By CHRIS HAVEL

The Packers woke up Sunday in a first-place tie with the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. They went to bed atop their division with visions of a MVP matchup dancing in their heads.

The Packers’ 24-21 victory over Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium maintained Green Bay’s dominance against the Vikings and moved it a full game ahead of the Lions (7-4) in the NFC North race. Detroit lost at New England 34-9 to set up a Patriots-Packers game Sunday at Lambeau Field that some are billing as a Super Bowl preview.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady doesn’t want to get ahead of himself.

“We are so far from (the Super Bowl),” Brady said in a weekly interview with WEEI’s “Dennis & Callahan” show. “We have so many games (left). If we are lucky enough to make it there, no one ever cares who we play. But that’s so far down the road. We think about the one game we have ahead of us, which is a good opponent.

“We have nine wins. We’ve done a good job getting ourselves to this position. This is when the weather turns, the mental toughness, the discipline, how much we’ve improved really comes into play.”

The Patriots (9-2) and the Packers are the NFL’s top two teams in point differential. New England is plus-130 and Green Bay is plus-108.

The Patriots have won seven straight while the Packers are 7-1 since Aaron Rodgers proclaimed, “Relax,” after a 1-2 start.

To get to this point, the Packers needed to get past Minnesota (4-7), which proved to be no easy task.

The Vikings’ Teddy Bridgewater completed 21 of 37 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers were comparable with Rodgers’ performance (19 of 29 for 209 yards and two touchdowns) except for the interception.

Bridgewater’s second-quarter pick, which was a horrible pass hauled in by a head’s-up Micah Hyde, led to a Packers touchdown.

Rodgers capped a four-play, 53-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Richard Rodgers to put Green Bay up 14-7. The Vikings eventually closed to within 24-21 on a 5-yard Bridgewater-to-Greg Jennings touchdown, but the Packers’ run game took over from there.

The Packers reeled off five straight running plays to Eddie Lacy, and it produced a first down that drained the final 3:23 of the fourth quarter.

“He’s agile for a guy his size,” Rodgers told reporters of Lacy. “He’s got a great spin move. He takes care of the football. He does all the things you want.”

Said left guard Josh Sitton: “(Lacy) doesn’t go down, man. It’s pretty fun to watch.”

The offense got its usual top-notch play from Jordy Nelson (eight catches for 68 yards) and Randall Cobb (four for 58). Also contributing were an offensive line that allowed just one sack, and tight end Andrew Quarless, who merely had his best game in a Packers uniform.

Quarless’ blocking while lining up in the backfield was outstanding. He is getting a knack for feeling where the linebacker will come from, and how Lacy will react. Quarless isn’t a man-eater, but he is very detail-oriented and skillful in springing Lacy.

Morgan Burnett (10 tackles, one quarterback hit) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (nine tackles, one pass defended) were excellent. Hyde added four tackles, a sack and an interception.

Furthermore, the Packers committed zero turnovers on the road. That bodes well as the regular season draws to a close and possessions are at a premium.

Now, the Packers face the Patriots at Lambeau Field, where Green Bay is a perfect 5-0 thus far.

Brady versus Rodgers features the Patriots’ No. 1 scoring offense (32.5 points per game) against the Packers’ No. 2 scoring offense (32.2 points per game).

Brady told his radio listeners: “We’re playing one of the best teams in the league. This team plays better – they play like we do at home – we always play well. We have our work cut out for us. They have a great offense, great defense. They do a lot of things defensively that are a challenge for us. They have a good rush, good coverage. They play the run well, and they score a lot of points.”

It should be an entertaining, high-scoring game pitting two of the NFL’s top coaches: the Patriots’ Bill Belichick and his defense-oriented background versus the Packers’ Mike McCarthy and his offense.

The safest prediction: Whichever team scores last wins.

