A look at the team’s remaining opponents and their chances of ruining Green Bay’s perfect season

The Packers are 11-0 but still have five games left until they have the chance to be undefeated for the season. And their remaining opponents are not all going to be easy wins, as four of the five remaining teams have winning records so far this year. And while the Packers are certainly playing like the best team in the NFL, they still have a long way to go until they put together a perfect season.

Here are the final five teams the Packers face this season, and their chances of spoiling the Packers’ run at perfection.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Erik Walden spent the weekend in jail and could make an appearance in Brown County Circuit Court Monday.

Walden was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony domestic violence/substantial battery. He’s accused of assaulting his girlfriend at their apartment near Green Bay. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, court was closed for the weekend and Walden stayed in jail.

Authorities say Walden’s girlfriend called police early Friday and was treated for injuries at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.

The 26-year-old Walden started all 11 games this season and played in the team’s 27-15 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Lions. The team flew back from Detroit after the game and players were home by Thursday evening.

The Green Bay Packers (10-0) travel to Detroit to take on the Lions (7-3) on Thanksgiving Day November 24th, 2011. It will be the 20th time the two teams have played each other in Detroit on Thanksgiving, with the Lions holding a 11-7-1 lead in the series.

The last time the Packers were 10-0 was in 1962. Just like this year, they were the defending NFL champions, and played the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day in their 11th game of the season. On that Thanksgiving Day at old Tiger Stadium, the Lions dominated the game, sacking quarterback Bart Starr 10 times and holding the Packers to just 122 total yards. Detroit had a 23-0 lead at halftime and led 26-0 after three quarters. Green Bay scored two fourth quarter touchdowns but it was too little too late and the Lions beat the Packers 26-14. It was Green Bay’s only loss of the season. The Packers won their last three regular season games and beat the New York Giants in the NFL Championship game for their second straight NFL title.

This year’s game figures to be a high scoring affair. Green Bay is averaging 35.5 points per game, tops in the NFL, while Detroit is third with 30.1. Both teams score more via the passing game. Detroit’s leading receiver is Calvin Johnson with 974 yards and 11 touchdowns but quarterback Matthew Stafford has plenty of other targets. In the Lions’ victory over the Carolina Panthers November 20th, Stafford threw five touchdown passes to five different receivers other than Johnson.

Stafford could be a major headache for a Packer defense that has been giving up too many yards this season. The Packers are 30th in the NFL in yards allowed at 391.8, but they have made big plays on defense (including a league leading 19 interceptions) when it counts. Stafford is emerging as a very good quarterback with 25 touchdown passes so far, but he also has 10 interceptions and does not run well. Green Bay must put pressure on Stafford and force him to make mistakes.

The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers has 31 touchdown passes and is a leading candidate for league MVP. The Lions’ pass defense has played well, allowing 192.8 yards per game, fifth best in the league. They have also made 15 interceptions. But if the offensive line can give him any kind of decent protection, Rodgers should do fine. The Packers have an abundance of capable receivers, and Rodgers leads all quarterbacks with a 72.3 percent completion rate. The fact that he has thrown just four interceptions is an huge factor in the Packers’ success. Rodgers stays calm and doesn’t force things and make mistakes.

The 2011 Packers have a chance to win their 11th straight game in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day against a very good Lions team, something that even the Vince Lombardi coached 1962 Packers could not do. For a Green Bay Packers fan, it couldn’t be scripted any better than this.

A lifelong Wisconsin resident, Mark Hudziak is a Featured Contributor in Sports for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. He has been a Green Bay Packers fan since the Vince Lombardi era.

Sources:

Pro-football-reference.com

Yahoo! Sports NFL

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GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren’t just out to give the Green Bay Packers a scare in the middle of their perfect season.

   Raheem Morris and his team really thought they had a chance to hand the reigning Super Bowl champions their first loss of the season. And until Aaron Rodgers’ deep pass ended up in the arms of wide receiver Jordy Nelson for a game-clinching 40-yard touchdown, it looked like the Buccaneers had a chance.

   Josh Freeman threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, LeGarrette Blount bounced off tacklers all day on his way to a 107-yard rushing performance and the Buccaneers’ late rally came up just short in a 35-26 loss to the Packers on Sunday.

