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Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Green Bay Packers and why.

Today is May 16. That leaves about 2 1/2 months before training camp and almost four months before the start of the regular season for reinforcements to arrive. But for the time being, there is only one player on the Packers' roster who seems suited to be a No. 1 back in the NFL.

It's difficult to know for sure, but from the outside it appears the Packers are clearing the road for James Starks to take over that role in his third NFL season. Veteran starter Ryan Grant has not been re-signed and the Packers did not draft a running back last month. Behind Starks are veteran fullback/short-yardage specialist John Kuhn and two second-year players in Alex Green and Brandon Saine; Green is recovering from a torn ACL in his knee.

Grant could always re-sign at a later date, but if not, the Packers are taking a bit of a leap in hoping that Starks can stay on the field for a full season. He missed the first 13 games of 2010 because of a hamstring injury and was limited during the second half of 2011 because of knee and ankle ailments. Overall, he's missed as many games (16) as he's played. The pressure is on Starks to demonstrate he is not a part-time back.

We noted last week that free agent running back Ryan Grant had an offer on the table from the Detroit Lions, and subsequent reports suggested Grant would visit the Lions as early as Monday. So I wanted to pass along that ESPN's John Clayton confirmed that Grant did not visit Monday and has no visits scheduled.

Running backs have had an especially difficult time gaining traction in this free agent market, considering the continuing shift toward the passing game. If the Green Bay Packers have interest in re-signing Grant, it appears to be minimal.

Grant has said he would prefer to remain with the Packers, and the Lions have three other running backs in Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith with whom to compete.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We spent a good part of Monday night following the Minnesota Vikings' stadium vote in the state House of Representatives, so Tuesday morning we should shift to the other big story going on in the NFC North.

New Orleans Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said he did not tell current Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove to deny the existence of a bounty program when both were with the New Orleans Saints in 2010. Hargrove made that claim of Vitt and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in a signed declaration that was leaked Monday.

Vitt told Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times Picayune: "At no time did I ever tell Anthony Hargrove to lie or deny the existence [of the alleged bounty program]. He can say whatever he wants to say. It just didn't happen."

Consider it yet another twist in a story that doesn't seem to have a lot of indisputable truths.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Quarterback Graham Harrell, who is in line to take over the Packers' No. 2 role, could be eligible for the team's rookie minicamp this weekend because he is technically a first-year player, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Several of the Packers' scouts will be promoted soon, including Alonzo Highsmith, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Free-agent running back Ryan Grant was scheduled to be at the Detroit Lions' practice facility Monday but did not appear to show up, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• The meeting either didn't occur or was moved to Sunday, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com takes an early look at the Lions' 53-man roster.
• Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall thinks new teammate Devin Hester is poised for a big season. Marshall said that and more in an interview with ESPN 1000.
• Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks the Bears should have upgraded their offensive line this offseason.
• The Minnesota Senate will take up the Vikings' stadium bill at 10 a.m. ET, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• A Vikings spokesman said an amendment in the House bill to raise the team's share by $105 million in "unworkable," according to the Star Tribune. But that figure could be changed in late-bill negotiations.
• The decision to release place-kicker Ryan Longwell is an other example of the roster rebuild new general manager Rick Spielman is effecting on the team, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Former Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins hasn't decided whether to pursue a job with another team or retire, according to his agent via ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde.

The Packers released Collins last week because they think a neck injury he suffered in September 2011 makes his return too risky. I wouldn't be surprised at all, however, if other teams have made inquiries about his health and status. Collins was a three-time Pro Bowl player and one of the NFL's best safeties before his injury.

