GREEN BAY, Wis. -- One of the problems with having the earliest possible bye week, as the Green Bay Packers did in Week 4, is how long the season might seem from here on out.
"Thirteen straight (games) is going to be a grind for sure," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday during his weekly radio show on ESPN 540 in Milwaukee.
Most of the veteran players in the Packers' locker room probably would agree. At the very least, it will be like nothing any of them have faced. The Packers haven't had a bye this early since 1999, when they also were off in Week 4.
Only the Packers and Carolina Panthers were off last week.
"It's very important how you are playing at the end of the season," Rodgers added on his show. "But it's also important you are able to field a healthy football team. And this situation, just like Carolina is going to be dealing with and teams with a Week 5 bye, because that's early as well, Week 6 is early, teams that have to go 10, 11, 12, 13 straight, it's going to be a more difficult stress on the guys to be healthy come Week 17, when you want to be playing your best and when you to be your healthiest, if that is possible. That is kind of the main challenge you see."
But there was a small group of Packers' players who welcomed the early bye.
"We've been here since May (beginning) with the rookie minicamp," rookie running back Johnathan Franklin said this week upon returning from the bye. "It's been a long time. The bye week came at a good time for us. The vets are a little upset about it, but we were excited."
For the rookies, the football season really never ended last year. Most went right from their college seasons into preparation for the draft. Many played in all-star games, went to the scouting combine and worked out in front of scouts on their college campus.
And when the Packers' offseason program ended with the final OTA practice in mid-June, the rookies remained in Green Bay for extra workouts before heading to the NFL-mandated rookie symposium later that month.
"Thirteen straight (games) is going to be a grind for sure," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday during his weekly radio show on ESPN 540 in Milwaukee.
Most of the veteran players in the Packers' locker room probably would agree. At the very least, it will be like nothing any of them have faced. The Packers haven't had a bye this early since 1999, when they also were off in Week 4.
Only the Packers and Carolina Panthers were off last week.
"It's very important how you are playing at the end of the season," Rodgers added on his show. "But it's also important you are able to field a healthy football team. And this situation, just like Carolina is going to be dealing with and teams with a Week 5 bye, because that's early as well, Week 6 is early, teams that have to go 10, 11, 12, 13 straight, it's going to be a more difficult stress on the guys to be healthy come Week 17, when you want to be playing your best and when you to be your healthiest, if that is possible. That is kind of the main challenge you see."
But there was a small group of Packers' players who welcomed the early bye.
"We've been here since May (beginning) with the rookie minicamp," rookie running back Johnathan Franklin said this week upon returning from the bye. "It's been a long time. The bye week came at a good time for us. The vets are a little upset about it, but we were excited."
For the rookies, the football season really never ended last year. Most went right from their college seasons into preparation for the draft. Many played in all-star games, went to the scouting combine and worked out in front of scouts on their college campus.
And when the Packers' offseason program ended with the final OTA practice in mid-June, the rookies remained in Green Bay for extra workouts before heading to the NFL-mandated rookie symposium later that month.
Packers' streak vs. Lions: Oct. 3, 2010
October, 1, 2013
Oct 1
3:00
PM ET
By
Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
Each day this week, we’ll look at one of the closer calls the Lions had during their 22-game losing streak in Wisconsin.
Date: Oct. 3, 2010
Score: Green Bay 28, Detroit 26
Records at the time: Packers (3-1), Lions (0-4)
What happened: This might have been the most unpredictable of all of Detroit’s losses in Green Bay over the years. If anything, that the game was as close as it ended up being is the biggest surprise of all.
The Lions were without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who separated his shoulder in the opening week of the season. So Detroit went to Green Bay with Shaun Hill as its quarterback.
And Hill almost led the Lions to a win.
Hill completed 34 of 54 passes for 331 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the game. He also rushed four times for 53 yards.
But the same issues that plagued the Lions over the years kept them from winning. They had 13 penalties for 102 yards and they couldn’t finish off drives. After a Charles Woodson interception return in the third quarter gave Green Bay a 28-14 lead, the Lions scored on four drives.
The problem was, they didn’t score a touchdown on any of them.
Even then, Detroit had two major chances. The first came on its final drive, when the Lions drove to the Green Bay 37-yard line before Hill threw two incomplete passes to Calvin Johnson before having to punt with 6:32 left.
Then the Lions' defense couldn’t stop Green Bay running back John Kuhn. Kuhn ran the ball seven times on the Packers’ final drive and the Lions only put Green Bay in a third down once on the drive. When they did -- with 55 seconds left -- Kuhn ran up the middle for 8 yards to seal the win.
An interesting nugget in this game was two of the team’s top three targeted receivers were tight ends. Brandon Pettigrew, who led the Lions with eight catches for 91 yards, saw 11 targets -- the same as Johnson. Tony Scheffler was thrown to 10 times, catching six passes for 63 yards.
