AP Game Summary: Packers Escape Philadelphia With 21-16 Victory
PHILADELPHIA -- You are able to put Aaron Rodgers for the reason that elite quarterback class. He's got his first playoff victory.
Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, seldom-used rookie James Starks ran for 123 yards along with the Green Bay Packers beat Michael Vick along with the Philadelphia Eagles 21-16 in an NFC wild-card game Sunday.
Rodgers needed to watch from the sideline while Vick nearly led the Eagles back. But Tramon Williams intercepted Vick's pass for Riley Cooper ultimately zone with 33 seconds left to seal the win.
The sixth-seeded Packers (11-6) are heading to Atlanta (13-3) for any divisional playoff game next Saturday night.
Rodgers patiently waited 36 months being Green Bay's starter and took over after Brett Favre's messy departure prior to the 2008 season. He sometime ago made Packers fans just forget about Favre, now has punctuated his impressive resume with his first playoff win by 50 percent tries.
It wasn't Rodgers' fault Green Bay lost 51-45 in overtime to Arizona last January. These bankruptcies are not the same Packers. This patchwork squad has 10 different starters, and also a stronger defense.
"I never felt like there is a monkey on my back," Rodgers said. "I'm so satisfied with them. We fought hard today. Big interception by Tramon who's were built with a great season for all of us."
Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and Co. contained Vick typically. Vick threw for 292 yards and ran for 33 as part of his first playoff start since losing the 2005 NFC championship game on the same field like a person in the Atlanta Falcons.
Vick has come a long way since then. He missed two seasons while serving 1 . 5 years in prison for his role in the dogfighting operation, played sparingly in the backup role a year ago simply got his chance after Matthews knocked Kevin Kolb in Green Bay's 27-20 win in Philadelphia in Week 1.
Vick made probably the most from the opportunity. He previously the best season of his career and was selected to begin the Pro Bowl for that NFC.
Vick can visit Hawaii now as the Eagles (10-7) are getting home.
This is Green Bay's third straight win in an elimination game. The Packers routed the Giants on Dec. 26 to remain alive within the playoff race, and beat Chicago yesterday to secure a playoff berth.
The Eagles were the talk with the NFL after having a sensational comeback win at the Gambling on Dec. 19. But a wonderful loss to lowly Minnesota on Dec. 28 cost the NFC East champions a possibility at a first-round bye, plus it seemed their Super Bowl hopes took place your defeat.
On the other hand, the Eagles could have advanced if Pro Bowl kicker David Akers hadn't missed field goals of 41 and 34 yards.
The supposedly one-dimensional Packers found a running game by giving the ball to Starks. The sixth-round pick who played in just three games had 101 yards rushing all climates and seasons. The Packers had trouble running all seasons after Ryan Grant took place for that season in Week 1. Nevertheless they exposed weaknesses in Philadelphia's defense.
The Eagles got within 21-16 when Vick sneaked in from the 1 with 4:02 left. The 2-point conversion failed, nevertheless the defense held and Philadelphia got the ball back on the Packers 34 with 1:45 left.
Vick completed passes of 28 yards to DeSean Jackson and 11 yards to Cooper before he threw the choose from the 27.
Vick had 175 yards passing and 103 rushing inside season opener against Green Bay, nearly rallying the Eagles back coming from a 17-point deficit. He explained afterward which he wished he played the whole game because he thought the outcome would've been different.
He'd his chance, and fell short.
Down 14-3, the Eagles returned within it when their struggling defense forced a turnover about the first possession of the 2nd half. Darryl Tapp knocked the ball away from Rodgers' hands and Juqua Parker recovered on the Packers 24.
Vick then made a perfect 24-yard TD pass within the middle to Jason Avant, who was simply encompassed by four defenders, to chop it to 14-10.
But Green Bay responded having a methodical, in-your-face drive. Rodgers threw a 16-yard TD pass to Brandon Jackson to accomplish the 80-yard drive and extend charge to 21-10. Jackson waited nicely for his blockers on a perfectly executed screen pass.
The Eagles failed to convert on third-and-1 from the Packers 16 early in your fourth and Akers was wide from the comfort of 34 yards out.
The Packers went ahead 7-0 late in first quarter on Rodgers' 7-yard TD pass to Tom Crabtree. Rodgers kept the drive going through scrambling from trouble and tossing a 9-yard pass to John Kuhn on third-and-7. He found a wide-open Crabtree around the next play. It absolutely was the 1st career TD for Crabtree, who had just four catches the entire season.
