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Chicago Bears

The Bears announced an increase in price for season tickets. According to the Chicago Tribune, "Non-club seats will range from $76 to $150, and club seating remains between $265 and $385. Invoices to season ticket holders were sent Tuesday, and full payments are due April 9."

Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus has drawn interest from several teams, including the Bears.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are hoping recent success on the field pays off when free agency starts next month. "I think what we're seeing now with our current free agents is those guys want to be here," general manager Martin Mayhew said. "They want to be with us, they want to be a part of it. They're in our locker room every day, they see what's going on with our football team, and our current guys want to be here, and I think there may be some other guys out there, I don't know."

Green Bay Packers

Packers guard T.J. Lang makes a case for why the team should do what it can to keep center Scott Wells in Green Bay.

While Jermichael Finley is out to silence his critics on the field next season, he spent time Tuesday night with one of his fans who has battled leukemia for eight years.

Minnesota Vikings

Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield is on the Vikings' radar.

Wide receiver Greg Camarillo has been told the Vikings don't plan to re-sign him.

We've used 2011 playing-time statistics to identify a number of trends and important points, from the perfect attendance of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs to the reliability of Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew to the curious limitations placed upon Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin. Now let's sift though some other figures that don't demand dramatic conclusions but are of interest nonetheless.

1. We noted that Briggs played every defensive snap for the Bears last season. Five other players, all offensive linemen, also never missed a play. That list includes Chicago Bears center Roberto Garza and left tackle J'Marcus Webb, Detroit Lions guards Stephen Peterman and Rob Sims, and Green Bay Packers guard/tackle T.J. Lang.
2. Minnesota Vikings left tackle Charlie Johnson missed a grand total of eight plays in 2011. Lions center Dominic Raiola missed nine plays and Packers center Scott Wells missed 29. Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt played all but 33 snaps.
3. Depth issues at defensive end surfaced for several teams. The Vikings' Jared Allen led all NFL players at his position by playing on 94.3 percent of his team's snaps, and teammate Brian Robison ranked 11th among defensive ends by playing 84.4 percent. Meanwhile, the Bears' Israel Idonije was on the field for 84.6 percent of his team's snaps, with Julius Peppers close behind at 82.1. Obviously that foursome is a good group of players, but it's also clear that their teams didn't have backups they felt comfortable rolling in.
4. Consider that conclusion in the context of how the well-stocked Lions rotated their defensive ends. Cliff Avril played on 72 percent of their snaps and Kyle Vanden Bosch was on the field for 67.9 percent. Lawrence Jackson played on 30.1 percent of the Lions' snaps despite injuries that limited him to 11 games, while backup Willie Young saw action 22.7 percent of plays over 14 games.
5. The NFC North had two workhorse middle linebackers. The Bears' Brian Urlacher missed only 14 plays, most of which came after a knee injury in the season finale. The Lions' Stephen Tulloch, meanwhile, missed only 19 of 1,098 defensive snaps.
6. Bears running back Matt Forte was on the field for the 10th-most plays (564) among running backs despite missing four-plus games because of a knee injury.

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.

As the NFC North blogger, my job is to provide analysis and reaction on the daily happenings in this division.

That means I need to write something about the death of Michael Philbin, the 21-year-old son of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

Reaction? Analysis?

Sorry. I've got nothing.

Is there any tragedy more jarring and unspeakable than sudden death? By nature, it defies explanation and crushes perspective. There are no words, at least not for me.

Packers guard T.J. Lang found a few, days after burying his own father, who died last week following an illness. Via Twitter, Lang said: "As children we all have to someday say goodbye to our parents, but a parent should never have to say goodbye to their child."

According to reports, Michael Philbin fell through ice early Sunday morning in Oshkosh, Wis., and drowned. His body was recovered Monday afternoon, and ESPN confirmed the identity Monday night.

