even sure they’re worried about it. They discovered and have implemented the antidote throughout the past four months.

But if you’re someone who likes to conceive the worst-case scenario, you don’t have to think too hard.

The Packers tripped only once this season, despite giving up an NFL-record 4,796 passing yards, mostly because they intercepted a league-leading 31 passes. In the playoffs, of course, the quarterbacks are better and less prone to mistakes. The Packers could face a Pro Bowl quarterback at every step between now and Super Bowl XLVI.

The bottom line: If an elite quarterback gashes them for yards but avoids the interceptions, he could knock the Packers out of the playoffs.

To be sure, there have been all kinds of attempts to poke holes in the Packers’ near-perfect season. To me, this is the one instance with merit. The Packers’ only loss this season came when Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton threw for 299 yards with no interceptions — the only game this season the Packers didn’t create at least one turnover.

First up this postseason will be the New York Giants’ Eli Manning, who fell 67 yards shy of a 5,000-yard season and threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 13 loss to the Packers. The final score was 38-35, and the Packers’ scoring included linebacker Clay Matthews’ interception return for a touchdown.

With the exception of a few pointed statements from cornerback Charles Woodson, the issue has mostly bubbled below the surface. But speaking late in the regular season, Woodson reiterated his concerns about the defense’s aptitude for postseason football.

“Defensively we still have some problems,” Woodson said after the Packers allowed 441 total yards in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. “We just give up way too many things on a consistent basis, so we have a long way to go. … Just not playing good football at times. We’ve been consistently inconsistent throughout the season. It’s on each man to get it done. Moving forward we have a great opportunity. … Everybody on this team, to the man, has to look within himself and just get the job done.”

Charles Woodson: "We just give up way too many things on a consistent basis, so we have a long way to go. … Just not playing good football at times. We've been consistently inconsistent throughout the season."

300-yard Games vs. Packers*

Week	Quarterback	Comp. pct.	Yards	TD	INT	Rating	Blitz pct.
1	Drew Brees	65.3	419	3	0	112.5	43.1
2	Cam Newton	60.9	432	1	3	72.0	27.8
6	Sam Bradford	64.4	328	0	1	76.9	56.3
9	Philip Rivers	56.5	385	4	3	85.9	53.2
11	Josh Freeman	73.7	342	2	2	96.6	61.5
13	Eli Manning	57.5	347	3	1	100.7	46.3
17+	Matthew Stafford	61.0	520	5	2	103.8	35.0
*Kyle Orton threw for 299 yards in Week 14 +CB Charles Woodson, LB Clay Matthews inactive

As the chart shows, the Packers allowed a 300-yard passer in nearly half their games this season. They intercepted the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton three times to spoil a 432-yard day, for example, and held off the San Diego Chargers mostly because they intercepted Philip Rivers a career-high three times and returned two for touchdowns.

Manning, meanwhile, compiled eight 300-yard games during the regular season; the Giants were 4-4 in those games. He threw the seventh-most interceptions in the NFL, 16, but has thrown only one interception in the Giants’ past three games.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers has addressed the issue on almost a weekly basis this season. Speaking to Wisconsin reporters last week, Capers admitted that “we don’t like” the yardage totals but added: “We’ve been able to win 15 games, and the reason for that, with our defensive stats the way they are, is the fact that we ended up No. 1 in the league in takeaways and No. 1 in the league in interceptions. That’s something we obviously place a high priority on.”

Packers’ Defense Rushing
4 or Fewer, Past 2 Seasons

	2010	2011
Comp pct	58.2	66.6
Yds/att	6.7	8.5
TD	12	21
Sacks	30	11
Source: ESPN Stats & Information

Rematch at Lambeau: Giants at Packers in NFC Divisional

By Brian E Murphy, Packers Insider senior editor

~Eli Manning’s Giants will make his second career playoff start in Green Bay next Sunday, trying to go 2-0 and send the Packers into hibernation as he did four years ago against Brett Favre and those Packers in the NFC Championship game.

The last time these teams met in the playoffs, in the 2008 NFC Championship game, Brett Favre added to his patent with another season-ending interception, in overtime, forcing a pass to Driver. Donald was the only receiver who was not open on the play.

Packer fans still have emotional scars from that game, and frostbite perhaps if they were at that game.

The Giants are very similar today as they were then, except they are better now at wide reciever with Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz as the best duo the Packers defense will face.

Back in week 13, Nicks scored on both Charles Woodson and Sam Shields. Victor Cruz played at an All-Pro level the last half ot the season, and number three wide receiver Mario Manningham showed his skills with a touchdown against Atlanta in this weekend’s Wildcard game. 