Rodgers used his legs again on Green Bay's next drive. His 9-yard TD pass to James Jones made it 14-0.
Rodgers niftily sidestepped Parker to stop a sack on the third-and-2 and tossed a 4-yard pass to Quinn Johnson. He eluded the blitz and ran for 8 yards on third-and-5. He then escaped pressure and linked to Jones away from home to the score.
The Eagles finally got occurring the ensuing possession. Vick ran 14 yards on third-and-10 to provide Philadelphia economic crisis down with the Packers 16. However the drive stalled and Akers kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the half.
The Packers should've led 21-3 at halftime except Jones dropped an absolutely thrown deep pass in the final minute that would've been a 63-yard TD. Jones beat Asante Samuel over a fly pattern, nevertheless the ball bounced out of his hands.
Jones had difficulties with drops through the season. A disappointed Rodgers fell to his knees and put his on the job his helmet when he saw the ball hit the ground.
The Eagles had trouble obtaining the blitz in recent weeks along with the Packers took advantage immediately. Desmond Bishop blew at night line untouched from Vick's blind side and sacked him for a 9-yard loss for the first play from scrimmage. Philadelphia needed to punt then got the very first break.
Brandon Underwood accidentally kicked the ball and the Eagles recovered in the Packers 41. However they didn't capitalize about the opportunity as Akers missed from 41.
The Packers were preseason favorites to succeed in the Super Bowl, but a slew of injuries took a toll. Fifteen players took injured reserve, with Grant and tight end Jermichael Finley one of the six starters.
The Eagles lost two key starters -- center Jamaal Jackson and fullback Leonard Weaver -- for that year in Week 1. Starting safety Nate Allen also was among 10 Philadelphia players on IR.
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01/09/2011
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01/06/2011
In Playoffs, Packers Must Participate in Their Game
In Playoffs, Packers Must Play Their Game
More than once during the last year, Head Coach Robert McCarthy has referred to what unhappy him the most about the NFC Wild Card playoff loss at Arizona last January.
To McCarthy, this came down to his team not playing to the identification that had allowed it in order to qualify for the playoffs in the first place.
Therefore if there's one key session McCarthy is trying to pass along for you to his players as they resume the Wild Card spherical on Sunday, this time within Philadelphia, it's that the Packers need to play the game the way that made them a successful 10-6 team over the past several months.
"Just stay true to our very own values, stay true to our own brand of football," McCarthy said. "We have just gone through the 16-game season. We are the 2010 Packers. We've a brand of football that individuals are very confident in, extremely comfortable with, and that's what we are taking to Philadelphia.
"I don't want anybody to act differently, don't want anybody to look differently. I want everybody to be the best that they'll be being themselves, that is certainly for every player, every product, every phase of our basketball team."
The identification of a football team can be a bit of a nebulous concept, in looking at what went wrong in last year's playoff loss, McCarthy's point makes a lot of sense.
The 2009 Packers finished the regular time first in the league within turnover ratio at plus-24, and they had the fewest giveaways inside the league with just Sixteen. Yet they turned the actual ball over twice within their first three offensive button snaps, and fell behind 14-0. They lost the game on a turnover, as Arizona returned the fumble for a touchdown in extra time.
The 2009 Packers also led the actual league in rushing protection, yet an Arizona the offense not known for running the particular ball still piled up 156 hurrying yards, more than the Packers quit in any regular-season game. In addition, the offensive line that corrected early-season issues and allowed simply 10 sacks over the final seven regular-season games suddenly granted five sacks in one playoff sweepstakes.
Those are just a few good examples from a year ago, and it's individuals types of deviations from a successful formula that can spell doom in the postseason.
Heading into this particular year's playoff game, the Packers' identification isn't the same. There are some parallels, but there's a lot about this group that has changed, too.
For starters, unlike last year, the Packers done this regular season making use of their backs against the wall, taking part in the past two weeks needing to get to see their season carry on. That alone gives them a technique for draw upon now that the particular playoffs are here.
"I consider it's just not much changes," running back John Kuhn explained. "If you already had it closed up and maybe you tranquil a couple weeks before you get in, ?- however we've been here having to breast it just to get in. Consequently we kind of know what it can be like to go into this game today. You lose and you're carried out. We all got that.Inch
The defense also offers some lofty rankings once again this year, but in different classes. The Packers finished No. Two in the league in scoring defense and No. 1 in the actual NFC at 15.0 items per game, having allowed seven points or fewer five times.