The Philbins have lived in the Green Bay area since 2003, when Joe first joined the Packers as an assistant offensive line coach. He is one of the nicest and most gentle men you'll meet in football, and his career has ascended rapidly in recent days. The Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins both interviewed him for their head coaching jobs, and he is probably on the short list of candidates that Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie would pursue to replace incumbent Hue Jackson.

It would be crass to consider how this tragedy might affect Philbin's career, much less the Packers' preparations for Sunday's divisional playoff game against the New York Giants. Suffice it to say, the organization will move forward this week knowing that one of their longest-tenured and most loyal football employees is going through the cruelest of tragedies.

That of, course, is easier said than done. Go ahead and watch coach Mike McCarthy struggle to make it through his Monday news conference if you don't believe me. (Video via Packers.com.)

We've spent some time on this blog discussing the Packers' community ownership and sense of family. It's no joke. I suspect the Packers will be comforted knowing that the Philbins' private tragedy will be mourned by neighbors they don't know and friends worldwide they've never met. If strength can be found in numbers, the Philbins are in excellent hands.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It appears the Green Bay Packers' success will cost them at least one prominent member of their organization. Reggie McKenzie, the director of football operations who has been a key talent evaluator for the team since 1994, is set to become the general manager of the Oakland Raiders. ESPN's Adam Schefter has the story.

McKenzie was originally hired by former Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who has been advising the Raiders on their search. He will be the second member of Packers general manager Ted Thompson's front office to be hired in a similar role elsewhere; two years ago, executive John Schneider became the Seattle Seahawks' general manager.

McKenzie had been linked to the Chicago Bears' job because of his friendship with Bears coach Lovie Smith, but it appears the Raiders swooped in first.

The Packers are also monitoring the interviews of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who has drawn interest for the head-coaching job in Kansas City and Miami. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements was a candidate for the Penn State job, but it appears he will be staying after reports that New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will be hired.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The father of Packers guard T.J. Lang passed away Thursday, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Being the top seed in the playoffs is no guarantee of postseason success, notes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Packers cornerback Tramon Williams: "But, bottom line, Williams' hasn't been the same shut-down, no-trespassing cover man of a year ago. For the Packers to return to the Super Bowl, they may need him to be. Williams remains confident."
• Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press: "We've got a quarterback. No matter what happens Saturday night in New Orleans, no matter what unfolds in this first Lions playoff season since the last millennium, Detroit fans can say that sentence and take comfort in it."
• Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams appears to have the following plan for dealing with Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, via Carlos Monarrez of the Free Press: "But we do play very physical, and one of the things that we do is guys that are 6-5 end up being 5-5 when they get flipped over on their head. They didn't say that the rule says that the ground couldn't hurt their head. So we've got to find ways to make the ground be a part of it. We won't make helmet-to-helmet contact."
• Lions safety Louis Delmas has been silent this week as he prepares to return to the field. John Niyo of the Detroit News explains.
• Last year, the Minnesota Vikings began interviewing potential replacements for offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell before firing him. It appears they're doing the same in 2011. They have scheduled former Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant Raheem Morris for an interview Friday, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Current defensive coordinator Fred Pagac remains employed.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton wants all stadium proposals from all sites in his hands by Jan. 12. More from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com looks at four candidates for the Chicago Bears' general manager job.
• The Bears stack up well against other teams seeking general managers, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The only candidate believed to have been contacted for the job is Baltimore Ravens executive Eric DeCosta, according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.

» 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. -- The Chicago Bears will play their top rivals Sunday night without their top two running backs and appear to be bracing for limited duty from receiver/kick returner Devin Hester.

Hester is active but the Bears also have receiver Max Komar in uniform for the first time all season.

Matt Forte (knee) and Marion Barber (calf) are inactive, as expected. Kahlil Bell is expected to get his second NFL start.

The Bears also deactivated rookie quarterback Nathan Enderle, meaning that deposed starter Caleb Hanie is the only quarterback available to play in relief of new starter Josh McCown.