DECEMBER 04: Hakeem Nicks #88 of the New York Giants catches a 4-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against Charles Woodson #21 of the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on December 4, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Giants have a big bruiser at runningback in Brandon Jacobs. He’s hurt the Packers time and time again, and is similar to Tampa Bay’s LeGarrette Blount, who rambled for over 100 yards and a TD on this soft Packers defense back in November.

Ahmad Bradshaw hurt the Packers in the 2008 championship game with a back-breaking touchdown, and he’s as dangerous today as he was then. He’s also a good receiver out of the backfield, in the Darren Sproles mode. He’s not quite as quick as Sproles is (nobody is), but he’s stronger. He breaks weak tackle attempts by defensive backs.

And then there’s Eli. 

Love him or hate him, Eli Manning is as clutch as it gets today in the NFL. Being a Manning, nothing fazes him. He's started down an 18-0 team and beaten them in a Super Bowl. He's also beaten the Packers in the playoffs before after having lost to them at home earlier in the sames season. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

He’s definitely clutch, with 15 fourth quarter touchdown passes this season, which set an all-time NFL record. He’s won a Super Bowl. He’s won a playoff game in Lambeau Field, in the coldest of cold weather. You could not ask for a better offense than what the Giants possess, other than maybe a better right tackle. Clay Matthews will need to have a big game in order to keep Eli from carving up the Packers secondary.

On defense, the Giants boast the best defensive line in the NFL, including the Lions.

They didn’t have a healthy Osi Umenyiora back in week 13, but DE Jason Pierre-Paul applied constant pressure on Rodgers, going around Marshall Newhouse all day long.  

Aaron Rodgers took a beating from the Giants defensive line last time they met, and was fortunate to avoid injury. The Giants didn't have Umenyiora then, while the Packers didn't have Clifton then. Those matchups at OT vs DE will be pivotal, and both Packers OT's (the other being Bryan Bulaga) are coming off of injuries.

There’s also Justin Tuck, who’s their version of Cullen Jenkins. He’s a beast and can put pressure up the middle. Chris Canty is another talent on the defensive line. He was a high-priced free agent purchase away from their division rival Dallas a few years ago.

Their linebackers are okay, and their defensive backs are okay. They’re not the best, but they’re capable.

At safety, they do have Antrell Rolle, who has seen Rodgers carve him up twice before, once as an Arizona Cardinal in the 2009 wildcard game in which Rodgers put up 45 on them, and the matchup this year that the Packers won 38-35.

There is some talent back there, and Jason Webster is still there. He’s the guy who picked off the gunslinger in overtime four years ago, ending the Packers season right on the brink of a Super Bowl. 

Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants fumbles the ball as he is upended by Clay Matthews #52 and Erik Walden #93 of the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on December 4, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Make no mistake about it. The Packers cannot show up with their ‘B’ or ‘C’ game for this one and come out with a win.

One good thing for the Packers: #4 is not going to be throwing the game’s final pass for the Packers.

Vandermause: What a year to be a Cheesehead

By Mike Vandermause, Green Bay Press-Gazette

~2011 should go down as the greatest year in Green Bay Packers history.

How can it get any better? 

In one glorious calendar year, the Packers won a Super Bowl championship and produced an all-time best 19-1 record. 

Packer fans have never had a better calendar year than 2011

Their starting quarterback enjoyed the finest season of any signal caller in NFL history. 

They announced contract extensions for their coach and general manager to ensure a promising future. 

They were the beneficiaries of a newly signed 10-year collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players union that keeps a salary cap and the draft in place and guarantees the Packers will remain prosperous and competitive despite playing in the league’s smallest city. 

They began work on another expansion of Lambeau Field and raised more than $60 million to help pay for it through a wildly popular sale of team stock. 

On or off the field, the Packers possessed the Midas touch and became the envy of the league. Their biggest problem will be trying to stage an encore performance. 

Here are the top 10 Packers stories from a magical year to remember: 

1. Lombardi Trophy comes home 

The Packers brought back the Lombardi Trophy in February

The year began with a hard-fought 10-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 2 that enabled the Packers to win a tiebreaker with two other 10-6 teams and slip into the playoffs as a No. 6 seed. They proceeded to win three consecutive road playoff games at Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago to set up their Super Bowl XLV triumph over Pittsburgh at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. The Packers became just the second sixth-seeded team to capture a championship. It was the Packers’ 13th overall title and fourth Super Bowl crown. 

2. Historic start to season  

The Packers burst out of the gate with an all-time team best 13-0 start this season and extended their overall winning streak to 19 games, second longest in NFL history. The Packers went 364 days without a loss. The streak finally ended on Dec. 18 at Kansas City. The Packers, who shattered the team’s single-season scoring record, earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 1996. The only other calendar years when the Packers suffered just one loss (with no ties) were 1919 (10-1) and 1962 (14-1).

