GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers will be without three key players on offense in Sunday’s game against Detroit.

Running back James Starks (knee/ankle), receiver/kick returner Randall Cobb (groin) and receiver Greg Jennings (knee), who has missed the last two games, won’t play in the regular-season finale.

Coach Mike McCarthy would not say Friday whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers will sit the game out.

“The most important thing with Aaron is he’s ready to play,” McCarthy said. “It’s important for the quarterbacks, we repped all three of them this week. So I’d like to see all three of them play in the game, is the initial plan as we started the week.”

Rodgers didn’t shed any light on whether he would play.

“I’m going to leave it up to Mike,” he said.

The Packers also listed right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) as doubtful. Linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle) and cornerback Charles Woodson (knee) are questionable.

McCarthy has been coy this week about his approach to Sunday’s game after the Packers (14-1) clinched the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

While the playoffs-bound Lions (10-5) can gain the No. 5 seed in the NFC bracket by winning at Green Bay for the first time since 1991, the Packers don’t have anything riding on the final score against their longtime rivals.

“It ain’t the end of the world. We’ve still got them playoffs,” Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley said.

The Packers will have a first-round bye and won’t play again until the Jan. 14-15 weekend.

McCarthy shrugged off the suggestion that a loss would hurt his team’s momentum.

“I don’t ever worry about the outcome of the game,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in trusting the process. I truly believe we’re going to win this football game. So I’m more concerned with the process leading up to this game, and I’ll be just as much concerned as the process leading up to our next competition.

“Games are won, in my opinion, throughout the week. We fully expect to win this game.”

The Packers would be counting on a combination of Matt Flynn and Graham Harrell to lead the league’s No. 1-scoring offense if Rodgers doesn’t play for only the second time in his four seasons as the starter.

Flynn, a fourth-year player, made his only pro start Dec. 19, 2010, with Rodgers out because of a concussion. Flynn played well in the prime-time game on the road against the heavily favored New England Patriots, who hung on for a 31-27 win.

“I want to see Matt Flynn play like he did in New England, but take it a step further – win the game,” McCarthy said.

Harrell is anxious to get his first regular-season action since he signed with the Packers as a free agent in 2010.

“I’d love to get in, but we’re going out to win,” Harrell said.

And Harrell wouldn’t be surprised if Flynn, not Rodgers, makes the start Sunday.

“It’ll be interesting,” Harrell said. “I don’t think you can go wrong either way. Aaron, he’s been healthy almost his whole career. He’s a smart player, and he obviously helps us win. So letting him get some action would be good for us, but if they decide to rest him, it obviously makes a ton of sense as well.”

Notes: DE Ryan Pickett and LT Chad Clifton are expected to play. Both veterans are probable for the game. Pickett missed the last two games because of a concussion. Clifton hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury Oct. 9 and then a back injury during his rehab work. Finley also is probable. He practiced the last two days on a limited basis after a sore knee kept him out Wednesday. . McCarthy said the team would practice Wednesday and Thursday and possibly Friday next week before an opponent is known for the divisional round of the playoffs. “We’re going to keep our players mentally and physically on the same time clock,” McCarthy said.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Don’t write the Packers into the Super Bowl just yet. Just as Green Bay has finally shown some chinks in its armor in December, its primary challengers for NFC supremacy are looking more and more formidable.

New Orleans has been the best team in the league of late, with a seven-game win streak that includes victories over playoff teams in the Falcons (twice) and the Lions as well as a 25-point blowout of the Giants. Drew Brees, who broke Dan Marino’s single-season passing yardage record with one game to spare, has his offense operating with head-turning efficiency. The streaking Saints have averaged 498 yards in their last five games.

The Packers’ other main NFC roadblock excels on the other side of the ball.

The 49ers, who showed their playoff chops with a 20-3 pounding of Pittsburgh two weeks ago, the Steelers’ lowest scoring output in more than four years, boast a punishing defense the likes of which Aaron Rodgers & Co. haven’t seen this year. San Francisco allows 13.5 points per game, the best mark of any team in the last five years, and leads the league in turnover margin at +26, four better than Green Bay.

