Finally, the NFL playoffs are starting to take shape. There are no divisions that are locked in a three-team race (unless you hold Norv Turner-like trust in the 5-7 Chargers out west). Outside of that confusing, media-savvy division, the rest of the NFL is shaking itself out and the last four weeks of the season hold great relevance. Here's the shake out for Week 14:

Atlanta at Carolina

The Atlanta Falcons sit in position for the playoffs, yearning for a Wild Card berth just one year after running away with the NFC South. One of the teams in their way is the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton is leading the Panther squad in just his first year under center for an NFL team. His transition has been rather seamless when compared to many rookie quarterbacks, as Cam has the Panthers on their first winning streak since October 2009. The Falcons simply cannot afford a loss, but travelling to Carolina will not make things easy. Their will during this late season playoff push will likely be the driving force behind the Falcons and their victory Sunday.

Chicago at Denver

The Tim Tebow show gets yet another visitor Sunday evening as the struggling Bears arrive in Denver. A few weeks ago the Bears were steadily chasing the Packers in the NFC North and the Broncos were making a heavily contested change at quarterback. Now, they own similar records and are taking much different paths to the playoffs. The Broncos are riding a five game winning streak while Chicago has lost two straight and has turned to Caleb Hanie to right the ship. Unfortunately Hanie is not quite the sea captain they were looking for and now, as it has in the past, the Bears will lean on their defense. Matt Forte may also be out for Chicago, making a road game in Denver even more difficult. However, Tebow has yet to face a defense like the Bears, a defense that is designed to stop an offense like the one presented by Denver. Look for Brian Urlacher and their fierce defense to get after the popular quarterback and get back into the playoff discussion.

NY Giants at Dallas

The Philadelphia Eagles were as much of a shoe-in for a division championship before the season as any team has been in recent memory. I think we all know that those predictions faded long ago and now the NFC East is up to New York and Dallas, the cream of the NFC East crop over the past few seasons. Eli Manning is drawing attention through his quality quarterback play, but those raves have produced four losses in as many weeks. Tony Romo, on the other hand, has handled his business against lower quality opponents in driving the Cowboys to the division lead. A victory at home Sunday night would add even more pressure to their New York rival. Ahmad Bradshaw is back and healthy for the Giants, and with him balancing their offense, they will likely even things up in the division lead.

The division leads in almost every division are certainly up for grabs. Only two have been claimed thus far and most will not be set in stone until Week 17 comes to a close. There is only one month until that checkpoint arrives, but with games like these each week, we are nowhere near the end.

After a thrilling 38-35 win against the New York Giants the undefeated Packers (12-0) return to Green Bay to take on the Oakland Raiders (7-5) Sunday afternoon. Last week's game turned out to be the toughest task yet for the Packers as it took a last-minute drive by Aaron Rodgers to set-up the game-winning field goal as time expired. In fact, the matchup was so thrilling that it received the highest rating for a nationally televised regular season game since 2007 (Patriots vs. Steelers). Not surprisingly, it turned out to be a classic quarterback duel between Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning as they faced two porous secondaries. Manning, who completed 23/40 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns, was barely outpaced by Rodgers' four touchdowns and 369 yards passing. Although both quarterbacks threw one interception, Manning's 'pick 6' to Clay Matthews was a devastating blow that New York could not overcome. While Green Bay's passing offense continued its dominance, the run game and defense were disappointings once again. Nonetheless, in what is becoming a recurring theme, the play of Aaron Rodgers and his receivers was enough to ensure the Packers their 18th victory in their last 18 games (including playoffs and the Super Bowl).

While the Packers sealed the NFC North Championship with a win last Sunday, conversely, the Raiders' playoff chances took a major blow with a humiliating defeat (34-14) to the Miami Dolphins. With the sudden resurgence of the Denver Tebows, the Raiders now find themselves in a tie atop the AFC West (they would currently lose the tiebreaker to Denver, too) with four games to play. This week, the Raiders take on the undefeated Packers while the Broncos face the Cutler-less Chicago Bears. The odds are already against the Raiders to make the playoffs, and a loss this week would further decrease the chances of a playoff bid for the Raiders (which would be their first since 2002). Clearly, this is a consequential game for the Raiders and you can bet head coach Hue Jackson will have Oakland geared up to play their best football on Sunday.

Injuries

The one thing that has held back the Oakland Raiders more than anything this year is injuries. It appears likely that the Raiders will be without their star running back Darren McFadden (in 5 games: 614 yards, 4 TDs) and two starting wide receivers, Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore. Additionally, the Raiders lost starting quarterback Jason Campbell to a collarbone injury which prompted the Carson Palmer trade. Throughout the season they have also sustained numerous injuries to their offensive line, secondary, and defensive line. Although injuries seem to be a legitimate excuse for the recent struggles of the Raiders, those complaints will largely fall on deaf ears of the Packers and their fans - who know all too well about frequent injuries. In fact, this week, the Packers may be without linebackers A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, guard Josh Sitton, and running back James Starks. While the Packers can seemingly plug in anyone (Dietrich-Smith, D.J. Smith, Francois, Saine, etc.) and still succeed, most NFL teams do not have that luxury. The reality of the situation is that the Raiders do not possess the talent or overall depth to match that of the Packers, and it could be very visible on Sunday.

Carson Palmer

As mentioned before, the Raiders were forced to scramble for a quarterback after Jason Campbell hurt his throwing shoulder in week 6. Their solution was trading for the much maligned Carson Palmer who successfully forced the Bengals into trading him. Prior to the season, Palmer threatened to retire unless the Bengals either traded him or released him. Neither the Bengals nor Palmer budged (the Bengals refused to appease Palmer and drafted Andy Dalton) and the 31-year-old former pro-bowl selection retired from football. After the death of long-time Raiders' owner Al Davis and a promising 4-2 start, the front office of Oakland decided they needed to find an adequate replacement for Campbell and salvage the season at all costs. They were able to convince the Bengals to trade Palmer after offering future first and second (which becomes a first if Oakland wins a playoff game this year) draft picks. Although it came at an extremely steep price, Carson Palmer gave the Raiders a legitimate quarterback with plenty of experience. The results thus far have been mixed in his first six games (55.9 completion %, 8 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 77.5) but it's reasonable to assume he will improve as he gets more comfortable with the new offense. With Oakland's respectable running attack (Michael Bush replaced McFadden and has run 686 yards and 6 TDs) and Green Bay's porous secondary, Carson Palmer will have an opportunity to post impressive numbers this week. In his career, Palmer has played the Packers twice and has come out victorious both times (as recently as 2009) posting 6 touchdowns, 422 yards, a 64.9 completion % and a quarterback rating of over 100. Obviously, things have changed drastically for both Palmer and the Packers and his challenge this week will be whether he can put up more points than Aaron Rodgers; a feat no opposing quarterback has accomplished this year.

Penalties

The Raiders are notorious for their rough and intimidating (often illegal) style of play. As a result, they are generally among the league leaders in penalties drawn every year, and this year is no aberration. In fact, the Raiders are currently on pace to set the record for the amount of penalties drawn in NFL history. Oakland has committed 119 penalties for 1,027 yards this season and is on a steady pace (159 penalties for 1,369 yards) to eclipse the 1998 Chiefs' elusive record of 158 penalties for 1,304 yards. To make matters worse, defensive tackle Richard Seymour got ejected last week for the second consecutive year for punching an opposing player and linebacker Rolando McClain was recently accused of threatening a man with a loaded gun. Lack of discipline has been a theme for the Raiders since their Super Bowl run in 2002 and unless things change in a hurry it may cost them an AFC West title. When considering the built up frustration from last week's blowout in Miami, Seymour's ejection, and McClain's incident as well as the increasing pressure created by Denver's resurgence, the Raiders will undoubtedly be fired up and filled with emotions on Sunday. Whether they filter that energy in a positive or negative manner may be the difference between a close game and a blowout at Lambeau. Whatever the case, it will make for a very entertaining matchup on Sunday.

Although it is not necessarily a 'must-win' for the Raiders on Sunday, another loss would severely diminish their playoff aspirations. The Packers still have home-field advantage (throughout the entire playoffs) and a perfect record to play for, but clearly their stakes are much lower. Oakland will have to play a nearly flawless game to have a chance to defeat the Packers at Lambeau, yet they possess the talent to pull off the upset. The things that have held back the Raiders all season - injuries, Carson Palmer's poor play, and penalties - will greatly factor into the final outcome of the game. If the Raiders can play tough and disciplined football, the Packers could face the realities of defeat for the first time in nearly a full calendar year. After all, as Al Davis would exclaim, the Raiders only have one simple goal on Sunday: to 'Just Win, Baby' (surprisingly, I think they will).

What do we have in the NFL? An undefeated, seemingly untouchable league leader in Green Bay, followed by a bunch of teams just hanging around. The Patriots sport a great offense, but were coming off a two game loosing streak just weeks ago. The Steelers seem to be the standout team in the AFC but just cannot get it done against the rival Ravens. Meanwhile, the Ravens puzzle the entire league by losing to Seattle and then beating the 49ers.

The NFC may have its division leaders straightened out but Detroit, Chicago and the New York Giants are all taking a dip towards mediocrity as the season comes to an end. A late season win can propel a team on a run to/through the playoffs (see 2010 Packers) and a late season loss can send a team spiraling towards evaluating the next draft class (see 2010 NY Giants). Week 13 offers a few chances for contenders to slip up and a few great games that may decide some of the unknown within the league.

Atlanta at Houston

The wildcard leading Falcons head west in search of their eighth victory and find a Houston team destined for the playoffs limping their way in. They are limping, not in the sense that they have been struggling to win, but because they cannot seem to stay healthy. Quarterback Matt Shaub is out for the season along with his backup Matt Lienart and Andre Johnson has been questionable for essentially the entire season. This game features two of the best running backs in the league, as well as two of the best run defenses in the league. Those matchups will likely even themselves out, leaving the quarterbacks to decide this one. Matt Ryan has not thrown an interception in two weeks and the Texans are leaning on either the newcomer T.J. Yates or the ageless wonder Jake Delhomme. Even on the road, the Falcons should be able to handle the Texans.

Tennessee at Buffalo

Two teams that surprisingly remain in the AFC Wild Card will post up in Buffalo for a noon start. Tennessee, at 6-5, is still in the hunt for one of the two spots and look to have finally settled its running game conundrum. Chris Johnson appears ready to return to consistent form and if Matt Hasslebeck can keep the Titans ahead they may end up advancing to play in late January. The Bills have proven the early season doubters correct as they have fallen below .500. However, they played well enough to win last week at New York and will be returning home to face the Titans. Unfortunately for the Bills, Fred Jackson is lost for the season due to a broken leg and they will need to air it out with the ever-shaky Ryan Fitzpatrick. Tennessee should be able to get a lead with their defense and coast to a victory behind Johnson.

Detroit at New Orleans

Sunday football wraps up with a shootout matchup in the bayou with the Detroit Lions travelling to New Orleans to take on the Saints. Two of the league's most explosive offenses will be warm and cozy within the Superdome and will be more than ready to put up big points. Drew Brees is garnering some MVP attention in his command of the Saints explosive attack while Matt Stafford's inconsistency has garnered the attention of his skeptics. Calvin Johnson has been held quiet since his outrageous start to the season, so getting him involved early on could set the pace for this matchup. Playing at home and on a three game win streak, only a fool would pick against the Saints. The Lions are in dire need of a victory, but they'll be hard-pressed to find one on the road.

Playoff berths and division championships are looming within the remaining five weeks. The speculation of contenders and pretenders will rise with playoff scenarios waiting for their chance to shine. Right now, all teams need to do is win, and keep winning.

After a convincing Thanksgiving win in Detroit against the Lions, the Packers find themselves at Week 13 with eleven regular season games down and five to go. The Thanksgiving matchup was supposed to be one of the toughest challenges for the Packers as well as an opportunity for the Lions to make a statement on national television. The Lions managed to make a relatively loud statement; it just wasn't a positive one. Ndamukong Suh managed to steal the spotlight after he blatantly stomped on the arm of Green Bay's reserve lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith (or, sorry, he tried to "remove himself from the situation, and as he was getting up, he got pushed, so he got himself on balance"). His appalling action resulted in an unpaid two-game suspension (of which he's appealing) and an increasingly tarnished reputation. To make matters worse, the 15-yard personal foul he drew for the stomp kept Green Bay's offense on the field after they had been stopped on third down and funneled all momentum in the Packers direction. Green Bay would end up winning 27-15 behind a consistent offensive attack and a solid defensive performance that forced three Matt Stafford interceptions.