Rest of story from Vandermause here

Aaron who? Matt Flynn torches Lions as Packers win 45-41

Associated Press

~GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers got to rest up for the playoffs. Somehow, the Green Bay Packers ‘ passing game became even more dangerous with Matt Flynn .

The backup Matt Flynn threw for a franchise-record six touchdowns, the final one to Jermichael Finley with 1:10 left, giving the Packers a 45-41 victory over the Detroit Lions in a wild regular-season finale Sunday.

Matt Flynn set the Packers all-time records of passing touchdowns (6) and yards passing (480) in his 2nd career start.

With Rodgers bundled up on the sideline in cold and windy conditions at Lambeau Field, Flynn set Packers records with 480 yards passing and the six TDs. It was an ideal afternoon for the Packers (15-1), who got to rest Rodgers and several other big-name players without losing playoff momentum.

Flynn barely got the Packers past Matthew Stafford , who threw for 520 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions for the Lions (10-6). Detroit has lost 21 straight road games to the Packers, including the postseason.

But the Lions head to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as a wild card.

According to STATS LLC, it was the first time in NFL history opposing quarterbacks each threw for 400-plus yards and five-plus touchdowns in a game. The teams’ combined 971 net yards passing broke the NFL record of 906.

Jordy Nelson had nine catches for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Packers.

Calvin Johnson had 11 catches for 244 yards and a touchdown, and Titus Young had a pair of touchdowns for the Lions.

With the afternoon off, Rodgers’ season quarterback rating of 122.5 coming into the game broke Peyton Manning ‘s single-season mark of 121.1 set in 2004.

With NFC home-field advantage for the playoffs secured, the Packers also rested several key players with nagging injuries: including cornerback Charles Woodson , linebacker Clay Matthews , wide receiver Greg Jennings , right tackle Bryan Bulaga , running back James Starks and wide receiver Randall Cobb .

For a while, it looked like the Lions would take advantage of their absence.

With the Lions trailing 24-19 at the half, Stafford got some help from the Packers’ defense in the third quarter. An unnecessary roughness penalty on outside linebacker Erik Walden and a personal foul on linebacker Desmond Bishop helped set up a 2-yard touchdown from Stafford to Young for a 26-24 lead.

Flynn answered right away, throwing a 58-yard touchdown to Nelson to give the Packers a 31-26 lead.

The Lions went back into the lead on a 5-yard touchdown throw to Kevin Smith and a 2-point conversion to tight end Tony Scheffler to put Detroit ahead 34-31.

Ndamukong Suh came up with a third-down sack on the Packers’ next possession, mocking Rodgers’ “title belt” celebration after dropping Flynn to the turf. Suh, of course, was suspended for two games after he stomped on Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith in Green Bay’s win on Thanksgiving.

But the Lions failed to convert on fourth down in Packers territory, and Flynn marched Green Bay for a 35-yard touchdown to Driver to give the Packers a 38-34 lead.

Johnson drew a pass interference penalty on Tramon Williams to give the Lions the ball at the Green Bay 28. Scheffler hauled in a one-handed catch to set up first-and-goal on the 2.

Johnson then was called for offensive pass interference in the end zone, but Stafford threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Scheffler in the back of the end zone and the Lions took a 41-38 lead with 2:39 left.

Flynn wasn’t finished, finding James Jones for a 40-yard completion to set up first-and-goal at the 6 with 1:19 left. Flynn found Finley to win it.

With the Lions threatening again in the final minute, Sam Shields ‘ interception put the game away.

The Packers got off to a rough start. Flynn was sacked and fumbled on the Packers’ first possession, and Stafford cashed in with an 8-yard pass to Young.

Packers backup returner Pat Lee tried to field the ensuing kickoff in the end zone, but it bounced off him and over the goal line. Lee then tried to pull the ball back for a touchback – but officials ruled a safety that gave the Lions a 9-0 lead.

Flynn then found his rhythm, and the Packers led 24-19 at halftime.

Full story here

Despite record, Packers’ defensive vulnerabilities could be trouble

By Tom Silverstein, Journal-Sentinel

~Green Bay – At 14-1, the Green Bay Packers are imperfect both in record and in form, not quite the team that roars into the postseason with a string of dominant performances to back up its status as owner of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

A year ago, after the Packers squeaked into the playoffs with a victory against the same division rivals they knocked off Sunday night, they were considered “dangerous,” a team you did not want coming into your house in the postseason.

