Jerel Worthy isn’t an ideal fit for the Packers’ defensive scheme, based on what he did in college. (Getty Images)

When Michigan State defensive lineman Jerel Worthy, a first-round pick in the eyes of many, slid all the way to No. 51 overall, the Green Bay Packers decided to go and get him. Green Bay shipped the 59th and 123rd overall picks in the 2012 draft to Philadelphia for the opportunity to select Worthy.

Worthy earned All-America honors in 2011 thanks to his disruptive play up front for the Spartans. He had 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his junior season, plus blocked a field goal to give Michigan State an Outback Bowl victory.

Questions about his compete levels drove down his stock at the draft, though — the knocks on Worthy were that he didn’t give 100 percent each play and appeared to wear down over the course of games, especially in the rugged Big Ten.

Worthy’s size (6-foot-2 3/8, 308 pounds) and quickness made him an intriguing candidates for a lot of teams, despite those issues.

Michigan State utilizes a 4-3 defense, which means Worthy has to do some transitioning to Green Bay’s 3-4. He does not appear to be an ideal fit at nose tackle as a space-eater, meaning the Packers likely have him ticketed for one of their end spots. Ryan Pickett should get another crack as Green Bay’s left end, but the right side is up for grabs. Mike Neal is suspended for the first four games of the 2011 season, and Jarius Wynn, who started four games last season, is hardly irreplaceable.

It could take some time for Worthy to get acclimated in whatever role he winds up in, but it’s worth noting one specific feature of Green Bay’s defense that could play to his advantage.

Here’s the Packers’ traditional 3-4 look (although here, Pickett is inside where you’d expect to see the nose tackle, with Raji to his left. Normally, that’s reversed):

A majority of Green Bay’s backfield pressure comes not from its D-line, but from its linebackers. The Packers’ linebacking corps had 17.5 sacks last season; their defensive linemen had seven.

In that traditional 3-4 look, Worthy would normally slot in on the outside, though he could shift to the middle — as Pickett did on the play pictured above — to give the offensive line something else to deal with from time to time.

But Worthy might be of even more use, and may feel more comfortable, when the Packers turn to their unique nickel defense. That look employs five defensive backs (hence: nickel), but Green Bay puts its twist on it by using just two defensive linemen and four linebackers — almost every other “nickel” look would invert those numbers, with a four-man front, two linebackers manning the middle and the five DBs.

But since the Packers’ best pass-rushers are their outside linebackers, they slide Matthews and one other linebacker up where you’d expect to see two defensive ends, then place two linemen (with Raji usually filling one of the spots) on the interior.

The result is this look:

For Worthy, if he were to line up next to Raji in the Packers’ nickel, it would get him as close to his Michigan State duties as possible — in football terminology, Worthy’s ideal NFL fit going into the draft looked to be as “3-technique” lineman, which means he lines up over the outside shoulder of an offensive guard.

The 3-technique is what Warren Sapp so excelled at during his days in Tampa Bay, because it basically puts the defensive tackle in charge of one specific spot, the “B” gap between the guard and tackle, which allows him to go full-bore into that area. In the picture above the Packers’ two tackles are closer in on the center than that, but it’s a place Worthy may feel more comfortable.

Worthy will have to be more physical in Green Bay’s 3-4 base defense, because, as mentioned above, the line’s job there is to engage blockers while the linebackers swoop in for tackles.

There will be a steep learning curve for Worthy, there’s no question. Does he have the drive to make this match a successful one?

Best-case scenario: Worthy acclimates well to the 3-4, with his quick burst off the snap creating havoc for opposing guards and tackles. He shines in the Packers’ nickel defense, with his size and speed helping him get into the backfield on occasion and, at the very least, letting Green Bay’s linebackers fly past him on the outside. He takes over as a starter in camp, freeing up the Packers to cut Neal.

Worst-case scenario: Worthy proves that he’s more of a 4-3 DT than a 3-4 anything. He winds up being too slow and lethargic to make an impact on the outside in Green Bay’s base defense, and proves that he’s too small to play inside, either in the 3-4 or when the Packers go to their nickel package. He winds up playing just 10-15 snaps per game because of his conditioning.

2011 prediction: Except Worthy to fall somewhere in the middle of the dream and nightmare projections. Green Bay’s defensive linemen don’t put up big numbers regardless, so it’s hard to pinpoint a real statistical expectation. The prediction? Worthy starts 4-5 games, finishes with two sacks and 20 tackles and plays an average of about 20 snaps per week. Oh, and year two goes much more smoothly than year one.

There isn’t much change in this week’s NFL power rankings by The Times-Picayune. The top eight teams all hold the same position they held a week ago, as they ready for the stretch run.

Currently, the NFC appears to be the NFL’s strongest conference, with the top three-ranked teams each calling the NFC home.

The undefeated Green Bay Packers are No. 1, followed by the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 4) and the New England Patriots (No. 5) are the top-ranked teams from the AFC.

Here are the rankings:

Rankings, (last week), team, record,

1.(1) Green Bay Packers 10-0 Have won 16 straight, dating to last year.

2. (2) San Francisco 49ers 9-1 Big game coming up at the Ravens on Turkey Day.

3. (3) New Orleans Saints 7-3 Should be well rested for stretch run. 

4. (4) Pittsburgh Steelers 7-3  Coming off a bye.

5. (5) New England Patriots 7-3 Good shot for No.1 seed in AFC.

6. (6) Chicago Bears 7-3 How will they handle the loss of Jay Cutler?

7. (7) Houston Texans 7-3 Coming off a bye.

8. (8) Baltimore Ravens 7-3 Keeping pace for top seed in AFC. 

9. (10) Detroit Lions 7-3 Looking to knock off the Packers.

10. (11) Atlanta Falcons 6-4 Roddy White bounced back nicely.

11. (14) Dallas Cowboys 6-4 Here come the Cowboys.

12 (9) New York Giants 6-4 Lost two straigth games heading into Saints game.

13. (13) Cincinnati Bengals 6-4 Have lost two in a row.

14. (16) Oakland Raiders 6-4 The Carson Palmer experiment is working out.

15. (20) Denver Broncos 5-5 Finding a way to win with Tebow.

16. (12) New York Jets 5-5 If the playoffs started today Jets wouldn’t make it.