Green Bay's chances of perfection are getting realistically higher each week yet the schedule that lies ahead is still daunting. Beginning with this weekend, they will travel to New York to face the Giants, return home against the Raiders, take their last road trip to play the Chiefs, and finish at home with succeeding games against the Bears and Lions. As luck would have it, the remaining schedule is getting less intimidating with every passing day. The Giants are in absolute chaos and have lost three in a row, the Raiders are currently relying on Carson Palmer and Michael Bush while dealing with a harsh injury bug, the Chiefs lost starting quarterback Matt Cassell for the year, the Bears will be without quarterback Jay Cutler while his broken thumb heals, and the Lions are regressing. Nonetheless, the Packers cannot let this serendipitous turn of the schedule diminish their focus and preparation. The remaining teams may appear more vulnerable, but each one is more than capable of knocking off Green Bay. The first opponent to step up to the plate will be the faltering New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.

Giant Turmoil

As I alluded to before, the Giants are under immense scrutiny after their worst defensive performance in 68 years (most yards allowed since 1943) against the Saints. In the Monday night showdown the Giants were humiliated from the onset limping into halftime at a 21-3 deficit. By the end of the game Drew Brees had lit up the Giants secondary 363 yards and 4 touchdowns while a trio of running backs added 197 yards of offense on the ground. The Giants 28th ranked defense allowed 577 total yards of offense and 49 points. Things got so bad that defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, who is receiving his fair share of flak, accused members of his defense of quitting throughout the game. Tom Coughlin, as it seems every year, has become a front-running candidate for being the head coach most likely to be fired at year's end. It seems that the only thing that will save his job is sneaking into the playoffs, and that possibility is getting increasingly dim for the Giants. After three straight losses, the Giants are a full game behind the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East and a full game behind three teams for the Wild Card slots. To make matters significantly worse, the Giants have the toughest remaining schedule of contending teams; four of their five remaining opponents have winning records and a combined record of 35-20 (.636%). Coach Coughlin recently stated, "It's pro football, got to move on to the next one... We'll bounce back. That's the thing I believe in. It's a time for us to be bold, not listen to what you all are saying." The Giants are hoping to bounce back in a big way on Sunday, but the odds are certainly against them in more ways than one.

Eli Manning

If there has been one bright spot this season for the Giants, it would be quarterback Eli Manning. At the prime age of 30 he is quietly putting together one of the best seasons of his career. After a year in which he threw a league-high 25 interceptions, Manning has bounced back to throw 20 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions this season. His current passer rating of 95.6 would be the highest of his career and he is on pace to throw for over 4,000 yards for the third consecutive season. In a year full of inconsistency and underperformance, Manning has been New York's one glaring exception. The passing attack for the Giants currently ranks 4th in the NFL with 291.5 yds/game while their run game ranks dead last in the NFL with only 82.3 yds/game (in part due to Ahmad Bradshaw's foot injury in week 8). The fact that Manning is excelling with absolutely no balance on offense is a testament to his performance. Green Bay's defense, which looked surprisingly strong against the Lions, will have their hands full against Manning and his quartet of dynamic receivers. Wide outs Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manninham, and tight end Jake Ballard have combined for 169 receptions, 2,623 yards, and 17 touchdowns this season.

Replacements

In what seemed like a flashback to last year, the Packers quickly sustained multiple injuries against Detroit on Thanksgiving. Most notably, linebackers Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk as well as offensive guard Josh Sitton were knocked out for the duration of the game. The performances of the fill-ins were nothing short of remarkable. Last year we witnessed players who were picked up off the scrap heap, such as Charlie Peprah, Howard Green, Jarius Wynn, and Erik Walden, play prominent roles down the Super Bowl stretch run. Against the Lions linebackers D.J. Smith (rookie) and Robert Francois filled in admirably for Bishop and Hawk. Smith contained the run to the outside reasonably well and Francois made an acrobatic interception just several plays after being thrust into duty. Ironically, the substitute who may have made the most impact in the game was offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith, who was filling in for Josh Sitton. For whatever reason(s), Dietrich-Smith got under the skin of Suh which prompted the infamous stomp. As I mentioned earlier, that play was a key momentum shifter and Suh's subsequent suspension may severely dampen Detroit's playoff aspirations. When considering the histories of Smith, Francois, and Dietrich-Smith, their performances are even more remarkable. D.J. Smith was an afterthought as a 6th round pick this year, Francois has been cut three times in his career (once by the Vikings when Brett Favre signed, once by the Lions, and once by the Packer last year when Starks returned from the PUP), and Dietrich-Smith has been cut several times, once by the Packers before last season. With the injured starters' statuses unknown for the upcoming game, the bench players will have to be ready to contribute once again against the Giants - by now, it seems commonplace.

With eleven games down and only five to go the hype for perfection is growing. The Packers seemingly catch a break this week with the Giants' continuing collapse. However, Green Bay will be on the road and New York should view every remaining game as do-or-die. The Packers will have to overcome their injury bug on defense and offensive line as well as Eli Manning's high-powered passing attack. Once again, this is a game the Packers should win as they are 7-point favorites headed into New York. Nonetheless, the Giants are certainly capable of surprising the Packers and excavating revenge for last year's defeat in Green Bay; a loss that kept the Packers' playoff hopes alive and ultimately knocked the Giants out of playoff contention.

The college football slate for the approaching weekend has many hoping to head outside and enjoy whatever glimpses remain of the fading autumn. Few matchups merit even an audience, as little will change in the maligned rankings. On the same note, three NFL division leaders have arrived at their respective week off in week 11. This means only a few of the leagues best teams are getting a break. The rest of the league needs to pick up the slack and believe me, they will.

Cincinnati at Baltimore

Few analysts tabbed this matchup as a meaningful one before the season began. If anyone had the slightest idea that Andy Dalton would be able to right the downwardly trending Bengal ship, they sure didn't speak up. Even if he was the losing quarterback last time out, Dalton has the Bengals in a surprising tie for second place in the AFC North. They are knotted up with the Ravens, a team that cannot figure out how to win a division. The Ravens swept their rival Pittsburgh, but then failed to show up and lost to the likes of Seattle and Jacksonville. Since New Orleans has seemingly stopped losing to winless teams, the Ravens are now the hardest team in the league to figure out, much less predict. Will Joe Flacco and their offense put up 30+ points like they did against the Steelers earlier this year? Or will they chalk up a measly seven like they did against Jacksonville? They should be ready to avenge their latest shocker and dominate the young Bengals at home.

Tennessee at Atlanta

The Titans and Falcons have both been playoff teams within the last few seasons and hold many similarities in 2011 as well. Both are in second place and need a victory to move within a game of their division leaders dwelling on a bye. Atlanta is supposed to be the best home team in the NFL, but is only 2-2 within the Georgia Dome this season. Both teams definitely prefer the running game before passing but with respectable defensive lines, Matt Ryan and Matt Hasselbeck will likely have to air it out. With plentiful weapons on offense, Matt Ryan should have no problem finding Falcon receivers and the "dirty bird" should inch closer to the "boys on the bayou."

San Diego at Chicago

Polar opposites enter this evening matchup at Soldier Field. The Chargers travel east in absolute need of a victory. San Diego once commanded the AFC West at 4-1 and was priming for a late January run. Since then, the Bolts have yet to win a game and face a steaming hot Chicago Bears squad. The Bears, on the contrary, have won four straight, rising from the depths of their 2-3 start. The Bears defense is shutting down opponents while San Diego consistently fails to make a stop when they need it most. It also doesn't help when quarterback Philip Rivers turns the ball over more than any other in the league. Even in the midst of a mid-season slide, the Chargers have a good chance to win in Chicago. San Diego is starting to get back to full health and with the team in danger of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

For football fans that live for the Saturday collegiate schedule to create a hangover into the Sunday NFL agenda, this weekend may not live up to the fantasy that the 2011 season has become. This weekend's games may be different, but as the old saying goes, save the best for last. The NFL has some good ones.

The Packers return to action against the Buccaneers this Sunday after pummeling the Vikings 45-7 on Monday night. Had you listened to the MNF announcers, namely Jon Gruden, the score may have seemed like Aaron Rodgers: 45 and the unidentified opponent: 7. Although excessive at times, Rodgers earned the praise he received completing 23-30 passes for 250 yards and 4 touchdowns. For the season, Rodgers has thrown 28 touchdowns while just turning the ball over five times. For sake of comparison, Tom Brady of the Patriots, who ESPN analyst Skip Bayless insists is currently a better quarterback than Rodgers, has given the ball away twelve times while throwing 23 touchdowns. One of Bayless' key arguments is that Brady was unanimous MVP last year while Aaron Rodgers failed to make the Pro Bowl. Indeed, Rodgers was not at the Pro Bowl...he was busy preparing for the Super Bowl; a tradeoff he and the Packers are eager to make again this season.

Last week, the Packers defense nearly shut out the Vikings, finally showcasing their ability to dominate an opponent. They managed to hold Adrian Peterson to only 51 yards rushing on 14 carries while holding the entire Vikings offense to only 266 yards and 7 points (largely setup by a Randall Cobb muffed punt). With momentum on their side, the defense will try to recapture some of their success this week against Tampa Bay's slightly more formidable offense. The young Buccaneers team came into this season with playoff aspirations as they barely missed out on the Wildcard last year, falling victim to the Packers' tiebreaker. Though both teams accumulated a 10-6 record last season, this season has been a tale of two opposites. The Packers are a perfect 9-0 while the Buccaneers have regressed significantly en route to three straight double-digit losses and a 4-5 record. What might explain Tampa Bay's turn for the worse? Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris offered his blatantly honest opinion: "[last year] we played a couple easier teams". Blaming the schedule is not a path most coaches wish to travel, yet Morris has a point. Tampa Bay's three consecutive defeats have come at the hands of the Texans, Saints, and Bears. However, their schedule doesn't get any easier this week as they head to Lambeau to face the sole undefeated team in the NFL.

Josh Freeman:

When a football team struggles to meet expectations, the burden of blame generally lies on the back of the man running the offense. Not exempt from this generality is quarterback Josh Freeman, who has struggled mightily in his third year. Freeman appeared as though he was on the rise last season, completing over 60% of his passes for 25 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions in all 16 games. While his completion percentage remains steady this year, Freeman has thrown four more interceptions than touchdowns (13 to 9), more than doubling his interception total from all of last year. Like Philip Rivers, there isn't a simple explanation for his troubles this season. One potential explanation for his struggles may be the ineffectiveness of his number one receiving threat, Mike Williams. As a rookie last season, Williams caught 65 passes for 964 yards (14.8 average) and 11 touchdowns. In his sophomore season, the receiver has only managed to amass 39 receptions for 406 yards (10.4 average) and 1 touchdown. Aside from Williams, Freeman lacks legitimate weapons in the passing game. Tight end Kellen Winslow, who seemingly lacks the explosiveness he once had, currently has only 344 yards receiving and two touchdowns. After those two players, receiving threats in their offense are almost non-existent. In fact, former Packer Kregg Lumpkin is their fifth leading receiver. Freeman's struggles and Tampa Bay's lack of offensive talent sets up a realistic scenario for Green Bay's defense to expand on their impressive performance last week.

Tampa Bay Defense:

Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers offense are not fully to blame for their mediocre performances thus far. Tampa Bay's defense, frequently acclaimed for their stingy "Tampa 2" style, has been underwhelming at best this season. Aside from cornerbacks Aquib Talib and ancient Ronde Barber, the Buccaneers lack consistent playmakers on defense. However, the Bucs' have recently received a boost from rookie defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, who has steadily improved his pass rushing (three sacks and a forced fumble). Unfortunately, the contributions of those three players hasn't been nearly enough, as Tampa Bay's defense ranks second to last in yards/game allowed with over 400, 28th in passing yards/game allowed, 29th in rushing yards/game allowed, and 27th in points/game allowed with 25.9. When considering Green Bay's 4th ranked offense and back-to-back 45 point performances, the Packers shouldn't face much resistance putting up points on Sunday.

