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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.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- During his hour with reporters Wednesday morning, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy offered a mildly surprising insight: Left tackle Chad Clifton and receiver Donald Driver are on firmer ground with the organization than once believed and aren't likely to be released anytime soon.

For different reasons, both Clifton and Driver appeared to be candidates for departure as the Packers move younger players into their roles. Clifton missed much of 2011 because of hamstring and back issues, and he'll turn 36 in August. There are two possible replacements on the roster, Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod. But asked if Clifton will be on the roster when training camp begins, McCarthy said: "There's definitely a possibility. We haven't taken him off, so he's someone we'll continue to talk about and get the reports."

The Packers have limited Clifton's practice repetitions for years to preserve his health, and ultimately, McCarthy said, his future is "a medical decision."

Meanwhile, Driver is busy this month participating in ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." His contract calls for him to earn about $5 million in 2012, but he said earlier this offseason he would be willing to restructure if that kept him with the Packers. If so, there wouldn't be any risk in bringing him to training camp.

"Donald's still on our roster," McCarthy said. "I thought Donald, the second half of the season, he played very well. His role, as far as opportunities, was not as high as it's been in the past, but I thought Donald was very consistent down the stretch. I thought he played well in the playoff game."

Things change quickly in the NFL, but for the moment, McCarthy appeared to indicate that neither player will be leaving the franchise in the near future.

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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.

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FALLING

1. Health, Chicago Bears: The Bears led a charmed life on the way to their 2010 NFC North title, losing only a handful of starts because of injury all season. But their four-game dive in 2011 has coincided with injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte. Receiver Johnny Knox has been lost for the season, and receiver/kick returner Devin Hester clearly has been limited by an ankle injury. Two members of their Week 1 offensive line, left guard Chris Williams and right tackle Gabe Carimi, are also on injured reserve. I've always considered it silly to say that injuries come in bunches, but that has been the case this season for the Bears and provides a ready-made excuse for why they are likely to miss the playoffs in 2011.

2. Offensive line, Green Bay Packers: It's very possible that the Packers will have replacement starters at three of their five positions Sunday night against the Bears. Left tackle Marshall Newhouse will make his 10th start at left tackle after taking over for veteran Chad Clifton, who has been working through hamstring and back injuries. Left guard T.J. Lang could move to right tackle, replacing Bryan Bulaga (knee) and Derek Sherrod (broken leg). And that would mean Evan Dietrich-Smith would return to the starting lineup in Lang's spot. Dietrich-Smith made two starts earlier this season in place of right guard Josh Sitton (knee). That's hardly the kind of continuity you want heading into the playoffs, but the Packers have dealt with such issues before.

3. Sleep totals in Detroit: Lions coach Jim Schwartz admitted it Monday. "I'm just tired as hell," he said during a news conference less than 24 hours after his team pulled off a wild comeback victory in Oakland. In the interim, the Lions made the long flight back east and immediately began preparations for the biggest week in recent team history. Playing a day early because of the Christmas weekend, the Lions are hoping to clinch their first playoff berth since 1999 with a win Saturday over the San Diego Chargers. There won't be much time to sit by the fire or sip eggnog this week. Serious business is at hand.

RISING

1. Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions defensive end: I know we've been touting Avril regularly here on the blog, but something caught my eye late in Sunday's game that merits a mention. Moments after Calvin Johnson's go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, television cameras showed Avril pointing demonstratively at defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and then at defensive tackle Corey Williams. Poking both in the chest, Avril appeared to be saying something along the lines of: You make a play. As it turned out, Avril made one himself a few minutes later, sacking quarterback Carson Palmer and forcing the Raiders to use their final timeout. Suh went on to block the Raiders' attempt at a winning field goal. Avril now has 11 sacks this season, but it was also nice to see him recognize the moment and, as a leader, challenge his teammates in a positive way.

