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In 2010, the NFL mock drafting world expressed shock and awe that Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga was still available when the Green Bay Packers drafted him at No. 23 overall. Two years later, we've seen similar expressions of surprise that another Iowa left tackle, Riley Reiff, was still available when the Detroit Lions drafted him at, yes, No. 23 overall.

What's the common theme here? I'm almost embarrassed for the game, but here goes: Arm length.

The arms of both Bulaga and Reiff measured at 33 1/4 inches at their respective scouting combines, about 2 3/4 inches shorter than NFL teams would ideally like to see them. I know you might shake your head, but after poking around a bit Friday, I feel confident that Reiff -- who was an excellent player in a major conference of college football -- would not have made it to the Lions' spot if his arms were longer.

You might remember my rant on this topic shortly after Bulaga's arrival in this division. I understand the value that long arms provide -- namely, establishing distance from a pass rusher to help maintain leverage -- but I refuse to believe it is a make-or-break attribute. Footwork and technique should always trump it, right?

The Packers didn't help my argument by moving Bulaga to right tackle, where he presumably faces less talented pass-rushers and thus doesn't need arms quite as long. (I can't believe I just wrote that sentence.) Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Reiff projects as a left tackle, but I suppose it's possible he could follow a similar path as Bulaga by filling in and ultimately settling into a different position.

Hopefully we've learned our lesson. Reiff was projected as a top-15 pick because he was considered the draft's second-best tackle, and that's where players of that regard historically are selected. So when filling out our mock drafts in future years, I suggest we take a roll call of arm length before assigning first-round order. But don't forget your dinosaur history. T-Rex was pretty, pretty nasty from what I understand.

In all seriousness, I don't think arm length was the only reason why almost two dozen players were off the board before Reiff was drafted. But you're fooling yourself if you think it wasn't part of the evaluation. Sometimes, NFL evaluators get too caught up in measureables for their own good.

From my perspective, it was the Lions' gain. Even if Reiff isn't the Lions' long-term answer at left tackle, they got a really good player at a value spot in the first round.

When we last checked in on Chad Clifton, it was clear the Green Bay Packers were hoping to find a way to get their veteran left tackle back for 2012. At the NFL owners meetings, coach Mike McCarthy termed Clifton's future "a medical decision" after his postseason back surgery.

The Packers made that decision Monday, and it ended a 12-year run that included a Pro Bowl berth as recently as two years ago. Just as important, the move should save the Packers more than $5 million against the 2012 salary cap.

In truth, the Packers' pending release of Clifton -- as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter -- has been building for years. The team essentially extended his career by limiting practice time to help manage knee, shoulder, back and hamstring ailments. But the back issue developed last season while rehabilitating a hamstring injury, and it was fair to question whether the Packers could rely on a left tackle in his condition who will turn 36 in June.

Knowing this moment was coming, the Packers have drafted possible replacements in recent years. Bryan Bulaga was initially a left tackle as a first-round pick in 2010, but he has moved to right tackle. Derek Sherrod, the Packers' top pick last season, played guard and tackle before suffering a season-ending broken leg in December.

But the likeliest replacement could be Marshall Newhouse, a fifth-round pick in 2010 who filled in admirably for Clifton last season. As the playoffs approached, quarterback Aaron Rodgers offered this ringing endorsement of Newhouse's performance:

"Starting the season out, I didn't look at Marshall the way I look at him now. I look at him now as a guy who really has a strong, legitimate chance to be the left tackle of the future. I think he has the personality makeup to do that, the athletic ability to do that, the feet and the smarts to be a very, very solid left tackle for us."

The Packers' depth chart at the position depends partially on this week's draft. But for now, we can at least say that the Packers will have a new left tackle this season for the first time since 2000.

A year after the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV with more than a dozen prominent players on injured reserve, the following sentence is particularly jarring: The Packers will open the playoffs Sunday with 21 of their original 22 starters in place.

The only exception is Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins, who was lost for the season in Week 2 because of a serious neck injury. Their offensive line worked through a number of short-term injuries, but the return of tackles Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga ensure the Packers their original five starters for the first time since Week 3.