Flashback to 2009:

By all indications, this game should not pose a daunting threat to the Packers and their aspirations for a perfect season. However, here's a flashback to November 8th, 2009 when the 4-3 Packers travelled to Tampa to take on the hapless 0-7 Buccaneers. Aaron Rodgers was quickly solidifying himself into a solid NFL quarterback while the Buccaneers were shuffling between the likes of David Garrard and Josh Johnson searching for a win (they'd go on to with three that season). Tampa Bay decided to give rookie Josh Freeman the first start of his career, a role he would not relinquish. Heading into the fourth quarter the Packer held a 21-17 lead, an advantage which felt quite sustainable given Freeman's unimpressive line so far. However, Freeman threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, giving him three for the game, and leading the charge of a fourth quarter comeback. The Buccaneers sealed the victory after After Rodgers threw his third interception of the day resulting in a pick-6. The final score was 38-28 and it was the low point of the season for the Packers, and quite possibly of Rodgers' career.

If we fast-forward to 2011 it may seem even more unfathomable that Rodgers could be outdueled by Freeman and the Buccaneers. Obviously, the Packers are a more polished and talented team than they were two years ago. Nonetheless, that loss will undoubtedly resonate with the player who experienced it. It remains to be seen whether Aaron Rodgers and the Packers avenge the defeat from two years ago or whether history will repeat itself again. If I were a betting man, I'd place my chips in Rodgers' corner.

The Packers have reached their midpoint of the NFL season with a perfect 8-0 record. With eight more games to play in the regular season, the rumblings of a perfect season are growing louder each week. Although most athletes prefer to stay silent about such a possibility (similar to the unwritten rule for teammates to stay away from a pitcher tossing a perfect game or no-hitter), Charles Woodson apparently doesn't believe in such superstitions. Woodson addressed the possibility of perfection by stating,

"We can talk about it, I don't care. We're 8-0. We'd love to be 16-0 - love to. It's a realistic conversation now. We're halfway there. So yeah, let's talk about it...not just the regular season - the whole thing."

Perhaps more telling, Woodson added,

"Offensively, we're outstanding. Defensively, we're a liability on the team."

That accurately tells the story of Green Bay's last game in which they defeated the San Diego Chargers in a shootout (45-38). Aaron Rodgers completed 21/26 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. On the other side of the ball, the Packers struggled to generate pressure which resulted in 385 yards and four touchdowns thrown by Philip Rivers. The Packers opened up a 45- 24 lead midway through the fourth quarter but the Chargers capitalized off of several blown coverages and an onside kick to pull within a touchdown and a chance to tie. However, Charlie Peprah hauled in his second interception of the game (Rivers threw three) and sealed a win for the Packers in the final seconds.

The Packers return to action at Lambeau Field on Monday (first and only Monday Night game for either teams) to take on the Minnesota Vikings (2-6) for the second time in three games. The Vikings are coming off their bye week with a little momentum as they previously defeated the Panthers on the road 24-21 two weeks ago. Rookie Christian Ponder continued to impress by completing 18/28 passes for 236 yards and one score without turning the ball over. As usual, Adrian Peterson carried the load offensively as the leading rusher and receiver with 159 total yards and two scores.

When the Packers and Vikings battled three weeks ago, the Packers snuck away with a six point advantage in Minnesota. The Vikings appear confident that they can build on that performance and pull off a huge upset on a national stage. Although that goal seems improbable, especially considering it's at Lambeau, here are three components of the game that could cause concern for the green and gold (emphasis on gold, because it seems that yellow is a preferred substitute for modern musicians).

Packers Defense

After consecutive convincing performances against the Falcons and Rams, the Packers defense has alarmingly regressed in the past two games. After giving up 27 points to the Vikings in Ponder's first NFL start, Green Bay's defense gave up 38 points to a struggling Chargers offense last week. The defense has been identified as a "bend but not break" defense (ie. allow a lot of yards but not points) this year, relying heavily on turnovers and defensive stands in the final minutes of games. However, it seems that the only thing preventing the defense from breaking lately is the dominance of Green Bay's offense. The Packers cannot continue to rely on the offense to post 25+ points every week, as they are certain to have an off week sooner or later (especially if you think ahead to the playoffs). Consider these statistics for the Packer defense: 30th in yards/game (399.6), 31st in passing yards allowed/game (299.6), and 17th in points/game allowed (22.4). If the Packers want to make it back to the Super Bowl, the defense is going to have to improve. The Packers have been able to avoid defeat for eight games this season in spite of the defense but I'm not convinced they can survive eight more (or eleven more if you include playoffs) en route to a perfect season.

AP and Allen

Three weeks ago I highlighted Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen as the two key playmakers the Packers needed to exert their attention to. Fortunately for Green Bay, they won despite being unable to effectively contain either player. Jared Allen dominated Marshall Newhouse one-on-one for most of the game, resulting in two sacks (he continues his record pace with 12.5 sacks through eight games), three quarterback hits, three tackles for losses, and six combined tackles. Although Newhouse steadily improved his pass protection throughout the game (with some blocking assistance), it's still going to be a matchup that greatly favors the Vikings on Monday. On offense, Adrian Peterson (who's on pace for 1590 yards and 18 touchdowns this season) ran rampant for 175 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Since the rookie Ponder has taken over for Donavan McNabb, Peterson has had at least 25 touches a game, a trend that is certain to continue this week. The Vikings were able to put a scare into the Packers three weeks ago largely thanks to the dominant performances of the two playmakers. Likewise, if they want to keep the game remotely close at Lambeau, Peterson and Allen will have to duplicate their performances and hope for some help elsewhere.

Healthy Vikings

After their bye week the Vikings will benefit from the return of two key players coming off of injuries. Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield, the best coverage defensive back for the Vikings, appears ready to return to action for the first time since missing four games with a neck strain. Winfield could be the player the Vikings need to shutdown Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings, who connected with each other seven times for 147 yards and a score against the Vikings in week seven. Luckily for the Packers, there are an abundance of weapons at Rodgers' disposal and Winfield's presence may not be as impactful as planned. Percy Harvin did see action against the Packers in the last matchup but only caught two passes for 15 yards, citing an injured rib for his lack of production the last several weeks. Indeed, he has failed to replicate the success of his previous two seasons with only 334 yards receiving, no touchdowns and two fumbles this year (but he does have 185 yards rushing and a touchdown). With a week off to heal, Harvin claims his ribs should no longer be a problem, though it remains to be seen whether he can be the dynamic playmaker that we've become accustomed to seeing. Whatever the case, Winfield and Harvin's health will undoubtedly enhance the Vikings chances and if nothing else give them a little more confidence heading into Monday night.

It's hard to imagine a scenario where the 2-6 Minnesota Vikings storm into Lambeau Field and hand the Packers their first loss of the season. Nonetheless, Minnesota was a touchdown away from defeating Green Bay just three weeks ago. There are reasons for optimism for the Vikings; they had two weeks to prepare, are coming off of a road win, have favorable matchups with Peterson and Allen, and are getting healthier. However, there may be greater optimism for the Packers; they have, after all, won fourteen straight.

The Packers (7-0) will return to action on Sunday to face off against the San Diego Chargers (4-3). Prior to their bye week hiatus, Green Bay defeated the Minnesota Vikings 33-27, surviving a late fourth quarter push by Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson. As per usual, Aaron Rodgers was exceptional tossing for over three-hundred yards and three scores while connecting with nine different receivers. The running game, once again, was largely inconspicuous until James Starks effectively iced the game in the final minutes. The only true concern coming out of the game for the Packers was the defense as they allowed Adrian Peterson to run wild for 175 yards. Aside from a couple glaring miscues that resulted in huge gains, Green Bay's secondary performed reasonably well against rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, highlighted by two Charles Woodson interceptions. Four of Woodson's five interceptions this year have come off of rookies (Ponder and Cam Newton), but he won't have the luxury this weekend. Instead, he and the Packers will exert their focus on Pro-Bowler Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers were predicted to be one of, if not the toughest task for the Super Bowl Champions this season. However, after key injuries and a shocking defeat to their AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs, the Chargers seem increasingly more vulnerable. After a quick 4-1 start (bear in mind those wins were against the Vikings, Chiefs, Dolphins and Broncos) to the season, the Chargers lost to the Jets and Chiefs by less than a touchdown in subsequent games. Last week's game against the Chiefs, which could have given the Chargers breathing room atop the AFC West, was a story of misfortunes. Philip Rivers fumbled away an opportunity (on botched snap, no less) for a game-winning chip shot field goal in the final seconds of regulation and the Chiefs would later clinch the game in overtime. As a result, the Chargers are in a three-way tie with Raiders and Chiefs for the AFC West title. Sunday's contest is certainly not a "must-win" for either team but both have plenty at stake as the Packers continue their quest for perfection while San Diego tries to bounce back from a devastating defeat. With that in mind, here's a look at three key aspects of the game to keep an eye on during this intriguing interconference matchup.

Philip Rivers:

Phillip Rivers was being touted as an elite quarterback and MVP candidate coming into this season after an impressive 2010 campaign (30 TDs, 13 Ints, 4,710 yds, 101.8 passer rating). Conversely, he may very well be running away with the "most disappointing player" award (not to mention a strong candidate in the "most disappointing fantasy pick" race) half way through this season. He currently leads the league with interceptions (11), has only thrown 7 touchdowns (tied for 23rd in the league), possesses an 80.7 passer rating (19th in league), and has taken 17 sacks (tied for 9th most). In addition to the decisive fumble last week, Rivers threw a pair of interceptions which solidified what he deemed the "worst day (or "play" depending on which mouth-reading expert you ask) of his life". His stats this year are a far cry from his career marks and it would be reasonable to assume, if he is indeed as healthy as he claims, steady improvement from here on out. With a strong offensive line, decent run game, and a plethora of talented receiving weapons it's hard to fathom Rivers' rapid decline. Luckily for the Chargers, Green Bay's suspect secondary might provide the perfect prescription for their quarterback's struggles. He still has the potential to be an elite quarterback each week and I would expect an extremely strong performance on Sunday. The Chargers have historically been a strong-finish team under head coach Norv Turner, so a potential upset against the Packers is clearly not out of the question.

Receiving Trio:

With the health of all three running backs in question (it appears that Tolbert will be available while Matthews and Brinkley will not) the Chargers will rely heavily on the passing game. That's usually the case anyhow for San Diego and with the dynamic receiving weapons that they possess it's easy to see why. The "Big Three" of the Chargers (Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd and Antonio Gates...not Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, and Sam Cassell) combined for over 100 receptions and 19 touchdowns last season but have yet to regain that form this season. Despite Rivers' poor play, they've still managed to produce over 1,000 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns combined this season. With all of the receiving talent that the Chargers possess it's simply a matter of time before Rivers and Co. get into rhythm. Antonio Gates figures to be the biggest matchup nightmare for the Packers as they've lacked an answer for him in the past. In two career games against Green Bay, Gates has caught 16 passes for 230 yards. With Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson locked in on Floyd and Jackson, it will take a combination of Morgan Burnett, Charlie Peprah, Jarrett Bush, and the linebacking corps to keep Gates in check. These matchups are clearly not in Green Bay's favor and it remains to be seen if San Diego can take advantage.

Linebacker rotation:

With the loss of Cullen Jenkins via free agency and the knee injury to Mike Neal (who was supposed to be his heir apparent) the Packers have been left without any significant pass rusher aside from Clay Matthews. Erik Walden, who won the competition to start at linebacker opposite of Matthews, has largely been ineffective at creating a pass rush and has recorded only one sack this season. Aside from his three-sack performance against the Bears in week 17 last season, all of which came on quarterback spy duties, Walden has repeatedly shown that he only excels in containing the run. If Frank Zombo (who had four sacks last season) is healthy enough to return to action this week he will rotate with Walden regularly to try and establish more pressure. Undrafted rookie Vic So'oto may also receive more opportunities as the season wears on if he gets more comfortable with the speed of the game. The only glaring hole that Ted Thompson failed to address in the draft or free agency (I'm not sure Ted is aware that such a thing exists) was picking up a viable pass rusher opposite of Matthews. Ideally, opportunities for creating pressure open up with the attention and double-teams that Matthews garners throughout the game. However, every outside linebacker not named Clay Matthews has failed to make any notable impact all season. Green Bay's inability to create a consistent pass rush has forced Dom Capers to send exotic blitzes which puts the secondary in tough situations throughout the game. If Walden, Zombo and So'oto remain invisible and if pressure doesn't get to Rivers quick enough, the secondary could be in for a long day.