One key to which was a climb from Absolutely no. 28 in red-zone defense as much as No. 12. Opponents this past year scored touchdowns on 61 pct of trips inside the 20, compared to 48 percent this coming year, the defense's best red-zone percentage given that 2003.
That strength is going to be leaned upon against Philadelphia, the big-play offense that can score coming from anywhere on the field along with quarterback Michael Vick at the helm. When the Packers can make a team take the good way down the field, so to speak, they've got proven their ability to rise upward and eventually get the stop.
"I understand it's tough to have long, continual drives against our safeguard," veteran defensive conclusion Ryan Pickett said. "We've been great about getting off the field, specially early in the game, so it's difficult for anybody to drive the ball on us."
Particularly recently. The defense allowed two big plays for touchdowns within the second quarter in Few days 16, but after that it clamped recorded on two teams with double-digit is victorious (the Giants and Has) and allowed only a few points over the last six groups.
"Our defense has been playing real well," linebacker Clay Matthews stated. "I think (the scoring standing) is a fantastic testament to the mentors and players and more, and we need to continue that will through the playoffs."
Persistent pressure has played a huge part. Led by Matthews using 13?, the Packers finished attached for second in the group with 47 sacks as well as ranked first in the NFC within sacks per pass participate in. It won't be as easy to bring down Vick mainly because it was Chicago's Jay Cutler six instances this past week, of course, nevertheless staying after the quarterback will play a major factor in any potential playoff success.
"We'll keep applying force, and that's the way our team loves to play," said cornerback Charles Woodson, which continues to be used extensively being a blitzer.
"I like playing an assaulting style defense, and I think all the others on the team, I think it simply gets everybody's juices moving. It keeps everybody heated up and revved up and ready to go. That's what we like to do, as well as for myself, I love doing it.Inch
Turnover ratio remains an integral statistic for the Packers, though it will not jump off the page just as much as last year. Green Bay done plus-10, good for fourth in the league and second in the NFC to Absolutely no. 1 seed Atlanta (plus-14), and also the offense continued to utilize on the defense's takeaways this year, ranking inside the top five in items off of turnovers again with 111.
What has changed, plus it goes hand-in-hand somewhat with the red-zone security, is the ability to limit things off of turnovers. The Packers allowed merely 39 points (six industry goals, three touchdowns) following the offense's Twenty-two giveaways this season, with the 3 touchdowns the fewest given up by Eco-friendly Bay since the statistic started out being recorded in 1994.
After allowing 16 giveaways to be converted into 10 touchdowns this past year, the defense did not allow a touchdown off any turnover until Week Twelve this season, and then one of those a few TDs on the season was an interception returned for a score. It absolutely was a marked improvement in what the particular coaching staff refers to since "adversity defense," a focus since last year.
Another season-long emphasis has been penalties, and the Packers have made discipline part of their current id as well. After three straight years among the top five most penalized teams in the league, the Packers set the franchise low (since the American footbal went to a 16-game schedule throughout 1978) with just 78 accepted penalties this season. They ranked tied for 3rd in fewest penalties and next in least penalty yardage (617).
About offense, it's a little tougher to pinpoint identifying represents for a couple of reasons. McCarthy's system employs many different personnel groupings by simply design to keep defenses off-balance, and also the unit has been far less constant this year than in the past.
But if there is one thing that usually equates to good results, it's efficient quarterback enjoy, and Aaron Rodgers has shown he can realize that rhythm. Taking out the Detroit game inside Week 14 when they played less than a half and also left with a concussion (and then overlooked the subsequent game at Brand-new England), Rodgers put together a chain of five straight completed game titles with a passer rating above 114, and also four of those were earlier mentioned 130.
The efficiency got a dip this past 1 week against Chicago (89.Several), but Rodgers and the offense know what they're capable of because they've got executed at a high level a lot of the second half of the season. Rodgers additionally knows the errors first and late in previous year's playoff game tarnished his spectacular play in between throughout setting a franchise playoff document with 423 yards passing.
"Hopefully I'm going to play better," Rodgers stated. "You can only do the things you'll be able to control, and that's my prep, and that's going to be solid because it usually is. It's a challenging challenge playing a defense like this. They're a talented team. There's no margin for problem.