2. Questions about Jermichael Finley, Packers tight end: When the season began, there were those who thought Finley was the best young tight end in the NFL. The New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski (15 touchdown receptions) has captured that title, and Finley has regressed a bit in the past month with more drops than the Packers would like to see. He entered Sunday's game at Kansas City with five drops in 66 targets, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and probably had three more against the Chiefs, depending on how strict of a grader you are. Finley blamed no one but himself for the drops, and we should note that his 41-yard catch to set up the Packers' first touchdown required a high degree of skill and concentration. But through 15 weeks of the season, I'm not sure we can say Finley has broken through to the degree most thought he would. He'll need 10 catches over the next two weeks to match the career high of 55 he set in 2009 -- in 13 games.

3. Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings tight end: Multiple reports suggest Kleinsasser is prepared to retire at the end of his 13th season, marking the end of a career that is to be admired in many ways, even if it rarely was reflected in the box score. Few recall that Kleinsasser was emerging as a reliable receiving threat in the early 2000s before he tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2004 season. Since then, he has handled one of the NFL's most inglorious jobs with aplomb, serving as a blocking tight end/quasi-third tackle and earning the respect of three different coaching staffs along the way. His approach has been a model for anyone who wants to maximize an NFL career. For 13 years, Kleinsasser has hit people hard and kept his mouth shut.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The San Francisco 49ers' convincing victory Monday night over the Pittsburgh Steelers denied the Green Bay Packers an opportunity to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Packers' next chance will come Saturday at CenturyLink Field, where a 49ers loss to the Seattle Seahawks would do the trick.

If the 49ers win again, the Packers can still secure the top seed with a victory Sunday night over the Chicago Bears.

At this moment, the Packers are 13-1, while the 49ers and New Orleans Saints are 11-3. The Packers have the tiebreaker over the Saints by virtue of their victory in the teams' Week 1 matchup.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod fractured the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg Sunday, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, and will be hospitalized in Kansas City for several days. He faces a long rehabilitation.
• Sunday wasn't the first December "road stinker" for the Packers in recent years, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes.
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "I'm more concerned with what goes on Tuesday to Saturday than I am Sunday night, and that was really the message to the team."
• Chicago Bears rookie offensive lineman Gabe Carimi has decided to undergo a second and more significant surgery on his right knee that will take four months to recover from, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Carimi has been on injured reserve since last month.
• Bears coach Lovie Smith is considering a quarterback change for Sunday night's game, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears quarterback Josh McCown is rooting for Caleb Hanie to succeed, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune reviews the tape of the Bears' loss to the Seahawks.
• Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz on defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh's one-tackle game Sunday in Oakland, via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit News: "He didn't show up great on the stat sheet but affected the game."
• The Lions have turned the "ridiculous" into the "routine," writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com looks at why the Lions played off the Oakland Raiders' receivers Sunday.
• Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson played 23 snaps in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin is expected to meet this offseason with coach Leslie Frazier and vice president Rick Spielman to discuss his future, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune works on some of the Vikings' draft math.

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."

After the Green Bay Packers' 19-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their loss against the Chiefs, the Packers take a seat in the examination room.
1. Here's what happened on the first two plays after the Packers lost rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod to a broken leg: Running back Ryan Grant ran into a brick wall in the middle of the line, managing no gain on second-and-10. And then, on third down, defensive lineman Allen Bailey beat substitute left guard Evan Dietrich-Smith for a nine-yard sack of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That's a concentrated example of what any team would fear when making massive in-game adjustments to their offensive line, and it's something the Packers will have in the back of their mind this week. Sherrod is out for the season, starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga is set to undergo an MRI on his knee and coach Mike McCarthy offered little hope that veteran Chad Clifton is in position to offer a quick fix. Sunday night against the Chicago Bears, center Scott Wells and right guard Josh Sitton might be the only starters in their original Week 1 positions. You wonder at what point a line reaches critical mass in terms of changes.
2. How did the Chiefs stifle the Packers' passing game? Mostly with extra coverage and a standard four-man pass rush. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Chiefs used at least five defensive backs on 86 percent of the Packers' plays Sunday. On top of that, they sent four or less pass rushers on 78.6 of Rodgers' dropbacks. As a result, Rodgers completed only two of 12 passes downfield, defined as 15 or more yards past the line of scrimmage -- the worst completion percentage on such throws all year. The Packers had four dropped passes, but Rodgers also had a tough time getting the ball into the small windows afforded by Chiefs coverage. He either underthrew or overthrew 10 of his 35 passes. Say what you will about the drops and Greg Jennings' absence, but on a relative scale there is no doubt Rodgers played the worst game of his season.
3. Referee Gene Steratore's crew called receiver Jordy Nelson for two offensive pass interference penalties in the first quarter. (One was declined.) Whenever you see a relatively rare penalty called on the same player in quick succession, it's reasonable to assume an opponent brought it to the attention of officials either before or during the game. McCarthy seemed to agree, saying: "Two quick calls like that? I would say it's uncommon. You don't see that very often." In fact, entering Week 15, offensive pass interference has been called 49 times across the league all season, according to ESPN Stats & Information's penalty database. That's an average of 3.5 for all games per week. Steratore's crew almost hit that in the first quarter of one game. You wonder how those calls impacted Nelson's aggressiveness thereafter. He caught two passes, his lowest total since Week 6, and both came in the fourth quarter.

