Protecting Aaron Rodgers will be the number one task of the Green Bay Packers heading into 2013.
Raymond T. Rivard photograp

Zoneblitz.com, a site that is a veritable smorgasbord of NFL information, recently blitzed Lombardiave.com with a series of in-depth questions about where the Green Bay Packers have been and where they are headed.

With a Q&A that focuses on the Packers needs, strengths, weaknesses and overall state of affairs, Andrew Tellijohn of zoneblitz.com covers it all.

You might want to take a trip over to see the site, and all it has to offer. Not only do they cover the NFL, but like fansided.com they take apart Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NCAAF, NCAAB, and Soccer.

But in the meantime, see our exchange by clicking here or scanning below. Take the time to leave some comments on both of our sites, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

In depth 2013: Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are 66-30 with five playoff appearances spanning the last six seasons, one of which ended with the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

But the last two seasons have ended with bad playoff losses, including a 2012 debacle in which second-year San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick shredded the Green and Gold both on the ground and through the air.

So, despite being the strongest team in the NFC North over the last several years, there are questions heading into the draft and into offseason training sessions. Can the Packers solve problems with the offensive line, the running game and the leaky defense? Raymond T. Rivard, editor of LombardiAve.Com, says doing so could again make Green Bay one of the top teams in the NFL.

The health of left offensive tackle Derek Sherrod will determine how the development of the offensive line proceeds.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Zoneblitz: The Packers won the NFC North and have been the class of the division the last few years, but have now lost badly in the playoffs the past two seasons. How would you assess 2012 and what do the Packers have to do to get back to the Super Bowl?

Rivard: There are three things the Packers have to address to get back to what I would consider elite status in the league: the offensive line, the defensive line, and the running game. With Aaron Rodgers being sacked 51 times last season, the Packers are playing with fire. It’s only a matter of time before Rodgers gets knocked out of a game or, God forbid, suffers an injury that knocks him out for the season. With Rodgers set to sign his mega-deal, I would be totally surprised if the Packers don’t expend at least one, if not a couple of their draft picks on offensive linemen. They can’t continue to put a patchwork group on the field in front of Rodgers.

That said, the Packers running game has been abysmal. Addressing the offensive line should help the team in that regard, but a mid- to-late-round running back would also help bolster the depth in the offensive backfield – again, taking some of the pressure off Rodgers and the passing game.

Lastly, the Packers’ defensive line and outside linebacking are very thin right now, with second-year defensive lineman Jerel Worthy out probably until mid-season. With the loss of Erik Walden and the questionable availability of second-year linebacker Nick Perry, the Packers must also address those two positions – hopefully in the draft.

If the Packers can shore up those three areas, they will be in good shape. Some say that they should also draft a safety, and they probably will. However, I feel those other areas are the team’s greatest needs to raise the team to the next level.

Zoneblitz:  What is your sense on when or if the Aaron Rodgers negotiations will result in an extension?

Rivard: Everyone keeps saying any day now, but they’ve been saying that for nearly a month. I feel it will most likely get done between the end of the draft and the start of training camp, at the latest. I’m sure it’s a complicated negotiation and these things don’t happen overnight. I’m sure it will happen, but like everyone else, we’ll know when we know.

The Packers receiving corps, including Jordy Nelson, when healthy, is among the league’s most productive.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Zoneblitz: Wide receiver depth has been strong on this team and with Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb returning, there are still weapons. But Greg Jennings left for Minnesota and Donald Driver retired. Any concerns about this once ridiculously deep position?

Rivard: No concerns with that group at all. You can also throw in tight end Jermichael Finley and the Packers are solid. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ted Thompson take a wide receiver or tight end in the draft to add depth for Aaron Rodgers. As long as Rodgers is healthy – and the receivers stay healthy (which has been an issue the past couple of seasons) – this group is as good as it gets and could be the best in the league.

Zoneblitz: The run game has been less than stellar in recent years and Jermichael Finley lacks consistency. What are your thoughts on how the Packers have or will address these spots?

Rivard: I addressed the run game above and would just reiterate that with help along the offensive line I think the run game will be OK. After all, if you’ve got a game with two runners who can combine for 100 or more yards per game, that’s all that the Packers ask for … they are a pass-first team and that won’t change.