This year, the Packers are respected for their impressive record, but some people are having a very easy time picking apart the flaws that reared their ugly heads Sunday in a 35-21 victory over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

In an imperfect season, the Packers are close to finding out the truth about themselves.

“I think every team has flaws, it’s just a matter of managing them,” linebacker Clay Matthews said after the Packers pulled away with 21 second-half points.

The Packers defense has been atrocious this year, but the Packers offense has usually been good enough to overcome the deficient defense. Ryan Pickett's absence the past 2 weeks has been evident. Big Grease is the best run-stopper on the defensive line.

 ”Last year we came on strong after the Detroit game and played two great games to finish the season.

“There’s always room for critics to kind of bring you down and let everybody know you are beatable. The good thing is it’s not the attitude of the players in this locker room. We know what we can do, and it’s led to a 14-1 record. I think that speaks for itself.”

Some other numbers that speak for themselves are 199 and 441, which are the yards the defense allowed on the ground and overall, respectively, against a Bears team starting third-stringers at quarterback and running back. Another is zero sacks.

Offensively, the Packers started the game looking more like the team that was stuck in neutral in Kansas City last week than the one that bombarded the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants to the tune of 84 points and 840 yards.

The Packers started out with a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive and then went three-and-out three straight times before finishing with a seven-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that gave them some breathing room at 14-3.

“Every game we’ve played in there have been some areas where we have to improve,” center Scott Wells said. “Tonight was no different. We didn’t extend some drives that we wish we would have early. There’s a lot of areas of emphasis that we’re improving in.

“The key is to make those improvements week to week.”

The Packers clinched home-field advantage because they have a two-game lead over San Francisco and New Orleans with one game to go. That means they will not only have a bye in the wild-card round, they also will not have to play on the road as long as they’re still in the playoffs.

There have been targets on the Packers’ backs all season and until the Chiefs game they had responded perfectly to the pressure. But that loss also created a dent in an aura of invincibility and showed the rest of the NFL that they’re not always good enough to overcome their weaknesses.

There’s undoubtedly a faction of football followers who think the Packers are ripe for the taking.

“I think we’re a team that has 14 wins out of 15 games, and that says a lot in itself,” fullback John Kuhn said. “You can look at stats and say whatever you want, but right now we’re a team that won more games than they lost.

“We’ve got home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and all our goals are still ahead of us. If we reach all our goals, I’m sure everybody will have nice things to say about us.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t holding back his celebratory mood after his team set a franchise record for most victories in a regular season, but he also seemed unwilling to brush over a defensive performance pretty much on par with those throughout the season.

If the Bears can roll up 441 yards with Josh McCown, a quarterback who was coaching high school football a little more than a month ago, imagine what the Detroit Lions or New Orleans Saints can do if they come into Lambeau Field in a few weeks.

“We won big,” McCarthy said. “That’s the bottom line. Just like I told the team at halftime, the scoreboard looked the way it needed to look, 14-3, but the time of possession and the number of attempts, and the ability to produce yardage against our defense, we needed to get that flipped.

“That’s definitely something that will be graded and fixed.”

McCarthy wasn’t specific on how he would handle the regular-season finale against Detroit next week at Lambeau Field, but one thing he can’t risk is more injuries.

The Packers’ uneven performance Sunday can be blamed on defensive end Ryan Pickett sitting out with a concussion or left guard T.J. Lang having to play for injured right tackle Bryan Bulaga or backup Evan Dietrich-Smith having to play left guard for Lang or wide receiver Greg Jennings on the sideline with a sprained knee.

This is probably the most the team has been banged up all season.

But that wasn’t an excuse last year when the Packers had almost enough players on injured reserve to play an 11-on-11 game in the training room. They will have time they didn’t have a year ago to get healthy, but they probably won’t go into the playoffs with the momentum they had a year ago.

“You think about it, last year we had to go on the road and play every game, and we played in domes,” cornerback Tramon Williams said. “We went into some tough environments. Now you have dome teams that might have to come out to Lambeau.

“That’s a totally different environment. Hopefully, the Lambeau advantage speaks as it does and we come out and play like we’re capable of playing.”

Full story here

James Jones reels in some big catches

By Gary D’Amato, Journal-Sentinel

~Green Bay – The Green Bay Packers dusted off an old weapon in their arsenal Sunday night:

James Jones.

Remember him?

After catching four passes for 46 yards in the last three games combined, the fifth-year receiver caught four for 50 and two touchdowns in the Packers’ 35-21 victory over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

Wide receiver James Jones prays Sunday after scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard reception.

Jones made clutch plays in the 2-minute drill before halftime, beat Bears cornerback Zack Bowman for both of his touchdowns and set up a third score when he drew a holding penalty on Bowman in the end zone.