How the season finished: The Lions, who were 0-4 after losing at Green Bay, finished at 6-10 in their second season under Jim Schwartz. They had won their final four games of the season -- including a win over Green Bay at Ford Field that December. The Packers, meanwhile, made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed and ended up beating Pittsburgh, 31-25, to win the Super Bowl.
Date: Oct. 3, 2010
Score: Green Bay 28, Detroit 26
Records at the time: Packers (3-1), Lions (0-4)
What happened: This might have been the most unpredictable of all of Detroit’s losses in Green Bay over the years. If anything, that the game was as close as it ended up being is the biggest surprise of all.
The Lions were without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who separated his shoulder in the opening week of the season. So Detroit went to Green Bay with Shaun Hill as its quarterback.
And Hill almost led the Lions to a win.
Hill completed 34 of 54 passes for 331 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the game. He also rushed four times for 53 yards.
But the same issues that plagued the Lions over the years kept them from winning. They had 13 penalties for 102 yards and they couldn’t finish off drives. After a Charles Woodson interception return in the third quarter gave Green Bay a 28-14 lead, the Lions scored on four drives.
The problem was, they didn’t score a touchdown on any of them.
Even then, Detroit had two major chances. The first came on its final drive, when the Lions drove to the Green Bay 37-yard line before Hill threw two incomplete passes to Calvin Johnson before having to punt with 6:32 left.
Then the Lions' defense couldn’t stop Green Bay running back John Kuhn. Kuhn ran the ball seven times on the Packers’ final drive and the Lions only put Green Bay in a third down once on the drive. When they did -- with 55 seconds left -- Kuhn ran up the middle for 8 yards to seal the win.
An interesting nugget in this game was two of the team’s top three targeted receivers were tight ends. Brandon Pettigrew, who led the Lions with eight catches for 91 yards, saw 11 targets -- the same as Johnson. Tony Scheffler was thrown to 10 times, catching six passes for 63 yards.
How the season finished: The Lions, who were 0-4 after losing at Green Bay, finished at 6-10 in their second season under Jim Schwartz. They had won their final four games of the season -- including a win over Green Bay at Ford Field that December. The Packers, meanwhile, made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed and ended up beating Pittsburgh, 31-25, to win the Super Bowl.
Power Rankings: No. 12 Green Bay Packers
October, 1, 2013
Oct 1
2:00
PM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
A weekly examination of the Packers’ ESPN.com Power Ranking.
Preseason: 5 | Last week: 12 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002
The bye week did nothing to change the Packers’ position in the Power Rankings, but it did see them lose ground in both their division and their conference. At 1-2 and still stinging over their Week 3 loss at Cincinnati, the Packers not only remain behind the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears -- both 3-1 -- in the division standings, but they also fell to third among NFC North teams in the Power Rankings. The Lions leapfrogged them, going from 16th to 10th, after beating the Bears, who fell from fourth to ninth. Among NFC teams, the Packers fell one spot, to sixth in the conference.
This week, the voters ranked the Packers anywhere from eighth to 16th. It is worth noting that both of the Packers’ losses have come against teams than stand ahead of them in the rankings. The San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Packers in Week 1, came in at No. 8, while the Bengals were 11th.
As always, you can rank the 32 teams yourself.
Preseason: 5 | Last week: 12 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002
The bye week did nothing to change the Packers’ position in the Power Rankings, but it did see them lose ground in both their division and their conference. At 1-2 and still stinging over their Week 3 loss at Cincinnati, the Packers not only remain behind the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears -- both 3-1 -- in the division standings, but they also fell to third among NFC North teams in the Power Rankings. The Lions leapfrogged them, going from 16th to 10th, after beating the Bears, who fell from fourth to ninth. Among NFC teams, the Packers fell one spot, to sixth in the conference.
This week, the voters ranked the Packers anywhere from eighth to 16th. It is worth noting that both of the Packers’ losses have come against teams than stand ahead of them in the rankings. The San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Packers in Week 1, came in at No. 8, while the Bengals were 11th.
As always, you can rank the 32 teams yourself.
Starter Pack: Positive vibes at Lambeau
October, 1, 2013
Oct 1
8:30
AM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
A roundup of what’s happening on the Green Bay Packers beat.
The combination of the Packers coming off their bye week and the Detroit Lions coming to town should create positive vibes around Lambeau Field.
What does one have to do with the other?
Well, the Packers have a 6-1 record in games following their bye week during Mike McCarthy’s tenure as head coach and the fact that the Lions have not won in the state of Wisconsin since 1991.
While the former might not be much of a topic of conversation this week, the latter always is when the Lions make the short trip to Green Bay.
In fact, ESPN.com colleague Michael Rothstein, who covers the Lions, has plans to take a look at some of Detroit’s closest calls during the remarkable streak of 22 straight Packers wins in their home state. He began with the memorable 45-41 shootout, known around these parts as the Matt Flynn game, in the 2011 regular-season finale.