As for Finley, he was one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league in the last half of last season. He’s in the final year of a two-year contract, so look for him to really have a breakout year. Then he will test the free agent waters.

Zoneblitz: After a season that saw Aaron Rodgers take some hits, what are your thoughts on the offensive line?

Rivard: See above. The line needs help and it needs help now … hopefully Ted Thompson feels the same way.

The Packers hope linebacker Desmond Bishop comes back healthy this season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Zoneblitz: Charles Woodson has been released. Erik Walden left as a free agent. The secondary was hurt by the loss of Nick Collins. And the team’s pass rush hasn’t always been consistent. How would you assess the strengths and weaknesses of Green Bay’s defense?

Rivard: I’ll give you one number: 579 yards. That’s how many the team gave up to the San Francisco 49ers in the Packers’ season-ending loss last year. Couple that with the fact that the defense rated dead last in the league in 2011 and clearly the D needs help. The upside to that is the defense did improve overall last year and there were several young players, led by cornerback Casey Hayward, who had outstanding seasons last year. Injuries didn’t help, but that’s no excuse. I feel if the players coming back off injury last year can pick up where they left off, the team will be in a good position to improve their defensive position in the league. Improvements also have to be made through the draft.

The defense is a concern and has been for some time now. We’re hoping defensive coordinator Dom Capers can get things figured out.

Zoneblitz: Mason Crosby had a poor season last year. Will he be back or do you expect the Packers to bring in someone else?

Rivard: The Packers have signed Giorgio Tavecchio to compete against Mason Crosby in training camp, but I expect Crosby to be back. Unless he completely blows it in camp, the Packers have too much money invested in Crosby at this point to kick him off the team – excuse the pun. But who knows? Tavecchio may come in and kick lights out. It will certainly be interesting to watch. My hope is that Tavecchio pushes Crosby enough to get him back on his game. He did convert his final four kicks of the season, including a couple in the playoffs, so Crosby seemed to have his mojo back. One has to remember that of his misses last year, seven of his nine attempts from 50-plus yards were among them.

Zoneblitz: Who on the roster do you see having a breakout season in 2013?

Rivard: Randall Cobb. You might say last year was his breakout year, but I think he’s going to really take off this year. Rodgers and Cobb have had a year together now and will only improve in 2013. Casey Hayward might also show the league that he’s no fluke, while linebacker Dezman Moses might be one to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised to see running back DuJuan Harris also turn some heads this year.

Zoneblitz: The Bears have made some moves to improve and the Vikings are coming off a 10 win season. It’s a little hard to figure out where the Lions are at, but heading into the draft and offseason training programs, how do you think the Packers fit into the NFC North hierarchy at the moment?

It’s unclear how the Bears’ defense will respond this year without Brian Urlacher in the mix.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Rivard: You’ve still got to put the Packers at the top. If they can figure out how to stop Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson of the Lions, they will again dominate the division. The Bears? With the new coach, they will start fast again, but will fade as their year of transition takes hold. I just feel the Packers are too deep to fall beyond second place in the division – that is if Rodgers stays healthy.

Zoneblitz: What are your reactions to the Packers’ approach to free agency thus far and what would you like to see the team do in the draft and the remainder of free agency?

Rivard: Free agency has never been a mode of operation for Ted Thompson, so this year is no different. The fact that he was active at all in pursuing Chris Canty and Steven Jackson, as well as being in the picture right to the end with Greg Jennings was a surprise to me. Thompson will never play the free agency game and yet the Packers are competitive year-in and year-out. I like his draft and develop philosophy. It seems to work.

Zoneblitz: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Rivard: We’re looking forward to another strong draft where Thompson adds to the team’s weaponry. Signing Rodgers and Clay Matthews will be huge and will have everyone looking toward a bright future in Green Bay. The Packers will open their newly-renovated Lambeau Field this year, which will bring in about 8,000 more fans and completely enclose the stadium. The noise level will be wild.

I look for another great season for the Packers.

Follow LombardiAve.com on Twitter at: @LombardiAve
Follow Zoneblitz.com on Twitter at: @ZoneblitzCom

Mason Crosby has had better days.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

We’ve all closed our eyes this entire season every time Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy looks down the bench and gives the nod to place kicker Mason Crosby. When Crosby touches the playing surface, it seems everything goes awry.