Jones already had left the locker room by the time the media was allowed in after the game, but his play spoke volumes.

“James is a great player,” said receiver Jordy Nelson, whose locker is next to Jones’ and who also had a big day with six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. “We know he can do it. He got the opportunities, and he made plays.

“He made a huge play in the 2-minute to get us down the field. He made plays down at the goal line to get in the end zone. He stepped up big tonight.”

Jermichael Finley has taken over from Jones as the drop leader on the Packers. Last year, Jones dropped several crucial passes. This year, although his chances are way down, has had as good of hands as anyone on the team.

Even with the injured Greg Jennings (knee) sitting out, Green Bay got a ton of production from its passing game, with Aaron Rodgers throwing five touchdown passes and the receivers – Nelson, Jones, Donald Driver and rookie Randall Cobb – combining for 14 catches for 216 yards and four touchdowns.

“We hold everyone accountable, and everyone’s got to make plays for us,” Nelson said.

Rodgers threw a fifth touchdown pass to tight end Jermichael Finley.

The first two times he was targeted by Rodgers, Jones couldn’t come up with the catch. He slipped and fell on a back-shoulder throw and then Rodgers, under pressure, short-hopped a pass to him.

After that, Jones was spectacular.

On second and 10, with the Packers ahead, 7-3, and 1 minute 45 seconds left in the first half, Jones ran a crossing route from right to left, Rodgers hit him in stride and it ruptured into a 32-yard gain.

Five plays later, Jones beat Bowman on a slant for a 2-yard touchdown to pad the Packers’ lead to 14-3 with 16 seconds left in the half.

Late in the third quarter, Jones caught a 7-yard touchdown pass, this time on a fade, with Bowman in coverage.

Then, on the Packers’ next possession, he ran another slant from the Bears’ 5-yard line and drew the holding penalty on Bowman, giving the Packers a first and goal at the 2. On the next play, Rodgers hit Nelson on a slant for the touchdown to give Green Bay an insurmountable 35-10 lead.

Nelson said the Packers had been running a lot of fades near the goal line and teams started shading receivers to the outside. That opened up the slant.

“That’s something we kind of adjusted to with the fact that we run so many fade balls down there,” he said. “They started playing outside a little bit more and that leaves the inside open.

Jordy Nelson is excited to see James Jones get some chances and score a pair of touchdowns Sunday night against Chicago.

“So now they have to decide what they want to do. Again, it’s taking what they give you. They have to make a decision how they’re going to play us. We’re going to go off what they’re doing.”

Jones last had four receptions Oct. 23 at Minnesota. He had been shut out in two of the previous five games. His two touchdowns, a career high, gave him seven for the season.

Nelson said he expected the Packers’ quartet of receivers to play against the Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale, even though the team has clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

“We want to play,” he said. “I mean, I do. We’re not going to have much of a choice over here because Greg is down. We’re here to play football, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Original story here

Bears run wild on Packers’ defense

By Tyler Dunne, Journal-Sentinel

~

Green Bay – He’s usually the 340-pound source of optimism. Ryan Pickett can light up a room. But on the sidelines, teammates saw a different Pickett Sunday.

This one wasn’t easy for the Green Bay Packers defensive end to stomach.

“I can just see it in his face,” defensive end C.J. Wilson said. “He wants it so bad.”

Easy to see why. In Green Bay’s breezy 35-21 win over Chicago on Sunday, Pickett was out again. He missed his second straight game with a concussion suffered Dec. 11 against Oakland. His void was felt in a big way.

The Bears shredded Green Bay for 199 rushing yards on 42 attempts. In the first half particularly, Kahlil Bell and Armando Allen - who? - resembled Pro Bowl players. Not desperation fill-ins. Not No. 3 and No. 4 running backs on an offense drowning fast.

Part of the problem is missing Pickett. Teammates acknowledge that much. But they also realize this isn’t a quick fix.

“You definitely have to address the issue,” nose tackle Howard Green said. “For me, that’s not what you want. . . . It’s something we have to stand up as men on a defense and get that stuff corrected.”

On three of their first four offensive possessions, the Bears strung together drives of 11, 10 and nine plays. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on the sideline, powerless. And the Bears’ offense – a hodge-podge collection of backups – ran the ball 73% of the time in the first half. The plan worked. A week ago, the Kansas City Chiefs rushed for 139 yards. This week, Chicago nearly eclipsed that total in the first half.

Of course, the Bears’ three long drives netted only a field goal. Robbie Gould missed one 49-yarder wide right, and Clay Matthews’ interception halted another other drive.

Afterward, players didn’t use the bottom line as a cop-out excuse.