Every team's medical staff is different, and there are no black and white answers with Collins' medical history. Someone might be willing to clear him. Ultimately, the decision could be up to Collins.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers draft pick Andrew Datko has been dealing with a left shoulder injury since college, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Packers haven't reached out to free agent running back Ryan Grant, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and it can only be assumed they are not interested in re-signing him.
• Grant has received a contract offer from the Detroit Lions and will visit their facility Monday, writes Eric Lacy of the Detroit News.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com has a transcript of Lions coach Jim Schwartz's recent appearance on NFL Network.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has a profile of new Lions cornerback Jonte Green.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune ranks the top draft picks of former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo.
• The Bears waived safety Winston Venable, notes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers on Monday's vote for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, via the Star Tribune: "I don't know that there are the votes in the Republican caucus, or the votes [overall], at this point."
• Zellers appeared Thursday afternoon on KFAN-100.3 to explain his position on the stadium.
• The Vikings will give the son of assistant head coach Mike Singletary, linebacker Matt Singletary, a tryout during rookie minicamp this weekend, according to Adam Caplan via Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.

Part of our offseason dialogue has revolved around the relative lack of urgency around the NFC North to bolster what in some cases are some and/or unreliable offensive backfields. It appears at least one of our teams is now taking a post-draft look at shoring up that issue -- at the expense of another of our teams.

Free-agent running back Ryan Grant, who spent the past five seasons playing for the Green Bay Packers, has an offer from the Detroit Lions, according to agent Alan Herman via ESPNMilwaukee.com second cousin Jason Wilde. It's also believed that the Packers have an offer on the table to Grant, who has also visited the New England Patriots but obviously hasn't been blown away by anything he's heard so far.

The Lions' top three running backs all have had health issues that make it difficult to count on them as a primary back. Jahvid Best was lost for the part of the 2011 season because of multiple concussions. Mikel Leshoure is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and Kevin Smith has historically had trouble staying on the field.

Grant missed 15 games in 2010 because of an ankle injury but otherwise has been durable in his career. It's fair to assume he would return to the Packers if all things are relatively equal, and he should be close to knowing if that's the case.

We spent some time this spring noting the Green Bay Packers' relatively thin depth in the backfield. This week, we wondered how much it really matters to have an established No. 1 running back in the NFC North.

Perhaps that explains why veteran Ryan Grant remains available on the market more than a month after his contract expired. Grant said last month that his "ideal situation" was to return to the Packers, and seemed satisfied with whatever role they had in mind for him. On Friday, however, he visited the New England Patriots along with veteran Tim Hightower, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Sometimes a visit can jump-start negotiations with the original team, and other times it means the sides have agreed to go their separate ways. In this case, the Packers might want to sit tight and see how they do in the draft before deciding whether to bring back Grant for another season alongside James Starks.

It's also worth noting that 2011 third-round pick Alex Green told the Packers' web site this week that his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury is progressing, and that he'll be ready for training camp. Stay tuned on that front.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The NFC North received a total of 16 nationally-televised games as part of the NFL's 2012 schedule, but to me the most groundbreaking news item was buried deep within the Green Bay Packers' news release. It read: "In 2012, the Packers will forego using their historic third jersey."

I never hid my bewilderment at the allure of the throwback jerseys the Packers used the past two years, a replica ensemble of their 1929 get-ups. The brown helmets, blue jerseys and tan pants just didn't work for me.

Long live the eye-snatchers.

Moving on to less important matters:

• The agent for Packers running back Ryan Grant implied to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette that Grant could soon be moving on to a new team.
• The Packers' sit-down with safety Nick Collins won't happen until after the draft, reports Demovsky.
• Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith could fit with the Packers, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com has notes on Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's visit to ESPN headquarters.
• There is some depth at cornerback in this draft, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosh has no concerns about the conditioning of defensive end Cliff Avril, who is working out on his own this offseason. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• The Chicago Bears' schedule sets up for a fast start, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times breaks down the Bears' schedule.
• ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson and Michael C. Wright pick the Bears to finish 11-5 based on their schedule.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com breaks down the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback position.
• A Vikings spokesman said "there is no next year" on their pursuit of a stadium. More from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Political maneuvering has erupted from the failure of the stadium bill, according to Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune.
• Hennepin County is considering a play for the stadium assuming this current bill isn't revived, according to KSTP-TV.

In the early days of Mike McCarthy's tenure with the Green Bay Packers, it was fashionable to question his running game and contrast its production with the passing of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. The Packers' recent success amid the NFL's passing explosion has all but stifled such squawking, so it was notable last month when McCarthy brought up the issue unprompted at the NFL scouting combine.