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

I'll admit to being surprised that the Packers lost Sunday. It was just two weeks ago, in fact, that I suggested they would finish 16-0 unless they benched their starters for meaningless games and/or self-destructed with a series of uncharacteristic mistakes. Neither happened Sunday, and I agreed with McCarthy when he said: "We were beaten today." Indeed, the Chiefs controlled the game throughout. In the end, however, the Packers did fall out of the template they had set for themselves during a 19-game winning streak. They didn't force a single turnover for the first time since, yes, their last defeat — in Week 15 of the 2010 season to the New England Patriots. They entered the game with an NFL-high 32 takeaways, including 27 interceptions. It wasn't quite a self-destruction, but it was a break from their pattern.

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.

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FALLING

1. Certainty in the short term, Chicago Bears: Their season derailed by injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and tailback Matt Forte, you wonder if the Bears are approaching the end of days for their nucleus of the past eight years or so. Already, they have bid farewell to center Olin Kreutz, tight end Desmond Clark, tight end Greg Olsen and defensive tackle Tommie Harris. Linebacker Lance Briggs asked for a trade last summer. Will the Bears oblige him this winter? Will they start over on offense (again) by replacing offensive coordinator Mike Martz? And is there any chance that general manager Jerry Angelo, 62, will retire this winter, as rumored? Those questions are at least fair game at this point.

2. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: Sunday's turnover-riddled performance was one of the worst for an NFL quarterback in the last four seasons, according to the Total Quarterback Rating system. Above all else, Ponder carried with him into the draft a reputation for smart play and solid decision-making. There are typically a combination of factors that go into a stretch of turnovers, and that includes a lack of playmakers surrounding the quarterback. But there is no defending some of the mistakes Ponder has made. He was dealing with a hip pointer last week, but for his sake I hope he is able to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings need to see him bounce back from the inevitable adversity rookie quarterbacks face.

3. Left tackle confidence, Green Bay Packers: The decision to rotate Marshall Newhouse and rookie Derek Sherrod makes me nervous. Perhaps it was too much to expect Newhouse, the final pick of the fifth round in the 2010 draft, to be able to hold down the position indefinitely while starter Chad Clifton recovered from a hamstring injury. Newhouse doesn't fit the pedigree of an NFL left tackle. He's 6-foot-4, and fair or not, starting-quality left tackles aren't usually available late in the fifth round. Sherrod, on the other hand, is of classic left tackle size and was the Packers' first-round pick in 2011. If anyone projects as Clifton's long-term replacement, it's Sherrod. But I hate seeing a playoff team's left tackle position unsettled in Week 15. That's asking for trouble.

RISING

1. Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions defensive end: I wonder how many people outside the NFC North realize that Avril -- and not Kyle Vanden Bosch or Ndamukong Suh -- leads the Lions in sacks. Avril added two more to his season total Sunday against the Vikings and now has a career-high nine through 13 games. Avril has also forced six fumbles, a figure that is tied with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs for the NFL lead. As we discussed Monday, Avril has made himself some money this season. The only question is whether the Lions will be the ones writing the check next year.