"It starts with taking care of the football, and that starts with me simply because I touch it every play, so I need to take proper care of the football, hopefully find us in good situations, and if we can have some harmony, we're hopeful we can proceed the ball a little bit.Inches
So in summary, the 2010 Packers are a battle-tested, disciplined team with an aggressive defense that keeps all of them in games and an offense built around efficient quarterback play.
Put that collectively for four quarters and also the Packers are confident they'll be a hardcore out in this postseason.
"I think to get in the playoffs, you have to participate in a 60-minute game," Rodgers stated. "We didn't do that last year, however this is a different team. Fresh challenges have faced us this season, adversity. But we now have stuck together and we are excited that we're inside the playoffs and we get another opportunity.
"We have to play the brand of football. It's got us all to this point. We're 10-6, into the next part of the season which is the particular playoffs, and we just need to stay with what we do best."
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01/05/2011
WR Duo Bounced Back Revealed Character In Must-Win Character In Must-Win
WR Duo Bounced Back, Demonstrated Character In Must-Win
While the objective of every team is to conduct at its very best in the playoff game, that inevitably is not going to happen.
Both combatants in any offered playoff meeting are there for a purpose. They're capable of making big plays, and stopping their oppositions from doing the same. Playoff online games, in and of themselves, tend to be roller-coaster rides for this reason. The Packers and their fans certainly know this, having seen their group play four overtime online games in their last six postseason competitions, dating back to the 2003 period.
Given that context, two veteran Packers this past Sunday provided a good example for all their teammates to keep in mind because the playoffs commence this weekend.
Heirs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings did not have their best days against the Bears in a playoff-like game the actual Packers needed to win to protected a Wild Card berth. They will both made crucial, noticeable mistakes.
But neither participant let the gaffes get to him, and they also both bounced back along with major contributions befitting from the resolve they possess since seasoned pros.
"Big-time players step-up in big-time games," protection Charlie Peprah said. "I like to stay the stars come out at night, and that's what happened."
Not right away, though.
On the Packers' second drive from the game, they faced second-and-10 from your Chicago 43-yard line. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers struck Driver with a short put, and Driver tried to spin and rewrite away from cornerback D.J. Moore to be able to fight for the first straight down.
But Moore knocked the ball out of Driver's hands at the 35, and cornerback Charles Tillman recovered for that Bears. Instead of potentially taking the early lead, the Packers had been turned away.
Then with the Packers working the two-minute drill at the end with the first half, Jennings was open up on a slant route without success to haul in a low throw from Rodgers. Not an simple catch, but one Natural Bay's go-to receiver has made many times.
Moments later, with the Packers at midfield, Jennings obtained behind the defense lower the left side in the field as Rodgers' perfect over-the-shoulder toss approached. Only it clanged away from Jennings' hands instead of being a prospective 50-yard touchdown, and the Packers ultimately proceeded to go into the locker room at halftime trailing, 3-0.
With the season in the equilibrium, it wasn't an enjoyable sit-down at the half. But by the time Motorist and Jennings emerged from the locker room to start the second half, their particular focus was not on their faults. They weren't thinking about the things they didn't accomplish in the 1st half, only what they could accomplish in the second, and there's a big difference.
"Obviously we had a few letdowns within the first half, all of us, myself included, and I'm the biggest vit of myself," Jennings stated. "Come the second half, we understood we needed to make takes on to make sure we got a playoff berth and that was the only thing about our mind."
Jennings imagined he had made one of those performs in the first half, as well, hauling in a 33-yard pass from the scrambling Rodgers to put the Packers inside scoring territory. But that was nullified by a questionable holding contact rookie right tackle Bryan Bulaga, simply adding to the early frustrations.
The conclusion, however, is that both experienced receivers rebounded in a meaningful method.
In the third quarter, Jennings received a pass interference contact Bears cornerback Tim Jennings for a speedy first down. Then about the very next snap, he or she beautifully split Chicago's zone protection on an in route for 33 yards to set up first-and-goal and an ultimate tying field goal.
And then on the Packers' next drive, early in the fourth quarter, Driver had been the target on a crucial third-and-3 from your Green Bay 32. Rather than worry about any additional yards, he secured the catch falling down for a 21-yard gain across midfield. About the next snap, Jennings got totally free down the right sideline, and a well-executed play-action fake allowed Rodgers to hit your pet in stride for a 46-yard gain down to the 1.
The particular consecutive big strikes create the game's lone touchdown, the 1-yard toss to tight end Donald Lee, and the Packers experienced the lead for good.
Driver as well as Jennings had done their jobs, without trying to do too much, it doesn't matter what had happened earlier.
