Packers clinch top seed on Christmas

Week 16

December 25, 2011 - 7:20 p.m. - NBC

Lambeau Field

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 35 - Bears 21

The Packers have locked up the number one seed and home-field advantage in the 2011 playoffs with the victory over the rival Chicago Bears Christmas evening.  Aaron Rodgers dominated the Bears defense throwing five touchdowns before being replaced by Matt Flynn.  Jordy Nelson caught six passes from Rodgers for 115 yards and hauled in two touchdowns.  James Jones also caught two touchdowns with 50 receiving yards.

Aaron Rodgers also set another Packers record during this game.  Rodgers passed Lynn Dickey's single-season franchise record of 4,458 yards passing yards.  What is impressive is the fact there is still one game remaining in the season and he has already surpassed this record.  Of course, there is a chance Aaron won't even play next week against the Detroit Lions.

Photo credit: packers.com

A couple of other notes from this game.  The Packers had zero accepted penalties for the entire game for the first time since November 1990.  This game was also the Packers 300th consecutive sellout including the playoffs.  Impressive.  You know what also is impressive?  Putting up 35 points on the usual stingy Bears defense.

Mike McCarthy: "Thirty-five points on that defense, that's a good night."

#TheBearsStillSuck

#gopackgo

Chiefs hand Packers first loss in 2011

Week 15

December 18, 2011 - 12:00 p.m. - FOX

Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City, Missouri 

Packers 14 - Chiefs 19

Photo credit: packers.com

First off, I attended this game because I live in Missouri.  I took a lot of flack from people after our loss.  But since I was there to witness it first hand, I was the first to admit, "we lost and deserved too." It was an absolute horrific game from an offense standpoint.  Aaron Rodgers went 17/35 for 231 yards; a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.  This was the first game since Week 8 of 2010 that Aaron had a passing completion percentage less than 50%.  The running game was nonexistent.  Also, this was the first game without Greg Jennings after he suffered an MCL sprain vs. the Oakland Raiders the previous week.  I have to give credit where credit is due.  The Chiefs had a excellent game plan against us and they executed it to perfection.

Personally, I was really worried about the Packers in this game.  We historically never have play well in Arrowhead Stadium and the fact that I was in the stadium couldn't have helped.  My father says I'm a jinx whenever I go watch my favorite teams play.  Maybe he is right.  But I didn't want to miss this opportunity to see the Packers play in person when they were so close to home.

I was so "impressed" with the number of Packers fans that attended the game.  I honestly thought we had at least 50% of the crowd.  It was special because where I sat, I had Packers fans all around me!  I have some more credit to give here:  Arrowhead Stadium was very impressive.  It was very loud.  Going forward I can definitely attest to someone saying Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.

The thought of "PERFECTION" was a cool story line.  It would have been something truly special.  But to me, another Lombardi Trophy is the most important goal.  This loss could be good for us going forward as we prepare for the playoffs.  Hopefully we can focus only on the playoffs now and start to look at resting players.  We cannot afford anymore injuries like Greg Jennings.

Mike McCarthy: "I personally always viewed the undefeated season as, really, just gravy.  The goal was to get home-field advantage and win the Super Bowl."

Pack routs Raiders to remain undefeated

Week 14

December 11, 2012 - 3:15 p.m. - CBS

Lambeau Field

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 46 - Raiders 16

Photo credit: packers.com

Packers win their 19th consecutive game and remain an undefeated 13-0 with a rout of the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field.  The Packers also clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns.  Rodgers also tied Brett Favre with the most touchdown passes (39) in a single season in Packers history.

Packers set a franchise record with 466 points which broke their previous record of 461 points set in 2009.

Greg Jennings left the game in the second half with an apparent knee injury.  Sadly, Jennings was injured when the Packers were leading big and could become very costly with only three weeks remaining in the regular season.