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By CHRIS HAVEL
This time, Aaron Rodgers didn’t rally the Packers to victory so much as the team carried its QB across the finish line. Not only do the Packers have Rodgers’ right arm, they have his back.
Now, on the cusp of postseason play, the question has been answered: Can Green Bay defeat a playoff-caliber opponent when Rodgers isn’t quite his MVP self?
Yes, it can. The proof is the Packers’ 30-20 victory over a feisty bordering on filthy Detroit Lions team Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The reward is a bye week followed by a Jan. 10-11 NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Lambeau Field against the highest remaining seed (either Dallas, Arizona or Carolina).
Rodgers and his ailing calf muscle were at the heart of the drama.Despite being carted to the locker room after lobbing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb late in the second quarter to make it 14-0 Packers, Rodgers returned for the second series of the second half.
Right down to the limp ala John Wayne, Rodgers heroically but not surprisingly strolled through the tunnel and onto the home team sideline. Then, he went in and played well enough to help the Packers secure a critical victory.
After the Lions rallied to make it 14-14 in the third quarter, Rodgers led the Packers on seven-play, 60-yard drive that was capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cobb (his second of the day). That made it Packers 21, Lions 14.
“It’s clearly an MVP performance – another MVP performance – by Aaron Rodgers,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said.
Green Bay salted it away with a 9-play, 42-yard touchdown drive with 8:45 to play in the game. It was capped by Rodgers’ 1-yard quarterback sneak. It came after the Lions’ Joique Bell fumbled.
The Packers followed with a safety of Matthew Stafford when the Lions’ quarterback was penalized for intentional grounding while in the Detroit end zone. That made it Packers 30, Lions 14. Detroit would add a touchdown but failed to convert the two-point attempt.
The victory gives Green Bay (12-4) its fourth straight NFC North title. It also extends Detroit’s losing streak in Wisconsin to 23 years, and forces the Lions (11-5) to travel to Dallas (12-4) in this weekend’s wild-card round.
In the process, the Packers rallied around Rodgers for the victory, rather than the quarterback single-handedly leading them to it. The distinction might seem subtle, but the players know this was a team effort.
This type of win can do nothing but galvanize the locker room. A great quarterback can win a lot of games, but only a great team can win a Super Bowl. The Packers took a step closer to becoming that Sunday.
Obviously, it wasn’t easy and far from perfect. The Packers’ special teams’ kick unit is driving fans insane with an epidemic of inexcusable blocked placements, and the coverage units still are a scary proposition.
But all of that was swept away, at least momentarily, in the tidal wave of Micah Hyde’s 55-yard punt return for a touchdown. Hyde’s explosive return put Green Bay up 7-0 and for most of the day the Packers’ defense backed it up with a strong performance.
In between, Rodgers completed 17 of 22 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns despite a noticeable limp. He even was forced to endure a not-so-subtle foot-stomping courtesy of the Lions’ notorious defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh.
The play occurred in the fourth quarter, when the Lions’ Suh stumbled back and then stepped on a prone Rodgers and his lower left leg. The play didn’t result in a penalty. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said he didn’t think it was intentional during his post-game news conference.
McCarthy took another view. While the Packers’ head coach didn’t see the play, his staff told him about it.
“There’s no place for that,” McCarthy said. “I don’t understand it, frankly.”
There may be no place for Suh in the postseason, as the NFL is reviewing the Rodgers’ stepping. The Lions will have their work cut out with or without their fierce but frustrating defensive tackle at Dallas.
Meantime, Rodgers can heal his calf muscle, the Packers can rest up and McCarthy can enjoy what was a team victory.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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By CHRIS HAVEL
In a long and winding season, the Green Bay Packers have held to several absolutes.
The first is that they always win following a loss.
The second is that Aaron Rodgers never plays poorly in back-to-back games.
The third is that the Packers’ defense is steadily ascending toward competence with more frequent flashes of dominance, while the special teams’ units need to get it together and soon.
Otherwise, the Packers’ 20-3 victory over the Bucs Sunday at Tampa Bay revealed nothing new, although it did serve a purpose. It doubled as the stepping-stone into the postseason, and the launching pad for this Sunday’s critical season finale against Detroit at Lambeau Field.
The Packers (11-4) can capture the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a victory over Detroit and a Seattle (11-4) loss at home against St. Louis. The Packers can do no worse than the No. 2 seed with a victory over the Lions, while a loss likely will make the Packers the No. 6 seed.
While awaiting the Lions-Packers’ 3:25 game Sunday, let’s contemplate the Packers’ 17-point victory.