The Green Bay Packers will have linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) in uniform for the first time since Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, defensive end Mike Neal (shoulder) is in uniform, but the Packers announced that Howard Green will start for Ryan Pickett at left defensive end and that C.J. Wilson will start at right defensive end.

The team also confirmed that T.J. Lang will start at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith will start at left guard.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 16:

Busted rivalry: When the NFL released its schedule this spring, many of us had high expectations for a late-December matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Instead, an injury-devastated Bears team will limp north as a (deserved) 13-point underdog. It's possible the Packers will have clinched home-field advantage even before taking the field Sunday night, if the San Francisco 49ers lose Saturday at the Seattle Seahawks. If not, the Packers will attempt to secure it against a team playing without quarterback Jay Cutler, running backs Matt Forte and Marion Barber, and receiver Johnny Knox. Third-string running back Kahlil Bell is expected to start, pairing with third-string quarterback Josh McCown -- who has a history of helping the Packers' playoff positioning. (See: Noooooooooooooooo!) One other interesting bit of history: The Packers are one of five teams in NFL history to open a season 13-0 and then lose in their 14th game. All four of the other teams lost their 15th game, too. That list includes the 2009 and 2005 Indianapolis Colts, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 1998 Denver Broncos.

Packers' run game: For several reasons, Sunday night's game would be an obvious target for the Packers to try to enhance their running game. James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) are expected to return. The Packers will start a makeshift offensive line that likely will include T.J. Lang at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard; the best way for offensive linemen to get comfortable is via run blocking. And it's also worth repeating that the Bears historically have done a good job limiting Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' downfield opportunities. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rodgers has completed only five of 26 attempts on throws against the Bears that traveled in the air 21 yards or more. He's thrown for one touchdown, a game-winner to receiver Greg Jennings in 2009, and two interceptions on those passes.

Detroit's challenge: The Detroit Lions will clinch a playoff spot Saturday if they beat the San Diego Chargers in what will likely be a raucous atmosphere at Ford Field. (There are also several scenarios to clinch this weekend even if they lose. They're noted in this post.) Hopefully everyone knows the Chargers are on one of their annual December rolls. They've won three consecutive games after a six-game losing streak. Since Norv Turner took the head coaching job in 2007, the Chargers are 20-2 in December. This will be no cakewalk.

Big targets: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers struggled earlier this season, but he has been the NFL's most efficient quarterback over the past three weeks based on Total Quarterback Rating. Rivers has hit a groove with a pair of 6-foot-5 receivers that will pose significant matchup problems for the Lions. Malcom Floyd has 11 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns over the past two games, while Vincent Jackson has caught 12 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. Jackson has been sidelined in practice this week by a groin injury. Lions cornerback Chris Houston (knee) clearly wasn't 100 percent last week against the Oakland Raiders, and the team re-signed Brandon McDonald this week for extra depth. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) also remains sidelined, and backup Chris Harris was cleared Thursday to practice following a concussion.

Make it stop: If you're a big-picture observer, you see ample motivation for the Minnesota Vikings to lose Sunday at the Washington Redskins. One more victory by the Indianapolis Colts, in conjunction with two more Vikings defeats, would give the Vikings an excellent chance to secure the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft. A loss to the Redskins would extend the Vikings' losing streak to seven games, tying a franchise record set in their expansion season of 1961. But I'm not sure what would be worse: tying that record or extending their NFL record of games without an interception, which stands at nine. Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman has thrown at least one interception in his past 10 starts, and he is tied for the second-most interceptions in the NFL (18) despite missing three games this season. Something's got to give.