It hasn’t seemed to matter whether he’s been playing indoors in September or outdoors in December – he has been nothing short of awful. Every time he puts his foot to the ball it seems he’s pitching a knuckleball that floats, flutters, drifts and never finds the strike zone.

It’s disheartening. Personally, I’ve always really like Mason Crosby. He’s a straight shooter, a community-minded guy who has been a valuable and important member of the Green Bay Packers Football Club. But something has gone very wrong this season. It started, for me, when the Packers held that field goal kicking contest during Family Night Back in August. On that night, Crosby was put on display and attempted several 50-yard and beyond field goals that showed the same kind of misdirection we’ve been seeing from him all year. I think he connected on a couple out of at least a half dozen – it didn’t look good.

When the season started, the flags began to rise to full staff when he badly missed a couple of important kicks indoors at Indianapolis – the second being a potential game-typing field goal that didn’t even come close. That’s when his confidence took a nosedive.

Since then, he has been very, very inconsistent. In Chicago Sunday he again missed two very makeable kicks which would have easily put the game way out of reach for the Bears. Instead, the Bears were in the game right down to near the end of the game.

So, what’s happened? I wish I knew … and I’m sure Mike McCarthy and special teams coach Shawn Slocum wished they knew. In public, McCarthy continues to stand by Crosby. He says he’s the kicker for the remainder of the season. I question how a coach can have as much patience in this situation. If McCarthy continues to call on Crosby, there is going to come a time – probably in the playoffs – when Crosby misses a game-winning kick. Should that occur, McCarthy will be pilloried and Crosby will be gone.

Do the Packers stiffen up and pull the plug on Crosby before that happens? We’ll see … if they don’t, it could end up being a very long off-season for both the team and its fans.

But if Crosby is the man for the remainder of the season, here’s something you might remember … it was a time when Crosby’s accuracy was spot-on.

Watch and enjoy.

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) breaks up a pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Packers beat the Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

With the Green Bay Packers winning their second straight National Football Conference North Division title yesterday with a win over longtime rival Chicago Bears, this is a rather bright and cheery Monday morning for Packers Nation.

Any Monday morning after a Packers win is memorable, especially when I get to cash in my McDonald’s ticket for a free McMuffin.

But seriously, we wanted to know what others were saying after the Packers pulled out another big win in the Windy City and are one game short of once more sweeping their NFC North opponents.

So, without more rambling from me, here are some links that might interest you this morning:

The 10*-4 Green Bay Packers defeated the 8-6 Chicago Bears 21-13 to become your 2012 NFC North Division Champions today in Chicago.

The Packers played their usual bend-but-don’t-break defense and had enough good plays on offense to win the game. In the grand scheme of things I guess it doesn’t matter how the Packers win, but I’m still waiting for another beat-down of a good team like in the Texans game so long ago.

Early in the game it looked as if the Packers would end up on the short end of this one. They came alive in the second quarter and the defense saved them from several would-be fatal mistakes. They can’t count on that to happen again. Elimination of the mistakes has to be their emphasis over the next two weeks and in the playoffs.

Chest Bumps and Thumps from this one:

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) is congratulated by free safety M.D. Jennings (43) for breaking up a pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Packers beat the Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Chest Bump - to Sam Shields. His coverage was solid. He managed to get the better of Alshon Jeffery on most of the calls. He came up big in another Bears game. Nice work 37!

Thump - to the play call on the Cobb special teams gadget play. Whoever made that decision needs to be psychologically evaluated. If there has ever been a good time to make that call, and I’m not convinced there ever has, it certainly was not when it was called in this game. Credit the Packers defense for holding the Bears to only 3 points after that horrible call!

Chest Bump - to Clay Matthews. Five tackles and two assists. Two sacks. Several hurries. One knocked down pass. And one entirely forgettable sack dance. Nice to have you back 52. Seriously Clay…the sack dance initially had everybody laughing pretty hard at Tailgators, but when the reality of what you did set in I think several of us threw up in our mouths a little.

Fatal Thump - to Mason Crosby. I’m sorry. I’m a Crosby supporter. I thought he could work his way out of the slump, and indeed I thought he had done so. But sloppy surface at Soldier Field or no, I think Crosby’s performance in this game was the last straw.