Rodgers was an efficient 31 of 40 for 318 yards and a touchdown. He battled the flu and a strained left calf muscle throughout the game.
“I’ll be OK for next week,” Rodgers told reporters. “I hurt my calf pretty good, but the training staff helped me kind of get through it.”
Rodgers said his calf muscle tightened as the game went on.
“It got really tight about halftime,” he said. “Came in and got a little treatment, it loosened up just a tad, but it was still pretty tight … I was able to move in short segments in the pocket, which was all I needed to do today.”
Eddie Lacy backed Rodgers’ performance with a bruising 99 yards on 17 rushing attempts, including a 44-yard run that was highlight reel stuff.
The Packers’ receivers atoned for their seven drops in last week’s 21-13 loss at Buffalo by increasing their focus. Jordy Nelson caught nine passes for 113 yards and a 1-yard touchdown, while Randall Cobb had 11 receptions for 131 yards.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy likes where his offense is at going into Sunday’s showdown with Detroit for the NFC North title.
“I’ve obviously been with Aaron the whole time,” McCarthy said. “You see him do things on the football field, as far as making plays and this and that. I think the last couple of days you see the kind of warrior he is. He battled whatever illness he’s had the last couple of days and then goes out and strains his calf the first or second series. He didn’t want to come out. … (It was) a really a gritty performance by Aaron.”
Rodgers shrugged it off as part of the job.
“I battled the flu the past couple of days pretty bad, and that’s why I was surprised I hurt my calf because I hydrated like no other (week). I was drinking a ton of water before the game. Unfortunately, the calf kind of gave up on me there. But it was a good win for us. The defense played great. Offensively, it wasn’t pretty, but we had enough points to win.”
Then there was the Packers’ defense.
Clearly, the Bucs’ Josh McCown was outclassed by Dom Capers’ aggressive, blitzing attack. The Packers’ defense racked up seven sacks and came from all different directions and angles.
The Bucs (2-13) couldn’t protect McCown and failed to give running back Doug Martin much room to maneuver. Martin finished with a inconsequential 17 yards on 10 carries.
Clay Matthews stuffed the run and had 2 ½ sacks, while Julius Peppers added two sacks and was active from start to finish.
Now, the Packers take on the Lions for the division crown.
“We’ve won six out of seven games, so I’d like to classify that as playing a lot of solid football, that’s for sure,” McCarthy said. “We’ll clean this game up tomorrow; we’ll be on it. We’ll also start on Detroit. I like where we’re at, and I really like this football team. … I feel good about the offense, defense and special teams.”
The loss was Tampa Bay’s fifth straight and continued a season of struggles for first-year coach Lovie Smith. McCown finished just 12 of 26 for 147 yards and an interception.
Tampa Bay began the game with five straight three-and-outs.
Next up is Detroit (11-4) for the division crown.
It’ll be one of the most anticipated regular-season games in recent memory. It also may be the challenge the Packers need to catapult them deep into the post-season, perhaps all the way to Arizona.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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By CHRIS HAVEL
Whoever said Buffalo is a great place to visit wasn’t a Green Bay Packers fan.
The Packers’ losing streak there stretched to six Sunday with a 21-13 loss to the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills’ defense was everything it had been built up to be (a top 10 unit in almost every category), while the Packers’ offense left a lot to be desired.
Certainly the Bills’ defense had a hand in the Packers’ offensive collapse, but let’s be real: How often does Jordy Nelson drop a wide-open, surefire touchdown pass that lands gentle in his hands? Well, after Sunday’s game, I can think of one time.
How often does the great Aaron Rodgers revert to mere mortal status? Again, I can think of just once off the top of my helmet.
How often do the special teams’ coverage units let the Packers down in a big game? Well, in terms of special teams’ disasters, there’s too many to care to count.
The most recent Packers’ special teams’ breakdown was devastating.
The Bills’ Marcus Thigpen accounted for Buffalo’s lone touchdown with a 75-yard punt return in the second quarter.
Thigpen’s catch-and-run was a thing of beauty, but let’s be real about it: The Packers looked utterly ill-prepared to defend that play and it cost them. Frankly, return specialists have been getting closer and closer against Green Bay. This was coming for some time.
It needs to get fixed.
Otherwise sooner or later, special teams’ coordinator Shawn Slocum is going to cost the Packers mightily in a critical game. The loss to Buffalo Sunday could be the reason the Packers don’t have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
The loss snapped Green Bay’s five-game winning streak. It also left the Packers’ mission clear: Win out and secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and perhaps the top seed with a little help.
A loss against Detroit (10-4) in the season-finale quite possibly could knock the Packers (10-4) out of the playoffs.