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 don’t have home-field advantage at Lambeau Field. They have home-field in-VINCE-ability.
The numbers keep climbing, the records keep falling and the victories keep coming as visions of post-season greatness dance in Packers’ fans heads.
The Packers’ 53-20 annihilation of the Eagles on an overcast mid-November Sunday left little doubt as to Green Bay’s playoff potential. With Aaron Rodgers and his receivers treating 20-degree temperatures and slippery footing as if it were perfect conditions the Eagles spent the day either gasping for air or grabbing at it.
How foolish the talk of Mark “Franchise” Sanchez seems in the wake of Sunday’s abysmal but not unprecedented sub-standard performance. The Eagles’ quarterback was swallowed whole by the Packers’ rejuvenated defense. Not even a butt-fumble could provide Sanchez with a place to hide from Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and a suddenly awakened defensive unit.
There was that and a Packers’ offense which gave the Eagles’ offense exactly no chance to keep pace. If it wasn’t Eddie Lacy slamming into the end zone or Peppers and Casey Hayward cruising there, it was Rodgers’ perfectly placed passes that kept drives alive and quashed the Eagles.
If there was a more dominant, complete victory by the Packers at Lambeau Field I can’t recall it. The Bears weren’t the main course in Green Bay’s 55-14 thrashing last Sunday night. They were the appetizer.
The Eagles (7-3) and the Packers (7-3) share identical records, but Green Bay’s future seems much brighter after Sunday’s NFC blowout.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly called it the worst game of his 27 in the NFL. Nobody disagreed.
Meantime, Packers coach Mike McCarthy’s most difficult tasks each week are polishing the game plan, setting the 45-man game-day roster and learning new superlatives to describe a topic that never gets old: Rodgers’ magnificence.
As someone who routinely marveled at Brett Favre’s greatness, which included his toughness, arm strength and will to win, I never thought another Packers quarterback could be so amazing. I was wrong.
Rodgers’ uncommon accuracy and arm strength, coupled with eyes in his feet and a killer instinct, make him almost unbeatable. All he needs to get by is a little help from his friends, and the Packers’ defense obliged in eye-popping fashion.
It appears Matthews’ move to inside linebacker on run downs isn’t a novelty. It’s a solid football move.
The Packers’ defense gets bigger, stronger and quicker at the point of attack against the run, especially with Mike Daniels and Co. playing well. Then, in obvious passing situations, Matthews might stay put inside, or he might leap to the edge. Either way it keeps Nick Perry on the field and the run defense legit.
The Packers’ defensive backs continue their ball-hawking ways led by Tramon Williams, who made one of the finest interceptions you will ever see. Micah Hyde chipped in with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, which hopefully means no more Randall Cobb on punt returns.
Start to finish, with only a couple of errant snaps and bad holds along the way, the Packers were nearly perfect.
Lacy began slamming into the hole with force, and he continues to catch it smoothly out of the backfield. Andrew Quarless had an outstanding game, with rookie and fellow tight end Richard Rodgers also doing some heavy lifting.
With the Vikings ahead, and the New England Patriots on the horizon, Green Bay is poised to make a serious run into the post-season. The Lions (7-3) are tied atop the NFC North with Green Bay, but almost in spite of themselves. Detroit’s 14-6 loss Sunday at Arizona came against a first-rate defense but a second-rate quarterback (Drew Stanton) and included a lackluster Matthew Stafford.
Detroit suddenly seems mere mortal, especially at Lambeau Field.
The NFC also seems winnable, although it’ll take the Packers’ best football to unseat the Seahawks and get past the 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals.
Fortunately, that’s exactly what McCarthy’s Packers are doing: Playing nearly their best football, with a lot more to come.
 
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 news of Mike McCarthy’s contract extension wasn’t as surprising as the reaction by some fans. When the Packers announced Monday that McCarthy had signed a multi-year extension most fans seemed pleased. That I get. What I don’t understand is the negative reaction by the rest.
In the highly competitive, parity driven National Football League McCarthy’s Packers have been a model of competence and consistency. The Packers have the third-best winning percentage in the NFL since McCarthy became the 14th head coach in team history nine years ago.
His team won Super Bowl XLV, and followed it up with a 15-1 season in 2011. He presided over the difficult transition between Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, and he has owned the NFC North since his arrival. McCarthy’s teams are 12-6 against the Bears, 13-3 against the Lions and 13-4-1 against the Vikings. That’s a 73-percent winning percentage. What’s not to like?
While it is true there is no pleasing some people I have a tough time finding any downside to McCarthy’s extension, which is believed to run through 2018. McCarthy brings stability, an excellent understanding of the quarterback position and a great working relationship with GM Ted Thompson. He also is about as modest as any head coach in NFL history.
“Can we talk about the Bears now?” McCarthy said at Monday’s news conference after fielding several questions about his new contract.
Of course, but not before I talk about McCarthy’s perceived blind spot: His loyalty to defensive coordinator Dom Capers and special teams’ coordinator Shawn Slocum. Both units have been average to poor with 2010 and 2011 being the exceptions, rather than the rule.
Fans who are displeased with the Packers’ defensive and special teams play demand that the coordinators be fired. Fair enough. When this season ends and the Packers fail to reach the postseason both Capers and Slocum should be strictly evaluated and removed if necessary.
However, that is McCarthy’s decision. Even with the contract extension, McCarthy’s desire to win and lead the Packers’ franchise supersedes any blind loyalty to his assistants.
To think otherwise is to be naïve to the NFL. McCarthy, 50, has tied his future to the Packers. He hasn’t tied it to Capers and Slocum because he’s proven capable of making the tough personnel decision. Just ask former defensive coordinator Bob Sanders.
If the Packers’ final eight games are disappointing expect to see change. Until then let the season play out. The Packers (5-3) host the Bears (3-5) on Sunday night. A victory would make Chicago’s playoff chances iffy at best. It also could mean a return to a first-place tie with Detroit (6-2).
The Packers’ defense has been substandard, especially against the run. At his pre-bye news conference McCarthy admitted as much. Now we shall see what he intends to do about it. Firing Capers in early November isn’t an option. Demanding more of his defense, and playing more ball control on offense, are the better moves.
Rodgers and Green Bay’s offense can help the defense in two ways:

• Score early and often so the opposing offense is one-dimensional.
• Play keep-away by eating up clock, running the football and converting third downs so the Packers’ defense is off the field.

Either option is good. Together they make the Packers tough to beat.
If it’s all about winning (which it is) McCarthy’s got the record to merit the extension. He is 93-53-1 in his nine seasons. He trails the great Vince Lombardi by just five wins to move into second place behind Curly Lambeau (212 wins).
“I think you win 100 games in this league as a head coach, it’s definitely a milestone,” he said.
“I’m not going to compare myself to Coach Lombardi,” he added. “Let’s be real here. I understand my place, my opportunity, and I’m very thankful for the people that came before me: Coach Lombardi, Curly Lambeau, Mike Holmgren, Ron Wolf … they made this place, the foundation of the building.
“So (GM) Ted Thompson, (president-CEO) Mark Murphy and my responsibility and Aaron Rodgers and the players’ responsibility is to make sure we leave it better than when we arrived. That’s the way I’ve always viewed it.”
In that regard, McCarthy has been true to his word.
Packers’ fans should be grateful.
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.