“We didn’t play as good as we wanted to,” said inside linebacker Desmond Bishop, who played for the first time since Thanksgiving. “I know it’s been the same old song, but there’s nothing we can do but look at the film and see what we can do better and try to execute next week.”

In Pickett’s place, Wilson was not a complete liability. He finished with six tackles, including one for loss. Pickett, though, can make life much easier on linebackers. While the Packers have had trouble against some plus-sized backs this season, they’ve also shut down Matt Forte (2 yards on nine carries) and Michael Turner (56 yards on 16 carries).

“He means a lot,” Bishop said. “As you can see with some of those plays, his experience could have helped. But the guys that filled in did well. C.J. Wilson had a good day.”

Added Wilson, “I feel like I held my own. My goal was to not have a drop-off in production that Ryan Pickett gives us. He does a great job.”

Maybe just as big of a factor was Chicago’s strategy. Green said the Bears pulled their center and guard out of formations the Packers were not expecting. Or in football-speak, “unscouted looks.” Bell gashed the Packers repeatedly on cutback runs.

Chicago’s line effectively washed linemen downhill, swinging open tollbooth-sized running lanes.

“They changed it up a lot, and it was working for them,” Green said. “There was a lot of gap blocking. They pulled the center and the guard a lot up front. We knew they pulled a lot, but we haven’t gotten those looks during the week when we were watching film.

The Bears backup running backs helped gash the Packers defense for 199 yards rushing Sunday night.

“The back was seeing the holes and making the right cuts and getting where he needed to get. And he ran hard. He ran hard.”

By Wisconsin standards, Christmas night was tropical at Lambeau Field. Green realizes the weather can turn in a hurry here, and opposing teams are bound to tote their running game. On national television, a potential flaw in the Packers’ defense was exposed. If the Bears could’ve finished drives, maybe this would have been a slugfest instead of a circus.

Pickett or no Pickett, the defensive linemen know teams are going to test them again.

“Overall on defense, we didn’t play our best game,” Wilson said. “We all know that, and all know we have some work to do. We have to take coaching and believe in the system to come together and do our job. We have some work to do.”

Original story here

Despite another subpar defensive effort, Packers rout Bears and clinch homefield advantage

By Brian E Murphy, Packers Insider senior analyst

~It was another game in which the Packers were outgained by the other team. Another game in which the opposing QB and RB had their best games of the season, even career.

But it also was another game in which the defense came up with a few interceptions, and oh by the way, the Packer quarterback racked up a masterpiece with no interceptions. This time, Aaron Rodgers threw for his career-high of five touchdowns as the Packers eliminated the Chicago Bears fading playoff dreams with a 35-21 victory at Lambeau Field on Christmas night. 

“Yeah, this one’s pretty special,” Rodgers said.

With the win, the Packers (14-1)  claimed another round of bragging rights in the NFL’s most storied rivalry by knocking the Bears out of the playoff chase.

“We wanted the path to go through Lambeau,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Thirty-five points on that defense, that’s a good night,” McCarthy said.

Aaron Rodgers solidified his MVP campaign by throwing five touchdowns against the Bears.

Rodgers threw touchdown passes to tight end Jermichael Finley first, and then he threw a pair each to Jordy Nelson and James Jones. Rodgers didn’t seem to miss Jennings this time as he went 21-29 for 283 yards, to go along with his five touchdowns. It was another superb passer rating of 142.7, his highest ever against the Bears defense, who usually slow down Rodgers. As it stands now, Rodgers season passer rating is 122 and would break the all-time single-season record.

That was the good news, again.

Then there’s Dom Capers’ defense.

Other than Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson, the defense seems to lose their individual battles and it allowed the Bears backup RB’s to carve up the Packers for 199 yards rushing.

The Bears, led by third string quarterback Josh McCown, who was sitting on his couch just weeks ago retired, to rack up 441 yards, and covert on 6 of 12 third down conversions. The Bears averaged a fine 4.7 yards per rushing attempt, and 8.6 yards per pass. Overall, the Packers were outgained 441 to 363 yards, and the Bears controlled the clock with a 36 to 24 edge in time of possession.

Granted, the Packers were missing their key cog in the line in Ryan Pickett, and Howard Green was playing banged up as he was questionable on the injury report.

You will be hearing a lot about the Packers defense over the next 20 or so days entering their divisional playoff game. It will most likely be against a quarterback such as Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, or Matt Ryan. 

All of those quarterbacks are much better than Orton, Freeman, and McCown. 

Despite the poor effort on defense, the victory over the Bears gives the Packers a 14-1 record and clinches the number one seed in the NFC playoffs and means the Packers road to Indianapolis only goes through Lambeau Field and not Philly, Atlanta, and Chicago as last year.