Although he didn't provide much detail, McCarthy made clear he wants more from his running game in 2012.

"We feel we're maxing out the drop-back game in normal down and distance," McCarthy said. "Are we maxing out the run game in normal down and distance? I think it'd be safe to say no as we stand here today. Those are the types of things we are going to take a close look at."

I think we can all agree the Packers' running game has been an afterthought in recent seasons. As the first chart illustrates, they ranked at the bottom of most statistical categories -- including, importantly, attempts -- in 2011. McCarthy said he is "not really worried about how many times we run the ball" but plans to change "how we run the ball."

The second chart shows the Packers' run-pass ratios by down in 2011, one that -- like most teams -- progressively leans toward the pass as you move from first to third down.

McCarthy declined to explain because he hasn't presented his ideas to players yet. My guess is that whatever changes he has in mind -- possibly using different kinds of running plays in certain situations -- won't be obvious to the casual observer. To me, the proverbial elephant in the room is not how often the Packers run the ball or what kind of plays they use. It's who the Packers are going to hand the ball off to in the first place.

As of this moment, it's difficult to count on either of the Packers' top two tailbacks to be a feature back in 2012. Ryan Grant is 29 and appears set to test the free-agent market, while James Starks has quite frankly missed too much time with injuries to merit the Packers' full trust.

The third chart shows every Packers running back who had a carry last season. Alex Green, a third-round draft pick last season, is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Brandon Saine, who played on 69 snaps last season, was a practice-squad promotion.

Taken altogether, the running back position rises to one of the Packers' more underrated offseason areas of need. It's important for McCarthy to perform his micro-analysis and make the kind of subtle adjustments he's referring to, but its impact will be limited if the Packers don't address the personnel side of the issue.

Last month, McCarthy used words like "very consistent" and "solid" to describe Grant's season. Addressing Starks, he said: "James' availability, that's his issue. When James is available and he's playing week in and week out, he's a young player that gets better. But when he doesn't play he’s not going to make the progress. I think James is a very talented guy, very bright future, but his availability wasn't where you’d like it to be."

Starks played in 13 games last season, but knee and ankle injuries he suffered in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers limited him to 13 carries over the Packers' final six regular-season games. In 2010, you'll remember he made only three regular-season appearances before taking over the position in the playoffs.

So over the course of two seasons, Starks has had two limited spans of good health and production: The Packers' four-game playoff push in 2010 and the first 10 games of 2011. Is that enough to be counted on as a lead back in 2012? Based on McCarthy's comments, I don't think so.

It's quite possible the Packers could make a committee system work with Starks, John Kuhn and perhaps Green or Saine. And I would agree with those who don't want to see the Packers devote too many additional resources to their offense, not when their defense crashed in 2011 and could use depth and upgrades at several positions. Perhaps McCarthy's schematic analysis is designed to minimize the need for additional personnel.

But this isn't the time for committing to a committee system, not as we stand on the doorstep of the NFL's player acquisition period. Committees are what teams settle on, not what they plan for. And at the moment, their personnel situation in the backfield merits at least an attempt to enhance. If other priorities ultimately trump it, so be it. We'll soon see if the Packers agree.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears

Key free agents: Tight end Kellen Davis, running back Matt Forte (franchise), cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, defensive end Israel Idonije, cornerback Tim Jennings, quarterback Josh McCown, safety Brandon Meriweather and receiver Roy Williams.

Where they stand: The Bears will have the most salary-cap space among NFC North teams, upwards of $30 million, and have plenty of potential uses for it. Quarterback Jay Cutler needs more targets in the downfield passing game, whether it's at the receiver or tight end position. And new general manager Phil Emery must start restocking a defense led by four players more than 30 years old: Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman.