   “I felt great about the whole game,” Morris said. “Our guys did a nice job competing. We came out and played the way we wanted to play. We played aggressive. We played hard and tried to get a win. Try to steal one from the champs.”

   The Buccaneers (4-6) have lost four straight, but this wasn’t anything like being blown out at home by Houston last week.

   “I thought we were going to come back and win it,” wide receiver Mike Williams said. “It just happened we fell short today.”

   Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth didn’t want to hear about moral victories.

   “There is no moral victory,” Haynesworth said. “Moral victory is for teams that are not that good and go out and play OK against another team. This team is good and we have a lot of talent.”

   With a 10-0 record going into a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit, the Packers remain perfect, even if their quarterback walked away expecting much more from himself. Rodgers threw for 299 yards with three touchdowns, including a pair to Nelson, but wasn’t happy with the way he played.

   “I’m just frustrated,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t throw the ball very well. I’m not trying to be ridiculously humble right now, I’m just frustrated. The ball wasn’t coming out the way I wanted it to today.”

   Some of the credit goes to an aggressive Tampa Bay defense that Rodgers said played more man-to-man coverage than the Packers are used to seeing.

   “We weren’t going to be played scared regardless of how good they are,” cornerback Ronde Barber said. “They put their pads on the same way we do. They got a lot of good players, so do we. We are in it to win. There is no sitting back and letting it happen. We were going to go get them. We tried, gave ourselves a great opportunity. Get one more third stop on their touchdown, I think we win this game. It was the one stop we didn’t get.”

   Tampa Bay was penalized nine times for 55 yards, but Morris wasn’t using it as an excuse.

   “Penalties are what they are, they are judgment calls and the judgment went against us a lot of times,” Morris said. “It is what it is.”

   The Buccaneers trailed by only four and seemed to have some momentum when they tried a surprise onside kick before halftime. After a replay review gave the ball to Green Bay at Tampa Bay’s 38, Rodgers drove for a 5-yard touchdown to Nelson that gave the Packers a 21-10 lead.

   Tampa Bay then had a touchdown taken off the board in the third quarter when Kellen Winslow was called for offensive pass interference. The Buccaneers settled for a 32-yard field goal by Connor Barth.

   “I really felt we made enough to plays to beat those guys,” Winslow said. “It is hard to win when you put the game in the refs’ hands.”

   The Buccaneers’ defense got a stop, and Freeman directed an eight-play, 91-yard scoring drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams. Tampa Bay tried to tie it with a 2-point conversion, but Winslow — who had a pair of big gains on the drive — dropped a catchable ball in the end zone.

   Packers running back James Starks did the majority of the work in an eight-play, 85-yard scoring drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kuhn.

   But the Buccaneers got another chance when Rodgers threw an interception to Elbert Mack — only Rodgers’ fourth pick this season — and Freeman threw a 37-yard pass to Arrelious Benn to set up first-and-goal at the 2.

   Freeman then threw a touchdown to Dezmon Briscoe and the Buccaneers kicked the extra point to cut the Packers’ lead to 28-26 with 4:25 left.

   Tampa Bay tried another onside kick, but the Packers recovered and Rodgers found Nelson to put the game away.

   Morris knew he might get second-guessed for the onside kicks but wasn’t apologizing.

   “We wanted to get the ball and win,” Morris said. “We are not going to apologize for being aggressive. When you play the Green Bay Packers, you’ve got to play aggressive, you’ve got to go out and make plays. (You’ve) got to steal possessions.”

   (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

   APTV 11-20-11 1954EST

In week 10, I was a perfect 2-0 as both the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears won their games decisively. Rather than taking a moment to gloat however, I will look ahead to the games on tap for the NFC North division in week 11. Here we go.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Oakland Raiders:

Being that the Vikings have struggled this season, it would be difficult for me to predict them to win against any team at this juncture. This is especially true after watching them lose 45-7 to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. On the other side, we have the Oakland Raiders, who are currently the only team in their division with a winning record at 5-4. While nothing about either team blows me away, I think the Raiders have enough talent to win against a Vikings’ team that has fallen on hard times this year.

Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers:

The Panthers lost to the Tennessee Titans last week while the Detroit Lions came up a bit short in Chicago. With the exception of last week, the Panthers were usually a team that played their opponents pretty close until the late stages of the game. After starting the season at 5-0, the Lions have dropped three of their last four games, so I expect them to come out playing with a sense of urgency. While the Lions are only 2-2 at home, they need to win this game to stay in the playoff hunt. With that being said, Detroit should win this one.

Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

It almost seems unfair to discuss this game because most of us already know what the outcome will be. Even though the Packers’ defense has been less than stellar, no has been able to hold their offense in check, which is a big reason as to why they are 9-0. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, have been an up and down team that plays well one week and not so great the next.

The Packers have averaged over 30 points per game and have won every contest by at least six points. While it is too early to starting discussing an undefeated season, they definitely will beat the Buccaneers this week. I’m going on record by saying they will win by at least 10 points.

Chicago Bears vs. San Diego Chargers:

A few weeks ago, the Chargers were sitting pretty at 4-2 while the Bears were at 2-3. Now it seems that the both teams have gone in opposite directions. The Chargers have dropped to 4-5, while the Bears have won four straight, including an impressive 37-13 romp over the Lions last week.

The Bears’ offensive line has come a long way since the beginning of the season. They have done a better job of protecting Jay Cutler(notes) and creating running lanes for Matt Forte(notes) as well. The defense has also been a force over the past few weeks, making Chicago a formidable opponent on both sides of the ball.

Despite the trends coming into this game, the final result could go either way with both teams fighting for playoff spots in their conference. While the Chargers have shown the ability to be explosive at times, I see the Bears extending their wining streak to five games.

James Tillman is a resident of the Chicago-land area, who has been an NFL fan for over 20 years. James is also a fan blogger on Yahoo! Sports and NJFFL Dynasty. For interesting discussions about the NFL, NBA and MLB, follow him on Twitter @jtillman9693.

Source:

Week 11 Scores and Predictions

http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#10

http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings

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The Green Bay Packers are the NFL’s only undefeated team heading into Week 11 of the 2011-12 season. That being said, they still have three players who’ve missed multiple games with lingering injuries that could potentially give this team a boost in the upcoming months. Those players include Mike Neal(notes), Frank Zombo(notes) and Chad Clifton(notes).

The Packers have had some pass-protection issues after Clifton suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons on October 9, 2011. Mike McCarthy finally has a timeframe for when he can expect his offensive tackle to return to the playing field. According to McCarthy:

“I would have to say he’s not going to make it this week (Tampa Bay), Detroit would be a push and the Giants would probably be realistic if he stays on schedule.”

I’d love to have Clifton back for that road contest against the New York Giants. The Giants feature Osi Umenyiora(notes) and Justin Tuck(notes). When healthy, they’re one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing tandems. The Giants lead the NFL with 30 sacks. That’s with injuries to Umenyiora and Tuck for much of the season.

Marshall Newhouse(notes) has been filling-in for Clifton during his injury. He’s also filled-in for Bryan Bulaga(notes) this season. Newhouse has struggled against top-tier defensive ends like Jared Allen(notes). That’s troublesome when one considers that the Packers play in a division with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. The offense is also adjusting to T.J. Lang(notes). Lang replaced Daryn Colledge(notes) after Colledge signed with the Arizona Cardinals during free agency.

The Packers are averaging over 35 points per game in their first nine games. Despite that, Aaron Rodgers(notes) has been sacked 16 times in the past five games. He’s also needed to scramble more to avoid the pass rush.

The concern isn’t how effective can this offense be with the current state of the offensive line; it’s Rodgers’ long-term health as the postseason approaches. That’s always a concern from someone who had two concussions in the span of fewer than three months last season.

The Packers need to improve their pass protection for the stretch run. They have two games against the Lions, one against the Giants and one against the Bears. These teams have some of the NFL’s best defensive lines. They generally rely on a four-man pass rush to get pressure on the quarterback. Any deficiencies in the offensive line could make things difficult for Rodgers and the Packers’ offense moving forward.

The most important thing is that they don’t rush Clifton back into the starting lineup. It’s more important that he’s healthy for the playoffs than at a run for 16-0. It’s still good that Newhouse has gotten the extra experience because Clifton could retire as soon as next season.