The shift in injury karma covers my portion of this week's NFC 411 video below.

Most everyone is well aware that Clifton missed 10 games after tearing a hamstring in Week 5, but the Packers were already playing without Bulaga at that point. Bulaga sprained his knee in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, reinjured it in Week 15 and missed a total of four games.

Coach Mike McCarthy apparently has chosen Clifton over Marshall Newhouse as his left tackle for the playoffs, putting the original band back together. The Packers' Week 1 starters -- Clifton, Bulaga, guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang and center Scott Wells -- played only 126 snaps together this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That equates to about 12 percent of the Packers' total plays in 2011.

But that group was by far the Packers' best combination. It allowed one sack for every 24.7 pass attempts in those 126 plays. Over the remainder of the season, the Packers' other offensive line combination gave up a sack on one of every 12.6 pass attempts.

In lieu of an otherwise meaningless Friday injury report, let's update the NFC North's top personnel issues for Sunday's games:

• Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said his initial plan was to play all three quarterbacks Sunday against the Detroit Lions. But on Friday, he stopped short of saying that Aaron Rodgers would start. It stands to reason that backup Matt Flynn will take his place, and get the majority of snaps even if Rodgers makes a token appearance, and that presumptive 2012 backup Graham Harrell will also get some work.
• McCarthy did confirm that several prominent players have been ruled out for the game: Receiver Greg Jennings (knee), running back James Starks (knee/ankle) and receiver Randall Cobb (groin). Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) is doubtful and unlikely to play. Cornerback Charles Woodson (knee) and linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle) are both questionable, paving the way for them to rest Sunday as well. Left tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring/back), tight end Jermichael Finley (knee) and defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (concussion) will all be available.
• The Detroit Lions practiced outdoors Friday in preparation for playing at Lambeau Field, where they haven't won since 1991.
• The Lions got safety Louis Delmas (knee) back to practice for the first time in more than a month. He is doubtful for Sunday's game but it was a good sign for his playoff availability. Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) is also doubtful. Cornerback Chris Houston, who had a cast on his hand earlier this week, is questionable.
• The Chicago Bears listed running back Marion Barber (calf) as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee) as questionable. Barber didn't practice all week and is unlikely to play. Urlacher probably will play.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier confirmed that tailback Adrian Peterson had surgery Friday on his injured left knee and was "resting comfortably."

Sifting through Wednesday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Running back Marion Barber (calf), tight end Kellen Davis (illness), defensive end Julius Peppers (not injury related) and linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee) did not practice. Barber doesn't seem likely to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, coach Lovie Smith was angered by questions about the future of offensive coordinator Mike Martz and wouldn't answer. Martz's contract expires after this season.

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Chris Houston was wearing a cast on his left hand but told reporters he injured his pinky finger and does not have a fracture. Hmmmm. Coach Jim Schwartz said it wasn't a long-term injury. Houston, safety Louis Delmas (knee), receiver Calvin Johnson (Achilles), defensive tackle Corey Williams (hip) and defensive end Willie Young (ankle) did not practice.

Green Bay Packers: Tight end Jermichael Finley reported knee soreness Wednesday and did not participate in practice. Neither did offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (knee), receiver Randall Cobb (groin) nor running back James Starks (knee/ankle). Receiver Greg Jennings ran on the side during practice but was declared out for Sunday's game against the Lions. Offensive lineman Chad Clifton (hamstring/back) practiced. So did defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, who has been cleared after suffering a concussion earlier this month.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Christian Ponder (concussion) was cleared to practice after and will start Sunday against the Bears, according to coach Leslie Frazier. Left guard Steve Hutchinson, who was placed on injured reserve this week because of a concussion, will "have some decisions he'll have to make after this season is over," according to coach Leslie Frazier. That suggests retirement could be an option.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Secondary play in Chicago and Minnesota: Between the two of them, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings have maybe one or two defensive backs who should be considered 2012 starters heading into the offseason. Bears cornerback Charles Tillman qualifies, and perhaps Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will as well if he returns healthy from a fractured collarbone. Otherwise, the Bears and Vikings need a serious overhaul to their defensive backfields. Both teams tried season-long rotations at safety, neither of which led to any personnel conclusions, and cornerback play outside of Tillman has been atrocious for both teams. It will probably be a multiyear process for these franchises to rebuild these positions. With Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler in this division, they better hurry.

2. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: We all remember ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer's harsh criticism of Ponder shortly after the draft. In brief, Dilfer said Ponder looks the part of an NFL quarterback but quickly falls from his comfort zone and loses accuracy under pressure. Dilfer softened some of that analysis after Ponder's relatively strong debut, but we should note that Ponder has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks against extra pass-rushers this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he is completing about 39 percent of his passes when opponents send five or more pass-rushers. The only player with less success against the blitz? Denver Broncos quarterback/running back Tim Tebow. It's not necessarily a warning sign if a rookie doesn't perform well under pressure, but to this point Ponder's performance hasn't veered much from Dilfer's original analysis.

3. Marion Barber, Bears running back: Barber's mental errors in a loss earlier this month to the Broncos, and his inability to keep his troublesome calf healthy, would seem to spell the end of his short tenure with the Bears. Kahlil Bell's hard-charging 123-yard performance Sunday night offers the Bears a much younger option for the role of backing up starter Matt Forte. It was a nice run, as they say.

RISING

1. Home-field advantage: The Packers have a quirky history when it comes to playing at home in the playoffs. In the big picture, the state of Wisconsin has provided one of the best home-field advantages in professional sports. The Packers are 15-3 all-time at home in the playoffs, including games played in Milwaukee. But those three losses have come in their past five playoff games at home: In 2003 to the Atlanta Falcons, in 2004 to the Vikings and 2007 to the New York Giants. One of the two victories, meanwhile, came in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks. Recently, at least, opponents haven't been intimidated by playing at Lambeau Field.

2. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions tight end: A significant debate erupted in 2009 when the Lions used the No. 20 overall pick to draft Pettigrew, passing up offensive lineman Michael Oher and receiver Percy Harvin, among others. But the Lions insisted that a multi-faceted tight end was critical to their offense, and they have followed through by utilizing Pettigrew as much as any team in the NFL. The Lions have used him as an extension of their running game, and although he is averaging a modest 8.7 yards per reception, his total of 76 catches ranks third among tight ends. By all accounts, Pettigrew is an excellent blocker as well. The Lions have gotten by this far with Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus as their tackles, minimizing the need for Oher. And while Harvin would have been a nice addition, the Lions have found value by signing veteran Nate Burleson and using a second-round pick to draft Titus Young.

3. T.J. Lang, Green Bay Packers offensive lineman: When the season began, how many people would have chosen Lang as the Packers' most valuable offensive lineman? Not me. Lang had been an inconsistent starter and player who couldn't find a position and was behind a rookie on the depth chart when the season began. But Lang outplayed first-round pick Derek Sherrod in camp to win the left guard job and has provided a seamless transition from departed starter Daryn Colledge. And when the Packers needed someone to jump over to right tackle after injuries to Bryan Bulaga and Sherrod, Lang successfully made the move. On Sunday night, at least, he held his own against Bears pass-rushers Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. Center Scott Wells might be the Packers' best offensive lineman this season, but not many left guards could jump out to right tackle as well as Lang appeared to do Sunday night.