17. (15) Tennessee Titans 5-5 Things will only get harder without Hasselbeck.

18. (17) Buffalo Bills 5-5 Have lost four of last five games.

19. (25) Philadelphia Eagles 4-6 Vince Young did a nice job filling in for Vick.

20. (23) Seattle Seahawks 4-6 Have consecutive wins for the first time this season.

21. (18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-6 Have lost five of last six games.

22. (19) San Diego Chargers 4-6 Have lost five straight games.

23. (21) Kansas City Chiefs 4-6 Offense struggled against Patriots.

24. (27) Cleveland Browns 4-6 Looking to win against on Sunday vs. Bengals.

25. (22) Jacksonville Jaguars 3-7 Jags have plenty of problems.

26. (29) Miami Dolphins 3-7 Dolphins are getting it together.

27. (24) Arizona Cardinals 3-7 Have QB issues.

28. (26) Washington Redskins 3-7 Have lost six straight.

29. (31) Carolina Panthers 2-8 Despite record they still are competitive.

30. (28) St. Louis Rams 2-8 Ranked last in NFL in scoring.

31. (30) Minnesota Vikings 2-8 Adrian Peterson’s injury isn’t good news.

32. (32) Indianapolis Colts 0-10 Has first dibs on top pick in NFL draft.

Nov. 10, 2011 |

Green Bay – There is no substantive way to measure it, but if the Green Bay Packers aren’t having one of the quietest 8-0 seasons in the modern media age, they’re darn close to it.

As the only undefeated team left in the NFL and home to a quarterback playing with unprecedented statistical excellence, you would expect the Packers to be living behind boarded-up windows to stave off a tsunami of attention.

But on Thursday afternoon, it was the regular local media crew, plus or minus a few, and just one representative from a national magazine. No bloggers, no NFL columnists, no national television or cable reporters, just the locals collecting their material before the Packers’ “Monday Night Football” game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Ask any player in the locker room and he’ll tell you 8-0 hasn’t affected his life one bit.

“It hasn’t been any different,” said tight end Jermichael Finley, an emerging star. “I don’t think we’re getting the love we should but at the same time I don’t think anyone in this building cares. We’re just focusing on being the No. 1 in rings.”

To be fair, there have been representatives from national outlets at some of the Packers’ games this season and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with his receiving corps last week.

But it isn’t as if reporters are crawling over each other to get the story on Rodgers, the first quarterback in NFL history to post a 110-plus passer rating in the first eight games of a season. Rodgers is performing so well that his league-leading passer rating of 129.1 is 28.5 points higher than the second guy on the list, New Orleans’ Drew Brees.

When Brees got off to this kind of start in 2009, reporters flocked to New Orleans to cover the resurgence of the Saints. But that also doubled as a post-Hurricane Katrina storyline.

The Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they don’t live in that realm anywhere but on the field. There, opponents are charged and determined to add a green and gold pelt to their wall

But away from the field, they live in peace and tranquility far away and well-insulated from media hubs.

“We like it that way,” receiver Greg Jennings said. “We like kind of being under the radar. We’re a small city, small-town team. We just go to work with our lunch pails every week.

“We’re not trying to be seen on every TV show and sports show out there because we’re 8-0.”

According to public relations director Jason Wahlers, who left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to join the Packers in August, there has been nothing unmanageable about the attention the team has received.

He was on the public relations staff of the 2002 Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers team, which featured a football rock star in head coach Jon Gruden, controversial defensive tackle Warren Sapp and quote-a-minute receiver Keyshawn Johnson. And it was all heightened by the fact the Buccaneers had never been to a Super Bowl.

According to Wahlers, no more media have requested credentials for the Packers-Vikings game than other Lambeau Field Monday night games. It’s not a marquee matchup because the Vikings are 2-6, but it does feature the third start of Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.

As for the first eight weeks of the season, Wahlers said: “We’ve seen a steady and consistent number of national media requests this season. I’ve been told it’s comparable to last season.”

Given the Packers were 5-3 at this point last year and second fiddle to the eventual NFC North-winning Chicago Bears, that’s not saying a lot. But then again, no one seems to care.

“I think part of it is being in Green Bay,” receiver Jordy Nelson said. “I know everyone says Green Bay is well-covered, but you have ESPN New York, stuff like that, so they’re right there in the city. We’re by ourselves and so we just take care of business. We don’t need it (the attention).”

There are a number of plausible reasons why the Packers have been somewhat ignored.

For one, they don’t have a bunch of star players who are willing to speak their mind on anything and everything. Compare that to the ’96 Packers and their roster of super-talkers – Reggie White, LeRoy Butler, Sean Jones, Mark Chmura, Eugene Robinson, Brett Favre and Santana Dotson – and it’s night and day.

For another, fewer news organizations are sending out reporters during the middle of the week. ESPN crews are everywhere but only occasionally in Green Bay.

And then there’s the accessibility. It’s a lot easier to get a direct flight to Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia or Dallas than it is to Austin Straubel Airport.

“We’re a small local Midwest town, small airport,” B.J. Raji said. “It’s just a different venue. It’s where we’re at.”

Regarding the team’s stars, Rodgers guards his privacy vigilantly and won’t speak of the one subject reporters want to address most: his relationship with Favre. He’s given to sending out subtle messages that have a sharp edge, but he’s not a polarizing figure like Chicago’s Jay Cutler or Denver’s Tim Tebow.

Linebacker Clay Matthews, cornerback Charles Woodson and Finley are all apt to give a good quote, but Finley’s “You have to get the ball to your playmakers” comment would have been laughed off the stage in a spicy quote contest with the New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens or Philadelphia Eagles.

“It would be a lot different atmosphere (if it were New York),” said end Howard Green, who played with the Jets last season. “Here we like to keep things on an even keel.

“We treat success the same because we know how to handle it. We’ve been there. That also plays a part in being undefeated now. That all plays a part of it.”

If the Packers continue to win, the attention will come. As they get closer to the possibility of 16-0, they can expect the knobs to be turned up on the coverage meter.

For now, however, they’ll gladly accept the peace and quiet.

The Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson and Jermichael Finley. They also have tons of history and prestige.

But do they have what it takes to do what only the ’72 Dolphins have done? Can the defending Super Bowl champion Packers go undefeated?

