Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Packers enter long break on a roll 

The Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009 9:15 am

[img_r]http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/lacrossetribune.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/7/99/73c/79973c38-dc31-11de-a56e-001cc4c03286.image.jpg?_dc=1259421594[/img_r]GREEN BAY - Two weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers were reeling.

They had just suffered a rough loss at the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their playoff hopes seemed dim with a 4-4 record.

Winning three consecutive games in 12 days makes a big difference.

After beating the Detroit Lions 34-12 on Thanksgiving, the 7-4 Packers are in good shape in the NFC playoff race and will have a long rest before starting the stretch run of the season.

``We feel good about what we've accomplished the last 12 days,'' offensive tackle Mark Tauscher said. ``We've gone from getting beat up a little bit to now we're sitting in a position where we can accomplish what we want.''

With the Packers idle until they play a Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 7, coach Mike McCarthy is giving the players the next three days off.

``The ability to walk away with three victories is something we feel good about,'' McCarthy said. ``We have an opportunity to get some rest (and) get healthy, which we haven't been.

``As everybody knows, we have a five-game gauntlet that we're getting ready to run, and I think we'll feel good about it when we line back up and get ready for Baltimore.''

The Packers will reconvene Monday brimming with confidence after another dominating performance by the defense, led by playmaking cornerback Charles Woodson, and some key throws by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Woodson marked a special return to the Detroit area, where he was the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan, with an individual effort that prompted Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers to tout the 12th-year pro for NFL defensive player of the year.

``He played as good a defensive game as I've certainly seen in a while,'' Capers said.

Woodson shouldered more responsibility Thursday after the Packers lost cornerback Al Harris to a season-ending knee injury in the previous game.

Besides holding Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson to two catches for 10 yards, Woodson had two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a sack.

``It was business as usual for him pretty much,'' Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk said. ``He seems to make those plays every week, so it was good to see that.''

Woodson ran back his second interception 38 yards for a touchdown to complete the scoring.

``He had an incredible day,'' McCarthy said. ``I don't know who's playing better football than Charles Woodson in the National Football League.''

Woodson's on-field feats came after the University of Michigan announced before the game that he donated $2 million to its new children's and women's hospital, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

``The gift is definitely what Thanksgiving is all about,'' Woodson said. ``You break that word down, you give thanks for the things you're blessed with, and you give until you can't give anymore.''

Woodson's ability for creating turnovers - he leads the team with seven interceptions and four forced fumbles - has sparked a ball-hawking defense that also persevered Thursday without Aaron Kampman. The Pro Bowl linebacker is also out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The Packers had four interceptions of Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford and came up with a season-high five takeaways.

They have nine takeaways in the three-game winning streak, Green Bay's longest since winning six in a row in 2007.

``Our football team's about defense,'' McCarthy said. ``Our defense was huge (Thursday). The ability to keep taking the ball away from the offense was the number one factor in our success.''

Running a close second was the big-play completions from Rodgers.

Deep throws of 68 and 45 yards to Donald Driver led to touchdowns against Detroit's defense.

Rodgers finished 28 of 39 for 348 yards with a career-high-tying three touchdowns.

He hasn't thrown an interception in the past three games and was sacked only once Thursday, after enduring a league-worst 43 sacks in the first 10 games.

``I think the key to our success has been the offensive line play,'' Rodgers said. ``When they give me time like that, it allows me to feel very comfortable back there.''

A lengthy 10-day hiatus between games is comforting for Rodgers, who admitted he was pretty sore after taking a few hits Thursday.

``It will be nice to relax for a couple of days, go home, get my body and my mind refreshed for the December push,'' Rodgers said.


UserPostedImage
gopackgo
15 years ago
The Ravens are coming off a very physical match tonight with the Steelers, and if they lose, Green Bay will be a must win for Baltimore to make the playoffs.

Ravens special teams looks good though right now. Huge area the Packers need to focus on.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (26m) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (27m) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (33m) : umm... what?
wpr (45m) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (48m) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (48m) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (49m) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (51m) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (7h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (21h) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (23h) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (23h) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Kuhn is a former player who works for the team, if somethings going down, he would be close to it
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : @kuhnj30 Micah Freaking Parsons
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : A LOT of buzz on the Bird App regarding Parsons; even Schefter is saying it's serious
dfosterf (26-Aug) : *Orzech*
dfosterf (26-Aug) : Orzich long snapper 3 yr extension
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : Packers signed someone for three year deal
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : lol i know it's insane ... sign up for the waiver wire then you'll know
wpr (26-Aug) : YES!!!!!!
Mucky Tundra (26-Aug) : WE WANT THE LIST! WE WANT THE LIST!
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : @JJLahey · 2m Holy crap, Packers, where the heck is the list?
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : haha folks on Tweeter every year this time ... 'where is list Packers!!" hahaha
wpr (26-Aug) : He played pretty good.
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