Elsewhere:
The combination of the Packers coming off their bye week and the Detroit Lions coming to town should create positive vibes around Lambeau Field.
What does one have to do with the other?
Well, the Packers have a 6-1 record in games following their bye week during Mike McCarthy’s tenure as head coach and the fact that the Lions have not won in the state of Wisconsin since 1991.
While the former might not be much of a topic of conversation this week, the latter always is when the Lions make the short trip to Green Bay.
In fact, ESPN.com colleague Michael Rothstein, who covers the Lions, has plans to take a look at some of Detroit’s closest calls during the remarkable streak of 22 straight Packers wins in their home state. He began with the memorable 45-41 shootout, known around these parts as the Matt Flynn game, in the 2011 regular-season finale.
Elsewhere:
- Our ESPN.com coverage included the news of running back Eddie Lacy getting cleared to return from his Week 3 concussion and how Lacy and fellow rookie Johnathan Franklin might carry the load against the Lions. Also, safety Morgan Burnett, minus his dreadlocks, looks like a good bet to make his season debut this week after missing the first three games because of a hamstring injury.
- At ESPNWisconsin.com, Jason Wilde noted that the Packers must be more concerned about the running back situation given that they promoted Michael Hill from the practice squad rather than adding a fifth receiver to fill Jeremy Ross’ old roster spot.
- In the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Mike Vandermause’s story on the running backs pointed out that through Sunday’s games, the Packers ranked second in the NFL in rushing average (5.3 yards per carry) and ninth in rushing yards per game (128.0).
- In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tyler Dunne’s notebook compared Hill to DuJuan Harris, who last year followed a similar path from the practice squad to the active roster.
Morgan Burnett’s new look, new outlook
September, 30, 2013
Sep 30
9:00
PM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett used the bye week for two purposes: to get a haircut and get back on the field.
By the time he returned to Green Bay on Monday, he had achieved both.
Gone were the dreadlocks the 24-year-old has sported since his sophomore year of high school. So was any noticeable problem with his hamstring, an injury that has kept him out of the first three games of the season.
He insisted there was no connection; buzzing his hair wasn’t any kind of attempt to change his fortune after missing game action for the first time since 2010.
“It’s something I felt was time,” said Burnett, who last week tweeted a picture taken shortly after his haircut.
“My mom’s been on my case for about five years ago it, so it really made her day. I did it for her.”
The Packers are approaching Burnett’s return to practice with caution. He sustained the injury in the Aug. 23 preseason game against Seattle but after sitting out the preseason finale was set to go for the opener at San Francisco. He wasn’t even listed on the injury report until two days before the 49ers game and hasn’t played since.
“Morgan Burnett hasn’t played in a long time,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Monday’s practice. “Said he feels great. Curious to see him go through a week of practice.”
Last season, Burnett not only played in every game, he was the only player on the Packers’ defense to play every snap of every game.
“Just really don’t get caught up about missing three games and feeling like you’re behind the eight ball,” Burnett said. “Just do your job, let the game come to you and don’t go chasing things and forcing things that are not there.”
Without Burnett and slot cornerback Casey Hayward, who remains sidelined because of a hamstring injury, the Packers pass defense has suffered. They ranked 28th in the league in passing yards allowed per game through Sunday’s games.
This week, they face one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL, Detroit’s Calvin Johnson.
If Burnett makes it through the week without any setbacks, it will be his first action since he signed his four-year, $24.75 million contract extension in July.
By the time he returned to Green Bay on Monday, he had achieved both.
Gone were the dreadlocks the 24-year-old has sported since his sophomore year of high school. So was any noticeable problem with his hamstring, an injury that has kept him out of the first three games of the season.
He insisted there was no connection; buzzing his hair wasn’t any kind of attempt to change his fortune after missing game action for the first time since 2010.
“It’s something I felt was time,” said Burnett, who last week tweeted a picture taken shortly after his haircut.
“My mom’s been on my case for about five years ago it, so it really made her day. I did it for her.”
The Packers are approaching Burnett’s return to practice with caution. He sustained the injury in the Aug. 23 preseason game against Seattle but after sitting out the preseason finale was set to go for the opener at San Francisco. He wasn’t even listed on the injury report until two days before the 49ers game and hasn’t played since.
“Morgan Burnett hasn’t played in a long time,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Monday’s practice. “Said he feels great. Curious to see him go through a week of practice.”
Last season, Burnett not only played in every game, he was the only player on the Packers’ defense to play every snap of every game.
“Just really don’t get caught up about missing three games and feeling like you’re behind the eight ball,” Burnett said. “Just do your job, let the game come to you and don’t go chasing things and forcing things that are not there.”