It may be too early to talk about such a scenario but the Packers (8-0) are off to a strong start. They continue to display the ability to outscore teams and force turnovers.

It remains to be seen if that’ll be enough to go unbeaten, but at the moment it is enough for them to remain No. 1 in the latest NFL power rankings by The Times-Picayune.

The Packers are ranked ahead of the No. 2 Baltimore Ravens, No, 3 San Francisco 49ers, and No. 4 New York Giants. The New Orleans Saints moved up two spots to No. 6.

Here are the rankings:

Rankings, (last week), team, record,

1.(1) Green Bay Packers 8-0 Rodgers has thrown for a league-high 24 TDs

2. (5) Baltimore Ravens 6-2 Joe Flacco got it done.

3. (3) San Francisco 49ers 7-1 Their run defense is tough.

4. (6) New York Giants 6-2 Picked up a statement win against Patriots.

5. (7) Detroit Lions 6-2 Have a big game at Chicago.

6. (8) New Orleans Saints 6-3 This is a different team when playing in the Dome. 

7. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3 Dropped to third place in AFC North. 

8. (4) New England Patriots 5-3 Have lost two straight games.

9. (10) Atlanta Falcons 5-3 Can move into first place by beating Saints.

10. (11) New York Jets 5-3 Don’t look now, but the Jets are back in the hunt.

11. (12) Chicago Bears 5-3 Looked good on MNF.

12. (13) Houston Texans 6-3 Rushed for 261 yards against Cleveland.

13. (17) Cincinnati Bengals 6-2 Have won five-straight games.

14. (9) Buffalo Bills 5-3 Bills have been up and down the last few weeks.

15. (21) Dallas Cowboys 4-4 DeMarco Murray has Cowboys back at .500.

16. (14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-4 Penalties hurting Bucs. 

17. (16) San Diego Chargers 4-4 Suddenly, the Chargers are losing their way.

18. (18) Philadelphia Eagles 3-5 Blew another fourth quarter lead.

19. (19) Tennessee Titans 4-4 Couldn’t hold on against Bengals.

20. (20) Kansas City Chiefs 4-4 Locked in a three-way tie for first in AFC West. 

21. (15) Oakland Raiders 4-4 Carson Palmer can’t afford to turn the ball over. 

22. (22) Washington Redskins 3-5 Have lost four straight.

23. (28) Denver Broncos 3-5 Only a game out of first in AFC West.

24. (23) Cleveland Browns 3-5 Scoring issues continue.

25. (24) Minnesota Vikings 2-6 Coming off a bye.

26. (25) Carolina Panthers 2-6 Coming off a bye.

27. (26) Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 Coming off a bye.

28. (27) Seattle Seahawks 2-6 Have lost three straight.

29. (30) Arizona Cardinals 2-6 Patrick Peterson is one of the NFL’s top returners.

30. (31) Miami Dolphins 1-7 Reggie Bush is playing well.

31. (29) St. Louis Rams 1-7 Couldn’t string together back-to-back wins.

32. (32) Indianapolis Colts 0-9 Last four losses have come by double-digit margins.

The Green Bay Packers may experience Thanksgiving a little early this season. At least, that’s how Mike Neal(notes) may feel about it.

Chad Clifton(notes) and Neal have been ruled out for the Packers’ Week 9 contest against the San Diego Chargers on November 6, 2011. While Clifton probably won’t return for “Multiple weeks,” Mike McCarthy believes that Neal could return to the practice field before their Week 10 game with the Minnesota Vikings on November 14.

The Packers were relying on Neal to replace Cullen Jenkins(notes) after he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason. Neal was supposed to develop into another dominant pass-rushing threat that would’ve eliminated some of the double teams that B.J. Raji(notes) and Clay Matthews(notes) have gotten.

That hasn’t been the case. Neal has been more like Justin Harrell(notes); he can’t stay healthy. The 24-year-old Neal has missed all but two games of his two-year career with numerous injuries. He had a sack and forced fumble last season before he was placed on injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff. Neal hasn’t played this season because he needed knee surgery from an injury suffered at training camp.

Jarius Wynn(notes) has played in Neal’s place. Wynn has 11 tackles and three sacks through seven games. However, he’s only registered two tackles since a two-sack performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 3. Wynn is a serviceable defensive lineman but he isn’t what I’d consider “Starter material.”

Dom Capers has tried to offset the limited pass rush with more blitzes. The Packers are rushing five or more on nearly 40% of their plays. That’s up from nearly 33% in 2010 and 27% in 2009. Capers had rushed five or more on over 55% of the plays against the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings.

That hasn’t prevented Green Bay’s sack percentage from plummeting to 17^th. The Packers were third in that category last season. That means that more people are attacking the quarterback but less pressure is getting there. This results in fewer people in the secondary and bigger passing plays. The Packers have the NFL’s 31^st-ranked defense in passing yards allowed.

The Packers are still 7-0. They’ll hopefully benefit from Neal’s return. They should also benefit from Sam Shields(notes), Morgan Burnett(notes) and Tramon Williams(notes) getting healthier from the bye week.

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(notes) interception return following Matt Hasselbeck’s(notes) “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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With Aaron Rodgers’ MVP-caliber play leading the way, the Green Bay Packers are 5-0 for the seventh time in franchise history. Each of the previous six, the Packers went on to win an NFL title.

That is, admittedly, a statistic that offers little insight for how this season will turn out: After all, none of Green Bay’s current players even was born by 1965, the team’s most recent such start. Still, with the way they’ve performed so far this season, the reigning Super Bowl champions sure do seem capable of big things.

“5-0 feels great,” cornerback Charles Woodson said, “but we’re looking at greatness.”

Does that mean a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy?

A 16-0 regular season?

While it’s waaaaaaay too early to be talking about either, the Packers couldn’t be blamed for at least entertaining thoughts of both.

They’re on an 11-game winning streak, including the end of the 2010 regular season and the postseason. They’ve already beaten two other teams considered among the NFC’s elite entering this season: the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. Some supposedly good teams in the conference are struggling, particularly the Philadelphia Eagles. Other NFC clubs with good records – the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins – have no recent important-game experience.

Plus, the Packers didn’t lose a ton of talent in the offseason – defensive end Cullen Jenkins and guard Daryn Colledge were the most notable departures – while they got to “add” players who missed the Super Bowl run because of injury and might very well be hungry to be a real part of that kind of success. Two key examples: tight end Jermichael Finley and running back Ryan Grant.