Chest Bump - to the Packers run defense. Holding the Bears to 83 yards net rushing (and 190 total yards!) will get you a chest bump every time.

Thump - for the first half start. Seriously guys – what’s with the slow starts the last several weeks? Why make things harder on yourselves than they already are? Please come out and assert yourselves just for practice soon because that crappy start stuff won’t fly in the playoffs.

Chest Bump - to James Jones. Great job by 89 with the hat trick. Three TD catches, each one better than the last. Jones had a drop early in the game but his overall performance (5 catches for 60 yards and 3 TDs) was the difference-maker in this one.

Thump - for the penalties. The Packers were once again penalized more than their opponents in this game. OK … so take away the 53 yard DPI call on Burnett and their yardage comes out far less than Chicago’s total, but both teams were making big mistakes in pass D. The Packers have got to stop making mistakes before the snap. False starts and delays of game are completely avoidable and preventable errors. Fix them!

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (88) makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. The Packers beat the Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Chest Bump - to Jermichael Finley. J Mike had his best game this season. 5 catches for 61 yards and a long of 31, which was a thing of beauty consisting of a bunch of YAC. So was Finley motivated by the team’s need for him to produce a performance fitting for a start TE in the biggest game of the year, or was it a certain columnist’s take on his future? Whatever caused it he came up big against the Bears today. Can we count on him to do it again this season? I sure hope so!

Thump - to Ryan Grant. The play during which Ryan Grant caused seismographs all over the world to register Packer Nation’s collective groan started out nicely. EDS was in the backfield to block on the right side and Grant had a nice opening to scamper through. He took advantage of it and started to go back toward the left, but Peanut Tillman did what Peanut Tillman does – knocking the ball out of Grant’s grasp and causing the groan heard around the planet. The Bears got nothing out of it but Grant has got to keep that from happening.

Chest Bump – to B.J. Raji. B.J. dropped it on Forte for no gain a couple of times in this game. He’s another player who always seems to have his best games against Chicago, and he had one today. Officially credited with only one tackle in the game, Raji disrupted several running plays and was a force rushing up the middle consistently. Nice job 90.

Chest Bump – to Randall Cobb. Randall Cobb broke the Packers all-time single-season combined yardage record in this game. With several clutch grabs and totals of 6 catches for 115 yards and a long of 31 yards, Cobb kept drives, and Rodgers, alive several times. One has to wonder how long he can continue to take shots like the one he took on the punt return in the fourth quarter though. The gadget play pass wasn’t commendable, but I don’t think that was his fault.

Thump – to Brad Jones. Jones had a decent stat line (6 tackles 2 assists) in the game and played stout run defense but his whiff of Marshall allowed Marshall to score his TD. It would have been a better stat line at 7-2 but as it turned out I think Jones’ overall contribution probably overshadowed his glaring missed tackle.

Thump and a Bump - Casey Hayward for first getting stiff armed (easily it seemed) by Marshall on his way to a TD after Jones whiffed on his tackle. Later he finished on his INT opportunity – picking Cutler off and returning 12 yards to the 26 to set up the Packers second TD.

Collective Chest Bump – to the Green Bay Packers 2012 NFC North Division Champions. The football gods have thrown an awful lot of challenges at the Packers this year. They used perseverance, dedication, and overall team character to overcome. Congratulations!  

Here are the marginally insightful and mildly entertaining tweets I broadcasted during the game – last ones listed first. Scroll down to read from the beginning of the game. I think they frame the comments made above. And nobody has told me they don’t want to see them any more either. Review them at your peril:

- Not a pretty one but a W is a W. So Packers own Central Division for 2012. More later on http://LombardiAve.com . Go PACK!

- Nice work by Masthay to bury Bears at their own 2 yard line. One more job for Pack D.

- Shields non-PI, even if it was PI, was payback for horrible helmet to hands call earlier in the game. Karma incarnate.

- Sam Shields clutch defense on 4th down! Nice work 37…thanks from a grateful Packer Nation.

- Jeffery needs a little bit of remedial instruction on how not to get clear of a defender. (His third OPI call against Shields).

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) reacts after the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Chicago Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

- Clay bats one. Just don’t do that dance again 52!