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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Charles Woodson spoke candidly last week about the Green Bay Packers’ pass defense, acknowledging its weaknesses and making one specific suggestion for improvement. All-Pro linebacker Clay Matthews is sitting at three sacks through eight games, and Woodson implored coaches to “find ways to get Clay to the quarterback.” He added: “We can’t continue to allow him to be stuck on a side and double-teamed every time he gets upfield.”

So as the Packers prepared for Monday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, it seemed fair to examine how the Packers have used Matthews this season. Are there, in fact, ways to elevate his sack totals to reduce pressure on Woodson and the rest of the Packers’ secondary? It might not be a critical factor against the Vikings’ run-oriented offense Monday night, but the issue rests atop a short list of questions the Packers must answer as they pursue a second consecutive Super Bowl championship.

According to numbers from ESPN Stats & Information, and by Matthews’ own observation, Woodson has a strong point.

Matthews has lined up as the Packers’ left outside linebacker, over the opponent’s right tackle, on 95.6 percent of the snaps he’s played this season. The chart provides the details, but suffice it to say, Matthews’ pre-snap positioning has been more predictable than in recent seasons. As a result, Matthews said this week, he has “absolutely” faced more double teams in 2011.

“You’re definitely seeing more help in regards to bringing guards over or tight ends or backs that are chipping,” Matthews said. “It’s pretty obvious, but at the same time, that’s not an excuse. We have to continue to create pressure, whether it’s me or one of the interior linemen or the other outside linebacker. We have to find ways to get to the quarterback and take pressure off of our DBs.”

There are some football justifications for anchoring Matthews on the left side of the defense. He has proved adept against the run and in covering opposing tight ends, both of which are more likely to originate from that side of an opposing offense. Covering tight ends or running backs has separated Matthews from 20 percent of the pass plays he has been on the field for (72 of 360).

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers told reporters this week in Green Bay that “we try to be as creative with Clay as you can possibly be,” and that Matthews said it is “definitely a possibility” that he could move around more Monday night.

But for what it’s worth, coach Mike McCarthy has prioritized communication problems as the Packers’ top area of defensive concern — not Matthews’ pre-snap positioning. The Packers have had some well-chronicled coverage miscues in their secondary that have resulted in big plays, whether safeties have bitten on run fakes or provided coverage over the top to the wrong receiver.

And if Matthews is double-teamed more often, McCarthy said, he expects other players to take advantage of the corresponding opportunity.

“Our biggest improvement on defense is that we need to clean up some communication,” McCarthy said. “The recurring big issue we’ve had is giving up big plays. That’s what we’re focusing on. … Pass rush comes down to winning your one-on-ones. Someone is going to have a one-on-one situation, and anytime you do have a one-on-one to rush the passer, it’s important to win those.”

In an ideal world, of course, that would be a fair expectation. But after eight games of waiting for another pass-rusher to step up, the Packers’ best option remains neutralized. Even Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, speaking this week on his ESPN 540 radio show, acknowledged that “I don’t think we’ve had the same kind of pressure through the first eight games that we’ve had in the past.”

The Packers’ defense would improve immediately if it eliminates the communication issues McCarthy is concerned about. But Woodson wasn’t just talking about getting better. He wants to win the Super Bowl. The Packers need an active Clay Matthews to ensure that. The problem has been identified, and a possible solution floated. Will it happen? Stay tuned.

Aaron Rodgers(notes) is playing at an MVP level and the Green Bay Packers remain
undefeated. However, the spotty play of a generous defense is keeping them from
being completely satisfied.

The Packers hope to tighten up things on the defensive end and complete
their second straight season series sweep of the Minnesota Vikings on Monday
night at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay (8-0) is off to its best start since opening with 10 straight wins
in 1962, but the reigning Super Bowl champs have not been a complete team.

Thanks to Rodgers, the Packers are averaging an NFL-high 34.4 points per
game this season, and have won 14 in a row including postseason since losing
31-27 at New England last Dec. 19. Green Bay will now try for its 10th
consecutive win at Lambeau Field, where it has also won four of the last five
versus Minnesota (2-6).

The problem for the Packers of late has been on the defensive end. They rank
31st in pass defense (299.6 yards per game), 30th in total defense (399.6) and
17th in points per game allowed (22.4).