Clay Matthews terrorizes Bear quarterback Josh McCown Sunday night. Matthews didn't register a sack on the night, and neither did any of the other players on defense. If opposing teams can contain Matthews, there's no pass rush for the QB to worry about.

That might or might not be a good thing, depending on the weather and opponent. But it’s definitely better than having to go to New Orleans to face Drew Brees in that place.

The Packers will now have an opportunity to rest banged up, or critical players next week as Detroit comes to town.

Anyone who’s been questionable or worse should sit and rest next week against the Lions

Combined with the bye week after it, that should allow most of them to be able to recharge their batteries and freshen up for the playoff divisional game on either January 14th or 15th, at Lambeau Field.

Packers Should Move Lambeau to Miami

By Brian E Murphy, Packers Insider senior editor

~Packer Nation; pack your bags and head South in mid-January for two weeks. Let’s move Lambeau Field to Miami.

Whether you live in Wisconson, New York, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, or Oregon, what Packer fan is going to argue against spending a week in South Florida in mid-January?

This Aaron Rodgers-led Packers locomotive is not a ground-led juggernaut. It’s a precision passing game, with four and five receiver sets based on precision, timing, matchups. January Green Bay weather is not conducive for the passing game as much as 75 and sunny is.

The average high temperature in Miami in January is 75.6 degrees. The average high in Green Bay in January is 24 degrees, and we all remember the January, 2008 playoff game against the Giants in Green Bay where the actual temperature got down to -6 with the wind chills close to -30.

Although that was the old quarterback being iced up for the Packers, that cold weather clearly had an impact on the whole Packers offense.

Homefield playoff advantage? The last time the Packers enjoyed the benefits of the home-field advantage in the playoffs in cold weather, the season ended on this play. Don't forget, the Packers also lost at home in the playoffs to more physical teams from Atlanta and even Minnesota earlier in the decade.

I know, I know, the Packers could meet up with a similar passing team, the New Orleans Saints with Drew Brees, and the nice warm weather would help him too.

But the Saints also boost a better running game with the 3-headed monsters of Heisman winner Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, and the little lightning bug Darren Sproles. Thomas, you’ll remember, helped them win a Super Bowl two seasons ago. This is a team who can run the ball, and they’d clearly have an edge in the ground game department over the Packers.

But as great as Drew Brees is, and as suspect as the Packers defense has been, you’d still like to have a game decided by the quarterbacks, since the Packers have the best in the sport in Rodgers. Why not provide him, and Jordy, Jennings, Driver, Jones, Jermichael, and Cobb the optimal climate and conditions to succeed and get to Super Bowl XLVI?

“We’re a pass-first team,” Rodgers said. “I don’t think that’s going to change, but you have to run the football in the winter months here.

That game will be in a dome, where you’d have to like Rodgers chances against anyone, from the Steelers again, to the Patriots, Ravens, Texans, or Tebows even.

What about losing the Lambeau home-field advantage, you say?
Anyone who’s gone to a Packer game in Miami, Tampa, Arizona, or San Diego knows that Cheeseheads travel as well as anyone and regularly get 20,000, 30,000, even 40,000 Packer fans into the opposing team’s seats.
In this occasion, all the home fans would still be Packer nation as we’d control the tickets.

Who'd be surprised to see 70,000 Packer fans in Miami?

Dolphin Stadium, currently known as Sun Life Stadium, has a seating capacity of close to 80,000, and has hosted five Super Bowls, including 2007 and 2010. I suspect we’d be able to fill 60-70,000 Packer fans in each game in Miami.

The Packers could have the name temporarily changed to Lambeau Field South Beach.

And one final benefit of this path to perfection for the Packers: Going through Miami, home of the only other undefeated Super Bowl champions, the 1972 Dolphins, would be extra sweet.

We’d get the remaining members of those ’72 Dolphins, from Don Shula on down, to  have a front row seat of the Packers chase at bettering their record as they chase the history books.

So who’s with me here? The Packers playoff games will probably be on Sunday, January 15^th and January 22^nd.

So Packer Nation, Let’s Occupy South Beach for eight or nine days: How about an eight-nine day vacation to Miami in mid-January? Who’s going to argue against that?

Sunset in Miami, for Packers Opponents

Charles Woodson: “There are no benefits to losing”

By Tyler Dunne, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

~Kansas City, Mo. – Charles Woodson cuts the cliché short. It’d be easy for the Green Bay Packers cornerback to spin this stunning loss into perspective. But he won’t. Not a chance.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) catches a deep pass from quarterback Cam Newton (1) as Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson applies defensive pressure, Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

A heap of gym bags stacked in the middle of the locker room at Arrowhead Stadium, teammates exited one at a time. Some dejected, some upbeat. Woodson was the realist.

