GREEN BAY, Wis. — One month after Jermichael Finley said he expected the Green Bay
Packers to use their franchise tag to re-sign him, the team has agreed
to terms with its 24-year-old tight end on what a source close to the
negotiations says is a two-year, $15 million deal.

“It’s TRUE!”
Finley posted on Twitter Wednesday night. “Thank you so much to the
Packers organization, all of my fans, and my beautiful wife. Happy Bday.
Let’s GO Packers!! … I could not be happier to have the privilege of
being a Packer for the next 2 yrs. Glad to be back with my team &
coaches for 1 common goal”

It’s a sharp turn from Finley’s feelings last month in an exclusive interview with FOXSportsWisconsin.com.

“Knowing
the Packers, I would say they would try to come with the franchise
tag,” Finley said on Jan. 19. “They like to get all their players cheap.
I (expect) the franchise tag, for sure. Hopefully, I can get a
long-term deal where I can get settled in one place. That’s my goal.”

At
$7.5 million per year, Finley found a middle ground in his
negotiations. Reluctant to settle for the $5.5 million he would have
received for 2012 if the Packers used the franchise tag and classified
him as a tight end, Finley said he was planning to make a case that he
should be paid as a wide receiver, which would have netted him $9.5
million with the franchise tag.

Based on data collected by Pro
Football Focus, Finley had a strong argument. Finley lined up wide for
403 snaps in 2011, while starting the play next to an offensive tackle
388 times. Plus, Finley was in a two-point stance 149 times more than he
was in a three-point stance. Finley also ran a pass route on 538 plays,
while pass blocking on only 39 plays.

At coach Mike McCarthy’s
season-ending press conference, his description of Finley seemed to make
a case that the fourth-year receiver is more than a tight end.

“He’s
a tight end, but he also plays the one receiver situation and the No. 2
slot sometimes and plays in the one slot to the three-man side,”
McCarthy said. “Those are the type of things when playing in a multiple
offense, we treat all the perimeter players the same, because it’s about
matchups. They have to play all the positions.”

McCarthy also made it no secret that he wanted Finley back in Green Bay.

“Jermichael
is a very talented young man, and I would emphasize young,” McCarthy
said. “I think he’ll continue to grow and be an outstanding football
player for us. With his talent level, that’s half the battle. I look for
him to continue to develop and establish himself definitely as one of
the Pro Bowl tight ends in this league.”

Amid the negotiations, Finley stated his desire to remain with the Packers long-term.

“Hands
down, I want to be a Packer for life, for sure,” Finley said. “It’s all
business, of course, but if everything is right and everything is
solid, I could be a Packer for my whole career.”

Finley is coming
off his best season since being selected by Green Bay in the third round
of the 2008 draft. He finished third among tight ends with eight
touchdown catches, behind only New England’s Rob Gronkowski and New
Orleans’ Jimmy Graham. Finley was 14th in receptions (55) and 12th in
total yards (767), but 10 other tight ends had more passes thrown to
them than Finley did, with Graham being targeted 56 times more in the
regular season.

One category that Finley led all tight ends in that didn’t help him: He had 12 dropped passes.

“I
had an average season,” Finley said last month. “(I have to) catch the
ball (better) and just take advantage of every mismatch opportunity I
have and try to dominate it. I don’t think I did that to my best.”

Finley’s
size (6-5, 247) and athleticism make him a mismatch, whether he’s lined
up wide or next to the line. But as his drops piled up, home crowds and
fans on Twitter started to attack Finley with boos and hateful tweets.
Finley knows that his personality contributed to some of that, but
following the Packers’ home playoff loss to the Giants, things got ugly
as Finley received multiple tweets — many of which he replied to — that
told him not to come back to Green Bay.

“I’m trying to fit in with
Green Bay,” Finley said of the NFL’s smallest city. “But it’s hard to
do it when people are talking so much stuff. I’ve got to be myself. I
try my best to do what they say, and I guess live the Green Bay Packer
motto, but I don’t know. There are some true, loyal Packers fans out
there, though.”

Finley missed all but four games in 2010 due to a
season-ending knee injury, but had he continued at his pace — he had 301
receiving yards in his limited action — Finley would have finished
among the top six receivers in the NFL. Though Finley didn’t stay on
that pace in 2011, McCarthy believes Finley accomplished what he wanted.

“If
you look at the history of players who have had a season-ending injury,
that first year back is their toughest,” McCarthy said in January.
“There’s that subconscious (feeling) there of getting through and
playing a whole season. I know early in the year and maybe even as far
back as training camp, Jermichael and I had a conversation and I clearly
told him, ‘The only goal you should have this year is to play in every
single football game. If you accomplish that, everything else will take
care of itself.’ I believe that.”

Follow Paul Imig on Twitter.

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.)

GREEN BAY, Wis. — 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.

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.

