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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.

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.

» 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.

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, most 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 (deserved) 13-point underdogs. 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 rely on and 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 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 original 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 currently 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.

» 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 due to 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 it 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 Sunday 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 game-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 2000's 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.

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.

DETROIT -- Thursday will go down as the day Ndamukong Suh lost his innocence. No longer can there be a reasonable debate about the style and intent of his play, much less his comprehension of its consequences, not after his game ejection and subsequent explanation after the Detroit Lions' 27-15 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The entire nation watched Suh pound the head of Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith into the ground three times and then stomp on him as the two were separated. Many of you saw his postgame comments, a scary mix of manic sentences and paranoid conspiracy theories that suggested the gulf between Suh and the NFL's accepted way of life is widening rather than closing here at the end of his second season.

Even Lions coach Jim Schwartz, one of Suh's most reliable defenders, offered a measured response. "Regardless of our intent," Schwartz said, "we can't put ourselves in that position."

It's going to be difficult, if not impossible, for Suh to shed the stigma of such a visible incident. If you didn't think he was a dirty player before, you're going to have a much more difficult time not believing it now.

Don't take it from me. Multiple NFL observers and Packers players were angered and/or incredulous by the totality of Suh's actions and words. Veteran cornerback Charles Woodson called it "a dirty play." Retired NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira, now a Fox Sports analyst, tweeted: "He feels he did nothing wrong! What are we dealing with here?"

Meanwhile, Packers guard T.J. Lang, who was a couple of feet away from Suh during the scrum, suggested a suspension might be in order.

"There's no doubt that he's known for playing hard and getting chippy and getting after guys," Lang said. "He's a guy that doesn't just want to beat you. He wants to hurt you if he can.

"He's going to learn sooner or later that he can't play football that way in this league. He keeps playing that way, sooner or later they're going to have to make a move to show them that's not the way you play football in this league."

As recorded in our Verbatim post earlier, Suh said he pushed Dietrich-Smith's head because he was "being pulled down" and he was trying to get off the ground. Replays show that the players' arms were locked in a wrestling position, and neither was letting go as Suh flipped on top of the scrum. So Dietrich-Smith isn't totally innocent here. I get that.

Dietrich-Smith didn't have much to say about it -- "Just two football players out there playing hard," he said -- but Lang had a first-hand account that cast doubt on Suh's version.

"Uh, no," Lang said of Suh's explanation. "That's [expletive]. Because I saw [it] when I was walking over to see what was going on. He clearly had Evan by the face mask, pinned to the ground. His explanation is crap. I saw it when I was walking over there.

"I saw him on top of him with both hands clenched on his face mask looking like he was trying to turn his face mask or rip his helmet off. There was no pushing off and trying to stand up. He was going at his face.

"When you go for a guy's head, it's personal. There's no room in the game for that. You could get a career-ending injury if somebody twists your neck the wrong way. I don't have any doubt in my mind that he was trying to hurt him."

The only person who truly knows Suh's intent is Suh himself. So let's put it this way: If Suh didn't intend to do what he did Thursday, he needs to be examined for involuntary leg and arm movement. There has been room for debate in many of Suh's other questionable plays, but it's hard to imagine a reasonable person looking at the replay of Thursday's episode and not seeing an out-of-control player acting well beyond the scope and rules of the game.

Perhaps most bewildering is that Suh continues to believe that his now-cemented reputation has been foisted on him, rather than something he was responsible for creating.

"A lot of people are going to interpret it as, or create their own storylines for seeing what they want to interpret it," Suh said. "But I know what I did, and the man upstairs knows what I did."

Yes, we all do. The replay offers irrefutable evidence. And it was an excellent illustration of why the Lions are now 7-4 and facing a tough road to the playoffs. One of the Packers' primary talking points during the short practice week was, essentially, to sit back and wait for Suh and/or another Lions player to make a mistake of aggression.

Or, as Lang put it: "He's been getting dumb penalties all year. That's something we talked about all week: They were probably going to do something stupid along the way. They’ve done it in almost every game."

Suh said he is not concerned with his public reputation, implying that God's reaction is the only one he cares about. That's a good thing, because there will be no going back on it now. Ndamukong Suh has a chance to be one of the best and most marketable defensive linemen to ever play this game, and the Lions should be a good team for several years to come. But in his first two seasons, Suh has cared more about beating people up than beating them. That's too bad.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The kick seen around the (NFL) world Sunday was "cowardly," according to the recipient. It was "something that hopefully I won't repeat in the future," according to the kicker.

So went the reactions of Green Bay Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison to the latest NFC North altercation that is sure to be replayed about a couple hundred or so times before it loses steam. For those who missed it, Robison kicked Lang squarely in the groin after Mason Crosby's 39-yard field goal in the second quarter of the Packers' 33-27 victory.

"It is what it is," Robison said. "It happened. There's nothing I can do about it. It's something that if I could go back, I wouldn't have done it. There's nothing I could do about it now. There was a penalty, and hopefully it won't happen in the future."