After the Green Bay Packers' 35-21 victory against the Chicago Bears, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertThe Green Bay Packers take their turn in the examination room after beating Chicago.
1. It didn't get much attention in the afterglow of clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but cornerback Charles Woodson once again wasn't shy about expressing his disappointment with the Packers' defensive performance. After the Bears hit them for 441 total yards, including 199 on the ground, Woodson said: "Physically, we still have some problems. We just give up way too many things on a consistent basis." He added: "We're just not playing good football at times. … Everybody on this team, to the man, has to look within himself and let's get the job done." The Packers got by Sunday night as they have in most games this season, by creating two turnovers -- interceptions by linebacker Clay Matthews and safety Charlie Peprah -- to limit the damage of the opponent's high yardage totals. Woodson expressed some urgency to get the issues corrected, but at some point you wonder if the Packers are what they are: A team with a defense that, for whatever reason, gives up a lot of yards. I mean, the Bears got 121 yards from their third-string running back, their third-string quarterback completed 62 percent of his passes and previously invisible receiver Roy Williams caught a season-high six passes. The Packers' best hope is that they continue to create turnovers at their current rate. In Week 15, we saw what happens when they don't.
2. About five minutes into the third quarter, quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to wide-open receiver Jordy Nelson, giving the Packers a comfortable 21-10 lead. If you think you've seen that play before, you have. It was the 10th touchdown pass Rodgers has thrown on play-action out of a two-back set, most of which have included bootleg-type movement from Rodgers and a deep throw down the middle of the field. The Packers moved away from it after hitting for eight touchdowns in the first seven weeks of the season, according to ace ESPN Stats & Information researcher John McTigue. Overall, the Packers have thrown 85 play-action passes out of that set and tried a total of 97 passing plays (including eight scrambles and four sacks). As we discussed earlier this season, it works in part because the Packers have established a tendency to run out of that formation on the majority of times they use it.
3. Nelson has been targeted a relatively modest 79 times this season but has caught 59 of them, including 12 touchdowns, making him what ESPN Stats & Information considers the NFL's most efficient receiver. Entering the game, 73 players had been targeted more frequently than Nelson. But he now has more touchdown receptions than all players but New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. Rodgers' passer rating this season on throws to Nelson entering the game was 156 and it was a perfect 158.3 Sunday night.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

Sunday was the first game all season that Rodgers hasn't been sacked, and it came behind a patchwork group that included left guard T.J. Lang playing right tackle and reserve Evan Dietrich-Smith playing left guard. The Packers were pretty giddy about it, and Rodgers said: "I think a lot of people were questioning even the starters and the way that they've played. We had T.J. at right tackle and we had Evan at left guard and those guys played great. I've got to give them a lot of credit. They're the MVPs tonight. I barely got touched out there. That's always fun." One possible explanation: The Packers used three wide receivers, normally their base formation, on only 37 percent of their plays. That forced the Bears to line up with their base defense for the most part and gave the Packers extra blocking help with tight end and running backs as well. The question now is how the Packers move forward. You would think that right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) won't return this week. Perhaps veteran Chad Clifton will get some work Sunday against the Detroit Lions. But what will the Packers' line look like in their first playoff game? I'm not sure if anyone knows the answer to that question.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's decision time for Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy. I'm guessing he's already made it, even if he was vague on the details in the aftermath of Sunday night's 35-21 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Will McCarthy rest and protect his starters in the Packers' otherwise meaningless Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions? Or will he keep full throttle on a record-breaking season in hopes of entering the playoffs on the highest note possible?

McCarthy is already on record this season as saying the Packers "won't play scared" in their remaining regular-season games, and indications were that he was prepared to push for a perfect 16-0 season if the opportunity availed. But that possibility ended Dec. 18 in Kansas City, and the Packers' victory Sunday night locked up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The Lions, on the other hand, will have substantial incentive next weekend -- knowing that a victory would aid their chances for the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and lead to a better wild-card matchup than if they were the sixth seed. A Lions victory, in fact, could be the difference between a trip to the Superdome to play the New Orleans Saints (as the No. 6 seed) or playing at the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants (as the No. 5 seed).

McCarthy continued his tough talk Sunday night, but for the first time offered a caveat that suggests he won't do anything rash, especially with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, to secure a victory over the Lions.

"I'm not going to stand here and tell you we're going to give away an opportunity to win a game," McCarthy said. "We're going to play to win the game next week. I'm not real excited about a division opponent coming in here and thinking we're not going to do everything we can to get to 15-1. But health is an issue for us and I think that's stating the obvious."

Added Rodgers: "I think we need to get healthy. That's the most important thing. This was a good win for us to get back on the right track [and] get the No. 1 seed obviously. Now that we have the top seed locked up, I think the priorities may shift a little."