 

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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To purchase shares of the Green Bay Packers, go to www.packersowner.com or call 855-846-7225 to receive materials to order by mail.
For customer-service questions after ordering, call Wells Fargo Sharehowner Services at 800-891-2981 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

JANESVILLE, Wis. — A Janesville man is hoping to make history by becoming the 14th member of the Green Bay Packers Fan Hall of Fame.Joe Kuhar is one of 10 finalists selected, and it only takes one look at his basement to understand why he made the cut.”I just love football,” Kuhar said.His love of football, specifically the Green Bay Packers, has taken over his basement, which his friends and family have nicknamed the Packers Hall of Fame South.”Every day, things change down here (in the basement). Monday after a football game, I’m on my computer,” Kuhar said.He spends several hours keeping statistics and creating handmade photo rosters, which now cover his ceilings.

Most of the memorabilia is autographed by Green Bay legends.”This is an autographed helmet with Brett Favre and Bart Starr,” Kuhar said.Kuhar even asked to try out for the team in 1960. The day he met Bart Starr in Janesville in 2010, he said they shared a laugh over his rejection letter.”I told him how I could have been a teammate of his because he was playing for the Packers at that time, and he got a big kick out of that,” Kuhar said.Four of Kuhar’s five children are Packers fans.”I invite people over even when he’s not here. I say, ‘Do you want to see my dad’s basement?’” said his youngest daughter, Larae Kuhar.She wrote the letter nominating her father for the Green Bay Packers Fan Hall of Fame.”I think he deserves to win, not just because of what he has but because of his dedication. He deserves it,” she said.Kuhar said he’s proud of his collection and that it would be one of the highlights of his life to be honored by his favorite team.”As soon as I found out, I started calling everyone in my family and all my friends, giving them the heads up to vote for me,” Kuhar said.Joe and his wife are celebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary on Tuesday, and he said she supports his “Hall of Fame South” as long as it doesn’t creep up the staircase and into the rest of the house.Voting for the Packer Fan Hall of Fame begins on Jan. 1, 2012, on Packers.com. The winner will be announced at an event at Lambeau Field on Valentine’s Day.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers reported Tuesday that nearly 250,000 shares of stock have been purchased in their latest offering.In response to the demand, the Packers organization announced it will expand the stock sale by adding 30,000 shares to accommodate the interest.“The support from our fans has been outstanding and we appreciate their enthusiasm,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We continue to receive interest in the offering, and this increase in the number of available shares will help ensure that we are able to accommodate all those who want to become shareholders.”This is the fifth time the Packers have offered stock in the organization. This latest offering will continue until Feb. 29, 2012 or until the maximum number of shares has been sold.Proceeds from the offering will go toward the expansion of Lambeau Field, a $143 million project that includes 6,700 seats and new video boards and will be complete for the 2013 season.

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.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The struggling Bears say they have to “take a stand” against the Green Bay Packers when they head up to Wisconsin on Christmas Day.

“Green Bay is our rival, but lately, we haven’t been holding up our end of the deal. It’s kind of simple as that,” said Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith. They’ve dominated the rivalry here lately, and we have to take a stand. A great ball club – whenever you go that many games without losing, you’re saying a lot about what type of football you’re playing.”

The Packers are 13-1 this season. But the Bears have gone 0-4 since quarterback Jay Cutler had to leave with a broken thumb.

The Bears announced earlier this week that Josh McCown will start as quarterback against the Packers Sunday night, rather than the struggling Caleb Hanie.

McCown signed with the Bears after the injury. He hasn’t started a game since 2007 when he was with the Oakland Raiders.

But linebacker Brian Urlacher said the Bears can be competitive against the Packers regardless of the teams’ respective records.

“There have been times when they’ve been terrible and we’ve been good; we beat them. We’ve been good, they’ve been bad, they beat us. It doesn’t really matter; I hope it doesn’t matter this week either. It’s a big game for us going on there on Christmas Day, which will be the main focus of everyone’s game. It should be fun,” Urlacher said.

Linebacker Lance Briggs emphasized that the game is more about the team’s ability to salvage this season than the Bears-Packers rivalry.

“Even though we split during the season last year – they went ahead and won the championship game and went on to win the Super Bowl – I look at it as a big game. It’s a huge game,” Briggs said. We’re driving up to Wisconsin to play our rival, so I think it’s more than just taking a stand in the rivalry. It’s more taking a stand in the season.”

In the final game of the 2010 regular season, the Green Bay Packers hosted the Chicago Bears in a game crucial to the Packers’ playoff hopes. Green Bay had battled through a devastating series of injuries and needed a win to advance as the NFC’s sixth playoff seed.

The Bears, having already clinched the NFC North and a first-round bye, had nothing to play for and were expected to rest their regulars. Instead, Chicago played its stars throughout, and the Pack were lucky to escape with a 10-3 win.