Said Lang: "It was really surprising. You don't want to see that in a football game. I think it was a pretty cowardly move on his part. I don't think I did anything to get that reaction."

Lang said he and another Packers player stopped Robison from shooting a gap during the field goal attempt.

"We caught his legs and pushed him," Lang said. "He landed on his back. I didn't say anything to him. He just responded."

Robison described the block a bit differently and implied he was provoked. He said officials "always catch the second guy" and added: "From what I hear, it didn't show up on the TV copy. But if you watch the game, you can clearly see that he kind of picked me up in midair, put me on my back and started coming toward me. So I was automatically in defense mode.

"It was in the heat of the moment. In hindsight, I wish it wouldn't have happened."

I'm not sure if a body slam, even if it occurred that way, necessitates a groin kick in retaliation. So kudos to Robison for owning up to what was an overreaction at the very least.

Asked if he was OK after the kick, Lang laughed and said: "Well, I'm glad I already had one son." He also tweeted: "Glad to report my genitalia are in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery!"

Turning serious during a postgame interview, he added: "I don't think there is any room in the game for that kind of move. We'll see if there is any [discipline]. From what it sounds like, the TV cameras caught it pretty well. I think it should be the same as a punch."

Expect Robison to receive an NFL fine. Unless, of course, the league decides it wasn't a fight. We've already seen precedent for how the league treats contact between two team employees that falls short of a fight.

Reviewing Friday's action at Lambeau Field:

Green Bay Packers 28, Arizona Cardinals 20

Preseason record: 1-1

Of interest: The first-team offense went three-and-out in its first series, punted after two first downs on its next possession but looked sharp in its third, which ended on Aaron Rodgers' 20-yard back-shoulder touchdown pass to receiver Greg Jennings. Not coincidentally, the Packers took a pre-planned no-huddle approach in that third series. Rodgers completed all five of his passes on the drive, including three consecutive to tight end Jermichael Finley. ... Overall, Finley was targeted on five passes in his preseason debut, catching four for 33 yards. ... Rodgers took three significant hits that I saw, one after Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell ran right past rookie left guard Derek Sherrod. Cardinals lineman Darnell Dockett also split a double team against right guard Josh Sitton and right tackle Bryan Bulaga for a hit. ... I thought the defense created some havoc for Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, limiting the Cardinals offense to a pair of field goals before coordinator Dom Capers began substituting. ... The defense's new (occasional) look of Ryan Pickett at nose tackle and B.J. Raji at end is interesting and worth further discussion next week. ... Safety Morgan Burnett continues to look aggressive in his return and made a nice play to break up a late Kolb pass to receiver Larry Fitzgerald. ... Fitzgerald later made one of the most incredible one-handed catches you'll ever see as he fell to the ground, setting up a field goal. ... The first look at running back/kick returner Alex Green was positive, most notably on a 25-yard screen reception. ... I don't know if Chastin West's 97-yard catch-and-run down the right sideline will help him make the team, but it sure was fun to watch. Perfect throw from quarterback Matt Flynn. ... Two injuries to keep an eye on: Receiver Randall Cobb (bruised knee) and defensive end C.J. Wilson (possible concussion).

Local coverage: Finley wanted to continue playing with the second-team offense, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. Finley: "I felt like the old '88.' I started getting revved up and heated and I was really close to telling them to keep me in. I'd have played the whole game. I'd have played with Flynn if I had to. It was just one of those things I had to get past me, and I got it past me." Tailback Ryan Grant doesn't appear to have lost a step, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Packers.com has posted video of West's touchdown reception. It's also in the video that will accompany this post for a few days. Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Green's night: "If Green shows he can pass protect, he could be a valuable weapon as a third-down back. He's a better receiver than Brandon Jackson, who had the job last season. But if he can't pass protect -- he gave up a quarterback hit by linebacker O'Brien Schofield on Matt Flynn in the third quarter -- then he won't win that job." Sherrod probably lost any chance he has of beating out T.J. Lang for the starting job, notes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel.

Up next: Friday at Indianapolis Colts

In which we look ahead to preseason football in the NFC North over the next two days. I'll post a dedicated preview Monday afternoon for the Chicago Bears' game at the New York Giants, to be televised Monday night on ESPN.

Detroit Lions
Opponent: Cleveland Browns
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Day/Time: Friday/7:30 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Starters could play into the second quarter but coach Jim Schwartz will determine that based on snaps and possessions. ... Tight end Tony Scheffler won't play because he has stitches in his hand, but tight end Brandon Pettigrew should return from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the preseason opener. ... Safety/special-teams ace John Wendling (knee) could be held out, but Schwartz would not dismiss the possibility of an appearance by either of his starting cornerbacks, Chris Houston and Eric Wright. Both have been nursing leg injuries this week.
Focal point: Quarterback Matthew Stafford did everything you could have hoped for last Friday against the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing for two touchdown passes among seven attempts. Except for one thing. Unless I missed it, he didn't take a significant hit. Obviously no team wants its quarterback battered in the preseason, but it's going to happen some time for Stafford. There is some significance to taking the first hit after a long injury recovery, popping back up and symbolically moving on.