"I failed to put it on my shoulders,Inch Jennings said. "I just got some possibilities, and I made plays while i got those opportunities in the second half."
That's a significant lesson to take into the postseason, set up last two games have been very similar to the playoffs for this group.
"We're going to have some adversity On the in Philadelphia in all 3 phases," Head Instructor Mike McCarthy said. "So we're going to need to answer the bell and maintain fighting."
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01/04/2011
Day-After Notes Defense Peaking At Appropriate Time
Day-After Notes: Defense Peaking At Correct Time
Head Coach Mike McCarthy agreed on Monday with the notion that defenses win championships.
Properly, the Packers have a tough path to a title as an NFC Wild Card team relegated to the road throughout the playoffs, but McCarthy will certainly go into this postseason believing his defense is playing its best. That, in his thoughts, provides Green Bay a fighting chance against anybody.
"I feel it is essential for the team to be noted for fantastic defense," McCarthy stated. "That's constantly been the objective in my tenure here, and I feel we undoubtedly have reached that.
"It begins with defense. I've often looked at defense as the thermostat. Whenever you have excellent defense, they keep you in games, week in and week out."
That has confirmed true for the 2010 Packers, who finished the normal season ranked second within the league in points allowed (15.0). Green Bay lost six games this season, but all were by three- or four-point margins largely simply because the defense still gave the team a shot at victory when the offense had off days.
The defense kept three teams - the Jets, Vikings and Bears - out of the finish zone over the past nine games, and two of the season's greatest victories came against the Jets and the Bears when the offense managed just 19 total points in 9-0 and 10-3 decisions.
The defense also held Detroit to just seven points in Week 14, which allowed the offense to have a opportunity to win at the finish of a 7-3 defeat.
This past Sunday's win-to-get-in performance may have been the most impressive with Chicago having scored 78 points in its previous two games. The Bears posted just 227 total yards and only once drove the ball into the red zone, settling for a field objective for their only points. The only other red-zone possession, set up by the Bears' defense through turnover, ended scoreless on account of one more turnover.
"This defense shows up week in and week out," mentioned linebacker Clay Matthews, who completed his typical season having a team- and career-high 13? sacks. "I believe we do a wonderful job with scheme we have, the players we have, and to hold team that is been on a roll to 3 points is often a amazing job, so we're pleased about it. Defensively we feel excellent."
Added fellow linebacker Desmond Bishop: "I believe the course of the season, our body of work has given us genuine confidence. We'll go anyplace, anytime and play."
That's the mentality the Packers will want as their playoff road begins at NFC East champion Philadelphia on Sunday, and the defense faces a main challenge in dual-threat quarterback Michael Vick. Unlike in Week 1, when the Packers ready all week for Eagles starter Kevin Kolb, only to determine Vick replace an injured Kolb for the second half, this time defensive coordinator Dom Capers will have the requisite time required to formulate a plan for Vick.
Furthermore, unlike last year - when the Packers' perceived vulnerability against elite passing quarterbacks proved accurate inside the playoffs as Arizona's Kurt Warner threw 5 touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals to a 51-45 overtime win inside the Wild Card round - there do not appear to be those glaring question marks hanging over the defense's head.
"Last year, that's old news," safety Nick Collins stated. "I'm not even going back there. We really feel like we're a far better team now."
They are, having dropping their regular-season points-allowed average by a lot more than a field aim (18.6 to 15.0 per game) despite less prolific turnover numbers (40 in 2009, 32 in 2010) along with a slide from the league's No. 1 defense against the run last year (83.3 yards per game) to No. 18 this year (114.9). In other words, this defense does not hang its hat on a couple of issues, but appears much more well-rounded, even within the face of a season-long spate of injuries and a variety of fill-ins producing key contributions.
This group also is arguably much more battle-tested, having held two double-digit-win teams within the Giants and Bears without a touchdown over the last six quarters. And in the event you chalk up 14 points within the New England game to gifts no one could do much about (an interception returned for a touchdown along with a long kickoff return to set up first-and-goal on the 4-yard line), the defense hasn't given up much more than 20 points in any of the last nine games.
That is what McCarthy signifies when he says, "When you have excellent defense, you are in every single game," which then leaves it up to the offense to do whatever it takes to win. It may appear a somewhat curious mindset for a head coach with an offensive background like McCarthy to possess, and he cannot precisely pinpoint when he initial espoused it. But working for the first six years of his NFL coaching career beneath Marty Schottenheimer in Kansas City, a blue-collar team known for defense, played a role, and if he ever entertained even the slightest doubts about the philosophy, they were erased following the way the Packers exited the playoffs a year ago.