Despite returning a pair of interceptions for touchdowns last Sunday, Green
Bay allowed its most points of the season and almost blew a 21-point lead in a
45-38 win at San Diego.

“We’re 8-0. We’ve earned it,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “But we have
expectations and the level of play that not only the individual expects of
himself but what we expect of each position, each unit.”

The Packers have allowed a whopping 43 plays of 20 or more yards, including
two of the Chargers’ TDs last week.

“On defense, anyway, none of us are happy with the way we’re playing right
now,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “Certain segments we’re happy
with. So the only way you improve that is you go back to work and work that much
harder to get better.

“I think we can make significant improvement, I know that.”

The Packers gave up 435 total yards at Minnesota on Oct. 23, when they held
on for a 33-27 win. Adrian Peterson gained 175 of the Vikings season-high 218
rushing yards in that contest.

“We’ve shown on tape that if we execute, we can play with any team in this
league,” said Minnesota receiver Percy Harvin(notes), who expects to play Monday night
despite dealing with a rib injury he suffered against the Packers.

Minnesota might be able to move the ball versus Green Bay, but stopping
Rodgers is another story.

Rodgers completed 24 of 30 passes for 335 yards and three TDs last month
against Minnesota, and went 21 of 26 for 247 yards last week against the
Chargers, tossing four touchdowns to increase his NFL-leading total to 24.

“He is a special, special, special, special player,” said receiver Greg
Jennings(notes), who has caught six TD passes from Rodgers this season including four
over the last five games.

Jennings had seven receptions for 147 yards including a 79-yard catch and
run for a score at Minnesota last month. Rodgers has completed 68.9 percent of
his passes for 1,602 yards with 14 TDs and three interceptions in his last five
games against the Vikings.

His counterpart, Minnesota rookie Christian Ponder(notes), made his first career
start in the Oct. 23 loss, throwing for 219 yards with two touchdowns and two
interceptions to keep the Vikings competitive.

Ponder was 18 of 28 for 236 yards and a TD during Minnesota’s last game, a
24-21 win at Carolina on Oct. 30.

Coming off their bye week, the Vikings hope to maintain the momentum earned
from that victory and parlay it into an upset Monday night.

“You always have to be excited over improvement and build on it,” tight end
Visanthe Shiancoe(notes) said. “The excitement is going to cause the building process,
so it has to be there.”

With Peterson toting the ball, the Vikings at least have a chance to give
the Packers problems. Fourth in the NFL with 795 yards on the ground, Peterson
has averaged 110.3 and rushed for three TDs in his last three games at Lambeau.

The Green Bay Packers are much healthier than they were during the 2010-11 NFL season. Nick Collins(notes) is the only defensive player that has been lost for the entire season after he suffered a career-threatening neck injury against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Mike Neal(notes) has been out indefinitely after having knee surgery earlier in the season. Frank Zombo(notes) has had a plethora of injuries that have prevented him from playing an entire game.

Mike McCarthy informed the media in regards to the injuries on Neal and Zombo on November 7, 2011. McCarthy has already ruled out Zombo for the Packers’ Monday Night Football contest against the Minnesota Vikings on November 14. Zombo injured his hamstring against the San Diego Chargers. This is the third injury that he’s suffered since training camp began. His return is unknown.

McCarthy did have some encouraging news. Neal could return to practice this week. He’ll probably be unavailable to play for a couple-to-few more weeks. Still, the Packers could use another pass-rushing specialist on the defensive line. Neal was expected to be the successor to Cullen Jenkins(notes). Unfortunately, injuries have derailed the first two seasons of his career.

As the NFL’s only undefeated team and only one of two teams with fewer than two losses (8-0), the Packers have the luxury of taking fewer risks with playing injured players. The Packers have essentially played the entire regular season without Zombo and Neal. They really shouldn’t need them before their Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions in Week 12. They have home games against the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before that meeting.

I’m not sure what’s going on with Zombo. I’d really like to see Vic So’oto(notes) receive more playing time after his successful preseason. At the least, maybe he could share snaps with Erik Walden(notes). I’m losing confidence in Zombo because he can’t remain healthy. These injuries have occurred since last season. He certainly can’t be a starter unless he toughens up and/or improves his conditioning.

