Packers' first playoff game will be Sunday Jan. 15th plus other news and notes

Travis Duncan

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The Packers will play their divisional playoff game against either the Lions, Falcons or Giants on Sunday Jan. 15th at 3:30 p.m. CT, the NFL has announced.

The game will air on FOX. The Packers will face whichever team is the lowest seed remaining after the Wild Card weekend.

Packers 2012 opponents announced

The Packers will face the AFC South division next season, including the Colts (Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning, the Jaguars (rebuilding) Texans (a playoff team this season despite using 4 different QB) and the Titans (rebuilding)

Also on the schedule will be the Saints and 49ers both of which could be a rematch of this year's upcoming NFC Championship game.

Home-Bears, Lions, Vikings, Cardinals, 49ers, Saints, Jaguars, Titans.

Away-Bears, Lions, Vikings, Rams, Seahawks, Giants, Texans, Colts.

An insult to Aaron Rodgers

Jordy Nelson says that it is an insult to insinuate that Aaron Rogers is a system quarterback after Matt Flynn posted 480 yards and 6 TDs on Sunday.

"That's a joke. I think that's very disrespectful for people to say that about Aaron," Nelson said on the radio Monday, via NFL.com

"The year he's had, the past couple years he's had, have been incredible. I think that's very disrespectful for a guy who's put a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of work into his game. To have a great year, as he's had ... and now all of the sudden he's a system quarterback. I don't agree with any of that."

Offense beats defense

Greg Easterbrook of ESPN.com has an on target take on the NFL as we enjoy here in 2012, it's about the offense-defense no longer wins championships, the '85 Bears vs the 2011 Green Bay Packers who do you have?

Easterbrook writes, "The Green Bay Packers not only just became the first team ever to finish last in defense yet have the league's best record -- Green Bay became the first team to finish last in defense and make the playoffs, period."

"Are Green Bay and New England of 2011 flukes? Both pass the ball with such efficiency that it doesn't seem to matter how many yards their defenses allow. Both often jump to big leads and don't care if their defenses give up yardage late. In the 2010 season, the Chargers finished first on defense and failed to make the playoffs -- take that, purists!"

Sherman interviewing for Bucs job

Former Packers coach Mike Sherman is a candidate to be the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs, according to multiple reports. Sherman with 57-39 in six seasons with the Packers from 2000-2005 and won three division championships. Sherman was recently fired as the head coach at Texas A&M after four seasons.

NFL Awards Show

The NFL and the Associated Press have picked a night to announce it's annual awards. "NFL Honors" will be hosted in Indianapolis, the day before the Super Bowl Feb. 4.

Alec Baldwin with host the show which will air live on NBC from 9-11 p.m. ET

That's where it is expected Aaron Rogers will be named the league's MVP. Packers coach Mike McCarthy is also in the running for the coach of the year award along with Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers, an award which will also be announced that evening.

Rodgers could also be up for offensive player of the year.

Driver's vote for MVP

Donald Driver voiced his support for Rodger's MVP candidacy during his weekly radio show.

Driver said, "(Aaron Rodgers) is the MVP and he deserves it."

Healthy for the Playoffs

All Packers who have missed time for injuries recently will be back for the divisional playoff game from injuries including left tackle Chad Clifton who missed two months with a hamstring but suited up last Sunday, McCarthy said Tuesday.

Greg Jennings who has missed the final three games of the season with a knee injury is expected to be ready and practice on Wednesday.

McCarthy said the only person he is worried about practicing Wednesday is James Starks who continues to nurse an ankle injury, but Starks should be ready to go by Jan. 15th.

McCarthy's strategy in Week 17

McCarthy said the plan all along was to have Aaron Rodgers sit on Sunday and Matt Flynn to start. Aaron Rodgers was given the task of calling plays Sunday. Flynn said on the NFL network that he didn't know for sure until Friday that he would be started but that McCarthy and Rodgers hinted at it during the week and that he took most of the snaps. Flynn said that Rodgers would say humorous things in his earpiece before plays on Sunday.

On the field tackle

Here is video of a 15-year old fan who ran onto the field Last Sunday and was tackled by Packers linebacker Brad Jones. The fan was cited and turned over to police, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.

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Analyzing a Saints-Packers NFC Championship Game

Former Saints and Packers safety Darren Sharper said he thinks the Saints have the advantage in a potential matchup with the Saints.

"If Sean Payton can bite his tongue a little bit and run the football more, I like New Orleans to pull out a squeaker with the Packers offensive line banged up with three of their tackles hurting,'' Sharper said.

"(Defensive coordinator)Gregg Williams is going to blitz Aaron Rodgers getting off the bus."

"If they can knock Aaron Rodgers around a bit, I like New Orleans to knock off Green Bay because they can pound the rock, spread you out, throw screens to Sproles. They can play any fashion of football you want whether it's hard-nosed pounding the ball or airing it out with Drew Brees.''

49ers' Williams confident

49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams told the San Jose Mercury News that the 49ers feel like they can beat anyone at anytime-which is not all that unusual for most NFL players to say or feel, but the Niners are playing well enough they can probably back it up.

Said Williams, “If we take care of business, it doesn’t matter who we pla. We feel we have one of the best teams in the league. So if we come in and take care of our business and execute, then we’ll be fine against whoever.”


Jerry Kramer in Canton

Former Packer greater Jerry Kramer is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio but there is an online petition you can sign if you would like to add your support towards his candidacy. Visit http://www.jerrykramer4hof.com/.

He made the NFL Network's Top 10 list of player's not in the Hall of Fame.
 

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