"The intensity we played with (Sunday vs. Chicago), we have to keep playing with that intensity throughout," cornerback Charles Woodson mentioned. "We cannot have a repeat of what happened last year. This playoff game, we need to come out and play with exact same fire played with (Sunday) and excellent issues will take place."
Hopefully for longer than just one a lot more week.
"If we can get things going the way we know we can," cornerback Tramon Williams stated, "it's going to be a great run."
Game balls
Reflecting how nicely both the defense and unique teams played Sunday, the entire defense received a game ball whilst 4 players on unique teams also received the recognition from the coaching staff.
Punter Tim Masthay, extended snapper Brett Goode and defensive back Jarrett Bush, along with Williams as the return man, all received special-teams game balls.
The only player on an admittedly rough day for the offense to obtain a game ball was center Scott Wells, who received considerable praise from McCarthy.
"I feel Scott is having his very best year in my time here," he stated. "I can't reflect on how he played prior to my arrival, but I think this is clearly Scott Wells' very best season. He grades out really high week in and week out. I believe he will clearly grade out as the highest offensive lineman when it's all mentioned and performed. I feel Scott has had a Pro Bowl-type year."
Injury update
Four players who missed Sunday's game because of injuries - safety Atari Bigby (groin), fullback Korey Hall (knee), linebacker Frank Zombo (knee) and defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf) - are expected to go via testing on Monday and Tuesday and could possibly return to practice this week.
Bigby and Hall have just missed one game due to their current injuries, but Zombo has missed the last 3 and Jenkins the last four. All four players will probably be re-evaluated by the medical staff on Wednesday morning.
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Day-After Notes Defense Peaking At Proper Time
Day-After Notes: Defense Peaking At Proper Time
Head Coach Mike McCarthy agreed on Monday using the notion that defenses win championships.
Properly, the Packers have a difficult path to a title as an NFC Wild Card team relegated to the road throughout the playoffs, but McCarthy will undoubtedly go into this postseason believing his defense is playing its very best. That, in his thoughts, provides Green Bay a fighting probability against anybody.
"I feel it's essential for the team to be noted for excellent defense," McCarthy stated. "That's always been the objective in my tenure here, and I believe we certainly have reached that.
"It starts with defense. I've always looked at defense as the thermostat. If you have great defense, they maintain you in games, week in and week out."
That has verified correct for the 2010 Packers, who finished the normal season ranked second within the league in points allowed (15.0). Green Bay lost six games this season, but all were by three- or four-point margins largely due to the fact the defense still gave the team a shot at victory when the offense had off days.
The defense kept 3 teams - the Jets, Vikings and Bears - out of the finish zone over the past nine games, and two of the season's greatest victories came against the Jets and also the Bears when the offense managed just 19 total points in 9-0 and 10-3 decisions.
The defense also held Detroit to just seven points in Week 14, which allowed the offense to have a opportunity to win at the finish of a 7-3 defeat.
This past Sunday's win-to-get-in performance might have been the most impressive with Chicago having scored 78 points in its prior two games. The Bears posted just 227 total yards and only as soon as drove the ball into the red zone, settling for a field goal for their only points. The only other red-zone possession, set up by the Bears' defense by way of turnover, ended scoreless due to one more turnover.
"This defense shows up week in and week out," stated linebacker Clay Matthews, who completed his typical season with a team- and career-high 13? sacks. "I think we do a great job with scheme we have, the players we have, and to hold team that's been on a roll to three points can be a fantastic job, so we're happy about it. Defensively we feel excellent."
Added fellow linebacker Desmond Bishop: "I feel the course of the season, our physique of work has given us actual confidence. We'll go anyplace, anytime and play."
That is the mentality the Packers will want as their playoff road begins at NFC East champion Philadelphia on Sunday, and also the defense faces a main challenge in dual-threat quarterback Michael Vick. Unlike in Week 1, when the Packers ready all week for Eagles starter Kevin Kolb, only to determine Vick replace an injured Kolb for the second half, this time defensive coordinator Dom Capers will have the requisite time necessary to formulate a plan for Vick.
In addition, unlike final year - when the Packers' perceived vulnerability against elite passing quarterbacks proved correct within the playoffs as Arizona's Kurt Warner threw 5 touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals to a 51-45 overtime win inside the Wild Card round - there don't appear to be those glaring question marks hanging over the defense's head.