Meanwhile, the Packers have shown in the last month that they may not be the slam-dunk Super Bowl team that their white-hot start indicated.

First, the Giants gave the defending champs all they could handle, succumbing only after Rodgers’ final-minute heroics lifted the Packers to a 38-35 triumph. Then two weeks later, Green Bay suffered a surprising stumble at then-5-8 Kansas City, losing 19-14 to suffer its first blemish.

Even the seemingly invincible Rodgers came back to earth a bit, registering his season low in passer rating and completion percentage in three straight games before responding with a five-touchdown gem against Chicago.

The Packers’ invincible aura is certainly gone.

The New York game showed Green Bay could be vulnerable in a shootout — just the type of affair it would likely have if it meets New Orleans in the NFC Championship game. Yes, the Packers prevailed 42-34 at Lambeau in the teams’ season-opening matchup. But the Saints’ versatile rushing attack and Brees’ pyrotechnics in the passing game mean New Orleans (12-3) is uniquely positioned to grapple with Green Bay in a high-scoring affair.

Then the Kansas City defense did what appeared impossible, dictating pace and style to the NFL’s top-scoring offense, albeit a shorthanded Packer unit. The Chiefs’ harassment of Rodgers in a four-sack showing now stands as the blueprint for teams that would favor forcing Green Bay into a grind-it-out, ball-control game — otherwise known as the San Francisco special.

The 12-3 49ers have mastered the art of dismantling opponents’ offensive flow. Teams have all but given up trying to run on San Francisco’s stone wall of a front seven — the runaway league leader in run defense became the first team in NFL history not to allow a rushing touchdown through 14 games before Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch finally broke through for a score last week. Forcing opponents into a one-dimensional game plan allows an opportunistic secondary and disciplined pass rush to wreak havoc.

A potential Green Bay-San Francisco showdown in the NFC Championship would be the most anticipated playoff matchup of the year. The best offense (the Packers average 34.3 points) against a historically stout defense. Rodgers, who is threatening to break Peyton Manning’s single-season passer rating mark, facing a 49er defense that has amassed 36 takeaways, including at least three in eight games.

While it’s easy to foresee a Packers-Saints matchup as another pinball-like game in which points pile up at a dizzying rate, it’s a mystery how Green Bay would fair against San Francisco. The Packers haven’t faced a single team ranked in the top 14 in scoring defense.

At this juncture, it appears that Green Bay would have its hands full against either the Saints or the 49ers. But the saving grace for the defending champs is that they would only have to face one of those challengers — in an NFC Championship matchup at Lambeau.

That the 14-1 Packers have positioned themselves to have an easier divisional round game is why they still have to be considered the favorite to reach the Super Bowl. But make no mistake, what earlier seemed a Green Bay stranglehold on NFC preeminence has loosened considerably.

What are your opinions.

How much of an impact does Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Ryan Pickett have on the Packers’ run defense? We’re about to find out.

Pickett had missed the past two games (Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears) after he suffered his second concussion of the 2011-12 NFL season. This injury occurred when Pickett’s head smashed into the knee of Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush. Pickett had experienced headaches, dizziness and a lack of concentration for the past two weeks.

Pickett returned to the practice field on December 28, 2011. Pickett claims that he “Feels great.” He’s also grateful that the organization was looking out for his long-term health. There’s a possibility that Pickett will play in the Packers’ regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions on January 1, 2012. He should definitely be available for the NFC divisional playoff game that comes two weeks after that.

The Packers’ run defense has struggled without Pickett. The Packers lost their only game of the season when the Chiefs rushed for 139 yards. That was without Jamaal Charles, who was previously lost for the season with a torn ACL. Kyle Orton used a strong running game to his advantage as he had 299 passing yards, many of which came off play-action passing.

The run defense was worse on Christmas night. The Bears rushed for 199 yards despite having a third-string quarterback who hadn’t started a game since 2007 and a third-string running back. The Packers couldn’t contain the Bears’ ground game even with eight-in-the-box. Kahlil Bell and Armando Allen were both running wild on the Packers’ defense.