- Dammut…3rd and 3 and they go long downfield pass? Let’s just give the game to the Bears and stop screwing around.

- Bears D starting to look a little tired. Run it down their throats.

- Harris looking strong again on the run. Where has he been?

- So what Troy…it WAS a penalty. Shut your pie hole. They call that every week in the wonderful new NFL. Adapt or die. (Troy Aikman didn’t like the roughing call on Peppers. I didn’t like it either, but get used to it).

- Another nice stop by defense to hold Bears to 3 again. No more freaking gadget plays! Just run the ball!

- Jeffery had Shields in his grasp the entire time the ball was in the air. Nice non-call refs! (near pick by Shields against Jeffery).

- Worst. Call. Of. The. Year! (the pass on the punt return…duh!).

- Who called that horrible gadget play on the punt return? Can we blame that on Crosby too?

- OK…so what are we calling Claymaker’s new sack dance? (Clay sacks Cutler on 2^nd and 17 and “dances”).

- Raji playing with some fire today. He’s having a good game against the Bears.

- That’s a fork sticking out of Crosby. Pack can’t possibly look upon his performance today as anything other than the last straw.

- Rodgers runs…hearts leap into throats. Didn’t pick up the first either. And then Crosby doinks. He’s done.

- Nice catch by 85 to pick up most of holding call penalty. (picks up 14 yards out of the 20 needed for a first).

- Finley with another clutch catch and YAC. He’s having his best game in months. Thanks again McGinn!

- That was a nice play to Jones for the first though. I can’t stay mad at Aaron for long!

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) drops back to pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

- Rodgers needs to either throw the ball or take off…plays taking way too long to develop.

- 21-10 going into the 4th quarter. Pack O can put it away with a time-consuming drive here.

- Great clutch stand by Packers D to hold Bears to 3. Now Pack O needs a nice LONG drive.

- OPI FINALLY called on a receiver against Sam Shields! Sweet redemption! (Jeffery with OPI again).

- Great line. RT @Zathras3: Shields gets the true “illegal face to the hands” penalty.

- DPI on Burnett but pass wouldn’t have been caught if he hadn’t done it. Dammut!

- You tell him Sam! Refs with another crappy call. Nice! (the uncalled facemask but called DPI was glaring bad).

- That groan from Packer Nation registered on Richter scales around the planet. Grant with the fumble. OK D…get it back. (Grant’s run looked great until he lost the football).

- Rodgers with the avoidance and a nice throw to Cobb but he’s GOT to get rid of the ball faster than that!

- Rodgers wants that one back! Way too close to a pick. (two Bears players had hands on a deflected pass but no INT).

- Thank you Randall Cobb for holding on to that punt while you nearly had your block knocked off!

- Neal assist by Moses with the sack and Cutler with the woozy walk back to the sidelines. (Culter slow to get up and slower to walk back to the bench).

- Uecker calls it “juuuust a bit overthrown” by Cutler on 2nd and 11. (Cutler’s second worst throw of the day. The first was Hayward’s pick)

- Wait…was all that ugly substitution confusion on purpose? To throw the Bears off? Is MM that crafty? Either way I liked the result.

- Rodgers with another TD dime to Jones. Three TDs for each and Pack up 21-7. Come on D…put this one away!

- Wow how do they look this confused and poiseless? (Substitutions looked absolutely nutty).

- DPI in the end zone. We’ll take it! (DPI against Finley)

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) is tackled by Chicago Bears Joe Anderson (19) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

- Nice play on fourth down by Cobb but never should have had to go there. (the fourth and six catch).

- Mike…this might be news to you, but Kuhn diving on 3rd and 6 is guaranteed not to get the first down!

- Is anybody else tired of watching Newhouse getting beat and Rodgers running for his life because of it?

- That was ugly but a first is a first is a first as they say.

- Finley actually having a decent day today. Thanks McGinn!

- DuJuan Harris! Nice first play of the second half baller! (Harris carries for 21 on the first play of the second half).

- Jones with his second TD pass from Rodgers. 14-7 at the half and Packers get ball first in second half. Fired up Packers fans? We are here!

- If Cutler wasn’t an intermittently decent QB there’d be a contract out on him in Chicago just for his surly prima donna personality. (Cameras show Cutler’s histrionics on the sideline. Not much of a team guy).