It’s been so convenient to have fewer injuries. It scares me because I wonder if they’re all due in the second half of the season. It’s just funny to see Alex Green(notes) and Collins as the only two significant players on injured reserve. Lawrence Guy(notes) and Shaky Smithson(notes) complete the 2011-12 injured-reserve report after nine weeks.

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The Green Bay Packers are much healthier than they were during the 2010-11 NFL season. Nick Collins(notes) is the only defensive player that has been lost for the entire season after he suffered a career-threatening neck injury against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Mike Neal(notes) has been out indefinitely after having knee surgery earlier in the season. Frank Zombo(notes) has had a plethora of injuries that have prevented him from playing an entire game.

Mike McCarthy informed the media in regards to the injuries on Neal and Zombo on November 7, 2011. McCarthy has already ruled out Zombo for the Packers’ Monday Night Football contest against the Minnesota Vikings on November 14. Zombo injured his hamstring against the San Diego Chargers. This is the third injury that he’s suffered since training camp began. His return is unknown.

McCarthy did have some encouraging news. Neal could return to practice this week. He’ll probably be unavailable to play for a couple-to-few more weeks. Still, the Packers could use another pass-rushing specialist on the defensive line. Neal was expected to be the successor to Cullen Jenkins(notes). Unfortunately, injuries have derailed the first two seasons of his career.

As the NFL’s only undefeated team and only one of two teams with fewer than two losses (8-0), the Packers have the luxury of taking fewer risks with playing injured players. The Packers have essentially played the entire regular season without Zombo and Neal. They really shouldn’t need them before their Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions in Week 12. They have home games against the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before that meeting.

I’m not sure what’s going on with Zombo. I’d really like to see Vic So’oto(notes) receive more playing time after his successful preseason. At the least, maybe he could share snaps with Erik Walden(notes). I’m losing confidence in Zombo because he can’t remain healthy. These injuries have occurred since last season. He certainly can’t be a starter unless he toughens up and/or improves his conditioning.

It’s been so convenient to have fewer injuries. It scares me because I wonder if they’re all due in the second half of the season. It’s just funny to see Alex Green(notes) and Collins as the only two significant players on injured reserve. Lawrence Guy(notes) and Shaky Smithson(notes) complete the 2011-12 injured-reserve report after nine weeks.

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The Green Bay Packers remained the NFL’s only undefeated team Sunday, beating the San Diego Chargers 45-38 with four touchdown passes from star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers threw touchdowns to Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Greg Jennings and the Packers ran back a pair of Philip Rivers interceptions for scores as Green Bay held on for the win despite a wild finish.

Rodgers completed 21 of 26 passes for 247 yards for the Packers who improved to 8-0. He has an NFL-high 24 TD passes.

“I think Aaron has a lot of strengths. His decision-making is clearly the highest level that I have personally been a part of,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of his Super Bowl MVP quarterback.

Green Bay built a 21 point lead in the final quarter but Rivers rallied the Chargers throwing two touchdown passes to Vincent Jackson in a span of 67 seconds to get his team within seven.

The Packers’ Charlie Peprah spoiled the Chargers bid to tie the game by intercepting Rivers in the final seconds.

Rivers tied his career high with four touchdown passes but also had three interceptions and San Diego (4-4) has now lost three consecutive games.

“We’re fighting through a rough time right now,” said Rivers. “These tough times, you find out a lot about guys, a lot about yourself.”

In the late game, Joe Flacco connected with Torrey Smith for a 26-yard touchdown pass with just eight seconds left, lifting the Baltimore Ravens to a dramatic 23-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I am excited about it,” Smith said. “I struggled a little bit throughout the game but my teammates kept saying ‘Next play, next play’.”

Smith capped the Ravens’ 92-yard game-winning drive by outracing the Steelers’ William Gay in the endzone as Baltimore halted the Steelers’ four-game win streak.

“I didn’t even know he caught it,” Flacco said. “I thought everybody was celebrating because of pass interference.”

Flacco finished with 298 yards passing and Baltimore swept the season series from the rival Steelers for the first time in five years.