The combination of B.J. Raji and Pickett will hopefully protect the linebackers and allow them to make plays and control their gaps. The Bears were often picking linebackers up with their offensive lineman. Raji and Pickett must keep the opposing offensive line preoccupied.

If at all possible, Pickett shouldn’t play more than a half. He does need some playing time so he isn’t completely raw as he enters the playoffs. It’s probably better to exude caution on this injury since it’s a concussion. Concussions are unpredictable.

The Packers may be without Jermichael Finley in the regular-season finale. Finley missed practice on December 28 because his left knee has started bothering him. Finley sounds like he wouldn’t be against being benched for this game as it has no playoff implications. That would give him additional time to recover for the divisional playoff matchup.

Greg Jennings will also rest his knee for another week. However, there’s nothing to suggest that he won’t be ready for the playoffs.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. His favorite Packer moments include Super Bowl XXXI, XLV, and Al Harris interception return following Matt Hasselbeck’s “We’re gonna score” comments. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Ryan Pickett understands why the Green Bay Packers
kept him off the field for two weeks. That didn’t make the waiting any easier.

Pickett returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since he sustained
a concussion in the Packers’ Dec. 11 victory over the Oakland Raiders—his
second concussion this season.

Pickett had a less severe concussion during a practice in October, and
having two concussions so close together meant he had to sit out longer. Pickett
was itching to return right away, but acknowledged that the team did the right
thing holding him out.

“You appreciate it, looking out for your long-term health, things like
that,” Pickett said. “And I probably wasn’t ready, the past couple weeks I
just wasn’t there. But I feel great.”

Pickett didn’t remember taking a knee to the head from Raiders running back
Michael Bush until he saw it again on film. He had headaches, felt foggy and had
trouble concentrating while he sat out.

And while he appreciates the cognitive tests that a player must pass to
return to the field, he didn’t enjoy taking them, comparing the experience to
taking the SATs.

“And I hate the SAT,” Pickett said.

Pickett couldn’t really do anything during his recovery, no extensive
reading or watching movies. Even playing with his kids had to be done in
moderation.

“Stuff like that is so hard when you have a concussion and you have to
focus,” Pickett said. “They tell you to rest your mind. You don’t even want to
do reading. Just sit there. It’s probably the worst. You can’t do anything to
rehab and get it better. Just sit there and wait.”

And while Pickett was waiting, the Packers’ run defense was struggling.

Green Bay gave up 139 yards rushing at Kansas City on Dec. 18, enough to
help the Chiefs hold onto the ball and set up an effective play-action passing
game to hand the Packers their first loss.

Then came Sunday night’s game against Chicago, where the Packers gave up 199
yards rushing—including 121 by third-string running back Kahlil Bell, who got
the start because of injuries.

“Going back to the last game, we’ve talked about that in the grades, run
defense isn’t about talent,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s about
doing the little things right, and we didn’t do a very good of it in our last
game.”

Despite starting Bell and journeyman quarterback Josh McCown because of
injuries, the Bears were able to stay in the game until Aaron Rodgers found his
rhythm in the third quarter and the Packers pulled away.

“It’s tough, because that’s not our style of football the past couple
weeks, giving up runs like that,” Pickett said. “It’s been real tough to
watch.”

Now the Packers already have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and
McCarthy is weighing the possibility of resting veteran players in Sunday’s
season finale against Detroit.

Pickett hopes to play.

“I hope I can help,” Pickett said. “But this is good timing, my injury
happened at a good time, I’m ready to go now and we can start fixing things up
before we make this playoff run.”

Pickett’s return won’t automatically fix everything that has been wrong with
the Packers’ run defense the past few weeks, but it can’t hurt.

Now in his 11th season, Pickett has been a reliable inside force on defense
since leaving St. Louis to sign with Green Bay before the 2006 season—making
him one of Packers general manager Ted Thompson’s rare forays into free agency.