Taking a look at Wednesday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: A high number of prominent players didn't practice Wednesday. The list included running back Marion Barber (calf), linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle), tight end Kellen Davis (back), receiver Devin Hester (ankle), defensive tackle Henry Melton (shin) and defensive end Julius Peppers (not injury related). Melton doesn't appear to have a great chance to play Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas (knee), defensive tackle Corey Williams (hip), right tackle Gosder Cherilus and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (neck) didn't practice. It doesn't appear that Delmas will be ready for Saturday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

Green Bay Packers: Left tackle Chad Clifton finally returned to practice Wednesday but it's almost impossible to imagine him playing Sunday against the Bears. Instead, T.J. Lang is likely to start at right tackle with Evan Dietrich-Smith at Lang's left guard spot. The healthy backups will be Ray Dominguez and newcomer Herb Taylor. Running back James Starks practice an could be on track to play Sunday. Running back Brandon Saine (concussion) also practiced, as did linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf). Defensive end Ryan Pickett (concussion) did not.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Asher Allen and guard Steve Hutchinson both sat out practice Wednesday because of concussions. Joe Berger would start for Hutchinson if he can't play Saturday against the Washington Redskins.

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

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.

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 -- We have all week to discuss the Green Bay Packers' injury-depleted offensive line. There is plenty of time to hash through their sudden case of the drops. I promise I'll offer you an opportunity to debate whether coach Mike McCarthy should have challenged an apparent fourth-quarter fumble in Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. (Actually, I already have.)

For the moment, however, I think we should note just how tantalizingly close the Packers got to the most revered title imaginable: The greatest team of all time.

Their 19-game winning streak, which included a 13-0 start this season, had already placed them in the running. And if the Packers go on to win Super Bowl XLVI, perhaps we'll still be able to make an argument on their behalf. But a 19-0 run through 2011 would have been unprecedented, as would have the corresponding 25-game winning streak. Whether they admit to it or not, the Packers know that opportunities to place yourself on that pedestal -- objectively and indisputably -- come around once in a lifetime.

"It would have been special, make no mistake," cornerback Charles Woodson said in a rueful but hardly depressed Packers locker room. "When you have a shot to do something like that, you do it. We certainly felt like our chances were good to come in here and win today, and we didn't get it done. … Guys would have loved to do it. We would have loved to do it."

Said defensive lineman B.J. Raji: "You can't underestimate the opportunity to chase history. It was definitely huge. We didn't shy away from the topic. Our coach didn't shy away from it. He addressed it. I can't belittle the challenge to go 16-0, but obviously that's behind us now."

To be sure, many in the Packers' locker room were in no way on edge as history loomed. In professional sports, the big picture rarely gets bigger than stringing together championships. Win or lose Sunday, the Packers were in better shape than any other NFL team to mount that sort of accomplishment.

Not everybody cares about the history book. But at some point in their lives, most members of the 2011 Packers would have appreciated looking back and realizing they were mathematically the most successful team ever over a two-year stretch. They had a chance to do something that New England Patriots of the 2000's couldn't, something the 1980s San Francisco 49ers fell short of, as did the 1970s Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers -- not to mention the Packers of both Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau.

These Packers have nothing to be ashamed of, nor do they deserve an ounce of criticism. Only one team in history, the 2003-4 Patriots, won more than 19 consecutive games. No failure occurred here. Only a missed opportunity. As receiver Donald Driver said, "it was truly amazing to be able to win that many games in that long of a period."

Driver added: "It hurts because that's something special. We always talk about, if you get the perfect season, then you're part of greatness. But you take it for what it's worth. Right now, the only thing we can do is go 18-1. If that’s 18-1 and you're the Super Bowl champs, I don't think anyone cares about the perfect season after that."

We saw some things Sunday from the Packers that might have you concerned. Now we know what happens when the Packers' defense, which entered the game leading the NFL with 32 takeways, doesn't get a turnover. A half-dozen or so drops reminded us how pristinely their offense has played for most of the season, and few teams are prepared to have their top two right tackles injured in the same game.

To be sure, as McCarthy noted, this wasn't a fluke loss. "We were beaten today," he said. "The Kansas City Chiefs outplayed us. We were beaten."

