Packer Notes: Injuries, Historic Performances, and The Rivalry

The Green Bay Packers are playing in the NFC Championship game next Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CST in Chicago (against the Bears). I'm sure we all know this by now, but it's worth noting at the top of the page. Plus, it's great to have an excuse to write "NFC Championship game". 

Mike McCarthy mentioned two injuries to watch this week. FB John Kuhn suffered a stinger on his touchdown reception at the end of the third quarter. It looked like he took a helmet-to-helmet hit and suffered a concussion, but it's reported as a stinger. Also, CB Pat Lee was injured for the umpteenth time and we'll have to see if he practices this week.

Kevin Seifert said QB Aaron Rodgers's performance on Saturday was historic ("Rodgers' 81.6 completion percentage was the fifth-best in NFL postseason history, and he became the first quarterback to throw 10 touchdown passes in his first three playoff games"). Also from the NFC North blog, Rodgers has thrown 25 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in games when the temperature is below 30 degrees. Meanwhile, the Press-Gazette reported that his teammates can't stop gushing about Rodgers's performance. 

From many sources, here's from JS Online, this is the Packers and Bears first meeting since 1941 (for whatever that's worth). And while I agree with Kevin Seifert that there won't be a lot of trash talk, I think that's because both head coaches don't want to hear it. Rodgers and Cutler are friends, but I don't believe that means everyone is friends. Lovie Smith has made it known every year since he was hired as the Bears head coach how important it is to beat the Packers.