Today, the roles are reversed. The Packers won the NFC North around Thanksgiving, and are on the verge of wrapping up home field throughout the NFC playoffs. It is the Bears who are battling injury, their postseason hanging by a thread, and they can expect no mercy from their traditional rival.

Green Bay is favored by 13 points in the Christmas night showdown, and gets our call over a Bears team that has lost four straight and starts journeyman Josh McCown at quarterback.

In other games:

TOMORROW

KANSAS CITY (-2) over Oakland -— The Chiefs looked ecstatic to be playing for Romeo Crennel and they’d like nothing better than to knock the hated Raiders out of playoff contention.

Denver (-3) over BUFFALO — We have a Denver team that’s won six of its last seven to surge ahead in the AFC West, while the reeling Bills have lost seven in a row. Go Broncos.

TENNESSEE (-71⁄2) over Jacksonville — One team’s in the postseason chase and the other can’t wait for the season to end. Factor in the Titans’ embarrassing loss to the Colts, and Tennessee should be too hard to handle.

CINCINNATI (-4) over Arizona — The Bengals are thisclose to a playoff berth, but need a win here and over Baltimore next week to make it. The Cards have won several close games down the stretch, but their luck runs out here.

Miami (+91⁄2) over PATRIOTS — The Pats are in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, but their always shaky defense makes the near double-digit spread overly generous.

BALTIMORE (-121⁄2) over Cleveland — Locked in a close AFC North race with the Steelers, and after being outplayed in all facets in San Diego, look for one snarling flock of Ravens to descend on the Browns.

N.Y. Giants (+3) over N.Y. JETS — Too bad both these teams couldn’t lose, so we’d be rid of New York football for the season. The Jints’ strength along the defensive line dovetails nicely with the Jets’ shaky offensive line, so take Big Blue.

WASHINGTON (-61⁄2) over Minnesota — With Rex Grossman at QB the past two weeks, the Skins almost upset the Pats and beat the Giants. They’ll have no trouble with the 2-12 Vikes, who threw in the towel early last week against New Orleans.

CAROLINA (-71⁄2) over Tampa Bay — Carolina has won three of its last four and is laying the groundwork for a successful 2012. The same can’t be said of the Bucs, who have lost eight straight, the last three by 19, 27 and 16 points.

PITTSBURGH (off) over St. Louis — This game is off the board due to the uncertain playing status of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In theory, the Green Bay Packers’ group of receivers is deep and talented enough to make up for the loss of one player — even one as good as Greg Jennings.

It just didn’t look that way in Sunday’s loss at Kansas City.
Tight end Jermichael Finley dropped passes, and he wasn’t the only player who struggled to hold onto the ball. Jordy Nelson was relatively quiet after a couple of head-scratching offensive pass interference calls went against him. And when Aaron Rodgers needed to make big plays at the end of the game, nobody was open.

“We have to be on top of our game, and we weren’t in Kansas City,” Nelson said. “That’s all that matters.”

Jennings sprained his left knee in the Packers’ Dec. 11 victory over Oakland, and is not likely to return until the playoffs. He made a brief appearance in the locker room Thursday and appeared to be walking without difficulty, making a couple of moves to avoid reporters.

The Packers have a chance to wrap up home-field advantage in the NFC with a victory over Chicago on Sunday night, but they’ll likely need a better performance from their receivers to beat the Bears.

Rodgers acknowledged the offense was out of rhythm against the Chiefs.

“I think it’s us not executing and making the plays we expect to make and them playing good defense,” Rodgers said. “So all offenses are aided by a good rhythm, keeping drives going, converting on third downs, being good in the red zone. We just didn’t do those things on Sunday and they controlled the football, controlled the clock and the urgency just wasn’t there when we were on offense and we didn’t make the plays.”

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said it’s too simplistic to say the Packers’ struggles were simply a case of the Chiefs being able to spend more attention covering everybody else with Jennings out.

“When you watch the film, there’s more to it than that,” Philbin said. “I thought at times, we had guys open that maybe the protection didn’t allow us to get to. At times, our protection was very good and we didn’t get guys open, so everybody thought, `God, the o-line got their (butts) kicked.’ Usually in football, it’s never that cut and dried.”

And while the dropped passes are beginning to mount for Finley this season, Philbin fully expects him to bounce back.
“Obviously there’s a couple relatively easy catches that he missed the other day, but we had other guys drop the ball as well,” Philbin said. “There’s no magic formula. He’s got good hands.”

Nelson, meanwhile, acknowledged that a pair of early interference calls changed the way he played Sunday.

“It affects you because you’re out there playing the game the way you’ve always played,” Nelson said. “So when you get two flags, especially as quickly as I did back-to-back like that, you kind of have to change something, because obviously what I was doing was incorrect. You have to adjust to the way the game is being officiated and move forward. I don’t think I was ever in the situation again with the back-shoulder throw the rest of the game. But it’s part of the game and you’ve got to adjust.”