The Packers are headed to San Diego as favorites again but this could be their toughest challenge yet. It may appear that the Chargers do not pose a viable threat with the struggles of Rivers, beat up running backs, and back-to-back defeats. However, as the Chargers have proven over the last few years, they are capable of turning things around in a heartbeat. Although San Diego appears more vulnerable, I still believe this is the toughest matchup the Packers face this season besides the Lions. Green Bay will be on the road, coming off of a bye week, and facing a team desperate for a win. All eyes will be on Philip Rivers and if he's able to perform like the MVP-caliber player he was projected to be the Packers could easily be sent home with their first loss in more than 10 months.

Winter is rapidly approaching, and there is no arguing the fact. Nearly all the leaves have changed from their sweet summer green hanging above us to the iridescent yellow, red, and orange flakes trampled into the earth. That white form of water vapor that dominates Midwest winters is about to begin its consistent descent and football takes on a different meaning. Football becomes a reason to rest indoors near a fire for hours, or possibly risk health by spending a day cheering within the pits of any frozen tundra. The array of leaping touchdown grabs may decline while the influence of injury surely heightens. Not every game will be played during the final moments of a short weekend and not every play will go exactly as planned. The landscape may change ever so slightly, but the intensity of the changing seasons and its impact on America's favorite sport will only provide one thing: great football.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans

Week nine starts with a bang as 4-3 Tampa Bay travels to the Superdome to take on Drew Brees and 5-3 New Orleans. Both of these teams held high aspirations heading into the season, considering the playoffs as not only achievable but merely a step towards the Super Bowl. However, both teams have had their ups-and-downs throughout the season's first half. Tampa Bay was blown out at San Francisco 48-3, but the Buccaneers have already defeated the Saints once this season. On the other hand, New Orleans is leading the NFC South but inexplicably lost to the lowly Rams last week. With each team coming off a loss, the victor in this matchup may go on to run away with the division. The Saints may have lost to the Bucs earlier this season but playing at home where they are undefeated, they should air it out with ease and send Tampa to 4-4.

NY Giants at New England

Moving on through the Sunday slate of games helps find the Super Bowl XLII rematch between the Giants and Patriots, two division leaders with 5-2 records. Eli Manning was crowned MVP the last time these foes met up, as the Giants stunned the 18-0 Patriots. Will they surprise them again and do so in chilly Foxboro? Unlikely. After a hard fought defeat in Pittsburgh last week, Tom Brady and the Pats will be more than ready to enjoy the familiar surroundings of Gillette Stadium. In addition, the Giants 5-2 record is a bit misleading, with their only impressive victory coming in an escape at home against surprisingly good Buffalo. Look for Terrific Tom to get back on the same page with Wes Welker and for the Pats to add to their win total.

Chicago at Philadelphia

The great football of Week 9 concludes Monday night with Chicago battling Michael Vick and the newly energized Eagles. Who knew how much two consecutive victories could do for the morale of a team still sitting under .500? That team looked mighty impressive last week in their thumping of America's team on national television. Eagles' defensive coordinator Juan Castillo faced constant catcalls when his defense contributed to the Eagles four game losing streak earlier this year. He seems to have figured out their system and will be facing a reeling Jay Cutler at home this week. The Eagle offense walked all over the Cowboys last week to the tune of 34 points, but the Bears will prove to be a much different opponent. You can make sure that Brian Urlacher will have the Bears ready to go, but in Philadelphia it will not be enough to stop their plentiful weapons, as the Eagles win this one.

Great games highlight every TV slot this week, seemingly an NFL fan's fantasy. We have yet to arrive at the playoffs, but this week's matchups forebode some that we may see come January 2012. The only struggle is clearing the schedule to catch every one of them.

What do Sunday's represent? For some it starts with a trip to church and ends with a family meal and America's Funniest Home Videos. For others, it includes the squandering of the last off day before the workweek begins by watching every televised football game. This glancing blow to the necessary lawn work waiting outside is a product of consistently compelling games in each TV slot. This Sunday in week eight, the leaves waiting to be raked may take first precedence. This is a product of a Sunday schedule lacking premiere matchups until later in the evening. While any NFL game can be decided on the last play, the noon set may very well all ends in blowouts. For the diehard fan, the evening collection looks to be extremely captivating, at least on paper.

Detroit at Denver

A struggling team with a beat up quarterback pitted against a 2-4 squad bound for the depths of their division does not seem to scream premier NFL action. No other NFL player is being buzzed about more than Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. It seems the national craze of "Tebowing" has just begun to take flight. The Lions have dropped two games in a row and are in danger of dropping into a tie for second place in the NFC North. The matchup may not include the sexy offense everyone is looking for, but the Broncos will put up enough fight to keep Tebow in the game as they steal one from the Lions.

New England at Pittsburgh

This 3:15pm start has all the makings of a classic AFC matchup. Two of the most successful tenured AFC quarterbacks will fight toe-to-toe against a pair of struggling defenses. The Patriots are coming off a bye week and the Steelers are riding a three game winning streak. For years the running game has been a staple in the Steelers offense but Mendenhall is projected for his lowest stat totals since his rookie season. Being able to run the ball may be the Steelers best defense, keeping Tom Brady in check on the sidelines. If they are able to keep Mendenhall upright and gain yards look for Pittsburgh to win at home .

Dallas at Philadelphia

While both divisional foes come into Sunday needing a win, only one will emerge with a much-needed victory. The Eagles arrive fresh off their bye following one of their two victories on the season. The Cowboys are sitting at a disappointing 3-3, as Dallas struggles with inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. This game features two seasoned quarterbacks, but look for the game to be won on the ground. DeMarco Murray exploded last week for Dallas, tallying 253 yards rushing. This bodes ill for the Eagles, who give up an average of over 120 yards on the ground per contest. The Eagles have the confidence and the talent to win this one, especially at home. Look for the Eagles to emerge victorious in a close divisional game.

The passing of week eight will also conclude the first half of the NFL season. If you have been putting off those final landscaping touches its time to finally get out there, as there likely won't be much to miss.

As college football releases its first BCS rankings of the year, all cynical thoughts regarding the NFL labor dispute this summer should be wiped away. While college football fans are enjoying yet another parity-filled, thrilling season, they must keep in mind that at the end of the year, there may not be a definite champion. Four teams could easily end the season without a single loss, and the never-ending debate will begin yet again. Thankfully, the NFL does not have this problem and as exciting as bowl season can get, the season-ending playoff witnessed in professional football is unrivaled by its collegiate cousin. This midway point in the NFL season marks an important time for teams to either begin to compete for the playoffs, or enter the sweepstakes for the first overall pick in the 2012 draft. The importance of divisional matchups rises each week, and the occasional hiccup in any schedule is amplified. All in all, this leads to great football for week seven.

San Diego at NY Jets

Outside of that team caught dreaming in Philadelphia, the New York Jets were likely the biggest disappointment sitting at 2-3 last week. While they took care of business against the struggling Dolphins in week six, they have only squeaked by one formidable opponent thus far. They welcome the 4-1 Chargers into MetLife Stadium this Sunday in a crucial game for both teams. The Jets are trying to keep pace with the Bills and Patriots while San Diego attempts to remain atop the AFC West. The Chargers may be the better team on paper, but travelling across the nation for an early start will likely have some effect. San Diego is also trying to get healthy, as stars Ryan Matthews and Antonio Gates remain questionable. Without Gates fully healthy, Darrelle Revis will be able to lock down wideout Vincent Jackson and the Jets will finally be able to fly over .500 again.

Houston at Tennessee

With the Indianapolis Colts falling off their decade long pedestal via Peyton Manning's faulty neck, the AFC South is up for grabs and these two teams are unquestionably interested. With the aid of a bye in week six the Titans hold the division lead by half a game after Houston lost at Baltimore. When word arrived of Manning not returning for likely the remainder of the season the Texans were expected to walk away with the underachieving division. The Titans have given them more than enough competition thus far and will present quite the foe Sunday afternoon in Nashville. Free agent quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been a pleasant surprise for Tennessee, playing well under the looming addition of rookie Jake Locker. The Steelers shredded the Titans' defense for 38 points in week six and the Texans' explosive offense will look to do the same. Look for Arian Foster to get plenty of touches out of the Houston backfield, and just enough for a close Texan victory.

Kansas City at Oakland

Most teams that give up 40+ points and lose their franchise running back in their first two games don't stand much of a chance of being successful. Fortunately, the 2011 Kansas City Chiefs are not most teams. After losing their first three games and Jamaal Charles to season-ending knee surgery, the Chiefs have unveiled the connection of Matt Cassel to Dwayne Bowe. Cassel has thrown four touchdowns to Bowe in their last three games and the duo that tore up fantasy leagues last fall is just heating up. The Raiders will possibly be in disarray considering their quarterback position is being shuffled like a deck of cards in Vegas. If the Raiders are not able to control the game with their rushing attack, expect the passing pair from Kansas City to light up their dilapidated secondary.

As thoughts of the playoffs seem to come into sight for some teams, many others are losing their patience. Keep in mind we waited 132 days for the NFL lockout to commence. Patience is key as the NFL season rolls on, Sunday-to-Sunday. The end of the season may be where the playoffs are truly decided, but playoff spots are almost always determined in the middle weeks of the NFL season.

With a 24-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams and the Detroit Lions' loss to the 49ers, the Packers (6-0) cruise into week seven as the only remaining undefeated team. For the second consecutive week the Dom Capers' led defense made a statement as they extended their streak to six quarters of not allowing a touchdown. Although the offense managed to hang 20+ points on the board once again, Coach Mike McCarthy was unimpressed with the focus of his offense and deemed the overall performance as sloppy. In spite of starting the season with six consecutive wins, the Packers have yet to play an entire game with every facet (offense, defense, and special teams) clicking on all cylinders. This will be their focus on Sunday as they prepare for their second divisional matchup of the season.

Green Bay will travel to take on the NFC North cellar dwellers, the Minnesota Vikings (1-5). Unlike last season, the Vikings are not a team led by Brett Favre coming off of an NFC Championship loss. Instead, the Packers will be facing an unstable team that has only mustered up one win in six games this season after finishing with an underachieving 6-10 record last year. After four straight narrow defeats to start off the campaign this year (three of which they blew 20+ leads in the second half), the Vikings defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-10 in week five. However, they failed to build off of that momentum when they got humiliated on national television 39-10 at the hands of the Chicago Bears (but hey, it could have been worse...a portion of the team could have been drinking beer, eating chicken wings, and playing video games in the locker room during the game). As the Vikings prepare for improbable redemption, here are three components of the game to pay close attention to on Sunday afternoon as the two rivals duel.

Ponderin' the Future:

The Minnesota Vikings signed Donavan McNabb this offseason in hopes that he could revive his career like Brett Favre did two years ago. Instead, the former pro bowler only threw for four touchdowns and 1,026 yards in six games while tossing two interceptions and fumbling twice. As a result, Coach Leslie Frazier turned to rookie Christian Ponder in the fourth quarter last week in hopes to ignite the offense. The rookie from Florida State performed well enough (9-17 for 99 yds) in limited action to instill confidence in his coach to start him against the Packers this week. The announcement came as a mild surprise due to McNabb's historical success against the Packers in his career (4-2 record, 88.3 quarterback rating, 10 touchdowns vs. 3 interceptions). Additionally, thrusting the rookie into a starting role against the former Super Bowl Champions seems like a recipe for disaster for an already reeling football team. Nonetheless, McCarthy insisted he's not taking the game lightly, comparing it to the appalling defeat the Packers endured to Josh Freeman in his first start for Tampa Bay in 2009. Josh Freeman outperformed Aaron Rodgers and scored three fourth quarter touchdowns securing a 38-28 shocking win for the Buccaneers. However, the demeanor of the 2011 Packers is much different than that of the 2009 team, and it would take a minor miracle for Ponder to pull off Freeman's feat (then again, "legends are made in October"...cue Tinie Tempah).