2. Moment of truth for Packers receiver Jordy Nelson: The caveat has followed Nelson this season, even as he has caught 51 passes for average of 18.8 yards and scored a team-high 10 touchdowns. He has been beating favorable coverage, the theory goes, after opponents prioritize receiver Greg Jennings and tight end Jermichael Finley. That might have been the case for some of Nelson's big plays this season, but now we'll get an opportunity to see what Nelson can do against what figures to be more attention from opponents as Jennings recovers from a sprained knee. The guess here is that Nelson won't miss a beat.

3. Detroit Lions: They have absorbed more than their share of national criticism this year, but the Lions are also deserving of some significant big-picture praise. Sunday's victory over the Minnesota Vikings, as nail-biting as it was, ensured the franchise its first non-losing season in a decade. Their next victory would be their first winning season since they finished 9-7 in 2000. In all reality, 9-7 represents the high point of what most national observers thought possible for this team. For as hard a time as I've given coach Jim Schwartz this season, he would deserve a special award -- Coach of the Past Three Years -- for turning out a winning record so quickly after the 0-16 disaster of 2008.

After the Green Bay Packers' 46-16 victory over the Oakland Raiders, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. There isn't a single active NFL player with a medical degree, but they see injuries of various degrees every day. They can read body language and see between the lines better than us. So for what it's worth, Packers players didn't like what they saw when receiver Greg Jennings needed help getting off the field in the third quarter after suffering what to this point is being called a sprained left knee. "It didn't look very good," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. Added defensive lineman B.J. Raji: "I saw the degree of anguish he was in. Anytime a grown man is being carried by his teammates, that's never a good sign." We should get more information later Monday, but for now the Packers are hoping the injury is something Jennings can return from when they open the playoffs in five weeks.
2. The Packers' plan for inside linebacker A.J. Hawk was to play him for no more than 30 snaps in the second half as a preliminary step in returning to full-time duty after suffering a calf injury last month. Given the game situation, McCarthy scrapped the plan and decided to give Hawk another weekend to recover. McCarthy indicated Hawk will return to his full-time role Wednesday during practice. There doesn't appear to be any indication that Hawk or fellow starter Desmond Bishop (calf) could lose playing time to replacements Robert Francois and D.J. Smith, both of whom have played well. Francois had nine tackles and his second interception in the past three weeks Sunday, while Smith had 10 tackles Sunday. Bishop is hoping to return to practice this week.
3. The Packers are entering a critical week for their offensive line. It's clear they're not totally thrilled with Marshall Newhouse's performance at left tackle, and that's what led to the decision to rotate him Sunday with rookie Derek Sherrod. Veteran Chad Clifton hasn't played in two months because of hamstring and back injuries, but the Packers think he'll be ready to practice this week. So what should the Packers do now, and what should their playoff approach be? Should they get Clifton back in there, hoping his conditioning allows him to play full games? Should they stick with a Newhouse-Sherrod rotation and use Clifton only in an emergency? I can't imagine the Packers turning to Sherrod, a rookie left tackle, with the playoffs looming. I'm guessing if Newhouse had played better in the past few weeks, these questions wouldn't be necessary.

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

If Jennings misses extended time, I wonder if tight end Jermichael Finley can be counted on to be the top playmaker in the offense. Without Jennings to account for, it's possible that defenses will focus in on Finley as their top priority. But receiver Jordy Nelson has made opponents pay all season for single coverage, and he now has 10 touchdowns in 13 games. Perhaps he will see more attention if Jennings is sidelined. Regardless, Finley has been relatively quiet and not entirely reliable over the past month. He did not catch a pass Sunday against the Raiders and has nine receptions in the last four games, six of which came in Week 12 against the New York Giants. Finley is also nearing double digits in dropped passes, depending on whose statistics you look at. But he'll have every opportunity to carry the passing game in the coming weeks.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I know you. I know your name and I know what you were thinking Sunday.

My dear Nervous Nellie, you cringed almost as much as Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings early in the third quarter of Sunday's 46-16 romp over the Oakland Raiders. You saw Jennings limp off the field with a left knee injury, watched quarterback Aaron Rodgers treated rudely a few times with the Packers comfortably ahead, and you proceeded to scream at the top of your lungs for the Packers to lock up all 22 starters and keep them off the field until the playoffs start next month.