After putting more than a dozen guys on injured reserve last season, then having Woodson and receiver Donald Driver get hurt during the Super Bowl itself, the Packers know a thing or two about getting by when players are sidelined, such as Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins (done for this season) and starting offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga (out with leg injuries).

And, of course, they have an elite-as-can-be QB in Rodgers.

“They certainly possess all the elements necessary to be able to repeat,” said Joe Theismann, the former quarterback whose Redskins won the 1983 Super Bowl and nearly repeated but lost to the Raiders in the NFL championship game a year later. “The big question that looms is the health of their offensive line, but they can figure out ways to win when all the pieces aren’t in place. That is one reason why I think they do have an opportunity to repeat. And No. 2, there isn’t anybody in football at the end of last year and the beginning of this year that’s played better football than Aaron Rodgers.”

Theismann also pointed to another factor in Green Bay’s favor: the lockout.

Because of the odd offseason, he reasons, the Packers didn’t face the usual scrutiny, distractions and roster-raiding that NFL champs sometimes succumb to.

“What normally would be months where they would get all of the attention didn’t happen. They didn’t get guys getting all bigheaded, thinking, ‘We’re really good. Hey, we’re the champions.’ … And you didn’t have a lot of holdouts. You can bring your team back intact,” Theismann said in a telephone interview Monday. “The lockout, as much as anything, created this (atmosphere of), ‘OK, you’re the world champions, but there are a lot of other things to talk about.’”

It would be pretty stunning if Green Bay doesn’t head into what could be the toughest test left on its schedule – a Nov. 6 game at the San Diego Chargers – with a 7-0 record. After all, the Packers’ next two games are against a couple of teams who are a combined 1-8: the St. Louis Rams (0-4) and the Minnesota Vikings (1-4).

“I know there’s that old adage: ‘On any given Sunday.’ But those shouldn’t be one of those given Sundays,” Theismann said. “The Packers just have much more talent.”

And Green Bay’s bye comes before facing San Diego, so there will be an extra week to rest and prepare.

Otherwise, the most significant upcoming game on Green Bay’s schedule appears to be against – believe it or not – the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

“We have a different team than years past,” Rodgers said after the 25-14 victory at Atlanta. “We expect to win when we take the field.”

They’re averaging nearly 35 points, and their playmaking defense not only is producing turnovers but also making key adjustments. Against Atlanta, for example, the Packers began applying extra pass-rushing pressure while relying on their cornerbacks to handle more man-to-man coverage.

“They’re playing as good as any team in the National Football League right now,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “It starts with their quarterback play.”

Sure does.

Rogers completed 26 of 39 passes for 396 yards and two TDs against Atlanta, connecting with 12 receivers. He’s produced a passer rating above 100 every game this season, and his overall 122.9 mark leads the NFL.

“He’s doing some amazing things,” Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “His team – they believe in him and they’re following him.”

On Sunday night alone, the Packers overcame these sorts of obstacles:

- trailing 14-0, and on the road, no less;

- playing the last 2½ quarters without either starting offensive tackle;

- the midweek turbulence of former Packers star Brett Favre’s comments to an Atlanta radio station about Rodgers, and whether the Packers should have won a Super Bowl sooner with their current QB.

And yet, as Rodgers would say of facing Sunday’s deficit, “There was no panic.”

The way things are going for his team at the moment, why should there be?

___

AP National Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta, and AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

___

Get in touch with Howard Fendrich at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich or hfendrich(at)ap.org

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

With Aaron Rodgers’ MVP-calibre play leading the way, the Green Bay Packers are 5-0 for the seventh time in franchise history. Each of the previous six, the Packers went on to win an NFL title.

That is, admittedly, a statistic that offers little insight for how this season will turn out: After all, none of Green Bay’s current players even was born by 1965, the team’s most recent such start. Still, with the way they’ve performed so far this season, the reigning Super Bowl champions sure do seem capable of big things.

“5-0 feels great,” cornerback Charles Woodson said, “but we’re looking at greatness.”

Does that mean a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy?

A 16-0 regular season?

While it’s waaaaaaay too early to be talking about either, the Packers couldn’t be blamed for at least entertaining thoughts of both.

They’re on an 11-game winning streak, including the end of the 2010 regular season and the post-season. They’ve already beaten two other teams considered among the NFC’s elite entering this season: the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. Some supposedly good teams in the conference are struggling, particularly the Philadelphia Eagles. Other NFC clubs with good records — the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins — have no recent important-game experience.

Plus, the Packers didn’t lose a ton of talent in the off-season — defensive end Cullen Jenkins and guard Daryn Colledge were the most notable departures — while they got to “add” players who missed the Super Bowl run because of injury and might very well be hungry to be a real part of that kind of success. Two key examples: tight end Jermichael Finley and running back Ryan Grant.

After putting more than a dozen guys on injured reserve last season, then having Woodson and receiver Donald Driver get hurt during the Super Bowl itself, the Packers know a thing or two about getting by when players are sidelined, such as Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins (done for this season) and starting offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga (out with leg injuries).

And, of course, they have an elite-as-can-be QB in Rodgers.

“They certainly possess all the elements necessary to be able to repeat,” said Joe Theismann, the former CFL quarterback whose Redskins won the 1983 Super Bowl and nearly repeated but lost to the Raiders in the NFL championship game a year later. “The big question that looms is the health of their offensive line, but they can figure out ways to win when all the pieces aren’t in place. That is one reason why I think they do have an opportunity to repeat. And No. 2, there isn’t anybody in football at the end of last year and the beginning of this year that’s played better football than Aaron Rodgers.”

Theismann also pointed to another factor in Green Bay’s favour: the lockout.

Because of the odd off-season, he reasons, the Packers didn’t face the usual scrutiny, distractions and roster-raiding that NFL champs sometimes succumb to.

“What normally would be months where they would get all of the attention didn’t happen. They didn’t get guys getting all big-headed, thinking, ‘We’re really good. Hey, we’re the champions.’ … And you didn’t have a lot of holdouts. You can bring your team back intact,” Theismann said in a telephone interview Monday. “The lockout, as much as anything, created this (atmosphere of), ‘OK, you’re the world champions, but there are a lot of other things to talk about.’”