It stands to reason that the Packers won't play any of the starters who have been nursing injuries or haven't played in recent weeks. That list includes running back James Starks, who left Sunday night's game again because of his troublesome sprained ankle, receiver Greg Jennings (knee) and perhaps right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee).

But the real question is whether McCarthy will play healthy stars such Rodgers, cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker Clay Matthews. The Thanksgiving Day game between the teams was a chippy affair that led to a pair of ejections, most notably for Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and it would be understandable if McCarthy wanted to hide the women and children from a motivated Lions team.

When I asked him if healthy starters would play against the Lions, McCarthy said: "I don't have an answer for you. I need to see how the players get in here tomorrow and it usually takes until Tuesday to really get a handle on a projection of who's available and who is at risk and who isn't."

Rodgers and Woodson, two veterans McCarthy often leans on for advice, both deferred to the coach on this issue. Woodson said "I anticipate playing," a natural response for any player, but Rodgers offered a more nuanced answer that suggested he wouldn't be surprised to have a lighter load next week or potentially sit out altogether.

"I think that's going to be up to Mike depending on how he wants to play it," Rodgers said. "We'll fall in line. I think as a close friend of [backup Matt Flynn], I wouldn't mind seeing him get an opportunity to play a little bit. But I'll definitely do whatever Mike says."

Asked if he hoped to play for a chance to match Tom Brady's NFL record of 50 touchdown passes in a season, Rodgers said: "I think that's safe." He has 45 this season after throwing a career-high five against the Bears.

With all due respect to the rest of the Packers' roster, Rodgers is the central figure in this debate. He is the one player to whom an injury would absolutely and unequivocally end the Packers' Super Bowl hopes. A patchwork offensive line kept him pretty clean Sunday night -- he wasn't sacked and was hit once -- but we all know how active the Lions' defensive line can be.

I get how abhorrent the idea of pulling back might sound to McCarthy and perhaps others in the Packers organization. And I think I understand the value of entering the playoffs on a high note. The Packers did just that last season, beating a Bears team in Week 17 that played to win despite having its playoff seed locked up, and rode the momentum to Super Bowl XLV.

The Packers had no choice then. They do now. If their only goal is to win the Super Bowl, it's hard to envision how beating the Lions at all costs in Week 17 is going to help. And it would almost certainly take four quarters of participation from starters to secure, knowing the Lions have come back from deficits of 13 points or more four times this season.

"There's something to be said for finishing the season well," Rodgers said. "The Bears tried to keep us out of the playoffs last year, last game of the year. It would be nice to finish out the season the way we started, with a strong showing in a home game.

"That being said, you have to take into account the health of your football team. We have some guys banged up. We'll see what Mike says this week."

I'm not sure if McCarthy will announce it publicly, but I have a hard time believing he won't pull back. Maybe it will help a division rival earn a better seed. That's not the Packers concern right now. Getting to the playoffs unscathed should be their only priority.

Catching up on Mondays newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Johnny Knox had successful back surgery Monday, the team announced, and the prognosis for continuing his career is good. Meanwhile, coach Lovie Smith refused to name a starting quarterback for the Bears' next game, sparking speculation that he will bench Caleb Hanie for either Josh McCown or Nathan Enderle.

Detroit Lions: Coach Jim Schwartz said he hasn't ruled out any player on the active roster for Saturday's game against the San Diego Chargers. That includes defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh), cornerback Chris Houston (knee) and safety Louis Delmas, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on Saturday.

Green Bay Packers: Right tackle Bryan Bulaga has a sprained knee cap and isn't likely to play Sunday night against the Bears, coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. Rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod has already undergone surgery on his broken leg. McCarthy indicated the Packers will practice this week with T.J. Lang at right guard and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard, but he also said that veteran left tackle Chad Clifton is expected to return to individual drills Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings: Two players are being monitored after suffering concussions Sunday: Left guard Steve Hutchinson and cornerback Asher Allen. Meanwhile, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe told reporters that some of his teammates quit in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints. "Not a lot though," Shiancoe said. "Like a very small handful of guys."