Green Bay Packers
Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
Location: Lambeau Field
Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Linebacker Clay Matthews' hamstring injury probably will get a rest Friday night. After all, he's done pretty well in his career with limited preseason work. It's hard to imagine defensive end Mike Neal (knee) or running back James Starks (ankle) playing. ... On the flip side, tight end Jermichael Finley, running back Alex Green and the team's top three cornerbacks -- Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields -- should get on the field. ... Some starters could play a half this week.
Focal point: While their former left guard is in a Cardinals uniform, the Packers will continue their tryout for his replacement. Veteran T.J. Lang will get the start in his quest to beat out rookie Derek Sherrod and replace Daryn Colledge. Not unexpectedly, Lang has provided a steadier presence during practices as well as in last week's preseason opener. Teams always prefer to get their first-round draft picks on the field, but Lang is probably better suited to start right now.

Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Location: CenturyLink Field
Day/Time: Saturday/10 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Coach Leslie Frazier expects starters to play into the second quarter. ... Receivers Percy Harvin (ribs) and Greg Camarillo (groin) won't play, giving significant opportunities a number of younger receivers, including Jaymar Johnson. ... Tight Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) and guard Anthony Herrera (knee) also aren't expected to play. ... Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder is expected to follow starter Donovan McNabb and work with the second team after serving as the No. 3 quarterback in last weekend's preseason opener.
Focal point: There's no question the Vikings would like to see progress from their offense, particularly the first team, after a three-point effort last weekend at Tennessee. Protection for McNabb is important, but quite frankly, the Vikings just need to find a way to sustain a few drives so they can practice their new scheme in a game environment.

Reviewing Saturday's action at Cleveland Browns Stadium:

Cleveland Browns 27, Green Bay Packers 17

Preseason record: 0-1

Of interest: The first-team offense played two series. The first ended in a punt and the second a 21-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings. It's worth noting that tailback Ryan Grant and left guard Derek Sherrod both started but gave way to James Starks and T.J. Lang, respectively, on the second series. Starks later suffered an ankle injury. ... Defensive end Mike Neal started and made a nice back-side tackle of Browns tailback Peyton Hillis. ... It was hard not to be impressed by receiver/kick returner Randall Cobb, who finished with three receptions for 60 yards and returned two kickoffs for a 29-yard average. I thought his diving catch on third-and-5 was particularly noteworthy. That's the type of tough catch you don't always see a rookie make. ... Backup quarterback Matt Flynn once again showed he is capable of running the offense in Rodgers' absence, completing 11 of 18 passes for 126 yards. ... Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams didn't start, pushing Jarrett Bush and Pat Lee into higher-profile roles. The Browns beat Lee on their first touchdown, a 27-yard pass from Colt McCoy to Josh Cribbs.

Local coverage: Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Cobb looks as if he has a chance to make the weakest part of the defending Super Bowl champions' game considerably better." ... The Packers "didn't look any worse or more ragged than preseason openers of the past," writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. ... Tight end Jermichael Finley, who didn't play, said there was no reason to rush back onto the field but indicated he will probably play in Week 2, according to Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel. ... The Packers' no-huddle offense looked good, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. ... Coach Mike McCarthy considered personnel evaluation the top priority Saturday night, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Next: Friday vs. Arizona Cardinals

Multiple reports suggest it's only a matter of time before the Green Bay Packers formally part ways with offensive lineman Daryn Colledge. The Arizona Cardinals appear to be the leading candidate for his services.

This news should come as no surprise because the Packers have declined numerous opportunities to sign Colledge to an extension in recent years. He is now an unrestricted free agent. Clearly, the Packers are comfortable with depth along the offensive line and decided to allocate their cash and salary-cap space elsewhere.

So who will take over for Colledge at left guard? The best guess, as suggested by ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde, is T.J. Lang. I believe Lang has played every position except quarterback in his three seasons with the Packers, and if anything he's proved a quick study. And although it's totally irrelevant, Lang has also demonstrated a solid John Madden-like sense of humor on his Twitter feed (@TJLang70).

Recently: "I hate dropping ketchup on clothes I just washed."

Who doesn't?

Seriously, there are two other backups who could figure into this competition: Nick McDonald and Marshall Newhouse. But what interests me the most is if the Packers will feel compelled, as they have in the past, to shift a starter or rising starter from another position into an open spot in the name of getting their best five linemen on the field.

In this case: Would the Packers move right tackle Bryan Bulaga to left guard, where he spent a bit of time in training camp last summer? Or would they try to get first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, a left tackle in college, onto the field as a left guard?

We have no immediate indication on those possibilities. Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to speak with reporters Saturday morning. Stay tuned.

Recent Packers posts: The Packers trust Mason Crosby as their place-kicker of the future. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers really, really wants the Packers to re-sign receiver James Jones. To little surprise, the Packers told linebacker Nick Barnett he will be traded or released.