"Last year, that's old news," safety Nick Collins stated. "I'm not even going back there. We really feel like we're a far better team now."
They're, having dropping their regular-season points-allowed average by much more than a field objective (18.6 to 15.0 per game) despite less prolific turnover numbers (40 in 2009, 32 in 2010) along with a slide from the league's No. 1 defense against the run last year (83.three yards per game) to No. 18 this year (114.9). In other words, this defense does not hang its hat on a few items, but appears more well-rounded, even within the face of a season-long spate of injuries and numerous fill-ins creating key contributions.
This group also is arguably a lot more battle-tested, having held two double-digit-win teams within the Giants and Bears devoid of a touchdown over the final six quarters. And should you chalk up 14 points inside the New England game to gifts nobody could do a lot about (an interception returned for a touchdown plus a long kickoff return to set up first-and-goal on the 4-yard line), the defense hasn't given up much more than 20 points in any of the final nine games.
That is what McCarthy means when he says, "When you've got great defense, you are in every game," which then leaves it up to the offense to complete whatever it takes to win. It may possibly appear a somewhat curious mindset for a head coach with an offensive background like McCarthy to possess, and he cannot precisely pinpoint when he first espoused it. But operating for the very first six years of his NFL coaching career under Marty Schottenheimer in Kansas City, a blue-collar team identified for defense, played a role, and if he ever entertained even the slightest doubts about the philosophy, they had been erased right after the way the Packers exited the playoffs a year ago.
"The intensity we played with (Sunday vs. Chicago), we must maintain playing with that intensity throughout," cornerback Charles Woodson said. "We cannot have a repeat of what occurred last year. This playoff game, we have to come out and play with identical fire played with (Sunday) and very good issues will occur."
Hopefully for longer than just one a lot more week.
"If we can get items going the way we know we can," cornerback Tramon Williams stated, "it's going to be an excellent run."
Game balls
Reflecting how properly both the defense and unique teams played Sunday, the whole defense received a game ball while 4 players on unique teams also received the recognition from the coaching staff.
Punter Tim Masthay, extended snapper Brett Goode and defensive back Jarrett Bush, together with Williams as the return man, all received special-teams game balls.
The only player on an admittedly rough day for the offense to obtain a game ball was center Scott Wells, who received considerable praise from McCarthy.
"I feel Scott is having his best year in my time here," he stated. "I can't reflect on how he played prior to my arrival, but I believe this is clearly Scott Wells' very best season. He grades out really high week in and week out. I think he will clearly grade out as the highest offensive lineman when it really is all stated and performed. I think Scott has had a Pro Bowl-type year."
Injury update
4 players who missed Sunday's game as a result of injuries - safety Atari Bigby (groin), fullback Korey Hall (knee), linebacker Frank Zombo (knee) and defensive finish Cullen Jenkins (calf) - are expected to go by means of testing on Monday and Tuesday and could possibly return to practice this week.
Bigby and Hall have just missed one game because of their present injuries, but Zombo has missed the final three and Jenkins the final four. All 4 players will be re-evaluated by the medical staff on Wednesday morning.
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12/27/2010
Defense Returns To It's Takeaway Ways
Defense Returns To The Takeaway Ways
For a defense that prides itself on its ability to force turnovers, Green Bay experienced hit a bit of a lull in that class with just three takeaways in the previous four games coming into Sunday. The Packers certainly discovered a way to break out of that from the Giants.
The Packers posted six to eight takeaways against New York in their 45-17 earn, picking off quarterback Eli Manning 4 times while adding two fumble recoveries. It absolutely was the most turnovers forced by a Eco-friendly Bay defense since six takeaways in the season finale from Chicago in 2006.
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???It had been huge,??à said linebacker A.T. Hawk, who posted his career-high 3rd interception on the season late amongst people. ???Coming into this game, we recognized with how well their offense has been playing and the way they have been running the soccer ball on people, as a team so when a defense, we haven??￥t gotten the turnovers we have wanted within the last couple of weeks.