What to expect: It's widely believed the Bears will be in the running for free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson. But Jackson's price tag could be steep and no one knows if Emery will prove to be a big spender. It seems likely he will re-sign Davis, and Emery should also save some of his cap space to extend Forte's contract. Secondary receiver targets could include Marques Colston. Bears fans are hoping the team will pursue defensive end Mario Williams, but it's hard to imagine the Bears budgeting for Williams two years after breaking their bank on Peppers.

Detroit Lions

Key free agents: Defensive end Cliff Avril (franchise), left tackle Jeff Backus, safety Chris Harris, quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy (restricted), running back Maurice Morris, running back Kevin Smith, quarterback Drew Stanton, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

Where they stand: The Lions are tight against the salary cap after franchising Avril and aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market. They could relieve the situation by reaching long-term agreements with Avril and/or receiver Calvin Johnson, who has a $22 million cap figure for 2012. Tulloch made a big impact last season after signing a one-year deal, but so far the Lions' attention has turned elsewhere.

What to expect: The Lions' best-case scenario is to keep their 2011 core together without mortgaging their future relative to the salary cap. That would mean getting Tulloch re-signed to preserve the linebacker group they upgraded last season by signing him and veteran Justin Durant, moves that allowed Levy to play on the outside. Hill seems likely to re-sign as Matthew Stafford's backup, while Stanton might test the free-agent waters to see if he has a chance to do better than third on a team's depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

Key free agents: Cornerback Jarrett Bush, quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Ryan Grant and center Scott Wells.

Where they stand: The Packers took care of a big challenge by signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract last month. They will let Flynn depart for a possible starting job elsewhere and it appears Grant will test the free-agent market. Discussions with Wells haven't led to an agreement, but the Packers often go to the final moments before reaching a deal. There are no obvious internal replacements for Wells, making his return a priority.

What to expect: The Packers will have some flexibility with the salary cap, but general manager Ted Thompson's aversion to veteran free agency is well known. It's been three years since he signed a veteran unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Packers have needs at defensive line, outside linebacker and possibly at center if Wells leaves. But let's put it this way: Thompson's strong preference is to find depth and future replacements in the draft, not on other teams' rosters.

Minnesota Vikings

Key free agents: Safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Devin Aromashodu, receiver Greg Camarillo, defensive lineman Fred Evans, defensive lineman Letroy Guion, linebacker E.J. Henderson, linebacker Erin Henderson, safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback Sage Rosenfels, cornerback Benny Sapp and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Where they stand: The Vikings seem poised for a major roster overhaul in their first offseason since Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager. Players like Shiancoe, E.J. Henderson, Camarillo and Johnson all seem poised to move on. There aren't many positions on the team that appear secure.

What to expect: If the Vikings don't plan to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 overall next month, the first clue will be if they pursue a free-agent left tackle. That seems unlikely. But they'll need to combine their draft with at least a few veteran free agents if they intend to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Cornerback could be a point of focus, where Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan are among those available. Another could be receiver. The Vikings had major interest in Jackson two years ago.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

After four years of quarterback transition here in the NFC North, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and a little left out Tuesday night as the Indianapolis Colts' divorce with Peyton Manning became official.

I thought back to Brett Favre's departure from Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers' ascension in 2008. I remembered how the Chicago Bears swooped in to trade for Jay Cutler in 2009. A month later, the Detroit Lions made Matthew Stafford the No. 1 pick in the draft. And after two years of Favredemonium, the Minnesota Vikings jump-started their long-term plan by drafting Christian Ponder in 2011.

Manning's departure is the talk of the NFL and will be debated for years in Indianapolis, presuming his neck heals and he resumes his career elsewhere. But as we in the NFC North know, quarterback transitions are often sudden and painful, and they don't always seem to be the obvious decision at the moment.

Oh well. We might be booked for the moment, but I'll set our next transition cycle to begin around, say, 2018. See you then!