“There are no benefits to losing,” Woodson said. “None.”

Everyone wanted to go 19-0. Who wouldn’t? They’d receive a lifetime membership to football immortality, to history. And Sunday, that dream died. Moments after losing 19-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs, a sting lingered. But it wasn’t necessarily the end of a perfect season that irritated them.

A five-win team bruised, bloodied and battered the Packers. The Chiefs – dead to rights – knocked the Super Bowl champions to the canvas. That’s what is alarming. If any team realizes the importance of peaking in December, it’s the Packers. A wave of momentum carried them to North Texas last season.

Now, players are left wondering what happened.

“Everybody has to take it upon themselves and look in the mirror,” left guard T.J. Lang said. “I don’t think anybody thinks it’s OK for us to have a loss like that.

“You don’t want to sit here and say, ‘Oh that’s fine. We’ll be alright.’ Bottom line is you have to look in the mirror and make sure you’re taking care of your own business.”

Make no mistake, this was a Chiefs team spiraling into disarray.

Their coach was fired. Arguably their three best players – Jamaal Charles, Matt Cassel and Eric Berry – were on injured reserve. They’ve lost games by 34, 45, 28, 31 and 27 points this season.

And the offense? Quarterback Kyle Orton should have signed a waiver. Kansas City had scored three touchdowns in six games.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Orton passed for 299 yards in his first start as a Chief. The Chiefs defeated the Packers 19-14. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

And here were the mighty Packers, getting bullied around.

The Chiefs didn’t consult a genie. Nothing innovative here. No witchcraft. They carefully avoided a shootout – 39 runs, 31 passes – and were relentless on defense.

Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times, hit five times and always on the move. With less than 5 minutes to go, running back Jackie Battle plunged into the end zone on third down to give Kansas City a 19-7 lead and streamers sifted onto the field.

Not too long later, interim coach Romeo Crennel received a Gatorade bath. What remains in Green Bay are questions – questions seemingly solved a long time ago.

Is Rodgers still invincible? Have the receivers’ drops reached plague status? How many injuries can the offensive line overcome? And is this really a championship defense?

Green Bay has two games left to sort it all out.

“We certainly don’t want to have another loss like this,” Lang said. “It’s tough to swallow. . . . After a game like that where we just played like (expletive) on offense, you have to take personal responsibility. You have to make yourself better before you try to make your teammates better.”

Defensively, as Lang notes, the Packers probably did enough to win. True, a unit that entered Sunday with nine more picks than any other team laid an egg. Sunday marked the first time since the season opener, Green Bay failed to have an interception.

Any concern, however, should probably be directed at an offense that’s been a juggernaut all season. The temporary absence of Greg Jennings (knee) probably hurts more than the team realized. At halftime, Rodgers was 6 of 17 for 59 yards. His receivers had six drops. The Chiefs had life.

After his fourth drop of the half – a difficult hanger deep right – tight end Jermichael Finley threw his helmet across the bench in disgust.

Compare this to last season. The Packers were just tapping into their Texas oil-rich offense. Fresh off an inspiring performance in Foxborough, the Packers’ offense blindsided the New York Giants, 45-17. One week later, the defense mashed the Chicago Bears, 10-3.

Forget the made-for-TV, “to rest or not to rest” drama. That’s irrelevant, old news. To the Packers, what’s most important is recalibrating into the team they’ve been all year.

The offense – Jennings or no Jennings – hopes to rediscover its rhythm. And the defense wants to get back to forcing turnovers. For one day, Kansas City lured Green Bay into a different game.

“Maybe more than the loss itself, we didn’t match their intensity and they beat us,” safety Charlie Peprah said. “You want to be playing your best football at the end. That’s more disappointing than losing the chance to go 19-0. It’s how we lost – not playing our best football in December.”

This feeling – this losing feeling – has been non-existent for 364 days. The Packers were one day shy of a perfect calendar year. How does it feel? Peprah paused for five seconds and shook his head.

“It sucks. That’s all you can say,” he said. “Disappointing, very disappointing.”

Added Woodson, “Losing is no fun. We have to put this one behind us.”

They can. Next up, two NFC North rivals.

OK, so the 16-0 and 19-0 talk is officially over. Perfectly fine, players say. Their Super Bowl plans remain on schedule.

“You get knocked down, you have to get back up and get stronger,” Peprah said. “We’re going to respond very positively to this. We’re not going to pack it in just because we can’t go undefeated. Feel sorry for yourself a little bit and get over it.”

Original story here

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