Athanasios Armenis

Journal Staff

As Aaron Rodgers stepped out of the huddle with 55 seconds remaining, late into Sunday afternoon’s clash with the New York Giants, the #12 on the front of his uniform seemed to stick out.

12. It represents the number of wins that the undefeated Packers have been able to consecutively capture, as their unbeaten streak this season still remains intact. Ironically, the hosting Giants, along with the noise of a sellout crowd from Met-Life stadium in East Rutherford, NJ were almost able to knock off the unbeaten Packers, as everyone recalls the Giants putting a “perfect end” to the Patriots 18-1 season.

Rodgers, along with the plethora of weapons he has on offense, including wide-outs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, along with tight end Jermichael Finley, were able to cap off a 68-yard drive in the final minute of regulation as kicker, Mason Crosby was able to convert on a 30 yard field goal, giving the Packers a 38-35 victory.

So what’s next for Green Bay? Well, the almost surging Raiders looked like they had a good shot at knocking off the defending champs, but that was before the 34-14 beat- down the Dolphins gave them on Sunday in Miami.

Now, assuming the Packers are able to handle the unpredictable Raiders at home next Sunday, that leads them into their following two matchups which include an away game at Arrowhead stadium to face a Kansas City team who just lost their starting quarterback, Matt Cassel for the rest of the year. Then they are back to Green Bay to host their divisional rival, the Chicago Bears, who also just lost their starting quarterback for the year, Jay Cutler, who broke the thumb in his throwing hand.

So can one of the two backup quarterbacks on either the Chiefs or Bears really produce enough offense to knock down the highest scoring team in the NFL?

That could leave the Packers at 15-0, heading into the final week of the season against the young, inexperienced but sure as heck fun to watch Detroit Lions. The same Lions, who started off this same season a quick 5-0 before they mysteriously vanished out of everyone’s radars.

But sitting at 7-5, Detroit may have playoff implications at stake heading into their week 16 matchup with the cheese heads in Wisconsin and with an explosive quarterback in Matthew Stafford and an elite receiving corps, in Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, sky’s the limit for the young Lions, who very well could be playing the role of spoiler.