At the same time, let's not overreact and wonder if the Chiefs exposed the Packers' flaws for the world to see. Let's not be so spoiled by a 19-game winning streak that we forget the NFL's always-true "Any Given Sunday" mantra.

In the bigger picture, the Packers know they can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with their next victory, or by a San Francisco 49ers loss as early as Monday night. If they do it, they won't play a game away from Lambeau Field -- where they haven't lost since October 17, 2010 -- until the Super Bowl.

McCarthy said he has viewed an undefeated season "as really just gravy" on top of their more central goal of winning the Super Bowl. Perhaps he'll feel differently in 10 years. Had the Packers been able to pull it off, and they fell five points shy of extending the run into another week, I think we would all have looked back on these past two years with a reverence reserved for the very best of all time. But for now, the Packers will settle for the best of 2011.

"Our goal has never been to set records or lead the league in statistics," guard T.J. Lang said. "We care about getting wins and [getting home-field advantage and winning the Super Bowl], and fortunately we still have a couple of those in front of us that we can hit."

I've noted on a couple of occasions the uniquely efficient season that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has produced. Through 13 weeks, Rodgers ranks first in the NFL with an average of 9.4 yards per attempt and second in completion percentage at 69.6.

Traditionally, it's difficult to pair strong performances in both categories. Shorter passes typically lead to high completion percentage, while longer passes boost the average yards per attempt but are generally completed at lower rates.

With three games remaining in the regular season, it's worth noting that Rodgers is not only throwing downfield with high frequency, but he is also completing those difficult passes at a higher rate, by a long shot, than any other NFL quarterback. (Pun intended.)

Rodgers has thrown 43 passes this season that have traveled 21 or more yards in the air, tied for the ninth-highest total in the league. As the chart shows, he has completed 62.8 percent of them, substantially better than Tony Romo, Drew Brees and Andy Dalton. Rodgers' completion percentage on those deep throws is better than the rate on all throws for all but six other NFL quarterbacks.

Accuracy and arm strength are important factors in such success, but we shouldn't overlook the value of team awareness and chemistry, either. Consider the 37-yard touchdown he threw to receiver Jordy Nelson last Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

As Rodgers related Tuesday on his ESPN 540 radio show, Packers coach Mike McCarthy alerted him via his headset microphone that the Raiders were trying to swap personnel. Rodgers got his teammates to the line of scrimmage without really calling a play. His general plan was to snap the ball before the departing players got off the field to incur a penalty, and then take a "free" shot downfield.

(Guard T.J. Lang, in fact, told ESPN.com columnist Ashley Fox that he didn't know Rodgers planned to throw.)

Said Rodgers: "… [W]e just ran up real quick and snapped it and Jordy realized what we were doing -- that they had too many guys on the field. And in that situation you just want to give them an opportunity to make a play on the ball. So I gave it a lot of air, the wind was fighting it a little bit, but Jordy made a great reaction to the ball for a touchdown."

You don't outperform the league to such a degree based on just one factor. Players often credit their teammates and coaches for individual success as a matter of respect, but in this case, it is totally warranted. Rodgers has played the biggest role in the Packers fielding the NFL's best downfield passing offense, but it wouldn't be this good without this supporting cast.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- That'll do it. The Green Bay Packers will finish this season 16-0 unless they decide they don't want to. They took the best shot Sunday of arguably the best team they're scheduled to face for the rest of the regular season, and at the first moment when the outcome appeared in doubt, the Packers flew downfield with scary precision and perfect clock management for the game-winning score.

Sunday's 38-35 victory over the New York Giants served notice that the only team likely to stop the Packers' march to 16-0 is the Packers themselves, either through a self-destructive defeat or a late-season decision to rest their starters. They'll play three of their final four games at Lambeau Field, where they haven't lost in 14 months, and each of their remaining opponents -- the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions -- are dealing with issues that could bring them to the Packers at far less than full strength.