- Hayward picks Cutler off…Cutler shakes his head. Cutler threw it right to Hayward. Beautiful!

- Nice 3 and out by Pack D. We need another TD and then one on the first possession of the second half. How about it Pack O?

- That’s the way to bring it back! Nice job by Rodgers to Jones for the TD. Perfect pass!

- AWESOME play by Rodgers to get that ball downfield and by Cobb to grab it.

- Nice job by Jennings fighting for YAC. (Jennings catch on the sidelines and YACs for an additional 10 yards).

- Love the “Hello” commercial. Hate being behind the Bears. Especially hate being behind the Bears in NFC North Title game. Come on Packers! (The commercial with the high school RB who flips over the defender is entertaining).

- And the bad tackling comes into it too. Marshall scores. Pack fans seething. (Jones whiff, Hayward stiff armed…Marshall scores).

- Don’t they teach these guys to disengage from blocks at the line? Why was Walden shoving that lineman around? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? (Walden called for facemask while he’s engaged for several seconds with the OL. The phonetic alphabet can be  fun and useful.)

- Forte delivered the blow to Jennings on that run. Gotta respect it. (Forte got loose and drove his shoulder through Jennings to close the play).

- Crosby misses. So much for the high scoring predictions. (FG attempt wasn’t even close).

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji (90) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

- Cobb drops one? Really? Is anything going to work in this freaking game?

- I swear if they throw the ball on 4th and 1 ever again I’ll sell my stock n move to Lithuania or something. Yes it worked. No I didn’t like it. (Pass on 4^th down works but WTF on the call? Why not RUN the ball or try to draw them offsides? And even in Lithuania I would probably still be a Packers fan.)

- 3rd and 1…and the Packers kill their own drive again with 14 guys on the field.

- Nice pass to Cobb for 30!

- Welcome back Claymaker…even if you had some help on that sack!

- Sack saves the day and stops the Bears. Bush kills field position with a needless hold. Nice.

- End of 1st qtr no score but Bears moving and Packers reeling. Pack D needs to tighten and Pack O needs to run the ball.

- Another sack of Rodgers. He’s holding too long and not moving out of the pocket when he should. His frustration is showing too.

- So far…yet another ugly one. When will the Packers play another dominant game?

- Raji drops it on Forte…nice stop.

- Thank you Tim Masthay…you’re obviously willing to do what it takes to win this one. How about the rest of you Packers? (Masthay makes the tackle on the punt return).

- That possession looked worse than the first one. Packers will not be gifted this game by the Bears. (Packers 3 and out after the penalty)

- Thank you Bears for a free first down. We’ll take those all day too! (Bears have too many men on field for punt giving the Packers the ball back).

- Not a good looking pass by Rodgers. Now it’s up to the punt coverage team.

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Alex Green (20) rushes the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Chicago Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

- We’ll take 6 yards on every run all day long! (Green carries up the middle).

- Nice moves by Rodgers to get the first 1st down.

- C’mon Don…no room for that FS stuff down here (false start on Barclay deep in Packers territory).

- Nice to have you back Sam Shields! (knocks ball away from Jeffery on third down- the first of many times).

- Pack D looks like last week’s Pack D. Like they’ll be down 14-0 in no time.

- Run D better be better than that or this will be a long game!

- Crosby delivers…no way for Hester to hurt the Packers if he can’t return the KOs.

Want to see these every week? Let me know.

With regard to the Fearsome Predictions I made prior to the game, I’ll need yet another mulligan. I went O-for. As in not a single one was correct. Goose egg. Most weren’t close. I’ll throw myself on the mercy of the Packer Nation court this week. But I’m going to keep making them. Somebody stop me!

The Green Bay Packers are your NFC North Division Champions for 2012. They got it done. They’re in the playoffs. Next up are the Titans at Lambeau. After that they visit the Vikings to see if they can keep Adrian Peterson from setting a new single season rushing mark. Both games will be important – especially if the Patriots beat the 49ers Sunday night. That’s a better problem to have than trying to get into the playoffs though!

Bring on the Titans! Go Pack GO!

This drawing shows a rendition of what the new Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis might look like.