AP All Day:

The winning recipe for the Minnesota Vikings has been rather simple since 2007. If they feed the ball early and often to Adrian Peterson nearly every possession, they put themselves in a position to win. We haven't witnessed a more dominating running back in football this side of LaDainian Tomlinson in his prime (aka pre-age 30). AP possesses an unbelievable combination of power, speed, quickness, shiftiness, elusiveness and vision that puts his skill set in an elite class of its own. Opposing defenses generally can't stop him, they can only hope to contain the former 7th overall pick (JaMarcus Russell and Gaines Adams went before him, Ted Ginn Jr. went two picks after him, and...Justin Harrell went nine picks after). That will be Green Bay's hope on Sunday, though if history continues to repeat itself it could be a long day for the Packers' front seven. In his career, Peterson has run for 807 yards in eight games (100.9 yds/game average, 4.92 yds per carry average) against the Packers with five touchdowns. You can be sure that Peterson will easily get 20+ touches on Sunday with a rookie quarterback at the helm. If the Vikings want any chance of sneaking away with a victory, Ponder should be prepared to take a couple steps back and hand the ball off to AP, all day.

NFL Sacks Leader:

Marshall Newhouse has played reasonably well at the offensive tackle positions this year for the Packers filling in for Bryan Bulaga and Chad Clifton. Newhouse will be facing his toughest matchup of the season this weekend against the current NFL sacks leader Jared Allen. Allen, one of the few bright spots for the Vikings this year, has accumulated 9.5 sacks through six games which puts him on pace to break the NFL's all-time season record (22.5 by Michael Strahan). Aaron Rodgers better have eyes on the back of his head Sunday because protecting his blindside will pose the toughest challenge to the Packers this week. Even if Jared Allen doesn't wrap up Rodgers several times, his presence on the field alone creates a huge impact. Green Bay will be forced to provide help to Newhouse on the left side (predominantly with their blocking tight ends) creating matchup problems elsewhere on the field. Furthermore, Rodgers has a tendency to develop happy-feet in the pocket when he's uncomfortable with his offensive line; a phenomenon likely to ensue on Sunday. Once again, Marshall Newhouse will have step up in a big way to give Rodgers an opportunity to thrive and avert any Vikings' hope for an intra-division upset.

Although the Packers have solidified themselves as the class of the NFC, and quite feasibly of the entire NFL, it's apparent that much work still remains. A largely ineffective running attack (19th in NFL) and an accumulating number of dropped passes (10 in the last two games) have created concern among the coaches. Perhaps more daunting are the two key matchup problems the Packers will face on Sunday afternoon; an elite running back against an untested rush defense and the NFL sacks leader against an inexperienced offensive tackle. However, unless "it's written in the stars a million miles away" (countdown until we don't have to hear another postseason baseball commercial with that song), it's hard to envision a rookie quarterback in his first start ending the Packers' extensive winning streak.

Al Davis always had always had a simple motto for his teams: just win baby.

Davis passed away a couple weeks ago at the age of 82 after many years as the face of the Oakland Raiders organization. Oakland won three Super Bowls and five championship games during his tenure with the Raiders. But after the 2002 season where Oakland lost to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl the Raiders haven't had a winning season. Almost two decades have passed since that Super Bowl, as the Raiders have been characterized by mediocrity and embarrassment since.

Unfortunately for Davis, he leaves behind a 4-2 Raider squad that looks to be on the rise. They've become more competitive in the last couple years, but haven't had enough talent or gas in the tank to make a serious run at the playoffs.

The recent acquisition of Carson Palmer just may be the missing piece that the Raider's have desperately needed, given that they haven't had a stable quarterback since the Rich Gannon era.

Before being traded to Oakland, Palmer had an ugly ending with the Cincinnati Bengals and owner Mike Brown.

"I will never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again," Palmer said this past offseason. "I have $80 million in the bank. I don't have to play football for money. I'll play it for the love of the game, but that would have to be elsewhere."

Palmer later said that if the Bengals weren't going to trade him he would retire. Brown was stubborn on the subject, and although he knew the Palmer's days in Cincinnati were over, he refused to trade him.

"Carson signed a contract," Brown said. "He made a commitment. He gave his word. We relied on his word. We relied on his commitment. We expected him to perform here. He's going to walk away from his commitment. We aren't going to reward him for doing it."

But a lot has transpired since that feud began.

The Bengals drafted TCU quarterback Andy Dalton in this year's NFL draft, and Dalton looks to have a bright future in the NFL. Dalton has led the Bengals to a surprising 4-2 record starting the season as a rookie quarterback.

It's uncertain if Dalton's success had an effect on the organization's rationale to trade Palmer, but regardless of why the trade occurred, Oakland will embrace him with open arms.

Hopefully for Oakland's sake, Palmer can still play like his earlier days in Cincinnati. They must have faith in that idea, considering that they gave up a first-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional second-round pick in 2013. At age 32, Palmer has also had injury problems in the past that Oakland should be wary about. He had surgery on his knee in 2006 and suffered an elbow injury in 2008.

Unfortunately for Jason Campbell, it looks like his stint with Oakland is over. Campbell was having a good season with the Raiders that abruptly ended when he broke his collarbone Sunday against Cleveland. The injury will probably keep Campbell off the field for about six weeks, but Oakland felt they had to make an immediate move to replace him.

Although Campbell was having a decent season, the Raiders fans must be pretty fired up to have a quarterback that is capable of putting up big points.

In seven seasons as a starting NFL quarterback, Palmer has thrown for over 22,000 yards and 150 touchdowns. He's also been selected to two Pro Bowls and won the Heisman trophy in college. Palmer has a great arm and can make big passes down the field. He was very successful with big time receivers Chad Ochocinco and TJ Houshmandzadeh during his time in Cincinnati.

Outside of Darren McFadden, Oakland doesn't have any big time playmakers on offense, but Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey are young receivers who have the potential to emerge as playmakers.

If a 4-2 record for Oakland didn't garner much attention, then the trade for Palmer did.

The costly trade for the quarterback shows that Raiders head coach Hue Jackson is doing everything he can to "just win baby." Whether the trade will be a success or a flop remains to be seen, but one thing is evident, the Raiders are all in this year.

#ThumbsUp!

Colt McCoy (QB, Cleveland Browns) - He keeps finding his way onto this list, and that's due to the high volume of pass attempts. McCoy and the Browns were on a bye in week five, but he threw the ball 61 times in week four against the Titans. His stats are never all that pretty, but he has yet to score less than 13 fantasy points in a game this year. The Browns take on the Raiders this week, which has a subpar secondary without Nnamdi Asomugha. McCoy will definitely be worthy of a start if you need a bye-week replacement.

Tony Romo (QB, Dallas Cowboys) - Sure, it's a very obvious name. Chances are if you drafted Romo you don't have any other great quarterback options anyway. But I think he goes off this week in what's shaping up to be a shootout against New England. I'm thinking over 350 yards and three touchdown passes, so make sure he's in your lineup.

Ryan Torain (RB, Washington Redskins) - I'm not confident that head coach Mike Shanahan will give Torain all of the carries for the Redskins, but I think he will get the most of the three-headed monster in that backfield. Washington's opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, have been run over all year, allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs. That means someone will have a big day for the Skins, and that player is Torain.

Earnest Graham (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Graham's first game as LaGarette Blount's replacement is a perfect matchup, as the Bucs do battle with the Saints. In limited time as mainly a third down back, Graham has managed the fifth most receiving targets of all running backs. When the Bucs get down early in this game they'll be forced to throw, which benefits Graham.

A.J. Green (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) - He's climbing up the wide receiver ranks with the 13th most receiving yards this season, and he'll look to add to that against Indianapolis. The Colts are terrible against the pass, in particular against opposing teams' number one wide receivers. Green gets a lot of looks because there aren't many other good options in Cincy, and he'll find the end zone again on Sunday.

James Jones (WR, Green Bay Packers) - As everyone knows, the Packers have an explosive offense. The problem for fantasy owners is Aaron Rodgers likes to spread the love, completing passes to 12 different players last week alone. Jones has a score in two straight weeks, and he has a very good chance to make it three against the Rams putrid secondary in week six. If you're struggling to find a decent wide receiver due to the bye weeks, look no further than #89 for the Packers.

Heath Miller (TE, Pittsburgh Steelers) - Last week I picked on the Jaguars in the #ThumbsUp! tight end section, and I'm doing it again here. Jermaine Gresham scored the fourth tight end touchdown in five weeks against the Jags, and Miller should add to that number as the Steelers continue to find their groove.

Cincinnati Bengals defense - They consistently feast on bad teams, and the Curtis Painter-led Colts fit that description. Painter has shown so far that he doesn't handle pressure very well, and the Bengals defense is eighth in the league in sacks. They'll bring the heat on Sunday and cause a few errant throws in the process.

#ThumbsDown

Matt Schaub (QB, Houston Texans) - Schaub has been battling a shoulder injury all week, even missing practice on Wednesday. The Ravens defense is just about the worst remedy for that sore shoulder, but that's what Schaub gets on Sunday. With no Andre Johnson to throw to for the second straight week, Schaub will put up some very pedestrian numbers.

Jahvid Best (RB, Detroit Lions) - He had a great week six from a fantasy perspective, but a lot of his yardage came on an 88-yard touchdown run. He hasn't consistently shown the ability to have good fantasy games; his point totals by game this year are 11, 23, 8, 6, and 22. This week the undefeated Lions play the equally surprising 49ers, who allow the fourth fewest rushing yards per game in the league. Look for another single-digit fantasy performance by Best.

Reggie Wayne (WR, Indianapolis Colts) - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall will likely match up with Wayne on Sunday, and Hall tends to shut down opposing receivers. Though he doesn't get as much attention as Darrelle Revis or Asomugha, Hall has a similar effect on elite players. Curtis Painter has now targeted Pierre Garcon more than Wayne in three straight weeks, and I anticipate that trend to continuing in week six.

Things are changing across the NFL. The trade deadline has some players being shipped across the nation; the Broncos are getting ancy and have named a new quarterback; the Eagles never dreamed of darker days and are reaching outside of the organization for a "defensive consultant". Apart from a few content squads (those undefeated or near being so), something new happens each week with every team. One thing that is definitely impervious to modification is the NFL schedule and its endless supply of great games each week (glad that lock out was resolved). Considering this, week six is no slouch when it comes to great games. Here are some to keep a trained, lazy-Sunday eye on.

San Francisco at Detroit

No NFL fan or NFL players in their right mind pegged this game as a must-watch during the preseason. Sharing just one loss thus far, the 49ers and Lions are beating all odds just like nearly all of their opponents. The Lions will normally pass first, run second while the 49ers will do just the opposite. Both defenses are very similar forcing their opponents into turnovers at any point in the game; ask Tony Romo and Josh Freeman about that. With both teams sporting similar schedules thus far, it's anyone's guess to who will emerge the victor. The home field advantage must be taken into account as the Lions have been very good at home, averaging 36 points per game and surrendering only eight. Look for the Lions to pull away in the fourth quarter of this match-up.

Dallas at New England

This early evening game pitches America's team against possibly America's best team. The Packers likely lay claims to the tag of America's best team, but the Patriots still remain in the discussion. One reason why the Pats are not the best team in the league is their defense. At times this year the New England defense has been as porous as a sponge as the right type of offense has been able to exploit them. Enter Tony Romo and the once battered Cowboys. Miles Austin is looking to return out wide for the 'Boys and their offense might just be ready to put some points on the board. They will most likely need to put up at least 30 to keep pace with Tom Brady and the New England offense as the Patriots are looking to score 30 points for the 14th consecutive time. In addition, New England has not lost a home regular season game since Brady tore his ACL. That streak will stay intact through week six.