It would be pretty stunning if Green Bay doesn’t head into what could be the toughest test left on its schedule — a Nov. 6 game at the San Diego Chargers — with a 7-0 record. After all, the Packers’ next two games are against a couple of teams who are a combined 1-8: the St. Louis Rams (0-4) and the Minnesota Vikings (1-4).

“I know there’s that old adage: ‘On any given Sunday.’ But those shouldn’t be one of those given Sundays,” Theismann said. “The Packers just have much more talent.”

And Green Bay’s bye comes before facing San Diego, so there will be an extra week to rest and prepare.

Otherwise, the most significant upcoming game on Green Bay’s schedule appears to be against — believe it or not — the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

“We have a different team than years past,” Rodgers said after the 25-14 victory at Atlanta. “We expect to win when we take the field.”

They’re averaging nearly 35 points, and their playmaking defence not only is producing turnovers but also making key adjustments. Against Atlanta, for example, the Packers began applying extra pass-rushing pressure while relying on their cornerbacks to handle more man-to-man coverage.

“They’re playing as good as any team in the National Football League right now,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “It starts with their quarterback play.”

Sure does.

Rogers completed 26 of 39 passes for 396 yards and two TDs against Atlanta, connecting with 12 receivers. He’s produced a passer rating above 100 every game this season, and his overall 122.9 mark leads the NFL.

“He’s doing some amazing things,” Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “His team — they believe in him and they’re following him.”

On Sunday night alone, the Packers overcame these sorts of obstacles:

— trailing 14-0, and on the road, no less;

— playing the last 2 1/2 quarters without either starting offensive tackle;

— the midweek turbulence of former Packers star Brett Favre’s comments to an Atlanta radio station about Rodgers, and whether the Packers should have won a Super Bowl sooner with their current QB.

And yet, as Rodgers would say of facing Sunday’s deficit, “There was no panic.”

The way things are going for his team at the moment, why should there be?

___

AP National Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta, and AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

“I feel fine,” said Grant, who left Soldier Field in an ambulance as a precaution following his 17-carry, 92-yard performance in the Packers’ 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears last Sunday. “I guess that doesn’t mean anything.”

After missing the team’s run to the Super Bowl with a season-ending ankle injury in the 2010 opener at Philadelphia, Grant was the Packers’ starting running back in name only during the first two games this year. In those two games combined, second-year back James Starks – the savior of the running game late last season – played 82 snaps to Grant’s 32; while Starks gained 142 yards on 21 carries, Grant carried 15 times for 65 yards.

Against the Bears, Grant got an opportunity and ran with it. He had six runs of double-digit yards and two more 9-yarders, shining on plays designed for his one-cut-and-go running style. Starks carried 11 times for 5 net yards and lost a fumble.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Grant said. “I think it’s even harder because of me sitting out so many games last year. I don’t want to miss a game at all. But I kind of have no say in this. It is what it is.”

With 11 minutes left in the game, Grant took a helmet in the back from Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, and in obvious pain he went to the sideline, where he collapsed to his knees. But when the Packers offense went back on the field four minutes later, there was Grant, who wound up carrying the ball three more times. When he got back to the locker room, he went to the bathroom and saw blood in his urine.

“I’m like, ‘Oh, that can’t be good,’” Grant said.

After the hospital trip, Grant wound up coming home to Green Bay separate from his teammates. By Wednesday, coach Mike McCarthy was talking as if Grant is a longshot to play against the Broncos.

“What happens a lot of times when you have injuries and then players are trying to get ready to play, they’re of the opinion they’ll be ready to go by Sunday,” McCarthy said. “Our medical staff is not of the same opinion.”

McCarthy said Grant will have until Friday to show that he’s healthy enough to play, but he quickly added that Grant “will be pressed to make this game.”

McCarthy has said all along that he would go with the hot hand at running back, and in order to get those carries, Grant needs to be on the field.

“Ryan Grant is an attempt runner. That’s what he is. He’s a bull. You’ve got to give him the ball; he gets better as the game moves forward,” McCarthy said. “I don’t think the defensive players probably enjoy tackling him a lot because it’s a blow-for-blow type running style. . He had a heck of a day and played through some pain.”

And given how much Starks struggled against the Bears, Grant recognizes there is an opening for him to reinforce in the coaches’ minds that he deserves more playing time.

“Coaches know that it’s not about what you did in the past; it’s about what you do in the present,” he said. “So how I played (against Chicago), if I started out that way against Denver, that’d dictate how the game goes. Especially how our run game is with (McCarthy). His confidence in the run games builds if we start fast as a team running the ball. … Trust me, if I can go, if they allow me to go, I’m going to go.”

Notes: Grant and right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) both sat out practice for the second consecutive day. They will be evaluated again on Friday. . Outside linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps) and cornerback Pat Lee (back) returned to work on a limited basis. . Linebacker Jamari Lattimore was added to the injury report with a shoulder injury. . Injured defensive end Mike Neal, out since Aug. 16 with a knee injury, said he’s hoping to return before the team’s Oct. 30 bye week.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Ryan Grant(notes) spent all of last season trying to get
back on the field. Now that he’s there, he doesn’t want to leave—even with a
bruised kidney.

The Green Bay Packers running back is unlikely to play Sunday against the
Denver Broncos after sustaining the injury late in the Packers’ 27-17 victory
over the Chicago Bears.

“I feel fine,” said Grant, who left Soldier Field in an ambulance as a
precaution following his 17-carry, 92-yard performance in the Packers’ 27-17
victory over the Chicago Bears last Sunday. “I guess that doesn’t mean
anything.”

After missing the team’s run to the Super Bowl with a season-ending ankle
injury in the 2010 opener at Philadelphia, Grant was the Packers’ starting
running back in name only during the first two games this year. In those two
games combined, second-year back James Starks(notes) – the savior of the running game
late last season – played 82 snaps to Grant’s 32; while Starks gained 142 yards
on 21 carries, Grant carried 15 times for 65 yards.

Against the Bears, Grant got an opportunity and ran with it. He had six runs
of double-digit yards and two more 9-yarders, shining on plays designed for his
one-cut-and-go running style. Starks carried 11 times for 5 net yards and lost a
fumble.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Grant said. “I think it’s even harder
because of me sitting out so many games last year. I don’t want to miss a game
at all. But I kind of have no say in this. It is what it is.”