KANSAS CITY -- For the first time all season, the Green Bay Packers are trailing in the fourth quarter of a game. As of this moment, it's 9-7 in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Packers, in fact, haven't trailed in the fourth quarter during any of the games in their current 19-game winning streak.

Their offense showed a bit of life in the third quarter, getting on the scoreboard on a 2-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Donald Driver. A 41-yard pass to tight end Jermichael Finley set up the score.

It appears the Packers will go the rest of the way without right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who re-injured his left knee and has been replaced by rookie Derek Sherrod. Barring major news, we'll settle in and watch the conclusion of this game. Look for a Rapid Reaction shortly thereafter.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

When he was first bent over backwards this past Sunday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was reasonable to think that Green Bay Packers tailback James Starks had suffered a significant leg injury. But tests proved otherwise, and the Packers are going to watch Starks test his sprained knee and sore ankle Tuesday in practice before deciding whether he will play Thursday against the Detroit Lions.

With a short week of practice, Starks doesn't have much time to recover. Veteran Ryan Grant will probably play more than usual Thursday regardless, with rookie Brandon Saine behind him. We could know whether Starks will be available even in a limited capacity by the end of Tuesday.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers tight end Jermichael Finley on how to stop Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "You have to do something. Rip his jersey off. Hold him. You have to take a couple penalties against him. You have to eat him up."
• The Lions' defensive line dominated the Packers' offensive line in the teams' matchup at Ford Field last year, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga on that performance, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "We did not play well. Didn't do anything well, really. It was just a poorly played game. That may be a nice way of putting it, too. If you go back and watch the game like we just did, you're looking going, 'Gosh, what are we doing there?' That wasn't us. We just did not do anything well. We obviously cleaned it up later on in the season, got hot and went on a run [to the Super Bowl XLV title], but that game, there wasn't much that went right."
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on the loss of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: "As much as losing Cutler for at least the next six weeks should stop Bears fans from wondering if they will drive or fly to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, their team still has no excuse to miss the playoffs. The Bears lost a quarterback, not an identity."
• The Bears are moving back to their underdog role, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears' pass rush was poor Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, notes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears will sign long-snapper Jake Laptad to replace injured incumbent Patrick Mannelly (knee), according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Getting Cutler back before the end of the season is "a tad optimistic," writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Lions are trying to treat Thursday as just another game, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press examines the status of Lions safety Amari Spievey, who was benched in the second quarter Sunday after missing two tackles.
• The Lions have lost their last six Thanksgiving Day games by an average of more than 20 points, notes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams was dominant Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com looks at the tape of the Vikings' loss to the Raiders.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune writes about the big opportunity facing Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart.

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has an NFL-high 9.5 sacks this season. Allen is on pace to break the single-season record for sacks in a season and will play a Green Bay Packers team that won't have his nemesis available to keep him away from MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers.

That job will fall to second-year player Marshall Newhouse, who will make his second NFL start at left tackle while veteran Chad Clifton recovers from a hamstring injury. The matchup might not be one-sided enough to spring the Vikings to an upset victory, but it could help Allen pad his sack totals in a way not unlike his experience when Clifton was injured two years ago.

Clifton has generally held his own against Allen. But as you might recall, Clifton missed both of the Packers' games against the Vikings in 2009. Allen had 7.5 sacks in those two games. If you would prefer to see me tell you all about it, check out the video below.

Rodgers expressed confidence this week that Newhouse understands both the challenge he'll face and the Packers' history against Allen without Clifton. Coach Mike McCarthy, meanwhile, said Newhouse "has played well the last two weeks" but "clearly" faces his "greatest challenge."

It's interesting to me that the Packers have drafted left tackles in the first round of the past two drafts, but neither has replaced Clifton. Bryan Bulaga is locked in on the right side, while rookie Derek Sherrod remains a backup.

Newhouse was a left tackle at TCU, but at 6-foot-4 he is not built like a classic NFL left tackle. As per their philosophy, the Packers have worked him at a variety of positions, and he started two games earlier this season at right tackle after Bulaga's knee injury.