In Foxborough, Massachusetts, Eli Manning finished off a decisive drive by throwing a one-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ballard with 15 seconds left as the New York Giants beat New England 24-20 Sunday.

The late rally brought back memories of the Giants’ comeback in the 2008 Super Bowl between the same two teams, when Manning engineered a 13-yard scoring drive to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left for a 17-14 win.

On Sunday, the Patriots appeared to be heading to victory after quarterback Tom Brady tossed a 14-yard scoring pass to Rob Gronkowski, making it 20-17 with 1:36 to go.

But New York answered with a long drive of their own that put the ball on the one-yard line with 30 seconds remaining on the clock.

Three plays later, Manning found Ballard in the end zone for the score.

“I knew we would win,” Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. “It definitely took me back to the Super Bowl.”

In Landover, Maryland, Frank Gore ran for 107 yards, and the NFL’s stingiest defence forced three turnovers as San Francisco beat Washington 19-11 to extend its winning streak to six games.

The 49ers now have their longest winning streak since 1997, improving to 7-1 on the season.

Washington dropped their fourth consecutive game. They snapped a drought of seven quarters without a touchdown when they scored with 1:10 to play.

In Kansas City, the Miami Dolphins won their first game of the season, dominating the Chiefs 31-3 behind quarterback Matt Moore’s three touchdown passes.

Moore threw for 244 yards and running back Reggie Bush rushed 92 yards for a touchdown.

In other games, Atlanta trounced Indianapolis 31-7, Dallas defeated Seattle 23-13 and the New York Jets stopped Buffalo 27-11.

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – The Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers held off a furious late fightback by the San Diego Chargers to extend their perfect start to the National Football League season with a nail-biting 45-38 victory Sunday.

Seemingly set for a crushing win when leading 45-24 in the final quarter, the Packers were stunned by two quick touchdowns as Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers twice connected with wide receiver Vincent Jackson in a 67-second span.

With the capacity crowd of 68,908 thundering its support for San Diego as they retained field advantage, the Packers nervously held on to become only the third defending Super Bowl champion to start the following season 8-0.

“It was probably a very entertaining game to watch. There was a lot of offense, no question about that,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy told reporters after his team improved to a perfect 6-0 all-time in San Diego.

“We need to clean things up communication-wise but we’re ecstatic to be 5-0 on the road this season. This is a big victory for us and we are very pleased at where we are.”

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers outplayed his error-prone opposite number Rivers, completing 21 of 26 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns on a wet, cool afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium.

Rivers threw two interceptions in the opening quarter, each of them leading to Green Bay touchdowns, and despite his cool head and late heroics, the Chargers lost their third game in a row to slip to 4-4.

Including the playoffs, the Packers have won 14 straight games — the longest winning streak ever for the franchise.

Rodgers, who leads the league with 24 touchdown passes this season, said the Super Bowl champions were far from complacent after their perfect start.

“I don’t think we’re ever satisfied,” he added. “Not being able to finish the game with the ball is something that we’re frustrated with. It was a little bit of a struggle out there at times, but we scored when we needed to.”

STRONG START

The Chargers, who began the day tied at the top of the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, made a strong start when Rivers connected with Jackson for a 23-yard touchdown after an eight-play opening drive.

However, the Packers immediately responded with a matching drive of eight plays that finished with Rodgers hitting tight end Jermichael Finley for a five-yard touchdown.

San Diego made their first costly blunder when a deep pass earmarked for All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates was intercepted by safety Charlie Peprah who weaved his way through the Chargers defense for a 40-yard touchdown.

A similar play followed less than three minutes later when another Rivers pass, intended for Patrick Crayton, was picked off by Tramon Williams and returned 43 yards for a touchdown.

The Chargers regained some poise soon after with a six-play drive in steady drizzle, fullback Mike Tolbert applying the perfect finish with a bullocking eight-yard run into the end zone to pull San Diego within seven points.

A Nick Novak field goal from a career-best 52 yards, after San Diego had been heavily defended by Green Bay for 10 plays, cut the deficit to 21-17 with 4:19 left in the first half.

But Green Bay wrested back control as they relentlessly drove forward in 12 plays before Rodgers hit wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who rolled over in the right corner for a 16-yard touchdown to put his team 28-17 up at halftime.