With 11 minutes left in the game, Grant took a helmet in the back from Bears
linebacker Brian Urlacher(notes), and in obvious pain he went to the sideline, where he
collapsed to his knees. But when the Packers offense went back on the field four
minutes later, there was Grant, who wound up carrying the ball three more times.
When he got back to the locker room, he went to the bathroom and saw blood in
his urine.

“I’m like, `Oh, that can’t be good,”’ Grant said.

After the hospital trip, Grant wound up coming home to Green Bay separate
from his teammates. By Wednesday, coach Mike McCarthy was talking as if Grant is
a longshot to play against the Broncos.

“What happens a lot of times when you have injuries and then players are
trying to get ready to play, they’re of the opinion they’ll be ready to go by
Sunday,” McCarthy said. “Our medical staff is not of the same opinion.”

McCarthy said Grant will have until Friday to show that he’s healthy enough
to play, but he quickly added that Grant “will be pressed to make this game.”

McCarthy has said all along that he would go with the hot hand at running
back, and in order to get those carries, Grant needs to be on the field.

“Ryan Grant is an attempt runner. That’s what he is. He’s a bull. You’ve
got to give him the ball; he gets better as the game moves forward,” McCarthy
said. “I don’t think the defensive players probably enjoy tackling him a lot
because it’s a blow-for-blow type running style. . He had a heck of a day and
played through some pain.”

And given how much Starks struggled against the Bears, Grant recognizes
there is an opening for him to reinforce in the coaches’ minds that he deserves
more playing time.

“Coaches know that it’s not about what you did in the past; it’s about what
you do in the present,” he said. “So how I played (against Chicago), if I
started out that way against Denver, that’d dictate how the game goes.
Especially how our run game is with (McCarthy). His confidence in the run games
builds if we start fast as a team running the ball. … Trust me, if I can go,
if they allow me to go, I’m going to go.”

Notes: Grant and right tackle Bryan Bulaga(notes) (knee) both sat out practice for
the second consecutive day. They will be evaluated again on Friday. . Outside
linebacker Clay Matthews(notes) (quadriceps) and cornerback Pat Lee(notes) (back) returned to
work on a limited basis. . Linebacker Jamari Lattimore(notes) was added to the injury
report with a shoulder injury. . Injured defensive end Mike Neal(notes), out since Aug.
16 with a knee injury, said he’s hoping to return before the team’s Oct. 30 bye
week.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Ryan Grant(notes) spent all of last season trying to get
back on the field. Now that he’s there, he doesn’t want to leave—even with a
bruised kidney.

The Green Bay Packers running back is unlikely to play Sunday against the
Denver Broncos after sustaining the injury late in the Packers’ 27-17 victory
over the Chicago Bears.

“I feel fine,” said Grant, who left Soldier Field in an ambulance as a
precaution following his 17-carry, 92-yard performance in the Packers’ 27-17
victory over the Chicago Bears last Sunday. “I guess that doesn’t mean
anything.”

After missing the team’s run to the Super Bowl with a season-ending ankle
injury in the 2010 opener at Philadelphia, Grant was the Packers’ starting
running back in name only during the first two games this year. In those two
games combined, second-year back James Starks(notes) – the savior of the running game
late last season – played 82 snaps to Grant’s 32; while Starks gained 142 yards
on 21 carries, Grant carried 15 times for 65 yards.

Against the Bears, Grant got an opportunity and ran with it. He had six runs
of double-digit yards and two more 9-yarders, shining on plays designed for his
one-cut-and-go running style. Starks carried 11 times for 5 net yards and lost a
fumble.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Grant said. “I think it’s even harder
because of me sitting out so many games last year. I don’t want to miss a game
at all. But I kind of have no say in this. It is what it is.”

With 11 minutes left in the game, Grant took a helmet in the back from Bears
linebacker Brian Urlacher(notes), and in obvious pain he went to the sideline, where he
collapsed to his knees. But when the Packers offense went back on the field four
minutes later, there was Grant, who wound up carrying the ball three more times.
When he got back to the locker room, he went to the bathroom and saw blood in
his urine.

“I’m like, `Oh, that can’t be good,”’ Grant said.

After the hospital trip, Grant wound up coming home to Green Bay separate
from his teammates. By Wednesday, coach Mike McCarthy was talking as if Grant is
a longshot to play against the Broncos.

“What happens a lot of times when you have injuries and then players are
trying to get ready to play, they’re of the opinion they’ll be ready to go by
Sunday,” McCarthy said. “Our medical staff is not of the same opinion.”

McCarthy said Grant will have until Friday to show that he’s healthy enough
to play, but he quickly added that Grant “will be pressed to make this game.”

McCarthy has said all along that he would go with the hot hand at running
back, and in order to get those carries, Grant needs to be on the field.

“Ryan Grant is an attempt runner. That’s what he is. He’s a bull. You’ve
got to give him the ball; he gets better as the game moves forward,” McCarthy
said. “I don’t think the defensive players probably enjoy tackling him a lot
because it’s a blow-for-blow type running style. . He had a heck of a day and
played through some pain.”

And given how much Starks struggled against the Bears, Grant recognizes
there is an opening for him to reinforce in the coaches’ minds that he deserves
more playing time.

“Coaches know that it’s not about what you did in the past; it’s about what
you do in the present,” he said. “So how I played (against Chicago), if I
started out that way against Denver, that’d dictate how the game goes.
Especially how our run game is with (McCarthy). His confidence in the run games
builds if we start fast as a team running the ball. … Trust me, if I can go,
if they allow me to go, I’m going to go.”

Notes: Grant and right tackle Bryan Bulaga(notes) (knee) both sat out practice for
the second consecutive day. They will be evaluated again on Friday. . Outside
linebacker Clay Matthews(notes) (quadriceps) and cornerback Pat Lee(notes) (back) returned to
work on a limited basis. . Linebacker Jamari Lattimore(notes) was added to the injury
report with a shoulder injury. . Injured defensive end Mike Neal(notes), out since Aug.
16 with a knee injury, said he’s hoping to return before the team’s Oct. 30 bye
week.

