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The Green Bay Packers(8-4) beat the Baltimore Ravens(6-6) by the score of 27-14 in a penalty riddled game on the "Frozen Tundra" of Lambeau Field where the temperature dipped as low as 11 degrees. Too bad this game could not have been played a day later as the Greeb Bay and Fox Valley is forecasted to recieve between 11-13 inches of snow. No doubt the cold weather plays a factor in the Packers success in this game and historically. Packers are now 19-4 in games played in the month of December or later at Lambeau Field since 2000(Best in the NFL).The win was huge in a game where both teams needed wins badly to keep pace in the NFC/AFC Wild Card races. The Packers have now won 4 games in a row since losing to the winless Tampa Bay Bucs dropping their record to 4-4 at the time. The Packers jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half and held on to win the game despite turning the ball over 3 times. QB Aaron Rodgers looked great throwing for 263 yards and 3 TDs. One of the TD passes was was caught by WR Donald Driver. The TD catch gave him 50 career TD catches as a Packer. The Packers now are the first and only franchise to have 10 different players with 50+ TD catches. However, the story of the game was the Packers Defense. The Packers held the Ravens to a total of 185 yards and also forced 4 turnovers. Heck, the only way the Ravens could pick up significant yardage was to just throw the ball up in the air and hope for a pass interference. LB Clay Matthews continues ot have a great Rookie season as he recorded 2 sacks. He now has 7 on the year. CB Charles Woodson continued to make a statement for NFL Defensive Player of the Year as he was all over the field making plays. CB Tramon Williams did get picked on by the Ravens as they threw the ball away from Woodson and committed a couple of pass interference penalties, but he did make the enough plays when he needed to. Leading 17-14 in the 4th Q, CB Tramon Williams came up with a huge INT in the endzone to stall the Ravens scoring drive. If the Ravens score a TD there they may go onto lose the game. The Packers have four games left(Bears, Steelers, Seahawks, & Cardinals). I beleive 10-6 will be enough to push them into the playoffs and 9-7 at worse may get them in as well. Needless to say, the Packers need to keep winning and as long as their Offense can make big plays and put up enought points on the board and their #1 ranked Defense in the NFL can force turnovers they control their own destiny. Next week, the Green Bay Packers travel to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears(5-7) in a divisional game. The bears may be struggling, but this is always a big rivalry and anything can happen. Lastly, could I please get a pass interference call please?....and how much does John Gruden love the Green Bay Packers organization? Haha. GO PACK GO!!!
NFC Wild Card Race
5. Philadelphia Eagles(8-4)
6. Green Bay Packers(8-4)
7. New York Giants(7-5)
8. Atlanta Falcons(6-6)
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