I guess we'll just spend the next six years taking our morning stroll around the NFC North:

• The Bears have informed quarterback Caleb Hanie that he won't be re-signed, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Kyle Orton is a possible replacement to back up Cutler.
• A source close to Lions running back Jahvid Best would be shocked if he isn't cleared to participate in football activities by this summer, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Best is recovering from multiple concussions.
• Lions linebacker Justin Durant believes the team will have one of the NFL's best group of linebackers if Stephen Tulloch an DeAndre Levy re-sign. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• The Green Bay Packers want running back Ryan Grant back in 2012 but he is expected to hit free agency, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• It's not clear if the Packers plan to bring back special teams-ace Jarrett Bush, according to Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers receiver Donald Driver spoke with Mike Spofford of the team's website about his "Dancing With the Stars" rehearsals.
• Politicians writing the Vikings' stadium bill might have to consider the possibility that electronic pull-tabs won't cover the total $398 million state commitment to the project, according to the Associated Press.
• Minneapolis officials still are trying to get a renovation of the Target Center as part of the Vikings' stadium bill, according to the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings have made clear they want to retain free-agent linebacker Erin Henderson, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Some thoughts from a stunned Lambeau Field following the Green Bay Packers' 37-20 loss to the New York Giants:

What it means: The Packers saved their worst outing of the season for the playoffs, and it led to an unexpected and deeply disappointing end to a 15-1 season. The Giants outplayed them in every way imaginable, and the Packers didn't look much like a team that had won 21 of its previous 22. The result detracted again from the postseason mystique of Lambeau Field, where the Packers have now lost four of their past six playoff games. Two of those losses have been to the Giants, who also ended the Packers' 2007 season in the NFC Championship Game.

Rare mistakes: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said during the week that he didn't believe in the concept of "rust" for a team coming off a playoff bye. Call it whatever you want. The Packers made mistakes that simply didn't happen during the regular season. Fullback John Kuhn lost the first fumble of his career. Rodgers missed receiver Greg Jennings for what would have been an easy touchdown in the first quarter. Rodgers also lost a fumble, on a second-quarter sack by Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, for the first time this season. The normally sure-handed Ryan Grant fumbled for only the second time this season in the fourth quarter. And depending on how tough of a grader you are, the Packers dropped anywhere from four to eight passes. One was a third-quarter pass to Jennings, who had a step on safety Antrel Rolle in single coverage in the end zone.

Defense tightens up: The big fear surrounding the Packers this season was that a hot quarterback would knock them and their porous pass defense out of the playoffs. Things seemed to be headed in that direction after Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 274 yards in the first half, capped by a 37-yard pass to receiver Hakeem Nicks on a Hail Mary. But it's going to be tough to affix too much responsibility to the defense for this game. The Packers tightened significantly in the second half, and the Giants didn't have a single first down in the third quarter. Manning threw for 56 yards in the second half. That should have given the Packers' offense enough of an opportunity to even up the game if it was up to it. It wasn't. They couldn't get the ball downfield at all against the Giants defense, and their longest play of the game was a 29-yard run by James Starks in the third quarter.

Key play: Backed by a bit of momentum and hoping to tie the game early in the fourth quarter, the Packers faced a third-and-five at the Giants' 39-yard line. Tight end Jermichael Finley was wide open at about the 25-yard line, but Rodgers' throw was just off his outstretched fingertips. It wasn't immediately clear whether Rodgers overthrew Finley or if Finley stopped his route early. But it was one of the Packers' biggest missed opportunities in this game. Rodgers was sacked on fourth down, and the Giants converted the ensuing possession into a 35-yard field goal to make it a two-score game midway through the fourth quarter.

Injury report: Kuhn didn't return after injuring his right knee in the third quarter.

What's next: The Packers have a young and deep team set up for long-term success. They'll need to address the contract situation of Finley, who is a pending free agent. It will take some time to get over Sunday's disappointment, but the Packers' future should be bright.

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 -- The Green Bay Packers will look for their 14th victory of the season Sunday without two of their top tailbacks.

James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) were both deactivated for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Starks missed two days of practice last week and Saine didn't practice at all.

The Packers will use Ryan Grant and John Kuhn as their primary runners. That's not an ideal number, but it's not an untenable situation for one game.

Others on the inactive list: Quarterback Graham Harrell, linebacker Desmond Bishop, tackle Chad Clifton, defensive end Ryan Pickett and receiver Greg Jennings.