That the Packers finished Sunday's game with another two prominent players sidelined, on top of the three starters that were declared inactive for the game, speaks to the Packers' current strength. Cornerback Charles Woodson's concussion makes him a candidate to miss next week's game against the Raiders, but the Packers left MetLife Stadium on Sunday with the supreme confidence that they found yet another way to win.

"We can be taken to the line," receiver Greg Jennings said, "but at the same time we can make the comeback and win these close games. … We had to be that fighter that would punch back and not let them sneak away with one today, and we were able to do that."

As promised, the Giants got after the Packers' passing offense for a good portion of the game, sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers twice and unofficially hitting him on six other occasions. But twice in the fourth quarter, the Packers fought back emotional surges from the Giants.

Rodgers completed eight of his final nine passes for 110 yards, engineering a touchdown drive after the Giants had closed to within 28-27 and getting in position for Mason Crobsy's 31-yard field goal after the Giants tied it at 35. The second possession was particularly illustrative of why it's going to be so tough for someone to beat the Packers this month. Based on interviews in the Packers' locker room, here's what I can tell you about it:

The calculator in Rodgers' brain had been spinning on the sideline, considering various scenarios for when the Packers might regain possession. As it was, they got it back at their 20-yard line with 58 seconds and one timeout remaining.

Rodgers said he was "half-expecting" coach Mike McCarthy to call a draw on the first play to minimize the chance for a turnover deep in Giants history. (That's an indication of how well Rodgers thought the Giants' defense was playing.) But in what several players described as a calm huddle, Rodgers got an aggressive playcall from McCarthy.

"Things were just relaxed for us," guard T.J. Lang said. "It was the same approach we always have, no matter what the score is or how much time is left in the game. There was a little more urgency, but nobody was going to try to play out of the system or make some superhero play."

Rodgers figured the Packers needed to get to their 40-yard line within their first two plays to give the drive a chance. They got past it on the first one, a 24-yard catch-and-run to tight end Jermichael Finely against a surprising straight man defense.

"I probably made the best move of my career on that play," Finley said.

From their 44-yard line, the Packers were again surprised to see the Giants match up their receivers in a man-to-man defense with a single-high safety. The Giants didn't want to play a classic late-game zone, but most everyone would recognize the mismatch of man coverage against the Packers' fleet of receivers. The Packers didn't miss it.

"We made an adjustment on that one," Rodgers said. "Jordy did a little double move and gave me enough room on the sideline to put it in a spot where he could get it."

The play netted 27 yards. In two plays, using a total of 17 seconds, the Packers had moved 51 yards and were in field goal position. An 18-yard pass to Jennings made it a chip-shot for Crosby, and the Packers calmly drained the clock to three seconds before setting up the field goal.

"That drive was really just an example of us trusting the things that we've done in practice so many times," Rodgers said.

So there you have it. The Giants gashed the Packers defense for 447 total yards and 24 first downs, despite holding the ball for only 26 minutes, 57 seconds.They made one costly mistake, an Eli Manning interception that linebacker Clay Matthews returned 38 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and committed a modest six penalties. They had the Packers perhaps one incompletion from playing for overtime. But with the game in the balance, they couldn't so much as slow down the Packers' machine.

The Packers didn't just find a way to get in field position. Their tight end made the move of his career. Two receivers ran precise routes. And as a team, the Packers flew downfield in a rage hat separated them from every team in this league.

"This is exactly what we needed," Matthews said. "Of course, we would love to have blow out victories each and every week. But when it comes down to it, there are some good teams out there and the Giants are no exception. They fought hard. They brought us to the last play. Fortunately were able to march down, get a much needed victory in a much-needed way."

What we saw Sunday was the most impressive installment yet in what has the makings of a historic season. I'm ready to say it. This is a 16-0 team. Whether they do it is entirely up to them.