Week 17 vs. Detroit Game Release.indd - NFL.com

LIONS AT PACKERS - WEEK 17
SEVEN PACKERS EARN PRO BOWL SELECTIONS
The NFL announced Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday, and the Packers were
represented with seven selections on this year’s team.
WR Greg Jennings, FB John Kuhn, LB Clay Matthews, QB
Aaron Rodgers, NT B.J. Raji, C Scott Wells and CB Charles
Woodson were all named to the team, with Kuhn, Matthews, Rodgers
and Woodson selected as starters for the NFC squad.
It marks the first time since 2004 that the Packers have had four offensive
players selected to the Pro Bowl. For the fourth straight season,
Green Bay has had at least three defensive players honored.
For three of the players (Kuhn, Raji, Wells), it marks the first Pro Bowl
selections of their careers.
For Jennings, it is his second straight Pro Bowl selection as he becomes
the first Green Bay wide receiver to be honored in back-to-back years
since Donald Driver (2006-07).
Matthews becomes the first Packer since RB John Brockington (1971-73)
to earn Pro Bowl recognition each of his first three seasons in the league.
Rodgers, who also was named to the Pro Bowl in 2009, was selected as
the starter for the NFC for the first time in his career.
Woodson has earned his eighth career Pro Bowl bid and fourth straight
as a member of the Packers (also four straight years as a starter). He
is the first Green Bay cornerback since Herb Adderley (1963-67) to be
selected to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons.
SUCCESS IN THE DIVISION
Sunday’s game will mark the Packers’ sixth and final contest against an
NFC North foe this season, with Green Bay posting a perfect 5-0 mark in
divisional games so far this season.
Since the NFL went to a divisional format in 1967, the Packers have
never gone undefeated in the division. The last team to sweep
the NFC North/Central was the 1987 Chicago Bears (7-0).
The Packers have a 26-9 (.743) regular-season record against NFC North
opponents under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, a divisional record that
ranks No. 2 in the NFL over that span:
Team W-L Record Pct.
1. New England 27-8-0 .771
2. Green Bay 26-9-0 .743
3. San Diego 25-10-0 .714
4. Indianapolis 24-11-0 .686
5. Pittsburgh 24-11-0 .686
Green Bay has won 14 of 17 NFC North games at Lambeau Field under
McCarthy, which is tied for the No. 2 divisional home mark in the
league since 2006:
Team W-L Record Pct.
1. Indianapolis 15-3-0 .824
2t. Green Bay 14-3-0 .813
2t. New England 14-3-0 .813
4t. Several teams 13-5-0 .722
The Packers have won at least four contests in their division every season
under McCarthy. Green Bay and New England are the only teams in
the league to post four-plus wins in its division each year from 2006-11.
AS THE WEATHER TURNS
In 2009 and 2010, the Packers’ late-season success was instrumental
in advancing to the postseason. Since McCarthy took over in 2006, the
Packers have been one of the best teams in the league down the stretch.
The Packers have an 18-9 regular-season record in December/January
games since 2006, a .667 winning percentage that is tied for No. 6 in
the NFL over that span:
Team Dec./Jan. W-L Record Pct.
1t. New England 25-3-0 .893
1t. San Diego 25-3-0 .893
3. Philadelphia 21-7-0 .750
4t. Indianapolis 19-9-0 .679
4t. Pittsburgh 19-9-0 .679
6t. Green Bay 18-9-0 .667
6t. Baltimore 18-9-0 .667
That includes a 12-2 record at Lambeau Field in December/January, the
No. 3 mark in the league at home since 2006:
Team Dec./Jan. W-L Record (Home) Pct.
1. New England 12-0-0 1.000
2. San Diego 12-1-0 .923
3. Green Bay 12-2-0 .857
4. Indianapolis 13-3-0 .813
5. Houston 12-3-0 .800
FINE FINISH
Under McCarthy, the Packers have registered an unblemished record in
regular-season finales.
Green Bay is one of only four teams in the league to register a 5-0 mark
in its final regular-season games since 2006:
Team Season Finales (Since ’06) Pct.
1t. Green Bay 5-0-0 1.000
1t. Baltimore 5-0-0 1.000
1t. Houston 5-0-0 1.000
1t. San Diego 5-0-0 1.000
5t. Six teams 4-1-0 .800
McCarthy is one of only three coaches in franchise history to win five
consecutive regular-season finales, joining Vince Lombardi (1959-63)
and Mike Holmgren (1994-98). McCarthy and Texans head coach Gary
Kubiak are the only current coaches in the NFL to lead their team
to a 5-0 mark in season finales since 2006.
On Sunday, McCarthy will look to become the first head coach in team
history to win six consecutive regular-season finales.
The Packers’ success in the final game of the season pre-dates
McCarthy’s arrival. Green Bay has actually won eight straight regularseason
finales (2003-10), the longest current streak in the NFL,
ahead of the five-game streaks posted by the Ravens, Texans and
Chargers.
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