Flynn's historic day beats the Lions

Week 17
January 1, 2012 - 12:00 p.m. - FOX
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 45 - Lions 41

Photo credit: packers.com

Okay, first off, Aaron Rodgers got the day off to prevent injury and rest up for the playoffs in two weeks.  So Matt Flynn made his second career NFL start and he certainly turned some heads with his performance.  Flynn threw six, count them, six touchdowns in the Packers thrilling 45-41 victory over the Detroit Lions.  Folks, that is a Packers record for most touchdown passes in a single game.  No other quarterback in Packers history has "ever" done that.  Not Bart Starr.  Not Brett Favre.  Not Aaron Rodgers.  Flynn was one touchdown pass short of tying the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single game.

Jordy Nelson had himself quite the game as well.  He caught three of Matt Flynn's touchdown passes and totaling 162 receiving yards.  There was ZERO defense in this football game.  Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 520 yards and five touchdowns himself.  A good ol' fashion shootout.

Some interesting notes from this final regular season game of 2011:  This game between the Packers and the Lions was the first time in NFL history that both starting quarterbacks threw for 400+ yards and 5+ touchdowns.  The Packers tied the NFL single season record for most touchdowns passes as a team.  With Aaron Rodgers taking the day off, he officially finishes the season with a 122.5 quarterback rating which broke the single season record set by Peyton Manning of 121.1 set in 2004.  Packers finished the season 15-1 and set a franchise record with the most wins in a single Packers regular season.

Reactions to Matt Flynn's performance:

Matthew Stafford: "Flynn played a great game.  Their guys were making plays all over the field and scoring points."

Mike McCarthy: "It was clearly one of the best performances I've been a part of.  No doubt about it.  I can't say enough about Matt Flynn.  The whole world got to see what we see every day."

Photo from packers.com

James Jones: "He's a great player, great quarterback.  He just showed the world what he can do."

What an amazing performance by Matt Flynn.  I think it will definitely help him as he hits free agency this offseason and I do not think he will be wearing a green and gold uniform next season.  But I am very fond and happy for Matt and will always be a fan (Unless he is playing the Packers).