Though the Packers increased their lead with a 47-yard field goal by Crosby, the Chargers stormed back after a 12-play drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown for Gates to trail 31-24 going into the final quarter.

After Rodgers connected with wide receivers James Jones and Greg Jennings for two more touchdowns, the Chargers appeared to be dead and buried but Jackson’s scores from five and 29 yards within just over a minute set up the wild, breathless finish.

“When we really need to put some numbers up on the board, we can do that,” 2009 Pro Bowl selection Jackson said. “It’s definitely something for us to build on.”

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Frank Pingue)

SAN DIEGO — They’re the six words the stumbling, bumbling San Diego Chargers don’t need to be hearing right now: Here come the Green Bay Packers.

When the season started, today’s game between the defending Super Bowl champion Packers and the Chargers appeared to be a marquee matchup, perhaps even a Super Bowl preview.

Now, the Chargers are desperate for a win after two startling road flops. An upset of the undefeated Packers could save their season and, for the time being, appease the normally placid fans who are incensed with the Chargers’ performance. Most of the ire is aimed at coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith.

The Packers are 7-0 behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose offseason home is in Del Mar, just north of San Diego. The Chargers are 4-3 and in a three-way tie in the AFC West after their Monday night debacle at Kansas City, which followed a collapse against the New York Jets.

“We’ve got to move forward in a hurry,” said quarterback Philip Rivers, who keeps throwing the ball to the other guys and has fans wondering if his ineffectiveness is due to an undisclosed injury. “We’ve got a team that hasn’t lost a game since last December rolling in here. There’s no time to dwell on the past because we can’t change it. But we can have an impact on this game this weekend. It’s about as exciting as it gets, playing a team that hasn’t lost this season, won it all last year.”

The contrast between the franchises is as different as a sunny SoCal beach and the frozen Wisconsin landscape.

Rodgers has one Super Bowl ring. Rivers has none. The Packers have four Lombardi trophies to keep polished. The Bolts were blown out in their only Super Bowl appearance. Fans in Green Bay are dreaming about a perfect season. Chargers fans are simply hoping for a decisive victory over a good team.

Rodgers is confident and flinging the ball all over the place at record pace. Rivers, according to Turner, is pressing at times, as evidenced by his 11 interceptions and three lost fumbles, compared to seven TD passes.

Rivers doesn’t think he’s pressing, but his numbers suggest otherwise. Plus, there was his shocking fumbled snap in the final minute of regulation in a tie game at Kansas City Monday night, when the Chargers were driving for a sure score.

Instead, they lost 23-20 in overtime. A week earlier, the Chargers blew an 11-point halftime lead and lost 27-21 to the Jets after botching a two-minute drill.

But the QB isn’t the only one playing poorly.

Veteran left tackle Marcus McNeill committed six penalties on Monday while trying to fend off Tamba Hali. They were among the 12 penalties for 105 yards, giving San Diego 25 penalties for 200 yards in two games.

Second-year running back Ryan Mathews whiffed again on a blitz pickup, lost another fumble and was hurt again. That’s been his MO since he was drafted as LaDainian Tomlinson’s heir apparent. Other than Eric Weddle’s five interceptions, the defense hasn’t had a big impact.

“Philip is a great quarterback — everyone knows that. He’s obviously had some struggles this year but he’ll get through it,” Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji said.

“Hopefully it won’t be against us. He’s a good player and he’ll bounce back. They’re one of those teams that has so many weapons. We’ll have to be ready to play some football. They might come out and chase that complete game.”

The Chargers had nine players on the injury report Wednesday, including guard Kris Dielman, who will miss his second game due to a concussion, and running back Curtis Brinkley, who likely will sit out due to a concussion sustained Monday night.

Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips likely will sit again with a foot injury. Running back Mike Tolbert is expected to play after missing the Kansas City game.

Green Bay has trailed three times at halftime this year and rallied each time. Plus, they’re averaging 33 points a game.

Wide receiver James Jones thinks the Packers can stay on that pace.

“We don’t feel that too many defenses can stop us,” he said. “When we get stopped, we feel as an offense that we stopped ourselves. Whether it’s penalties, dropped balls, miscommunication, we feel like we’re doing it to ourselves.”