???When you get turnovers, especially when you receive six of them in a game and your offense scores a huge amount of points, it??￥s going to be tough to overcom you and I think today we all showed that.??à
It wasn??￥t just making the turnovers, but also capitalizing on them as well, and the Packers didn??￥t waste any time doing that on Saturday. Three plays after quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected with wide receiver Jordy Nelson on a deep pass down the middle for an 80-yard touchdown to put Eco-friendly Bay up 7-0 midway through the opening quarter, cornerback Tramon Williams undercut Manning??￥s third-down throw in order to wide receiver Hakeem Nicks on the middle at the Green Fresh 47 for an interception, his career-high sixth of the season.
Williams returned the actual pick 9 yards for the New York 44, and the criminal offense went 44 yards inside 10 plays with Rodgers hooking up with wide receiver David Jones on a 3-yard touchdown pass to finish off the drive and give the particular Packers a 14-0 lead.
With the Packers possessing a 21-14 lead at the split, the Giants quickly moved into Green Bay place on the opening drive behind a 16-yard pass interference charges on Williams. Then with the Titans facing third-and-2 at the Packers??￥ 41, operating back Ahmad Bradshaw took a direct breeze from center Shaun O??￥Hara, but has been stripped by cornerback Charles Woodson at the Environmentally friendly Bay 46. Safety Atari Bigby scooped up the ball, the first fumble recovery associated with his career, to set the particular offense up with a solid beginning once again at midfield that aided set up a 31-yard Mason Crosby area goal.
Later in the third quarter, with Green Fresh protecting a 31-17 advantage, the particular Giants appeared to be putting on their own in position to cut into the guide. After a 12-yard pass from Manning to be able to Bradshaw and a 12-yard run by Manning, jogging back Brandon Jacobs broke loose straight down the right sideline for a 21-yard pick-up to the Green Bay Forty two. But linebacker Clay Matthews hustled from the backfield in the future from behind and strike the ball out, as well as safety Nick Collins recovered.
???Most running backs are not assuming that somebody is going to get them from at the rear of and strip the basketball out or punch it out,??à Matthews said. ???Fortunately I was able to do that. Unfortunately we gave up a large play, but we were capable of getting it back and I speculate it was a change of momentum for the game.??à
Fellow linebacker Desmond Bishop got in position to scoop up the ball first but it had his arms. But this individual quickly recovered, batting the actual ball back onto the area to give his teammates a chance on the ball. Williams provided some help as well, clearing out tight end Kevin Employer, who appeared to have a great shot at recovering.
???I discovered it out and I wanted to have it so bad,??à Bishop said. ???My impetus was kind of taking me out of bounds and I didn??￥t want it to go out of bounds. I just going it back and stored it in play, hoping that one of our guys could easily get it, and I was luckily enough that Nick Collins got it.??à
The particular defense wasn??￥t done, with two more turnovers setting up the Packers??￥ last two touchdowns. The Packers finished with Twenty four points off of takeaways for the day following not having any points away turnovers in the previous four games.
First year cornerback Sam Shields picked away from a Manning pass deep down the actual left sideline intended for vast receiver Derek Hagan, and while it wasn??￥t apparent if Shields got each of your feet in bounds, the The big players were out of challenges along with couldn??￥t call for a review.
The interception gave the offense the golf ball at the New York 46 because Rodgers quickly led them straight down the field with a 5-yard scoring reach to running back John Kuhn capping off the drive. Two performs after that, Collins picked off Manning??￥s pass intended for wide receiver Mario Manningham on the Giants??￥ 49. Rodgers connected with Nelson again for the big play, this time any 38-yarder down to the 1, just before Kuhn took it in for the final score of the day.
???Anytime you get takeaways, then your offense comes in and plays like they do, I don??￥t feel there is anyone that can conquer us at that point,??à Williams said. ???Hopefully we could continue that.
???We know this individual was going to put some tennis balls up. (Manning) is the leading interception-thrower within the league, so we understood he was going to put the golf ball up. We knew we had arrived going to have opportunities to type of make plays and we do today.??à
The Giants came into the game with an average regarding 144.9 rushing yards every game, but the Packers were able to restrict them to just 90 metres on 21 carries (Some.3 avg.), only the second time this season that New York happened under 100 yards hastening. That ability to make Brand new York??￥s offense one-dimensional played a big position in the opportunities for the extra, and they made the most of which on Sunday.
???That??￥s pretty much the program every week,??à Williams said. ???You want to end the run at all times. As soon as you do that, we feel that virtually any team is playing in to our hands once that happens. We were able to get that completed today.
???Sometimes you are able to take advantage of the opportunities and sometimes we didn??￥t. This year it's been kind of inconsistent. We sort of came out and put it collectively today and everything emerged through.??à