Without Burnett and slot cornerback Casey Hayward, who remains sidelined because of a hamstring injury, the Packers pass defense has suffered. They ranked 28th in the league in passing yards allowed per game through Sunday’s games.
This week, they face one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL, Detroit’s Calvin Johnson.
If Burnett makes it through the week without any setbacks, it will be his first action since he signed his four-year, $24.75 million contract extension in July.
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- When Eddie Lacy was last seen on the football field, he was the Green Bay Packers’ workhouse running back.
Lacy
Franklin The rookie second-round pick from Alabama received the majority of the carries in the season-opening loss at San Francisco and appeared to be in a similar role in Week 2 against Washington before he was knocked out of the game with a concussion.
Lacy has been cleared to return after missing the Week 3 game at Cincinnati, but will his role be the same?
Since Lacy departed against the Redskins, two different Packers running backs rushed for 100 yards. James Starks ran for 132 yards against Washington, while rookie Johnathan Franklin ran for 103 yards a week later after Starks sustained a knee injury against the Bengals.
With Starks’ status uncertain, the Packers may go into Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions with their pair of rookies, Lacy and Franklin, as their top two backs.
“Man, that would definitely be a blessing and hopefully an inspiration to a lot of people,” Franklin said Monday, when the Packers returned to work following their bye week. “We’ve just got to keep working. We can’t get caught up in the one-two punch or caught up in the rookie this or the rookie that. We’ve just got to get better. This is bigger than us. This is about the Green Bay Packers.”
It wouldn’t be the first time under coach Mike McCarthy that the Packers featured a pair of rookie running backs. Early in the 2007 season, before the emergence of Ryan Grant later that season, the Packers relied on rookies Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, who were second- and seventh-round draft picks, respectively. But neither did enough or stayed healthy long.
Perhaps, though, this is what the Packers envisioned when they drafted Franklin two rounds after taking Lacy last April. Franklin might be the perfect complement to Lacy. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Franklin looks like an elusive runner outside the tackles and in the open field, while the more powerful Lacy (5-11, 230) appears to be a stronger inside runner.
“I think as far as running style, it really depends on the game plan, who you are playing and how you rotate those guys in,” McCarthy said. “Some people try to run certain schemes with certain backs. Some people play them differently based on personnel groups. Those are game plan questions.”
Lacy has been cleared to return after missing the Week 3 game at Cincinnati, but will his role be the same?
Since Lacy departed against the Redskins, two different Packers running backs rushed for 100 yards. James Starks ran for 132 yards against Washington, while rookie Johnathan Franklin ran for 103 yards a week later after Starks sustained a knee injury against the Bengals.
With Starks’ status uncertain, the Packers may go into Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions with their pair of rookies, Lacy and Franklin, as their top two backs.
“Man, that would definitely be a blessing and hopefully an inspiration to a lot of people,” Franklin said Monday, when the Packers returned to work following their bye week. “We’ve just got to keep working. We can’t get caught up in the one-two punch or caught up in the rookie this or the rookie that. We’ve just got to get better. This is bigger than us. This is about the Green Bay Packers.”
It wouldn’t be the first time under coach Mike McCarthy that the Packers featured a pair of rookie running backs. Early in the 2007 season, before the emergence of Ryan Grant later that season, the Packers relied on rookies Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, who were second- and seventh-round draft picks, respectively. But neither did enough or stayed healthy long.
Perhaps, though, this is what the Packers envisioned when they drafted Franklin two rounds after taking Lacy last April. Franklin might be the perfect complement to Lacy. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Franklin looks like an elusive runner outside the tackles and in the open field, while the more powerful Lacy (5-11, 230) appears to be a stronger inside runner.
“I think as far as running style, it really depends on the game plan, who you are playing and how you rotate those guys in,” McCarthy said. “Some people try to run certain schemes with certain backs. Some people play them differently based on personnel groups. Those are game plan questions.”
AP Photo/Mike RoemerEddie Lacy is helped off the field after suffering a concussion on his first carry against Washington in Week 2.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers received some good news about their running game when they returned from their bye week Monday.
Rookie running back Eddie Lacy was cleared following his Week 2 concussion.
Lacy took part in the team's full-pads practice Monday and is expected to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
It was the first on-field activity for Lacy since he was knocked out of the Sept. 15 game against the Washington Redskins on a helmet-to-helmet hit from safety Brandon Meriweather, who was fined $42,000 for the play. Lacy missed the Packers' Week 3 loss at Cincinnati.
"I thought Eddie practiced well today," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Monday's practice. "So it was good to have him back out there. He's full go, and I think the week off definitely helped him."
Lacy was not available to reporters Monday, but last week before the players broke for the bye, he said he had yet to be cleared. He said he didn't remember anything about the hit from Meriweather.
"I didn't know nothing," Lacy said last week. "When I got to sit down on that bench, that's pretty much when I came back."