Getting inside the NFC North's Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Devin Hester tweaked his ankle this week and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive lineman Henry Melton (shin) is also questionable and unlikely to play.

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) and defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh) are doubtful and not expected to play Sunday at the Oakland Raiders. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) is questionable, but his status is less clear. Also questionable are linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring), defensive lineman Nick Fairley (foot), running back Kevin Smith (ankle) and cornerback Eric Wright (hamstring). Smith and Wright seem to have decent chances to play. Cornerback Chris Houston (knee) is probable and should play.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers ruled out defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (concussion), and won't take him on their trip to the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) was also ruled out, but linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf) is probable. The Packers will make game-time decisions on two running backs: James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion). If neither can play, the Packers will go with Ryan Grant and John Kuhn as their running backs for Sunday's game. Guard Josh Sitton (knee) appears to be a go, but is technically listed as questionable. Meanwhile, the Chiefs confirmed that Kyle Orton will start at quarterback for them, his second start against the Packers this season. Orton also started in Week 4 while playing for the Denver Broncos.

Minnesota Vikings: Every player on the 53-man roster, except cornerback Chris Cook, will be available for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. That includes running back Adrian Peterson, who has missed three consecutive games because of a high ankle sprain. Coach Leslie Frazier said that Peterson's snaps could be limited depending on soreness.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

FROM AN OUTPOST ALONG HWY. 29 IN WISCONSIN -- I've started the trek back to NFC North blog headquarters but wanted to stop and get the blog caught up. It also seemed like a good idea to get some sleep and sit out the wintry mix I'm seeing out the window.

Sunday night's wild finish in Dallas essentially added a contender to what is now a four-team wild-card race in the NFC. As the ESPN.com playoff standings show, the Detroit Lions currently hold of the No. 6 seed by virtue of their 8-5 record. At 7-6, the Chicago Bears are looking up at the Lions and Atlanta Falcons, but have the advantage over the 7-6 Dallas Cowboys because of a better conference record.

In the weekly ebb and flow of the NFL season, things are looking up for the Lions. They will get defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh back from his NFL suspension Monday and are set to face an Oakland Raiders team that I can tell you from first-hand observation is playing terribly right now.

The Bears are reeling at the moment. Normally I would say they have a favorable home matchup approaching Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, who will have a short week of practice after playing Monday night against the St. Louis Rams, but that's what I said about the Bears two weeks ago when they hosted the Kansas City Chiefs. Such is life….

Let's take a quick spin around the division, shall we?

• Bears running back Marion Barber made two crucial mistakes late in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Denver Broncos. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com takes you through them.
• Barber rarely speaks to the media and didn't break that policy after Sunday's game. Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times wasn't impressed.
• Bears defensive end Israel Idonije thought he had a chance to block Matt Prater's 51-yard field goal in overtime, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher offered an already-infamous quote about Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Urlacher: "He’s a good running back."
• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press after the Lions' victory against the Minnesota Vikings: "Wins are the only currency that counts in December. The Lions' 34-28 collective sigh of relief keeps them in the NFC playoff hunt, but they still resemble a team gunning for big game with nothing more than a cap pistol. This isn't a good team. It's a lucky team."
• Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, who has a career-high nine sacks, made a difference on the final play of the game. Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News takes us through it.
• The Lions are learning what it takes to sacrifice themselves for a playoff run, writes John Niyo of the News.
• Lions cornerback Alphonso Smith continues to be a playmaker, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Green Bay Packers tailback Ryan Grant had a big day Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains.
• Packers players are bracing for life without receiver Greg Jennings, who suffered a left knee injury Sunday. Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal on the Packers gunning for 16-0: "That’s admirable, but is it prudent?"
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Suddenly, the ghost of Joe Webb is hovering over the Vikings organization."
• Sunday showed that the Vikings need to get Webb on the field somehow, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press goes behind the scenes on the final play of the game.
• The Vikings benched ineffective cornerback Cedric Griffin, who wasn't happy about it and hinted he wants to leave the organization. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.