"We have a history of drafting left tackles and moving them either inside or keeping them outside based on the evaluation once they get here," McCarthy said. "But you always felt Marshall … definitely had the hands and the footspeed to play left tackle."

The Packers have noted the potential impact of crowd noise at the Metrodome, a factor that is always a consideration for a young tackle. For Packers-Vikings games, however, I think it can work both ways.

As we've noted before, the Twin Cities has more Packers fans than most people around the country realize. Many of them find their way into Metrodome for the game. It's difficult to forget the scene of last year's game, when the building filled at one point with chants of "Go Pack Go."

In the end, I think Allen will prove a far more formidable opponent for Newhouse than the Metrodome crowd noise. The Packers have five tight ends on their 53-man roster, and I imagine they'll be put to good use on the left side of the Packers' line on Sunday.

DETROIT -- A few important NFC North notes from the inactive lists for Sunday's early games:

• The Detroit Lions will have safety Amari Spievey in the starting lineup against the San Francisco 49ers. He missed last week's game against the Chicago Bears because of a hamstring injury.
• Will Heller will start for Lions tight end Tony Scheffler (concussion).
• Lions receiver/special-teams ace Rashied Davis (foot) is active for the first time in a month.
• As expected, the Green Bay Packers will have Bryan Bulaga (knee) back at right tackle and will start Marshall Newhouse at left tackle.

Getting inside the Friday injury report, including a newly-broken hand of a starting defensive player in Green Bay:

Chicago Bears: We've already discussed the situation with defensive end Julius Peppers, who is listed as doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings because of a sprained knee. I wouldn't rule Peppers out for sure, but he obviously will be limited if he does play. Meanwhile, receiver Earl Bennett (torso) is listed as questionable but seems unlikely to play Sunday night.

Detroit Lions: Linebacker Justin Durant (concussion) and tight end Tony Scheffler (concussion) won't play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Neither will safety Vincent Fuller (elbow). Cornerback Aaron Berry, receiver Rashied Davis, offensive lineman Jason Fox and safety Amari Spievey are questionable. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports Berry and Spievey are likely to play.

Green Bay Packers: Safety Morgan Burnett broke his right hand Thursday in practice but is probable for Sunday's game against the 49ers. He'll have to play with some sort of hard wrap on the hand, but he told reporters: "They’re telling me I’m able to go." The Packers don't have a lot of options. With safety Nick Collins already lost for the season, the Packers have only one backup safety: Rookie free agent M.D. Jennings, who took Burnett's place in practice Friday. They'll have to hope Burnett can play well enough despite a significant restriction. Offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (knee) was listed as probable as well and is expected to start at right tackle Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings: It's not looking good for cornerback Antoine Winfield, who hasn't practiced all week because of a neck injury. He is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday night's game. Receiver Percy Harvin (ribs) is listed as questionable, but he practiced Friday and coach Leslie Frazier said: "I think he should be ready."

Thursday's practice report:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Earl Bennett (torso) returned to practice Thursday in a limited fashion. He won't play Sunday night against the Vikings but obviously is making progress. Defensive end Julius Peppers (knee), defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (knee), cornerback Charles Tillman (hip), and right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) all sat out practice on Thursday. Toeaina and Carimi aren't expected to play against the Vikings.

Detroit Lions: Linebacker Justin Durant and tight end Tony Scheffler both missed practice again Thursday because of concussion symptoms. Safety Vincent Fuller (elbow) also missed practice. Meanwhile, the Lions placed safety Erik Coleman (ankle) on injured reserve, ending his season. They replaced him on the roster with tight end Joe Jon Finley, presumably to give them depth while Scheffler recovers.

Green Bay Packers: Offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (knee) participated in a portion of practice for the second consecutive day and told reporters he thinks he'll be ready to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. As per usual, linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps) and cornerback Charles Woodson (foot) did not practice. Wide receiver Greg Jennings (groin) was added to the injury report as a limited participant. Nothing to panic about there, as far as I know.

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Percy Harvin missed practice because of sore ribs, but tests showed no fracture and he is expected to play Sunday against the Bears. There is some hope that cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) will get some work in practice Friday, which would give him a chance of playing against the Bears.