Practice report: Bye week doesn’t cure all
September, 30, 2013
Sep 30
5:15
PM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If the Green Bay Packers were counting on last week’s bye to cure all of their injured players, they were probably disappointed on Monday.
When the team returned to practice following its week off, there were still six players sidelined.
They were:
However, running backs Eddie Lacy (who has been out since he sustained a concussion in Week 2 against the Washington Redskins) and Johnathan Franklin (who sustained a foot injury late in the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals) both were practicing on Monday.
So was safety Morgan Burnett, who has yet to play this season because of the hamstring injury he sustained in the preseason.
In a sign that perhaps Starks’ knee injury might keep him out for a while, the Packers promoted rookie running back Michael Hill from the practice squad shortly before Monday’s practice. He took the roster spot that came open when the Packers released receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross last Monday.
We’ll have more on Lacy’s return, plus the rest of the news of the day, when coach Mike McCarthy and players are available following practice later on Monday.
When the team returned to practice following its week off, there were still six players sidelined.
They were:
- CB Jarrett Bush (hamstring)
- CB Casey Hayward (hamstring)
- FB John Kuhn (hamstring)
- RB James Starks (knee)
- OLB Clay Matthews (hamstring)
- TE Jermichael Finley (concussion)
However, running backs Eddie Lacy (who has been out since he sustained a concussion in Week 2 against the Washington Redskins) and Johnathan Franklin (who sustained a foot injury late in the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals) both were practicing on Monday.
So was safety Morgan Burnett, who has yet to play this season because of the hamstring injury he sustained in the preseason.
In a sign that perhaps Starks’ knee injury might keep him out for a while, the Packers promoted rookie running back Michael Hill from the practice squad shortly before Monday’s practice. He took the roster spot that came open when the Packers released receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross last Monday.
We’ll have more on Lacy’s return, plus the rest of the news of the day, when coach Mike McCarthy and players are available following practice later on Monday.
Packers' streak vs. Lions: Jan. 1, 2012
September, 30, 2013
Sep 30
3:10
PM ET
By
Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
Each day this week, we’ll look at one of the closer calls the Lions had during their 22-game losing streak in Wisconsin.
Date: Jan. 1, 2012
Score: Packers 45, Lions 41
Records: Packers (15-1), Lions (10-6)
What happened: Green Bay sat most of its key players, having already wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, giving the Lions a chance to clinch their own playoff fortunes as well.
And Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford tried to bring the Lions a No. 5 seed instead of a No. 6 seed by throwing for 520 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions -- one of the better passing games in Detroit history.
Here was the problem.
Then-Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn matched him. Flynn threw for 480 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Flynn played because Green Bay sat starters Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga and Greg Jennings on offense and Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson on defense.
Both quarterbacks had passer ratings over 100 and QBRs over 84.
The Lions did a lot right in that game. They forced a safety, held Green Bay under 4 yards a carry and outgained the Packers. They even scored a touchdown to take the lead -- a 12-yard pass from Stafford to tight end Tony Scheffler -- with 2:39 left to take a 41-38 lead.
But for Detroit there is something about winning in Green Bay that has been impossible since 1991 and the Packers went 80 yards in eight plays over 1 minute, 29 seconds to score what turned into the game-winning touchdown from Flynn to Jermichael Finley.
In perhaps one of the closer calls of the last 22 tries for Detroit, the Lions actually had the ball on the Green Bay 37-yard line when Stafford threw an interception on a pass intended for Nate Burleson with 25 seconds left to seal the Packers win and the streak.
If you’re curious, Detroit will have nine starters from that game on the field Sunday -- Stafford, Scheffler, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, offensive linemen Dominic Raiola and Rob Sims, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and linebackers Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy.
How did their seasons finish: Instead of facing the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the Lions traveled to New Orleans and were blown out, 45-28. Green Bay didn’t win another game that season, either, being beaten by the Giants at Lambeau Field in the divisional round of the playoffs, 37-20.
Date: Jan. 1, 2012
Score: Packers 45, Lions 41
Records: Packers (15-1), Lions (10-6)
What happened: Green Bay sat most of its key players, having already wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, giving the Lions a chance to clinch their own playoff fortunes as well.
And Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford tried to bring the Lions a No. 5 seed instead of a No. 6 seed by throwing for 520 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions -- one of the better passing games in Detroit history.
Here was the problem.
Then-Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn matched him. Flynn threw for 480 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Flynn played because Green Bay sat starters Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga and Greg Jennings on offense and Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson on defense.
Both quarterbacks had passer ratings over 100 and QBRs over 84.
The Lions did a lot right in that game. They forced a safety, held Green Bay under 4 yards a carry and outgained the Packers. They even scored a touchdown to take the lead -- a 12-yard pass from Stafford to tight end Tony Scheffler -- with 2:39 left to take a 41-38 lead.