Houston at Baltimore

Another early evening game sets the offensively potent Texans against the Ravens dominant defense. Both opposing sides strengths (Texans' O and Ravens' D) have been good enough to help win three games but poor enough to be blamed for losses. This could be a great battle offering good offense against good defense. The injury bug has bitten Houston much stronger than Baltimore, as Andre Johnson is out for the Texans and Matt Schaub is questionable with shoulder injury. With the Texans' frequent visits to the doctor and the Ravens staying clear of the training room, Baltimore should be expecting a number change in the win column.

Change is seemingly inevitable in the National Football League. It can be good and it can be bad. The only hope is that the main changer, that multi-colored plastic remote, does not need a change, even of batteries, because you may miss some good football Sunday.

"Are you ready for some football?" Although you won't be hearing that line anymore thanks to Hank William Jr.'s analogy, many fans are eagerly awaiting week six of the NFL season. For Packer fans, however, this week's home matchup against the St. Louis Rams (0-4) doesn't expect to be the most thrilling. The faint of heart may enjoy the duel between the undefeated Packers and the winless Rams which many anticipate to be a blowout of epic proportions. In fact, Green Bay currently sits as a fifteen point favorite on Sunday, the highest their spread has been prior to a game since 1998. In addition, the Packers have an abundance of confidence on their side after a 25-14 victory against Atlanta last week. For the first time all season, every facet of Green Bay's game came together in the second-half (even the secondary) and they will work to build on that consistency this week. To make matters even more convincing (not really), the Packers signed Cecil Newton to their practice squad, the older brother of Cam Newton.

The Rams were being touted as a dangerous team on the rise after a 7-9 season last year and a narrow miss of the playoffs (the NFC West, everybody). However, quite the opposite phenomenon has occurred as they've dropped all four of their contests in convincing fashion prior to their bye week. Injuries to their star running back and secondary as well as underperformances (Sam Bradford's sophomore slump) by key players have resulted in uninspiring results (outscored 113 to 46 by opponents this year). Nevertheless, the Rams have had two weeks to get fresh and prepare for the defending Super Bowl champions and could pose a surprising challenge. Here are three aspects of the game to follow on Sunday afternoon as the undefeated and winless square off.

A Healthy Steven Jackson

Priority number one for the Rams will be establishing an effective running game. In order to have any chance of sneaking away with a victory, St. Louis will have to pound the ball early and often up the middle. The currently healthy Steven Jackson (this can change on a minute-to-minute basis) will look to put the team on his back as he's oft done throughout his career. Jackson has only accumulated 124 yards on the ground in his injury riddled year, but don't be shocked if that total nearly doubles after Sunday's game. In four games against the Packers in his career Jackson has averaged nearly 100 yards on 20 carries a game, and it would be reasonable to assume similar results this week. If Steven Jackson doesn't have consistent success on the ground and the Rams are forced to throw the ball 40-50 times, it's going to a long afternoon for Sam Bradford and company.

Return of Al Harris

Former Packers' cornerback Al Harris, who played in Green Bay from 2003-2010, will be making a triumphant return to Lambeau on Sunday. You may remember Al Harris for his overtime interception off of Matt "We Want the Ball and We're Going to Score" Hasselbeck in the 2004 playoffs. Perhaps you recall his predictable hands-to-the-face penalties, stunning dreadlocks, and shutdown bump-and-run coverage. There is no doubt that Al Harris was a spectacular player during his extensive tenure here, so much so that it earned (I use that term loosely) him a Super Bowl ring last season despite being on the Dolphins. That's correct, the Packer sent Al Harris a ring after they cut him midseason prior to his activation from the Physically Unable to Perform list (keep in mind that Josh Bell, who was on the injured reserve for the entirety of last year, was not given a ring or invited to the ceremony). Clearly the Packers have tremendous respect for Al Harris and what he has done in his career, but they didn't believe he had anything left in the tank last season. Well, they're going to find out first-hand whether that's true thanks to the Rams' decimating injuries. The Rams will be without their top three cornerbacks on Sunday, leaving veterans Al Harris and Roderick Hood as the likely starters. As a result, I'd expect extremely little resistance from the Rams against Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's talented receiving threats.

Offensive Line Shuffle

Last week I mentioned that the likelihood of Chad Clifton staying healthy all year was slim, and I evidently jinxed it. Clifton went down early last week with what Mike McCarthy deemed a "significant hamstring injury". The word "significant" in McCarthy's vocabulary is generally synonymous with "season-ending", but the Packers are still holding out hope that he'll be able to return in several weeks. After Clifton was carted off, Marshall Newhouse (filling in for the injured Bryan Bulaga) slid over from right tackle to his natural position of left tackle and first-round rookie Derek Sherrod took over duties on the right side. Although the combination gave up a few early pressures and sacks they were able to solidify their performances in the second half allowing Aaron Rodgers to light up Atlanta's secondary. Fortunately for the Packers, Bryan Bulaga may be back from his knee injury to help stabilize the offensive line during Clifton's absence. If the offensive line struggles to protect Aaron Rodgers, it could keep the score significantly closer than anticipated and instill hope in the Rams.

The Rams are going to need a "bend but not break" mentality on Sunday to overcome the Packers. In order to snatch away a win, St. Louis will have to pound the rock effectively, create turnovers, and pressure Aaron Rodgers. If they fail to accomplish those tasks, the Packers may cover the spread with ease, handing the Rams a fifth straight demoralizing defeat. Interestingly enough, Wisconsin and Missouri will also be dueling in playoff baseball on Sunday. Regardless of the results, it's setting up to be another action packed sports weekend in Wisconsin.

#ThumbsUp!

Mark Sanchez (QB, New York Jets) - We've seen what opposing quarterbacks do to the New England Patriots defense. Week after week the Pats' secondary gets torched, and they provide a perfect bounce-back opportunity for Sanchez after last Sunday's abysmal statline against the Ravens.

Matt Ryan (QB, Atlanta Falcons) - Ryan has always performed much better at home than on the road throughout his career, sporting a QB rating almost 17 points higher in the Georgia Dome. Remember his last home game? It was week two, when he tossed four touchdown passes against Nnamdi Asomugha and the Philadelphia Eagles. This time he plays against the Green Bay Packers, who have already given up big days to Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Jay Cutler.

Mark Ingram (RB, New Orleans Saints) - Last week he was in the "Thumbs Down" section, but his week five matchup with the Panthers is just too good to pass up. Carolina is fresh off allowing Matt Forte to romp for 205 yards in week four, and Ingram is more of a true running back than Darren Sproles. Don't get me wrong, Sproles will finish with over 100 total yards, but I think Ingram finds the end zone with a healthy amount of yardage to go with it.

Joseph Addai (RB, Indianapolis Colts) - Addai and the Colts battle the Chiefs this week, and it figures to be a fairly competitive game between two dreadful teams. Addai only had 48 total yards last week, but that will change when he gets to run against a defense with hardly any playmakers. As an additional benefit, Addai might get some garbage time rushing yards if the Colts are in position to win near the end. This might be the last time you get to see that situation this season, so enjoy!

Julio Jones (WR, Atlanta Falcons) - Even though Roddy White is the star receiver on the Falcons, it's been Jones who has been carving out a spot for himself as the team's leading receiver. As opposing teams focus on locking down White with double teams, Jones quietly has over 100 yards in consecutive games. The rookie looks to take advantage of that decreased attention again this Sunday, as the Falcons host the Packers.

Michael Crabtree (WR, San Francisco 49ers) - Crabtree's reception and yardage totals have increased in each of the three games he's played this year. He's always had incredible talent, but injury problems and ego issues have held him back so far in his short NFL career. I think the 49ers are for real, and Crabtree is one of their top weapons when he's at full speed. If Alex Smith continues to look his way, Crabtree will definitely put up solid numbers against the Buccaneers on Sunday (similar to the way Pierre Garcon dominated them last week).

Jermaine Gresham (TE, Cincinnati Bengals) - The Jaguars allow the second most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is becoming more comfortable throwing to Gresham. Last week Gresham had a nifty one-handed catch in the end zone for a late touchdown, and I expect an even better outing this Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals defense - Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert has yet to top 200 passing yards, and the Bengals have two ball-hawking cornerbacks in Leon Hall and Nate Clements. The Jaguars have scored 23 points TOTAL over the last three weeks, so you know the Bengals will get a nice fantasy bonus in the points allowed category.

#ThumbsDown

Ben Roethlisberger (QB, Pittsburgh Steelers) - I get it: he's a warrior, he won't let a broken foot stop him from playing, blah blah blah. The Steelers o-line constantly lets defensive players through, and it's been Roethlisberger's agility in the pocket that's helped him stay on the field and out of the locker room so far. Now that he has suffered a broken foot, he won't be quite as nimble. If he doesn't get knocked out of this game he'll be running for his life the whole time, and that will certainly contribute to some poor fantasy numbers.

DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart (RBs, Carolina Panthers) - It was encouraging to see each of them finish with 80+ yards last week, but don't get overconfident and start them this week against the Saints. Though Saints games usually result in a defense-optional shootout, the damage against them always comes through the air. New Orleans allows an average of only 13 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, and any production from the Panthers will be split between Williams and Stewart. If you have to start one, Stewart is a bigger receiving threat out of the backfield. I'd roll with him.

LaGarrette Blount (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - If you own Blount and are riding high after his superb week four performance, I'd advise you to reconsider starting him this week; the Bucs play against the 49ers, who are tops in the league in rushing defense. Led by All Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, they haven't allowed more than 74 rushing yards in a game yet this year, which is phenomenal. I know it might be difficult because of the six teams on bye this week, but try to find a replacement for Blount.

Nate Washington (WR, Tennessee Titans) - About the only thing the Steelers have done right this year is their pass defense. They allow an average of 84 yards to opposing receiving corps, which is obviously split among several different players. I expect a heavy dose of Chris Johnson for Tennessee in this game, so Washington and the rest of the Titans' pass-catchers won't be relied on too heavily.

The 2011 NFL season is one-fourth finished and there are surprise records standing tall atop many divisions. The countless season previews can only predict so much and shock can tend to dominate the first few weeks of each year. With four weeks down and the mid-season stretch of bye weeks beginning, surprise is no longer the term. The Bills, Lions, Titans and 49ers are no longer unexpected competitors, but are now expected to win. It will be up to them to keep the playoff push over the final 12 games while some surprisingly slumping squads do their best to get back on track. The blend of these teams, strugglers or successors, will surely provide some entertaining football each week. Here's what week five has to offer.

New Orleans at Carolina

If you have yet to hear about him, get out from under that rock and watch Cam Newton. The Panthers' rookie quarterback has been simply vibrant. From his fantasy numbers to his athletic build and even his impeccable smile, Cam Newton has a lot going for him. Unfortunately, winning games has been kept off that list. Cam has led the Panthers to only a single victory over the lowly Jaguars, but has kept his team in each game, losing by one score in each. Drew Brees will have the Saints offense clicking, so Newton will have no choice but to answer with big numbers. Look for both teams to score 30+ but for that pretty Newton smile to fade again with another close defeat.

Tampa Bay at San Francisco

Many sports fans forget that Aaron Rodgers was not picked first overall in the 2005 NFL draft. Graduating from Utah, Alex Smith was projected to be the quarterback that filled all the voids where Rodgers struggled. Smith has been a quarterback far different from Rodgers for all the wrong reasons. No matter the struggles Smith has dealt with early in his career, he and the 49ers are only 3 overtime points away from a clean slate. The last time a 49ers team was thinking of a clean slate Jerry Rice was catching touchdowns. The division leading Bucs make the nationwide trek to San Fran for a game sure to be dominated by defense and running plays. Both teams feature bruising backs 20-25 times a game, figuring to keep the scoring to a minimum. Whichever team is able to ride their workhorse longer will open up plenty of chances for the quarterbacks to make some plays. Expect the 49ers to run over their east coast brethren and sit at 4-1 for the first time since 2002.