“In my opinion, just based on the grades and dealing with Ryan going on six
years here, I feel this is probably the best football he’s played,” McCarthy
said. “He’s physically in as good or better shape than he’s been in his time
here. He’s always had exceptional foot quickness and balance, the ability to
read and react. He definitely makes a difference in there.”

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers praised Pickett’s combination of
skill and veteran savvy, but said the Packers’ problems stopping the run Sunday
aren’t as simple as bringing back one player.

“Your run defense is like putting a glove on,” Capers said. “(It) has to
all fit together. For me, it probably represents your team defense more than
anything else because guys have to know where they fit and what their job is.
Ryan normally does his job very well, in terms of protecting his linebackers,
holding the point and not getting knocked off the ball—all those things good
defensive linemen do.”

And while Pickett isn’t as flashy a player as fellow defensive lineman B.J.
Raji, his absence proved how valuable he is to the defense.

“The coaches know. The teammates know,” Pickett said. “The fans and the
other people might not, but I’m OK as long as we’re going good and winning.”

———

Follow AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins on Twitter at:
www.twitter.com/ByChrisJenkins

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The Chicago Bears won’t be home for Christmas. However, if they don’t find a way to upset the Green Bay Packers on Christmas night? They’ll be home for the playoffs.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith received more discouraging news in regards to the health of the remaining players on the Bears’ roster. Devin Hester has always been a threat as a return specialist against the Packers’ suspect special-teams coverage units. The Bears need him because of injuries and legal issues that have decimated the receiving unit.

Hester missed the entire week of practice with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable as of December 23, 2011. Smith claimed that the chances of Hester playing weren’t looking very good. The injury would force Earl Bennett into the role of punt return specialist.

Here are a few other key players who may be sidelined for the Bears as they fight to keep their slim playoff hopes alive on Christmas night.

Jay Cutler (Out)

Jay Cutler is still recovering from surgery that he had on a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Following a 7-3 start with Cutler, the Bears have lost four consecutive games with Caleb Hanie as his replacement. Josh McCown will get the start as he’s only completed two passes since the 2007-08 season.

Matt Forte (Out)

Matt Forte suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Forte has been ruled out for this game. He was leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage before the injury. This will force McCown to make some plays in the passing game.

Johnny Knox (Out)

The Chicago Bears lost their go-to receiver after he was placed on injured reserve with a back injury earlier this week. Knox would’ve been the return specialist had Hester not played. Bears special-teams coordinator Dave Toub will likely rely on Earl Bennett and Armando Allen if Hester can’t play.

Marion Barber (Doubtful)

Along with Matt Forte, Marion Barber is also expected to miss this game with a calf injury. Kahlil Bell and Armando Allen would receive the majority of carries in their absences. Allen may also handle the kickoff return duties if Hester can’t play. This will be Bell’s second career start.

Lance Briggs (Questionable)

Lance Briggs was a limited participant during practice on Friday. Henry Melton and Briggs are game-time decisions.

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• WHO: Chicago Bears (7-7) at Green Bay Packers (13-1).

• WHEN: Sunday, 7:20 p.m., NBC.

• OPENING LINE – Packers by 12 1/2.

• RECORD VS. SPREAD – Bears 7-7; Green Bay 9-5.

• SERIES RECORD – Bears lead 92-85-6. Last meeting: Packers beat
Bears 27-17, Sept. 25

• LAST WEEK – Bears lost to Seahawks 38-14; Packers lost to Chiefs
19-14.

• NFL RANKINGS: Bears’ offense, overall (24), rushing (10), passing
(25); Bears’ defense, overall (17), rushing (8), passing (27).
Packers’ offense, overall (4), rushing (25), passing (4); Packers’
defense, overall (31), rushing (12), passing (31).