But for Detroit there is something about winning in Green Bay that has been impossible since 1991 and the Packers went 80 yards in eight plays over 1 minute, 29 seconds to score what turned into the game-winning touchdown from Flynn to Jermichael Finley.
In perhaps one of the closer calls of the last 22 tries for Detroit, the Lions actually had the ball on the Green Bay 37-yard line when Stafford threw an interception on a pass intended for Nate Burleson with 25 seconds left to seal the Packers win and the streak.
If you’re curious, Detroit will have nine starters from that game on the field Sunday -- Stafford, Scheffler, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, offensive linemen Dominic Raiola and Rob Sims, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and linebackers Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy.
How did their seasons finish: Instead of facing the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the Lions traveled to New Orleans and were blown out, 45-28. Green Bay didn’t win another game that season, either, being beaten by the Giants at Lambeau Field in the divisional round of the playoffs, 37-20.
A roundup of what’s happening on the Green Bay Packers beat.
The Packers get back to work Monday following their bye week with a practice -- likely a light workout -- at 3 p.m. local time.
It will be the first indicator on the progress of several players who entered the bye on the injury list and their status for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
To review, here are the players we’ll be monitoring:
There was almost no information available during the bye week on the injured players, however, Finley did offer some insight into his situation in a video he posted on his personal website. As was noted when the video was posted on Friday, it’s not known exactly when it was taken but at the time he had not yet been cleared to return.
Elsewhere:
The Packers get back to work Monday following their bye week with a practice -- likely a light workout -- at 3 p.m. local time.
It will be the first indicator on the progress of several players who entered the bye on the injury list and their status for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
To review, here are the players we’ll be monitoring:
- RB Johnathan Franklin (foot, injured in the last game)
- CB Jarrett Bush (hamstring, missed the last two games)
- RB Eddie Lacy (concussion, missed the last game)
- CB Casey Hayward (hamstring, missed all three games)
- FB John Kuhn (hamstring, missed the last game)
- RB James Starks (knee, injured in the last game)
- S Morgan Burnett (hamstring, missed all three games)
- OLB Clay Matthews (hamstring, injured in the last game)
- TE Jermichael Finley (concussion, injured in the last game)
There was almost no information available during the bye week on the injured players, however, Finley did offer some insight into his situation in a video he posted on his personal website. As was noted when the video was posted on Friday, it’s not known exactly when it was taken but at the time he had not yet been cleared to return.
Elsewhere:
- The ESPN.com Packers Mailbag posted on Sunday included a question about how many of the pending free agents will be able to be re-signed.
- If you’re interested in getting an early start on the Packers’ next opponent, check out ESPN.com colleague Michael Rothstein’s coverage on the Lions page.
- The Green Bay Press-Gazette’s coverage over the weekend included Pete Dougherty’s in-depth look at the hamstring issues several players have faced this season and a story on an unusual development in the Packers’ non-football operation -- the resignation of executive committee member Edward Martin, a local businessman.
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s coverage included Tyler Dunne’s trip to Alabama, where he spent time with legendary Packers quarterback Bart Starr, who will turn 80 next year.
An inside look at Finley’s concussion
September, 27, 2013
Sep 27
6:40
PM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- NFL rules prohibit players who sustain concussions during a game from talking to reporters after the game.
Finley So the first anyone has heard from Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, who was knocked out of Sunday’s game at Cincinnati with a concussion, came on Friday when he posted a video on his personal website.
In the short video, he explained what he remembered about the play and what he felt like afterward.
“Aaron Rodgers threw the ball,” Finley said. “I dove and after that I felt the hit at my shoulder and after all that happened, I was unconscious by then.”
Finley was hit by Bengals safety George Iloka, who was fined $15,000 for the play.
When he came to, his vision was impaired.
“I looked at the sideline and all I saw was jerseys,” Finley said. “I saw the yellow pants we wore, and I didn’t see no head or legs. Everybody was decapitated and my body was on fire.”
The Packers are in the midst of their bye week and it's not known when the video was taken, but Finley said he is still going through the NFL’s concussion protocol in order to be cleared.
Perhaps the scariest part for Finley was the reaction of his 5-year-old son, Kayden.
“He said, ‘Daddy, I don’t want you to play football anymore,’” Finley said. “That was a little hard to take just hearing that [from] a 5-year-old, just knowing the violence and the intensity of the game and seeing his dad walk off the field like he did is, I would think, pretty hard for a family to see.”
In the short video, he explained what he remembered about the play and what he felt like afterward.
“Aaron Rodgers threw the ball,” Finley said. “I dove and after that I felt the hit at my shoulder and after all that happened, I was unconscious by then.”
Finley was hit by Bengals safety George Iloka, who was fined $15,000 for the play.
When he came to, his vision was impaired.
“I looked at the sideline and all I saw was jerseys,” Finley said. “I saw the yellow pants we wore, and I didn’t see no head or legs. Everybody was decapitated and my body was on fire.”