The Green Bay Packers insisted that they didn’t spend their offseason and the lockout celebrating their Super Bowl victory from last season. They also claimed that they didn’t need to use their time off preparing for this season.

From the looks of things, they were right.

The Packers looked every bit as the best team in the NFL, as they scored at will in beating the New Orleans Saints 42-34 Thursday night in the NFL Kickoff.

Although the Packers did have some mishaps on defense – allowing the Saints to amass 477 yards of offense – they appear to be the total package.

That’s why they open the season as the top ranked team in The Times-Picayune Power Rankings. Following the Packers are the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, who happen to be the Saints opponent Sunday.

1. Green Bay Packers 1-0 Defending Super Bowl champs pick up where they left off.

2. New England Patriots 1-0 QB Tom Brady still the best in the game.

3. Philadelphia Eagles 1-0 They may not be the “Dream Team” but the Eagles are good.

4. Baltimore Ravens 1-0 Scored the most impressive win of the opening week.

5. Chicago Bears 1-0 Let’s not forget the Bears were in the NFC title game last year.

6. New York Jets 1-0 Hint to opposing teams: Stay away from Darrelle Revis.

7. New Orleans Saints 0-1 Despite the loss, Saints remain one of the NFC’s best.

8. Houston Texans 1-0 This should finally be the Texans’ year.

9. San Diego Chargers1-0 Needed a comeback victory to avoid another slow start.

10. Detroit Lions 1-0 The Lions are growing up before our eyes.

11. Phittsburgh Steelers 0-1 They didn’t look like the Steelers of old vs. the Ravens.

12. Atlanta Falcons 0-1 Falcons were flat out sloppy in loss to the Bears.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-0 Jags bottled up Titans RB Chris Johnson.

14. Washington Redskins 1-0 OK, so the Redskins aren’t as bad as we thought.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-1 Bucs will not have it as easy as they did a year ago.

16. Dallas Cowboys 0-1 Nothing has changed, Tony Romo still makes critical mistakes.

17. New York Giants 0-1 The Giants continue to trip over themselves.

18. Arizona Cardinals 1-0 LSU boys came through for the Cardinals.

19. Oakland Raiders 1-0 Hue Jackson got his first win as an NFL coach.

20. St. Louis Rams 0-1 Rams need Sam Bradford to heal in a hurry.

21. Minnesota Vikings 0-1 They’ll need more than 39 passing yards from McNabb.

22. San Francisco 49ers 1-0 That’s what I call a special (teams) win.

23. Buffalo Bills 1-0 QB Ryan Fitzpatrick played like his name was Brady or Brees.

24. Cincinnati Bengals 1-0 Cedric Benson ran like a free man. Oh, I almost forgot, he is one.

25. Miami Dolphins 0-1 Dolphins still have problems in their secondary.

26. Seattle Seahawks 0-1 Perhaps they should spend extra time in practice covering kicks.

27. Tennessee Titans 0-1 Chris Johnson shouldn’t be held in check every week.

28. Denver Broncos 0-1 Fans are already clamoring for a Tebow appearance.

29. Carolina Panthers 0-1 Cam Newton looked like he might be ready.

30. Cleveland Browns 0-1 Browns suffered stunning loss at home.

31. Indianapolis Colts 0-1 Who would have believed Colts were this bad without Peyton Manning?

32. Kansas City Chiefs 0-1 Embarrassed by the Bills of all teams.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Ready or not, here comes the regular season.

Barely a month after the start of training camp and after four preseason games in which Aaron Rodgers played about a full game’s worth of possessions, the Super Bowl XLV-champion Green Bay Packers completed their preseason on Thursday night by beating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-19. A week from now, the stakes will be much, much higher with a season-opening, made-for-TV showdown Sept. 8 against the Super Bowl XLIV-champion New Orleans Saints.

“Absolutely, we’ll be ready,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Yeah, we’re ready.”

Even with a lockout that robbed him of his beloved offseason program, McCarthy barely deviated from his typical preseason formula. A week after playing the first half at Indianapolis, the starters played one series against the Chiefs before giving way to dozens of players fighting for their professional livelihoods.

Or, better put, most of the starters played one series. Nine projected starters were given the night off because of injuries or, in the case of Pro Bowlers Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings, Nick Collins and Clay Matthews, to rest for games of infinitely greater importance. The team’s top five receivers got the night off, with Jennings joined on the sideline by Donald Driver (ankle), Jordy Nelson (knee), James Jones (knee) and Randall Cobb (knees). Also sitting was star tight end Jermichael Finley (ankle).

The starters were sharp during their cameo appearance. The No. 1 defense allowed one first down before undrafted rookie linebacker Vic So’oto, who likely solidified a roster spot, sacked Matt Cassel on third down to force a punt. The offense promptly drove 56 yards in eight plays for a touchdown, even with all of Rodgers’ top pass-catching weapons on the sideline. On the first snap, Ryan Grant blew through a huge hole on the right side for a 23-yard gain. Later, on third and 9, Rodgers sidestepped reigning AFC sacks champion Tamba Hali and hit undrafted rookie receiver Tori Gurley for 12 yards and a first down at the 8. One play later, Rodgers found tight end Tom Crabtree for a touchdown.

“I thought (the starters) were sharp; I thought they were sharp last week except for a handful of plays,” McCarthy said. “Hopefully when we watch the tape, we’re going to say we eliminated those couple of plays. Indianapolis, the first group did a lot of positive things, but the three or four negative plays put a damper on our performance. Even though we only played one series, I thought we were sharp.”

In four preseason games, Rodgers completed 78.7 percent of his passes with four touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 130.1. As long as he’s healthy, the Packers are prime contenders to become the ninth team in the Super Bowl era to win back-to-back championships. Grant, who carried four times for 31 yards against the Chiefs, looks like he’s back in form after missing all but about 20 minutes of last season with an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery. Another player who missed most of last season is Finley, who has flashed his game-breaking potential during limited preseason action. With Finley, Grant and the rookie Cobb, the Packers’ potent offense looks even more dangerous.

The offensive line, however, remains a major question mark. On his four passes, Rodgers felt the heat twice, including when Hali beat Pro Bowl left tackle Chad Clifton to the inside on the third-down pass to Gurley. And that’s on the heels of Clifton allowing two sacks and a quarterback hit and being flagged for holding at Indianapolis. At 35 and with a lengthy injury history, Clifton is one of the most important players on the roster because the Packers’ No. 2 line, in general, and first-round pick Derek Sherrod, in particular, performed so poorly during the preseason.