Detroit at Chicago

Speaking of clean slates, the Lions have one of just two left among the 32 NFL squads. No, Barry Sanders has not returned as their running back, the Lions are just young and talented. The physical specimen known as Calvin Johnson (aka MEGATRON) is anchoring the offense by repeatedly catching touchdowns and setting up discussion of absurd stat projections. The Lions only division victory, however, came in overtime against the winless Vikings and the Bears will present plenty of difficulty come Monday night. The only problem for Chicago is that they lack a Calvin Johnson, or anyone near his caliber, and this has led to tough times for quarterback Jay Cutler. Their fate lie on his shoulders in this one, and against Detroit's turnover-happy secondary, look for him to struggle and the Lions to remain unbeaten.

Bye weeks could not come at a better time for some teams, but for viewers, it unfortunately means three less football games each Sunday. Even with some of the leagues most exciting teams keeping out of the locker room on Sunday, there remains plenty of great football to go around.

The Packers (4-0) remain one of the last two undefeated teams after a 49-23 rout against the Broncos last week. The only other NFL team devoid of a blemish on their record is the Detroit Lions. Let that soak in a minute, the Lions have a perfect record and it's not before week one of the regular season (perhaps we should all fear for 2012). Regardless, Green Bay won't face off with Detroit until week 12 and they will instead harness their focus for the Atlanta Falcons (2-2). It's a rematch of last year's divisional playoff game in which the Packers rolled the Falcons 48-21 at the Georgia Dome behind Aaron Rodgers' near perfect performance (86% completion percentage, 366 yards, and 4 touchdowns). In that game Matt Ryan, or "Matty Ice", struggled while only throwing for 186 yards and 2 interceptions. If you recall going into last year's playoffs, "Matty Ice" was being depicted as a clutch leader (keep in mind, he's yet to win a playoff contest) while Aaron Rodgers, according to the media, was attempting to "get the monkey off his back" (supposedly due to one playoff loss where he threw for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns). Oh, how quickly things can change.

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off of a 30-28 victory over Tavaris Jackson's Seattle Seahawks (which won't inspire much confidence in and of itself). Prior to that game they were routed by the Bears (12-30), conquered Michael Vick's Eagles/Vince Young's "dream team" (35-31), and lost a heartbreaker to the Buccaneers (13-16). Despite their inconsistencies, the Falcons have 33 regular season wins in the last three years and still pose a formidable threat to the Packers' perfect record. Here are three components of the game to pay special attention to when the Packers head down to Georgia.

Regulating "The Burner"

Falcon's running back Michael "The Burner" Turner has been a model of consistency since he arrived in Atlanta in 2008. In the last three seasons he's eclipsed 1300 yards rushing twice (highlighted by 1699 yards in 2008) and rushed for 10+ touchdowns each year. In three games against the Packers Turner has ran for 243 yards (4.5 ypc average) and two scores. Turner is currently on pace to surpass 1200 yards on the ground this season and has shown little sign of slowing down at age 29 (he's got a few more months until he hits 30, a notorious age of decline for running backs...Evidence: LT, Shaun Alexander Priest Holmes, Ahman Green). Regardless, he's still a viable threat now and one that could pose problems for Green Bay's defense. The Packers rank second in the NFL in rushing yards given up per game (71.0), but Michael Turner will be an intriguing test to gauge the actual quality of Green Bay's run defense.

Historic(ally Bad) Secondary

While the Packers' run defense has been surprisingly dominant, their pass defense has been outright atrocious. I've emphasized the secondary's struggle every week and it continuous to be the constant Achilles' heel (albeit one that hasn't resulted in a loss) of the Packers. How bad have the Packers defended the pass this year? There's no way to sugarcoat it, they've been historically bad and that's not even an exaggeration. The Packers are currently on pace to allow an astounding 5,372 yards through the air this season which would easily assure them an NFL record. To put that number in context, the present record holders are the 1995 Atlanta Falcons (coincidently enough) with 4,541 passing yards allowed. The only redeeming factor for the secondary has been their takeaways, as they've managed to amass eight interceptions in four games. Things won't get considerably easier for the secondary this weekend as Matt Ryan has an abundance of receiving weapons at his disposal. Top receiving threats Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzales have combined for 71 catches and 873 yards in their young 2011 campaign. Furthermore, Ryan has a 2-0 record against the Packers in his regular season career with a 74.1% completion percentage, 391 yards, and three touchdowns. I'd expect improved performances by Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams this week, but Charlie Peprah (who's struggled mightily in keeping up with deep receivers) and Sam Shields (who got benched for his lackadaisical "attempts" at tackling) will need to increase their levels of play dramatically in order to fully turn the secondary around.

John Abraham

It appears that for the second consecutive week starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga will miss the game with his sprained and bruised knee. Add into the mix that the Packers will be facing Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham (who boasts 104.5 career sacks), and protecting Aaron Rodgers will undoubtedly be a focal point in this game. It's a safe bet that Abraham will predominantly lineup across from Bulaga's replacement Marshall Newhouse. After Newhouse's impressive debut, the right tackle struggled mightily against the Broncos en route to giving up a pair of sacks (party like it's 2009!) to rookie linebacker Von Miller. What elevates concern even higher is the health of Chad Clifton who briefly came out of last week's game in the fourth quarter after being kicked in the shin. If the tenured veteran were to miss significant time at any point this season, it would be devastating blow to Green Bay's repeat chances. The Falcons come into this week with only five sacks all season (Abraham has two), but don't be surprised to see that number increase by a digit or two after Abraham's through.

After being humiliated at home against the Packers in the playoffs last year, the Falcons will be amped up to send a resounding message this week. With Matt Ryan and Michael Turner leading the charge, Atlanta has as good of a chance of any NFL team to beat the Packers in the Georgia Dome. Green Bay's reeling secondary and hampered offensive line will be the two main targets for the Falcons as they seek to be the first team to upset the Packers this season. But then again, there's a reason why the Packers have won ten straight games.

The most recent NFL offseason had many fans holding their breath in fear of losing the upcoming season to a lockout.

After a long and grueling offseason, the owners and players finally came to terms on a new labor agreement. But after just four weeks into one of the most highly anticipated seasons in recent memory, many of the leagues top teams may be wishing the lockout had never been lifted.

There's been much turmoil at the top of the standings during this NFL season. Teams like the Colts (0-4), who lost Peyton Manning for the majority of the season, have a valid excuse for their rough start. Others like the Steelers, Jets, Eagles and Falcons can only blame themselves for their early season woes.

If the playoffs started today, only two of last year's AFC playoff teams would make the postseason. The NFC would see even more drastic changes, with only the defending champs from Green Bay making the postseason. Last year's postseason teams weren't necessarily "one-year wonders," and most of them are actually perennial contenders who make the playoffs nearly every year (New England, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New York Jets, Green Bay, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Chicago). Through week four of this season, last year's playoff teams have a combined record of 24-24. A record of .500 is very subpar considering they're most of the top NFL teams.

Four games will not decide the outcome of a season, but that number does make up a quarter of the regular season games. By this point in the season, the division frontrunners typically begin to become more apparent. If the conference leaders continue their early season success, be prepared to see an almost entirely new cast of teams playing into January.

Here's an idea of how the playoffs would look if the season ended today: Buffalo and Houston would both have first round byes in the playoffs.

Wait...did I just say Buffalo and Houston would not only be in the playoffs, but also have first round byes? Unbelievable.

The remaining AFC teams would include New England, Baltimore, Tennessee and San Diego. It's tough to imagine two teams from the AFC South making the postseason and neither of them is the Indianapolis Colts.

In the NFC, Green Bay and Washington would hold first round byes. Maybe Rex Grossman wasn't crazy when he said the Redskins would win the NFC East.

On second thought, lets not get too carried away quite yet. The rest of the NFC squads would include New York, San Francisco, Detroit and Tampa Bay. Detroit hasn't even thought about the playoffs since its last appearance in 1999. San Francisco hasn't been relevant since the Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens days, and Tampa Bay is supposed to be an upcoming team that's overshadowed by the Saints and Falcons in a tough division.

It's much too early to use the popular "if the playoffs began today" phrase, though it does show the balance of power in the NFL is beginning to shift. Younger teams like Detroit, Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Houston are beginning to turn the corner. They're giving themselves a legitimate chance to make a run at the playoffs.

Seeing many top teams underachieve while underdogs are atop the standings is what makes this NFL season so odd. With the exception of a few teams like Green Bay and Baltimore, it seems as if the NFL has seen a 180-degree turn from commonly held preseason expectations. It's refreshing to see new teams emerge, but it's surprising to see so much change at one time.

It must be restated that we're only approaching the fifth week of the NFL season. There is much football to be played, and the playoff teams will probably look much different in January than they'd look today. Teams like the Steelers, Jets, and Eagles are too talented and have too much pride not to stay competitive the rest of the season.

If they're still struggling at the midway point in the season, then they have real reason to panic. It's simply too early in the season to make any conclusions, but the surprising results after the first month of the season cannot go unnoticed.

The Packers (3-0) are approaching the one-quarter mark of the season on Sunday, and if there's one thing we have learned through the first three games it's that Green Bay is still a dominating football team. An even scarier concept for other NFL teams is that Green Bay still has a plethora of areas for improvement despite their undefeated record. After squeezing by the Saints and Panthers to kickoff the season, the Packers enjoyed a double-digit victory, 27-17, over the Chicago Bears. The Packers offense has shown little sign of rust in the post-lockout era, as Aaron Rodgers has led them to an average of 33 points per contest. Conversely, their defense has struggled while allowing roughly 25 points and 415 total yards of offense per game (31st in the NFL behind New England). This has been the prevailing trend so far this year as defenses across the league have had their difficulties in large part due to a reduced offseason (After all, it probably will take awhile for Howard Green, Ryan Pickett, and players of the like to get back into football shape). Thus, it may be wise to curb your enthusiasm about Green Bay's offensive dominance and not get too negative about their poor play on the opposite side of the ball.

When they return to Lambeau on Sunday, the Packers will battle the Denver Broncos (1-2). Denver will look to right ship after coming off of a loss at Tennessee (17-14) last week. All three of their games this year have been close affairs decided by three points or less (20-23 loss vs. the Raiders, 24-22 win vs. the Bengals). Since 2005, the Broncos have struggled mightily to put up points on offense or prevent them from scoring on defense. Aside from a lethal Kyle Orton to Brandon Lloyd (1448 yards, 11 TD's in 2010) connection, the Broncos weren't much to write home about last year. A largely ineffective run game (remember, this used to be a team that literally inserted any running back and was still assured a 1000+ yard season...Olandis Gary, Tatum Bell, Rueben Droughns!?) and a porous defense contributed to a 4-12 record last year and all indications point toward a comparable result this season. Similar to the Panthers game, this is a game the Packers should dominate; however, the beautiful thing about sports is that anything can happen. If you need any evidence of this please refer back to Wednesday night's Wildcard race in baseball. Who knows, maybe if the stars align for the Broncos on Sunday, they could turn into a parallel of the Tampa Bay Rays. Along with assuring you that Evan Longoria will not be heaving passes for the Broncos, I'm recommending that you pay extra attention to the following key components of this week's game.

Containing a Familiar Foe: This game marks a homecoming of sorts for Denver's quarterback Kyle Orton (or as some Broncos fans may call him, "Not-Tim Tebow") who played for the Bears from 2005-2008. In his career he's played against the Packers in four games with surprisingly effective results. Believe it or not, he led the Bears to a 3-1 record against the Packers in his tenure. It should also be noted that he completed 49.4% of his passes and only threw 2 touchdowns compared to 3 interceptions. At that point in his career he was viewed as someone who couldn't put up impressive numbers, but was a "winner" nonetheless (additionally, he was mildly popular due to not being Rex Grossman). Now, he is viewed as a quarterback who posts impressive numbers but is incapable of leading his team to victory. Orton has won just six games in his last 25 starts, a measly 24% winning percentage in that span. He did throw for 3,653 yards and 20 touchdowns in 13 starts last year for Denver, so he is still more than capable of lighting up a Green Bay secondary that's been on their heels all season. Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Sam Shields will have their hands full trying to contain potent receiving threats in Brandon Lloyd and Eric Decker. Despite Lloyd's struggles this season (10 receptions, 127 yards, 0 touchdowns), don't be surprised if he breaks out of his slump in an immense way on Sunday.