The Packers are in the midst of their bye week and it's not known when the video was taken, but Finley said he is still going through the NFL’s concussion protocol in order to be cleared.
Perhaps the scariest part for Finley was the reaction of his 5-year-old son, Kayden.
“He said, ‘Daddy, I don’t want you to play football anymore,’” Finley said. “That was a little hard to take just hearing that [from] a 5-year-old, just knowing the violence and the intensity of the game and seeing his dad walk off the field like he did is, I would think, pretty hard for a family to see.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- When players are fined for hits that were not penalized during the game, it’s essentially an admission of an officiating error.
For the second straight week, that applied to a Green Bay Packers' opponent.
Finley On Friday, the NFL announced it fined Cincinnati Bengals safety George Iloka $15,000 for his unpenalized hit during the first quarter of Sunday’s game that left Packers tight end Jermichael Finley with a concussion.
A league spokesman said Iloka was fined for “unnecessarily striking a defenseless player in the head and neck area.”
Finley could not return to the game, and his status is unknown for the Packers’ next game, following their bye, against Detroit on Oct. 6.
That fine came a week after Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather was fined $42,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers running back Eddie Lacy, who also was forced to leave the game with a concussion. Lacy did not play against the Bengals. Like in the case with Iloka, the game officials did not call a penalty on Meriweather.
Also on Friday, the league announced that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was fined a total of $31,000 for two infractions against the Packers -- one that was called a penalty and one that was not. He was docked $21,000 for “unnecessarily striking a defenseless player (Packers receiver James Jones) in the head and neck area” and another $10,000 for “striking” Packers tight end Ryan Taylor in the groin area. Burfict was not flagged for striking Taylor, who was penalized but not fined after he retaliated against Burfict.
Two other Packers players who were called for personal fouls -- linebacker Nick Perry and cornerback Tramon Williams -- were not fined. Neither was Bengals safety Reggie Nelson for his roughing the passer penalty against Aaron Rodgers, nor defensive end Michael Johnson for hitting Rodgers low, which also wasn’t penalized.
For the second straight week, that applied to a Green Bay Packers' opponent.
A league spokesman said Iloka was fined for “unnecessarily striking a defenseless player in the head and neck area.”
Finley could not return to the game, and his status is unknown for the Packers’ next game, following their bye, against Detroit on Oct. 6.
That fine came a week after Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather was fined $42,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers running back Eddie Lacy, who also was forced to leave the game with a concussion. Lacy did not play against the Bengals. Like in the case with Iloka, the game officials did not call a penalty on Meriweather.
Also on Friday, the league announced that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was fined a total of $31,000 for two infractions against the Packers -- one that was called a penalty and one that was not. He was docked $21,000 for “unnecessarily striking a defenseless player (Packers receiver James Jones) in the head and neck area” and another $10,000 for “striking” Packers tight end Ryan Taylor in the groin area. Burfict was not flagged for striking Taylor, who was penalized but not fined after he retaliated against Burfict.
Two other Packers players who were called for personal fouls -- linebacker Nick Perry and cornerback Tramon Williams -- were not fined. Neither was Bengals safety Reggie Nelson for his roughing the passer penalty against Aaron Rodgers, nor defensive end Michael Johnson for hitting Rodgers low, which also wasn’t penalized.
Packers: Revisiting the 1,000-yard receivers
September, 27, 2013
Sep 27
2:00
PM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Maybe you scoffed last week when we broached the possibility that the Green Bay Packers could have three 1,000-yard receivers this season.
Perhaps you said using two games to project season-long statistical numbers wasn’t an accurate predictor of future results.
And that would be understandable.
But it was hard to ignore the production that Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones had after those two games. As was noted at the time, Cobb was on pace for 1,888 yards, Nelson for 1,568 and Jones for 1,424.
We’re not going to track their progress toward 1,000-yard seasons every week, but with another game in the books and some free time on our hands with the Packers on their bye week, it’s at the very least interesting to note that all three remain on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.
In fact, Nelson’s pace has hardly changed after he caught eight passes for 93 yards in last Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati. He is on track for 1,541 yards -- only 17 less than his pace after two games.
Cobb, who caught five passes for 54 yards against the Bengals after a pair of 100-yard games to open the season, is on pace for 1,547 yards. Jones, who caught four passes for 34 yards at Cincinnati, is on pace for 1,131 yards.
Of course, an injury or a game without many targets could change that in a hurry. Take tight end Jermichael Finley, for example. After two games, he was on a 968-yard pace until he got knocked out of Sunday’s game with a concussion on the Packers’ sixth offensive play. Without any receptions, his pace now is for 645 yards.