• FACT & FIGURES: Packers can clinch home-field advantage in
NFC with win, or San Francisco loss, on Sunday. … Packers’ loss
at Kansas City last Sunday broke 19-game winning streak and was
first loss in nearly a year, having lost at New England on Dec. 19,
2010. … Will be fourth meeting between Bears and Packers in 2011.
Two teams faced off in 2010 regular season finale, NFC championship
game, and earlier this season. … QB Aaron Rodgers is first
Packers player and fifth player overall in NFL history to throw
40-plus touchdowns in season. … Five of WR Jordy Nelson’s 10
touchdowns this season have been for 35-plus yards. … WR Donald
Driver has 9,979 yards receiving and needs 21 to become the Packers
player with 10,000. … CB Charles Woodson has five interceptions
against Bears. Since joining Packers in 2006, Woodson has 37
interceptions and nine interception returns for touchdowns. …
Bears would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. …
Josh McCown replaces Caleb Hanie as Bears starting QB after Hanie
struggled in wake of Jay Cutler’s thumb injury. McCown hasn’t
started a game since Dec. 23, 2007, for Oakland against
Jacksonville. … Cutler remains out, and RB Matt Forte expected to
remain sidelined with knee injury. … Including NFC championship
game, Bears LB Brian Urlacher aims for third game in row vs.
Packers with an interception. … Bears DE Julius Peppers had sack
and fumble recovery in last game vs. Packers. Since entering NFL in
2002, Peppers is tied for third in league with 99 sacks.

- The AP.

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Bears Coach Lovie Smith. (Credit: CBS)

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The Green Bay Packers (13-1) return home to Lambeau Field and host the Chicago Bears (7-7) on Christmas night. It’s just the second time the Packers have played on Christmas; the only other time was in 2005 and that game was also against the Bears at Lambeau Field. Chicago won that game 24-17.

The Packers’ chance at an undefeated season ended at Kansas City on December 18th with a 19-14 loss to the Chiefs. The loss itself wasn’t as disturbing as the way the game was lost. The Packers high octane offense was largely shut down by the Kansas City defense, and the Chiefs’ offense maintained control of the ball with time consuming drives that kept Aaron Rodgers and company off the field. Green Bay’s defense allowed 438 yards and had no sacks, and no answer for Chiefs’ quarterback Kyle Orton. Injuries to the Packers’ offensive line have reached a critical stage; Aaron Rodgers was under constant pressure and was sacked four times.

The Bears come into the game with injury problems of their own with quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Matt Forte, and wide receiver Johnny Knox out. After going 0-4 with Caleb Hanie filling in for Cutler, Bears coach Lovie Smith will start Josh McCown at quarterback. McCown replaced Hanie late in the Bears loss to the Seattle Seahawks on December 18th, but before that, he hadn’t played in the NFL since 2009. Forte is the Bears leading rusher, and Knox is the leading receiver. With all this top talent out of action, it’s no wonder the Bears have scored just 27 points in their last three games.

Green Bay’s offense struggled last week against Kansas City’s defense, but the Packers also hurt themselves by dropping passes and committing penalties. The Packer receivers will have to adjust to not having Greg Jennings until the playoffs. They still have plenty of receivers, but Jermichael Finley and Jordy Nelson in particular will need to step up. The makeshift offensive line will have to protect Rodgers better than it did against Kansas City. Although tackle Chad Clifton is nearing a return from his back and hamstring injuries, he may still not be ready. His replacement, Marshall Newhouse, has not been impressive and will be up against Bears’ defensive end and team sack leader Julius Peppers.

With their offense struggling, the best and probably only shot the Bears have at winning is for their defense to keep the Packer’s offense off the field as much as possible. The Bears still have an outside shot at the playoffs with a victory, and Green Bay will clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win so both teams are motivated. The Bears defense will hold down the Packers’ scoring, but not enough for Chicago’s depleted offense to overcome. The Packers should bounce back from their first defeat and win in a low scoring game.

Mark Hudziak is a Featured Contributor in Sports for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. He has been a fan of the Green Bay Packers since the Vince Lombardi Era.

Sources:

Chicago Bears.com

Chicago Bears Yahoo! Sports Site

Green Bay Packers.com

Green Bay Packers Yahoo! Sports site

Packers: Scouting the Chicago Bears

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