I understand where you're coming from, Nellie. The Packers are 13-0. They've won the NFC North, secured a first-round bye in the playoffs and are one victory -- or one loss by the San Francisco 49ers -- from clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Some Packer fans want to make a run at an undefeated regular season, but Nellie, you're not one of them.

Well, Nellie. This might not be good for your blood pressure, but I left the Green Bay locker room Sunday evening convinced that the Packers aren't planning any major changes to their starting lineup if they clinch home-field advantage. They'll be driven in part by a possible 16-0 record, but mostly by an approach that coach Mike McCarthy articulated quite succinctly after Sunday's game: "We don't play scared."

Jennings appeared to be in substantial pain immediately after the injury. He put no weight on the leg as he left the field. Teammates carried him from the sideline to an examining table, where Jennings put a towel over his head and eventually rode to the locker room on a cart. McCarthy tentatively termed the injury a sprain pending more tests, but no matter the severity, Jennings doesn't have much time to recover with the Packers' first playoff game five weeks away.

But neither an injury to the Packers' Pro Bowl receiver, nor three sacks and four other hits on Rodgers, will impact the Packers' thinking. Defensive lineman B.J. Raji, for one, said there is little doubt about where the Packers are headed.

"I think I can speak for coach in that he's going to try to go for this thing," Raji said.

Later, Raji added: "You don't win a Super Bowl by being scared. You just play. That's the message [McCarthy] is preaching. Just play the game because … that's the way you're supposed to play it. You're not supposed to be playing a game and looking at all of these scenarios of who you want to play. That's not how football is supposed to be played. Generally, if you do things the right way, hopefully you get some luck in the injury thing.

"You have to respect the game of football. Obviously we're in a great position. We're 13-0. We have a lot of things wrapped up. But ultimately, you never accomplish anything great by being scared. We have an option to go either way, but if you want to make history and do some things that haven't been done in a while, you have to take a chance."

Nellie, you and your friends might consider those sentiments to be irrelevant bravado. But the Packers believe its part of their essence. It's why they won their final six games of 2010, culminating in their Super Bowl XLV victory, and to them it explains the extension of that winning streak to 19 games in 2011. They are on one of the greatest rolls in NFL history and don't appear interested in changing the formula.

"The script doesn't change for us," McCarthy said. "… As long as we're taking care of things and keeping our focus on improving the quality of play, I don't think we can be beat. If you had asked me six years ago, I would have said the same damn thing. … We expect to win every time we take the field, and I would think that every team thinks the same thing."

If I had to pick five players the Packers should protect once they clinch home-field advantage, Jennings would be among them. But in all reality, the elephant in the room is Rodgers. He has been a durable starter since taking over the job in 2008, but if there is one thing that could derail the Packers' 2011 train, it's….

I won't even say it. I don't want Nellie getting all worked up again. Sunday, Rodgers was playing behind an offensive line that featured a rotation of Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod at left tackle, to mixed results. He took two hard hits from the backside, among others, before leaving with 3 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

"It's football," McCarthy said. "If you think your quarterback is going to go through the game and not get hit, it's not realistic."

Said Rodgers: "There's risk every time you take the field. We're going to keep playing the way we're playing. We have that next-man-up mentality."

Rodgers was one of several players to reference that mindset, and cornerback Charles Woodson said: "There is not going to be any excuses on this team about why we can't win."

It might make you nervous, Nellie, but the Packers are full steam ahead.

I think they'll be smart with some of their injured players, as they were Sunday with linebacker A.J. Hawk -- who was in uniform but not needed Sunday and thus got an extra week to rest his strained calf. But it sure doesn't look like the Packers plan to mess with success. Their foot is on the accelerator, and they don't want to know what could happen if they release it.

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.

Taking a look at Wednesday's practice report:

Chicago Bears: Coach Lovie Smith confirmed that defensive end Julius Peppers has a knee sprain. The Bears did not practice Wednesday, but Smith said he hoped to get Peppers on the field by the end of this week. It sounds as though Peppers has a decent chance to play Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina has a knee injury that could keep him out several weeks, opening the door for rookie Stephen Paea to make his first appearance of the season.