After Sunday’s game, Rodgers said what everyone was thinking.
“It was frustrating,” he told reporters. “Some days are going to be like this. We set the standard pretty high, and we like to live up to it every week.”
Rodgers was a dreadful 17 of 42 for 185 yards and two interceptions. He came in with three interceptions all season.
Rodgers didn’t get much help from his receivers, either.
Nelson and Co. combined for a season-high six drops that made finding any rhythm all but impossible on offense. Nelson’s most stunning drop came when Rodgers found a wide-open No. 87 streaking down the right sideline. Rodgers laid out a perfectly thrown pass, but it caromed off Nelson’s hands. Instead of a 94-yard touchdown catch-and-run, the Packers were staring at yet another harmless incompletion and missed opportunity.
Nelson, who rarely drops anything, shouldered the blame.
“We had exactly what we wanted,” he told reporters. “We just didn’t make the play. I short-armed it and dropped it.”
Running back Eddie Lacy’s touchdown run, in addition to several bruising gains, was the extent of the Packers’ offense.
Indeed, there was little intrigue and even less to like about the loss.
Nevertheless, everything else is still a possibility, including Green Bay being the NFC’s top seed or staying home for the post-season. Such is the logjam atop a conference where an 11-5 team might be outside.
The Packers’ defense held Buffalo and quarterback Kyle Orton to just four field goals. It was one of the defense’s stronger performances. Orton finished 14 of 27 for 185 yards and an interception. The Bills generated just enough offense to pull out the victory.
The Bills’ defense also chipped in with a safety when defensive end Mario Williams stripped the football away from Rodgers in the end zone. When Lacy scooped it up and advanced it the ruling was a safety.
Without the safety and touchdown return, the Packers would have defeated the Bills 13-12 with a chance at the No. 1 seed. They can still be the top seed, but now they need some help.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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By CHRIS HAVEL
The Packers certainly make a grand entrance. It’s their exit that needs a bit of work. After building a 24-point halftime lead, Green Bay was outscored 20-9 in the fourth quarter before holding on to a 43-37 victory over the Falcons.
While the Packers (10-3) maintained their one-game lead over Detroit (9-4) in the NFC North with the win, they were reminded of a valuable lesson. Teams like Atlanta (5-8) who are clinging to playoff aspirations aren’t going to quit. In fact, they are going to play to the bitter end. The Falcons did just that behind Matt Ryan’s right arm.
Ryan, who had similar numbers to the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, completed 24 of 39 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns. It was Ryan’s early interception that proved costly. Instead of throwing the football away, Ryan tried to force a pass that was picked off by Morgan Burnett. It was Burnett’s best game in a long time.
Also, inside linebacker Sam Barrington (seven tackles) was strong in his second start in place of A.J. Hawk. Burnett’s pick sparked the Packers’ 24-point second quarter, but even trailing 31-7 at half the Falcons didn’t quit. Falcons’ receiver Julio Jones torched the Packers’ secondary with a career-best 259 yards on 11 catches. His 22-yard touchdown grab came in Atlanta’s 20-point fourth quarter.
“Defensively, a tale of two halves,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “You have to give Atlanta’s offense a lot of credit. We have plenty to clean up.”
The Packers had better learn from this because the Detroit Lions, who seem destined for a showdown with Green Bay in the regular-season finale at Lambeau Field, feature a similar receiver in Calvin Johnson. The Lions, like the Falcons, won’t go easily.
The Falcons had won three of four games coming in, and receiver Roddy White told reporters they still believe. Atlanta amazingly remains in a first-place tie in its dreadful division.
“Yeah, absolutely … we scored 37 points tonight. If you can’t believe in that, then you don’t need to be in this locker room – we need to cut some people,” White told reporters.
Meantime, the Packers’ defense needs to close out games. Their run defense was strong early in the game, but the pass rush developed late and wasn’t nearly as consistent as it needs to be. If the Lions’ Matthew Stafford has as much time as Ryan did it could be a long afternoon in three weeks at Lambeau Field.
“We can’t play one half or three quarters or anything like that,” Packers linebacker Julius Peppers said. “We’ve got to finish games.”
And the Packers’ special teams units need to sharpen up before Dec. 28. The Packers had a blocked point-after and nearly had a punt blocked. Those are would-be post-season killers.
The offense continues to hum along. Eddie Lacy overpowered the Falcons’ defense and finished with 73 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. James Starks added an impressive 75 yards on 10 carries including a 41-yard run to seal it. It was Green Bay’s fifth straight victory and continued their home-field dominance.
“There’s been some ups and downs on both sides of the ball all season,” Rodgers told reporters. “But we’re really getting this home-field advantage thing going, with the crowd noise, with the footing, with the way we’re playing, being really balanced on offense.”