Published reports are saying the Minnesota Vikings have announced a deal with the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis that will keep the Vikings downtown at a new billion dollar facility. Though the deal needs legislative approval, this is a huge step in keeping the Vikings in Minnesota and more importantly in the NFC North Division.

The NFL certainly didn’t want the Vikings to move as had been rumored for so long … now it looks like the Vikings will be a part of the NFC’s most storied division for many years to come.

The Vikings will pay $427 million toward the cost of the new stadium, while the state will contribute $398 million and the City of Minneapolis will kick in $150 million with additional costs to be shared by the Vikings and the city.

The new domed stadium won’t be complete at least for a couple of years, probably even as many as three years. However, when the facility is completed, it will feature a retractable roof that will essentially bring outdoors football back to Minnesota – that’s a good thing.

The new facility will also place Minneapolis on the short list of venues for the Super Bowl. If Jerry Jones can get the Super Bowl at his billion dollar facility, the Vikings will surely have the inside track for one of the big dances in upcoming years.

Our hope is that Vikings fans embrace the new stadium and fill it. That seems to have been a problem in recent years, but part of that problem is the fact that the Vikings haven’t put a team on the field that’s been worth watching. So, in consort with building a new stadium, the Vikings must also start constructing a team that’s going to vie for playoff contention and a Super Bowl. That means that the current leaders on the field and in the front office need to get busy today, if not yesterday, with a plan of action that’s going to make the team competitive. The Vikings have been there before … they will get there again.

In a nutshell, this is also good news for the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears. For decades, these teams with the Vikings have made up the Central Division and now the NFC North Division. None of those teams and certainly not the NFL would like to see that go away. Now with the Vikings agreement to stay, team officials in the North Division should be rejoicing.

Good news in Minnesota ironically means good news in Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago.

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That’s why I was drawn to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  writer Tom Silverstein’s recent posting of interesting numbers.

I think you will find these numbers interesting, too.

Take a look:

PACKERS

28 Yards receiver Donald Driver needs to reach 10,000 in his career.

81 Interceptions the defense has since coordinator Dom Capers took over in 2009.

14 Holding penalties the team has, fourth-fewest in the NFL.

69-3 Touchdowns to interceptions quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown in the regular season during his career.

6.2 Yards per play the defense is allowing, tied for New England for the most in the NFL.

NFC NORTH

15 Combined margin of defeat in the Chicago Bears’ three-game losing streak.

265 Penalty yards the Detroit Lions have lost over their last three games.

7 Quarters in which the Bears have not scored during the three games Caleb Hanie has started at quarterback.

17 Rushing first downs the Minnesota Vikings had against Detroit last week, their most in a single game this season even though running back Adrian Peterson didn’t play.

75 Consecutive games Vikings end Jared Allen has started, the most of any active player at his position.

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Even the great Vince Lombardi couldn't field a team with a perfect record, the ultimate for which all teams strive.

While the current perfect season has all Packers fans walking on clouds, the persistent question, “Can the Packers duplicate the ’72 Dolphins?” is complete nonsense.

Who cares?

The only truly important goal is winning the Super Bowl again.

Sure, Aaron Rodgers’ MVP-caliber season is incredible, and, sure, there are concerns about the defense, but the perfect season?

Irrelevant.

If the Packers do lose a game in the regular season, and hopefully they won’t, it simply won’t be the end of the world. The team will redouble efforts to fix errors and come out the next week ready to go again. Individual efforts and awards, points given up, yards gained, and yards allowed pale in comparison to winning the ultimate game.

For now, win the next game, finish on top of the North Division, secure home field advantage for the playoffs – those are relevant goals. Bring on the Lions, raise a turkey leg to the Packers, the Super Bowl is in sight.

Go Pack Go!

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Aaron Rodgers and Jared Allen were both named as October Players of the Month in the NFC. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Good gosh, is it no doubt why the Packers have been the best team in the NFL during the first half of the season and Aaron Rodgers the best quarterback?

Just take a look at the NFC North Division … The Lions and the Bears are close behind the Packers, while even the Vikings have shown vast improvement the past couple of weeks.

In essence, it’s the competition that ultimately makes a championship team and the Packers play, without question, the toughest competition within its own division.

Clearly, it makes them better.

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