Marshall Newhouse: Yes, a backup offensive lineman is going to be an imperative aspect of this game. Backup offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse likely won't be a reserve this week as it appears starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga may miss this game with a lingering knee bruise. Newhouse, who initially made the 53-man roster last year until being placed on the IR, was a fifth-round draft selection last season out of TCU. He was thrown into the fire early against the Bears last week but played admirably against Julius Peppers, often without additional help. Even if Newhouse plays at a high level this week, the major concern is who would be pressed into duty if any of Green Bay's offensive lineman go down. The only remaining healthy backups are Derek Sherrod who struggled mightily in the preseason and Evan Dietrich-Smith who was brought back last season after being cut. In an effort to shore up their offensive line depth, the Packers brought in former Packer Tony Moll (oh, the horror) for a workout this week (If I was Ted Thompson, I would have worked out the following three players instead of Moll: Seth Wand because he's 6'8 and has an awesome name, Aaron Gibson since he's a former Badger and weighs in excess of 370 pounds, and Daniel Loper due to this play. Make sure to keep an eye on Newhouse's performance against the Broncos, especially when pass rushing specialists Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil are roaming around the right side.

Ground Attack...Or Lack Thereof - You should fully anticipate that both offenses will excel throwing the ball this weekend, but don't bet on either side succeeding in the run game. Every week coach McCarthy states that he wants to commit more to the run, and nearly every week he instead commits to letting Aaron Rodger throw the ball as much as his heart desires (and his heart apparently desires a plethora of passes). On the opposite side of the spectrum, Denver's head coach John Fox likes nothing more than to pound the ball early and often. He was able to do this efficiently in Carolina with his two-headed monster, but has failed to duplicate this success with the Broncos. Knowshon Moreno, who has been battling a persistent hamstring issue, is supposed to be Fox's featured back but has struggled in limited duty with 8 carries for 22 yards. His counterpart Willis McGahee (yes, that Willis McGahee) hasn't been impressive either with 54 carries for 156 yards (2.9 average, 12 yard long). Despite their early inefficiencies, the Broncos will try and establish a consistent ground attack early in order to open up the field for Orton and company. Their success in doing so may be the difference between a blowout and a close battle. Although Green Bay's ground success may not be as crucial for success, there are still numerous reasons to pay extra attention to it. Ryan Grant will likely be sitting out with a bruised kidney, so James Starks will again be called upon to carry the load for the Packers. He showed extremely poor vision and explosiveness in last week's affair with the Chicago, but I'd expect significantly less resistance against Denver's defense. Grant's anticipated absence will also pave the way for running back Alex Green to get his first action of the year. The rookie from Hawaii who's returning from injury will likely be thrust into third-down duty and may open some eyes with his natural receiving skills.

The Packers should expect nothing less than a convincing win against the Broncos, but their struggling secondary must elevate their level of play. Even if this matchup may not be entirely appealing, there are still several intriguing aspects of the game. Kyle Orton will attempt to imitate his winnings ways against the Packers (perhaps he'll also enjoy playing at Lambeau instead of getting irrationally booed by his home fans), Marshall Newhouse will aim to build upon his impressive debut, and Alex Green will be raring for his first action on the gridiron. If nothing else, enjoy this game as an exciting cap for what is expected to be a historic sports weekend in Wisconsin.

The date that loomed large in the hearts of American sports fans came in like a lion and out like a lamb last Friday as the original midnight March 3 deadline for the expiration of the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and consequential lockout passed.

As the clock on negotiations ticked dangerously close to midnight, the national media assumed a lockout to be a forgone conclusion. To most it was not a question of whether the two irreconcilably distant sides, the NFL owners versus the players, would reach an agreement by the March 3 deadline, but how long the impending labor stoppage would last and whether the 2011 season would be in jeopardy.

Enter George H. Cohen, the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS). Appointed in 2009 by President Obama and unanimously approved by the US Senate, Mr. Cohen announced on Feb. 17 that representatives of both the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and league owners would meet for a series of mediations with him in Washington D.C. beginning Feb. 18. Talks resumed again last week at the doorstep of the initial deadline.

Cohen just last year helped negotiate the deal that kept Major League Soccer from disintegrating into labor strife.

"I don't know that we would have gotten a deal done without his help and his very calming demeanor," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a conversation with Sport's Illustrated's Peter King about his experience with Cohen and the FMCS.

George Cohen works by breaking the two warring factions down into smaller discussion groups and occasionally bringing them back together in one room to deliberate. While a federal mediator has no authority to make a ruling one way or another, he may act as counselor and make recommendations from a position of objective authority. More than anything, Cohen under these circumstances encourages hospitality and constructive negotiations.

"A mediator can't do the deal," Garber said in his conversation with King. "But judging by our experience, he can get people to move off very solid ideological points to the center."

Considering the two sides have been at complete odds for the better of two years, it is hard to not read the extension as a good sign that the players and the owners are as close as they have ever been throughout the entire negotiation process. For the first time since the owner opted out of the current CBA in 2008, fans have a reason to be cautiously optimistic. However, if a deal is not struck, this could make the consequences even worse.

The hopes of football fans remain under tightly locked doors with Cohen, a lawyer. "He'll cut through the defensiveness and surface rhetoric to get to the bottom line," sports agent and attorney Leigh Steinberg said. "Skilled mediators have the ability to paint a picture and look into the future, to sketch like in A Christmas Carol the ghosts of conflicts--past, present and future."

Football is such an engrained aspect of American culture that even the thought of a fall without the usual Sunday routine seems simply inconceivable. Where the NBA runs for 82 games in a season and MLB's schedule is even longer at 162, there are only 16 precious games each year in the NFL, making every game an event. Schedules are planned around games, and become absorbed into our weekly routine.

According to the FMCS, 85 percent of all contract disputes mediated by the agency in recent years have ended with agreements. Considering how irreconcilable the two sides seemed at the beginning of March, fans can only hope their chances are good, and now as heads turn to the new deadline of March 10, all eyes will be on Cohen as the nation crosses its fingers and hopes that he can once again work some of his mediating magic.

Sorry, Aaron Rodgers. Most years, the Packer quarterback's Super Bowl heroics would still be the talk of the NFL. Unfortunately, this year an exciting, closely-contested Super Bowl has quickly been overshadowed by the looming threat of an NFL lockout and the prospect of not having a 2011 NFL season.

To better understand the conflict, one must know exactly what has created this great divide threatening to eliminate an entire season. The NFL rakes in about nine billion dollars each year in revenues and the owners and players cannot come to an agreement on how to split this money. In 2006, the NFL Players Association and the league's owners settled on a Collective Bargaining Agreement that gave the players approximately 50 percent of the revenue of the league. However, the economic downturn in the United States since 2006 has caused the owners to reconsider the deal they signed less than five years ago.

The reported proposal from the league's owners would see the players concede about a billion dollars in revenue. However, as one might expect, the players have little interest in agreeing to such a significant pay-cut and the discrepancy between the proposals of the two sides have led some to believe that a lockout is inevitable. In fact, DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, has declared that the likelihood of a lockout in 2011 is a "14 on a scale of one to ten."

One reason for this pessimistic view is the fact that, according to Smith, the NFL and its owners would have much less to lose economically if a lockout were to occur. He claims that the NFL negotiated their television deals with FOX, CBS, NBC, and DirecTV with a potential lockout in mind and would stand to make four billion dollars in 2011 regardless of whether any games are actually played.

On the other hand, some find it difficult to pity either side given that NFL players make an average salary of $700,000 per year while the median income in the entire population of the United States is around $30,000. However, as Smith is quick to point out, the average NFL player may make a nice salary, but their career only lasts, on average, about three years. Beyond that, a player has to play over three seasons in order to qualify for just five years of health care following their retirement. Even if a player is fortunate and plays long enough to be eligible for this insurance, after the allotted five years they will run into plenty of healthcare-related problems given all the pre-existing conditions they will have accrued throughout their long careers in such a violent sport. For this reason, another issue that has been discussed in the ongoing negotiations is improved benefits for retired players.

Another prominent proposal that has divided the sides is the owners' suggestion of expanding the NFL season from 16 to 18 games by converting two preseason games into regular season games that bring in more revenue than the sparsely attended preseason games. Though this would bring in more money, the players are already quite concerned about their health and do not appear to support the addition of more games to their already grueling regular season.

With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire on March 3, the two sides do not appear any closer to coming to an agreement than they were months ago when the talks of a lockout began. Thus, the prospect of the cancellation of the 2011 NFL season is becoming more of a reality with each day that passes without the owners and players reaching a resolution.

Regardless of which side you support, if any, it is important to also keep in mind the less prominent potential victims of a lockout. Stadium employees, stores that sell NFL merchandise and businesses around NFL stadiums all depend on the NFL season to survive financially and could stand to lose the most if the owners and the NFL Players Association fail to come to an agreement.

Finally. Brett who?

Call it what you will, but karma was on the Packers' side in this game. This was deserved. Deserved by the fans, the players, GM Ted Thompson and most importantly, Aaron Rodgers.

The golden-armed quarterback from California led the Packers to an exhilarating 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, earning MVP honors and cementing his status as the newest member of the "elite" quarterback class. Finally, Rodgers deserves to have his name mentioned with the greats of the position, next to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

The story of the season for the Packers has been injuries, and fittingly this game was no different. When Rodgers lost dependable fan favorite wide receiver Donald Driver in the second quarter to an ankle injury, he easily could have lost composure along with his third-down security blanket. But, he didn't, allowing Jordy Nelson to step up on the biggest stage of both their careers.

When defensive captain Charles Woodson left after injuring his shoulder--reports say a broken collarbone--the defense could have collapsed. They too didn't. Second-round disappointment Pat Lee and perennial scapegoat Jarrett Bush held their own against Hines Ward and the Steelers' receiving crew, stepping up when it mattered most.

The Steelers turned the ball over three times, two interceptions--by Nick Collins and, incredulously, Jarrett Bush--along with a fumble forced by Clay Matthews. This proved to be crucial as Rodgers and the Packers scored 21 of their 31 points off the turnovers, improving all Super Bowl team records to 31-4 when forcing more than three turnovers in a game.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said earlier in the week that he would place the brunt of the Packers' offense on Rodgers' shoulders and boy did he do so. Rodgers threw the ball 39 times, completing 24 of them for a 111.5 quarterback rating. Comparably, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was 25-of-40 for 263 yards and two touchdowns, but two costly interceptions including the pick-six by three-time Pro Bowler Nick Collins. Roethlisberger finished with a rating of 77.4, his second poorest performance of his three Super Bowl appearances.

Rodgers also became only the fourth player in Super Bowl history to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and only the third to do so in a winning effort. His receivers dropped six passes, including a heartbreaker by James Jones, would have led to a huge gain if not a touchdown. Jordy Nelson, who was the leading receiver in the game with nine receptions and 140 yards, had a ball bounce off his fingertips in the end zone during the fourth quarter that would have put the game out of reach, but the Packers had to settle for a field goal instead, extending their fourth quarter lead to only six points.

The Packers leading rusher was playoff sensation James Starks, who ran for 52 yards on only 11 carries, good for a 4.7 yard average that forced the No. 1 defense in the league to show some respect toward a previously suspect running game.

The Packers rushing defense held Rashard Mendenhall in check, as he gained 63 yards on 14 carries, including a TD, with a 4.5 yard average. Mendenhall's longest run of the game was a 17-yard scamper early in the third quarter. The Steelers' back failed to produce a big impact on the game, outside of his costly fumble late in the third quarter.

The Packers showed amazing resilience during this title run, playing all four postseason games on the road and becoming only the third team in history win all four. They are also only the second No. 6 seed to win the Super Bowl, ironically joining the 2005 Steelers.

Rodgers is the owner of the highest career postseason passer ratings of all-time, higher than Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and even higher than his idol growing up--Joe Montana. It has become safe to say that Ted Thompson was right about installing Rodgers as the starter and now the Packers are major contenders for years to come with him leading the way onto the field. He had to wait for his chance to be drafted, he had to deal with the Favre drama, and now he has a ring of his own to show for it. He also has something even the greatest quarterback in the history of the Green Bay Packers never earned, a Super Bowl MVP trophy. Yes, this definitely was deserved. Just ask karma.