The balance was impressive.  Jordy Nelson had eight catches for 146 yards, while Randall Cobb added four for 58. Cobb is quickly becoming Rodgers’ go-to guy on third down. Tight end Andrew Quarless caught three for 52 yards, and Lacy moved the chains catching five for 33 yards.
Rodgers’ two touchdown tosses to Nelson were the backbreakers. Rodgers hit Nelson on a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the first half, and again for a 60-yard bomb late in the game.
Now, the Packers have a week to prepare for Buffalo and its rugged defense. Then it travels to Tampa Bay before coming home to face the Lions in the season finale.
By then, Green Bay hopefully will have a two-game lead in the division and the No. 1 seed sewed up. But all of that seems doubtful. More likely the Packers will need another strong start from Rodgers and the offense, with a whole lot of help from the defense to close out the Lions.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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By CHRIS HAVEL
First-quarter fireworks, fourth-quarter defense and error-free football in between enabled the Packers to outlast the Patriots, 26-21, Sunday in a battle of Super Bowl contenders at Lambeau Field.
The Packers (9-3) kept sole possession of first place in the NFC North on a day when head coach Mike McCarthy was at his best. McCarthy’s creative play design and his offense’s solid execution kept the Patriots’ defense on its heels.
The Patriots (9-3) saw their seven-game winning streak end as the Packers rolled up 478 yards, converted 10 of 17 third down attempts and dominated the time of possession.
Green Bay’s most important third down conversion came when Aaron Rodgers threw a dart to Randall Cobb for a 7-yard gain on third-and-4 at the Packers’ 43 with 2:28 to play. The completion enabled the Packers to run out the clock while a helpless Tom Brady showed his frustration.
It came after the Packers’ defense sacked Brady on third-and-9 in Green Bay territory on the previous possession. Belichick elected to attempt the field goal and Stephen Gostkowski missed the 47-yarder wide right.
The Packers’ Mike Neal and Mike Daniels combined on Green Bay’s only sack of the game. It couldn’t have been a more timely sack, though.
“I hate to take a sack in that situation,” Brady told reporters. “I really would have liked to score there. I just wish we would have won this one. We put a lot into this one, and this was a great test for us. I think the guys knew how important this was for our season.”
The game was equally important for Green Bay. The victory kept the Packers one game up on Detroit (8-4) who rallied from an early 14-3 deficit on Thanksgiving Day to beat Chicago 34-17. The win also bolstered the Packers’ confidence because it came against the NFL’s hottest team. The Patriots threw everything into this game and it wasn’t enough.
While the ghosts of past home playoff losses still swirl around Lambeau Field, the Packers’ strong showing against New England bodes well during this run to the postseason.
“The point total was enough to win the game,” McCarthy said. “I thought (the) defense did a lot of good things, and really, I think the end of the game is what you’re looking for as a coach.”
Brady was 22 of 35 for 245 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Brandon LaFell. He also connected with Rob Gronkowski on seven completions for 98 yards but no touchdowns. The Packers’ defense rallied to the ball and tackled Patriots’ receivers and ball carriers short of a first down on several occasions.
Meantime, Rodgers threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns while completing 24 of 38 for a quarterback rating of 112.6.
The Packers opened a 13-0 first quarter lead, but New England closed to within 16-14 with 1:09 to play in the first half. Rodgers responded by hitting Jordy Nelson for a 45-yard touchdown that reversed momentum and gave Green Bay a 23-14 halftime lead.
The Packers maintained it despite struggling in the red zone. Green Bay was 0-for-4 inside the 20-yard line, and had to settle for four Mason Crosby field goals. That has to improve if the Packers expect to go deep into the postseason.
“I just go back to our philosophy of winning,” McCarthy said. “First, you have to find ways to win. Learn how to win, No. 1, but then you’ve got to find ways to win and you have to do it as many different ways as possible.”
Eddie Lacy’s 21 carries for 98 yards, including 26 in the decisive fourth quarter, may provide a glimpse of what to expect in the red zone. McCarthy likely will look for ways to run, as well as through, inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Rookie receiver Davante Adams is another emerging weapon. Adams caught a career-best six catches for 121 yards. He dropped what would have been an easy touchdown after a nifty slant route. Even Adams’ drop wasn’t enough to ruin his day, or change Belichick’s mind about the Packers’ offensive weaponry.
“I said all week they had good skill players,” Belichick said. “They have good everything.”
Now, the Packers get an extra day off as they prepare for a nationally televised matchup with Atlanta on Monday Night Football.
 
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.