Detroit Lions: Like the Bears, the Lions did not practice Wednesday. Linebacker Justin Durant (concussion) told reporters he will visit a doctor Thursday in hopes of being cleared to play after missing the past two games.

Green Bay Packers: Offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis. Coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't know whether Bulaga would be ready for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams. McCarthy also wasn't ready to declare a starter at left tackle for Chad Clifton (hamstring). There are three conceivable candidates: Bulaga, Derek Sherrod and Marshall Newhouse.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) did not practice Wednesday, but coach Leslie Frazier is holding out hope for a late-week return to practice. Winfield did not play last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

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FALLING

1. Help for Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears quarterback: At some point, you wonder if Cutler is on the road to being the next David Carr, a player so battered by opposing pass rushes -- mentally and physically -- that his game is forever altered. Cutler hung in as best he could Monday night against the Detroit Lions, but you wonder if he fully trusts the players around him. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com reported that Cutler has concerns about his offensive line and receivers. We'll touch on this more in the Bears' Free Head Exam later Tuesday, but after watching Monday night's game, I wouldn't blame Cutler if he has some concerns.

2. Mistakes by Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers quarterback: Rodgers is completing an NFL-high 71.7 percent of his passes. And most notably, he is pushing the ball downfield, as evidenced by his average of 9.6 yards per attempt, tied for highest in the NFL. You don't need me to tell you that Rodgers is playing at a high level, but it's quite amazing to think no one is playing more aggressively with fewer mistakes.

3. Concentration in Chicago: There is no other way to attribute a stunning nine false starts for a veteran team in one game, but that's what the Bears did Monday night. Left tackle J'Marcus Webb had three of them, but the Bears can't possibly hold him accountable in a meaningful way because their personnel is so thin right now. Who could they replace Webb with, if even to send a message? Frank Omiyale has been benched in consecutive games for poor play at right tackle. Rookie Gabe Carimi is recovering from a knee injury. The Bears and offensive line coach Mike Tice are once again left to make chicken salad from the leftovers. Or something like that.

RISING

1. Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions running back: Remember when Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he fantasized over Best's potential when he was drafted in 2010? This was the kind of fantasy Schwartz was imagining: A scatback rolling up 172 all-purpose yards on 16 offensive touches in a key divisional game. Best had exceeded 70 rushing yards only once in his NFL career before Monday night. But his breakout total of 163 yards against the Bears will add a layer to the game planning of opposing defensive coordinators for weeks to come.

2. Marshall Newhouse, Packers offensive lineman: A few weeks ago, no one knew for sure if Newhouse could play at all on the NFL level. Sunday night in Atlanta, Newhouse handled the exceedingly difficult job of flipping from right to left tackle in the middle of a game after Chad Clifton's hamstring injury. The Packers have drafted college left tackles in the first round of each of their past two drafts (Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod), so it will be wild if Newhouse ends up taking Clifton's place for a substantial part of the 2011 season.

3. Passions in Minnesota: The Ramsey County Charter Commission could decide as early as Tuesday whether to place a stadium financing referendum on the November 2012 ballot. The county is being asked to contribute $350 million in new taxes to the Minnesota Vikings' stadium project, and some opponents are calling for the issue to be opened to the voting public. The referendum would likely scuttle the project altogether if you assume voters won't choose to raise their own taxes. In the end, a legal battle likely would be initiated to determine whether the charter commission has the final authority on this matter or if the state legislature can reverse the decision. In the meantime, the clock will tick toward the February 2012 expiration of the Vikings' lease at the Metrodome.

The Green Bay Packers offensive line remained in flux Monday, based on what coach Mike McCarthy told reporters, but here is what we know at the moment:

• Left tackle Chad Clifton has a significant hamstring injury that will take several weeks, at least to recover from.
• Right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who has missed the past two games because of a knee injury, has a chance to play against the St. Louis Rams.

In short, we'll know more later this week. If Bulaga can play, the assumption is that he'll return as the right tackle with Marshall Newhouse playing left tackle. That's where Newhouse finished Sunday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons, while Derek Sherrod finished at right tackle.

Of course, Bulaga was drafted last year as a left tackle, and you know how the Packers like to shift their players around. So, stay tuned.