There are nagging concerns on defense, too. The Packers finished second in the NFL in sacks last season but lost standout defensive end Cullen Jenkins to NFC-rival Philadelphia in free agency. In the preseason, the Packers had a devil of a time getting to the quarterback. While defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ history suggests he can manufacture a pass rush regardless of the talent available, he’d prefer not to play that way because of the risk-reward of blitzing.

The strength of the defense, however, is its versatility. Want to run the ball? The Packers have three 340-pound defensive linemen and a rugged pair of inside linebackers. Want to pass the ball? They have arguably the NFL’s top trio of cornerbacks with Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields and a ballhawking safety in Collins. Plus, Matthews is among the league’s most-feared pass rushers.

“I’m feeling confident. I like where we are right now,” said Ryan Pickett, one of those big defensive linemen. “We kind of got back in the groove real quick (in training camp) and it felt like we never missed time, honestly. Just talking with the fellas, everything came together pretty quickly. Getting our plays, picking up tempo at practice, cutting down on mistakes — I think we did a pretty good job.”

Grant, too, believes the Packers are ready to go and eager to test themselves against one of the league’s powerhouses.

“It’s opening day, but it’s one of 16,” he said. “We want to set the stage and start the league off the right way and start our season off the right way.”

EDGARD — Back at home in Edgard, and in the midst of the NFL Lockout, Green Bay Packers’ fullback Quinn Johnson still speaks like a man with his mind set on one goal: the next one.

It could be his next workout. It could be making an impact at training camp once the players and owners settle. His next preseason game, then regular season, then playoff affairs.

One thing is clear when speaking to the former West St. John Ram and LSU Tiger: he’s not one to live in the past. Even if that immediate past includes a certain victory on the sporting world’s biggest stage: the Super Bowl.

“It definitely feels great,” said Johnson, fresh off of sponsoring the Rudolph Dinvaut Golf Tournament with former Rams and Tigers teammate and current NFL colleague Tyson Jackson. “But at the same time, this is only my second year. I want to get more rings. I take this one and appreciate what it took to earn. But I put it on the shelf. I have a lot more to accomplish.”

Johnson’s won championships at every major level now: prep, college, and the pros. But for awhile, it looked like he might have to wait on that last level.

Green Bay stumbled out the gate last season relative to its preseason expectations, beginning 3-3 — that included losses to eventual non-playoff teams like Washington and Miami, with another coming to archrival Chicago on Monday Night Football.

But then, here came the Packers, winners of four straight and immediately back in the conversation for home field throughout the playoffs, boating a 7-3 record as of a Nov. 28 matchup with Atlanta, the holder of the best record in the NFC at the time (and as it would finish).

Atlanta won what was a heartbreaker for the Packers, and two weeks later potential disaster struck when star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of a game at Detroit with a concussion. Green Bay lost that one, then another close game a week later at New England without Rodgers.

With six losses and the season on the brink, it was time, Johnson said, for things to change.

“We had a players only meeting,” he said. “And the main thing we got out of that was that people were starting to treat this like a job. We needed it to be fun, and we needed to go out and enjoy playing the game.”

Green Bay responded. It blew out the New York Giants and eeked out a win over Chicago in the season’s final game, 10-3, in a game Chicago didn’t need to win but tried to nonetheless to keep their rival out of the playoffs — a move that, in hindsight, may have indeed been the smart play for coach Lovie Smith.

Johnson’s Packers went through a whirlwind season in some ways. Yet, in others, it had a consistent calmness about it. Through it all Green Bay never trailed by more than seven points in any game of the season. Despite a record indicating the Packers as one of the league’s most inconsistent teams entering the postseason fray as the sixth and final NFC seed, Green Bay’s level of play stayed even.

In the playoffs, Green Bay defeated Philadelphia in a rematch of its season opener, then asserted themselves as a favorite when it decimated top-seeded Atlanta 48-21 in the Georgia Dome. Green Bay advanced to the Super Bowl with a 21-14 rubber match win over Chicago. Johnson helped pave the way – rookie James Starks, who wasn’t active until late in the season, saw his first real extensive action and piled up 263 yards over three games.

But before the Packers would take the field to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, Johnson received some disappointing news: he would not be active for the game. The Steelers run defense was the best in football by far, allowing just 62 yards per game — no other team allowed less than 90 per. The Packers, then, went in with a plan to spread the field and attack Pittsburgh’s secondary — the collateral damage was that it deemphasized the fullback position.

Johnson took it in stride.

“I didn’t find out until the day of the game, but I knew it was a possibility,” said Johnson. “I can’t say I was happy. But looking at it, if that’s what it took for us to win the Super Bowl, then I’m on board.”

That’s what the Packers did. Despite losing multiple key players to injury, Green Bay held off a late Steeler rally to win 31-25.

Even as the Packers became more and more depleted even as he saw his team’s 21-3 lead dwindle to 28-25, and even as Ben Roethlisberger and the Steeler offense took over with two minutes left with a chance to win, Johnson said his confidence would not waiver.

“I never thought we’d lose,” he said. “No matter what is going on, you don’t count yourselves out. You expect someone to make a play.”

For Johnson, it’s now on to this season. The Packers are slated to open the regular season as defending champions with a high profile matchup at Lambeau Field — the New Orleans Saints come to town for a clash of the last two Super Bowl champions.

Many from this area would likely be awestruck by such a contest — after all, most grew up Saints fans, so the season opener almost seems like a dream scenario.

But Johnson said that it’s not his way to get caught up in the hype.

“I don’t look at us as the defending champions. I look at it like, okay, it’s another season. There is no champion, it’s up in the air and we have to earn it again. I don’t look at rankings, I don’t even look at our schedule. I just want to know who we play next.”

But even for the focused man who ignores the hype, one bit of off-field attention did indeed touch his heart: the outpouring of support from his family and friends in Edgard, many of whom made the trek to Dallas sporting Quinn-themed shirts.

“It came kind of as a shock,” he said. “It still feels surreal, just seeing everyone so excited about it. But it brought everyone together. And, to me, that what was more exciting about it than anything.”