But if the trio of Cobb, Jones and Nelson stay healthy, they’re likely to get enough opportunities each to surpass the 1,000-yard mark. The three-receiver set has been by far coach Mike McCarthy’s favorite formation this season. Cobb, Jones and Nelson have combined to play 95.8 percent of the Packers’ offensive snaps this season. Jones has been on the field for all but three snaps, and Nelson for all but five, while Cobb has played 196 of 215 snaps.
Perhaps you said using two games to project season-long statistical numbers wasn’t an accurate predictor of future results.
And that would be understandable.
But it was hard to ignore the production that Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones had after those two games. As was noted at the time, Cobb was on pace for 1,888 yards, Nelson for 1,568 and Jones for 1,424.
We’re not going to track their progress toward 1,000-yard seasons every week, but with another game in the books and some free time on our hands with the Packers on their bye week, it’s at the very least interesting to note that all three remain on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.
In fact, Nelson’s pace has hardly changed after he caught eight passes for 93 yards in last Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati. He is on track for 1,541 yards -- only 17 less than his pace after two games.
Cobb, who caught five passes for 54 yards against the Bengals after a pair of 100-yard games to open the season, is on pace for 1,547 yards. Jones, who caught four passes for 34 yards at Cincinnati, is on pace for 1,131 yards.
Of course, an injury or a game without many targets could change that in a hurry. Take tight end Jermichael Finley, for example. After two games, he was on a 968-yard pace until he got knocked out of Sunday’s game with a concussion on the Packers’ sixth offensive play. Without any receptions, his pace now is for 645 yards.
But if the trio of Cobb, Jones and Nelson stay healthy, they’re likely to get enough opportunities each to surpass the 1,000-yard mark. The three-receiver set has been by far coach Mike McCarthy’s favorite formation this season. Cobb, Jones and Nelson have combined to play 95.8 percent of the Packers’ offensive snaps this season. Jones has been on the field for all but three snaps, and Nelson for all but five, while Cobb has played 196 of 215 snaps.
Starter Pack: More on Rodgers, comebacks
September, 27, 2013
Sep 27
8:30
AM ET
By
Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com
A roundup of what’s happening on the Green Bay Packers beat.
Considerable time has been spent this week writing about and discussing quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ record in close games and comeback situations in large part because he failed to lead a fourth-quarter comeback drive in last Sunday’s 34-30 loss at Cincinnati.
Much of the discussion centered around an ESPN Insider piece by Football Outsiders’ Scott Kacsmar, who went so far as to say Rodgers’ sub-par record in close games -- 5-24 in games when Rodgers had the ball in the fourth quarter and trailed by between one and eight points -- prevents him from being classified as one of the game’s truly great quarterbacks.
The latest to weigh in was Green Bay Press-Gazette columnist Mike Vandermause, who doesn’t believe it’s as big an issue as some have made it out to be.
In his column, he wrote: “It makes for a compelling story line, as long as you don’t mind numbers getting manipulated to argue a half-baked theory.”
Part of the reason this story has continued to have life this week is because the Packers are on their bye, and there simply isn’t much going on around the team.
Elsewhere:
Considerable time has been spent this week writing about and discussing quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ record in close games and comeback situations in large part because he failed to lead a fourth-quarter comeback drive in last Sunday’s 34-30 loss at Cincinnati.
Much of the discussion centered around an ESPN Insider piece by Football Outsiders’ Scott Kacsmar, who went so far as to say Rodgers’ sub-par record in close games -- 5-24 in games when Rodgers had the ball in the fourth quarter and trailed by between one and eight points -- prevents him from being classified as one of the game’s truly great quarterbacks.
The latest to weigh in was Green Bay Press-Gazette columnist Mike Vandermause, who doesn’t believe it’s as big an issue as some have made it out to be.
In his column, he wrote: “It makes for a compelling story line, as long as you don’t mind numbers getting manipulated to argue a half-baked theory.”
Part of the reason this story has continued to have life this week is because the Packers are on their bye, and there simply isn’t much going on around the team.
Elsewhere:
- On our ESPN.com Packers page, we broke down some of the key statistics through the first three games and compared them with last year’s season-long numbers.
- On ESPNWisconsin.com, you can listen to my guest spot on ESPN 540 AM.
- In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob McGinn detailed some of the amenities that are being added to the Packers’ expanded training facility that is currently being constructed inside Lambeau Field.
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DET | 3-1 | 30.5 | 25.3 | 2-0 | 1-1 | W2 | |
| GNB | 1-2 | 32.0 | 29.3 | 1-0 | 0-2 | L1 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNB | 1-2 | 32.0 | 29.3 | 1-0 | 0-2 | L1 | |
| BAL | 2-2 | 22.8 | 21.8 | 2-0 | 0-2 | L1 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | 2-2 | 16.0 | 17.5 | 1-1 | 1-1 | W2 | |
| GNB | 1-2 | 32.0 | 29.3 | 1-0 | 0-2 | L1 |
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