Year in Review - Green Bay Packers (13-6), NFC Champions

Expectations were high for Green Bay entering the 2010 season. Many prognosticators, including myself, had them reaching the Super Bowl. There was a lot to like about the team. Tons of talent on offense, but the question mark was the defense. The defense had shown flashes of its potential in 2009 but was gashed in their playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals. While people weren't sure what to expect out of the defense, the offense was expected to rival the stats that the great Rams offense of the early 2000s put up. The season didn't quite play out that way, but the Packers have managed to live up to the hype.

Green Bay opened at Philadelphia, a place they hadn't won at in decades. They jumped out to a 20-3 lead in the third quarter and seemed primed to run away with the game. However, Eagles QB Mike Vick had entered for the injured Kevin Kolb and brought the Eagles back into the game, eventually getting them within one score of the Packers. In what turned out to be a sign of things to come, the defense made a stop at the end of the game, ensuring the Packers 27-20 victory. The victory came with a price, RB Ryan Grant was lost for the season with an ankle injury and pretty much took any semblance of a running game with him. Rodgers struggled against the Eagles, throwing for just 188 yards and 2 interceptions. However, the Packers began to show that they could win with defense. The Packers opened their home schedule with a rout of the hapless Buffalo Bills, 34-7. Rodgers had a great game, throwing for 255 yards and 2 TDs. TE Jermichael Finley led the team with 103 yards receiving, while Donald Driver and James Jones each had touchdowns. In Week 3, the Packers traveled to Chicago for a Monday night game in a battle of 2-0 teams. The Packers were besieged by penalties, a team record 18 and sloppy play, including a crucial late game fumble by Jones. They lost on a last second Robbie Gould field goal, 20-17. Finley had another huge game, but once again the Packers running game could get nothing going. Week 4 turned out to be a surprisingly tough effort against the Lions at Lambeau. Green Bay led the entire game but could never quite put the Lions away. The Packers would lead by two touchdowns twice in the game, but each time the Lions responded. The Packers didn't generate much on offense, and the defense was gashed by Lions backup QB Shaun Hill. The Packers also committed 4 turnovers and really only won the game 28-26 because the Lions committed 13 penalties to the Packers 3.

In Week 5, the Packers suffered a surprising defeat at Washington in overtime, 16-13. The offense put up 427 yards but could only muster 13 points. They finally had a running back go over 100 yards, the only time that would happen all regular season, as Brandon Jackson finished with 115 yards, but most of it came on a 71-yard run. The Packers were hurt by a Redskins goal line stand, and also saw players drop like flies. TEs Donald Lee, Jermichael Finley, and LB Clay Matthews all left the game with injuries, and Rodgers suffered a concussion in overtime. The natives in Green Bay began to panic after a 23-20 OT loss at home in Week 6 to the Dolphins. The loss dropped Green Bay to 3-3 and it was clear that the Packers were feeling the effects of all their injuries. Week 7 saw what was likely former hero Brett Favre's last game at Lambeau Field. The teams engaged in a fantastic back and forth game with the Packers barely coming away with a 28-24 victory. Favre struggled, throwing three interceptions, including a pick six returned by Desmond Bishop that proved to be the game winner. In Week 8 at New York, the Packers defense had a statement game. The Packers shut out the Jets 9-0, forcing three turnovers. The offense was sloppy but in a sign that this team was much different than the 2009 version, the defense stepped up and sparked the team to victory. The Packers entered the halfway point at 5-3 and with things looking up.

The Packers caught a reeling Cowboys team in Week 9 at home and began an odd streak where coaches were fired after embarrassing losses to Green Bay. The Packers crushed the Cowboys 45-7, and sent Wade Phillips packing. The Packers defense forced 4 turnovers, and the defense contributed two touchdowns, an interception return by Matthews, and a fumble return by Nick Collins. Rodgers had his best game of the season, throwing for 289 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. After a week off the Packers returned to action in Week 11 at Minnesota. This time the Packers got Brad Childress fired, after demolishing the Vikings 31-3, giving them their fourth straight win. Rodgers was again masterful, throwing for 4 touchdowns and 301 yards. WR Greg Jennings torched the Vikings for 7 catches, 152 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns. The Packers were now 7-3 and tied with the surprising Bears for first place in the NFC North. Week 12 saw the Packers travel to Atlanta to meet the NFC's best team the Falcons. Penalties were once again the Packers undoing in a 20-17 loss. Rodgers had an up and down day. He had a crucial fumble at the goal line in the second quarter, but led the Packers on a game tying drive late, before the Falcons won it with a field goal. Green Bay righted the ship in Week 13 at home against the 49ers, winning 34-16. RB James Starks, a name that would be heard from again come playoff time, led the Packers with 73 yards rushing. Rodgers continued his hot play, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. With just four games remaining, the Packers were 8-4 and in a battle for the NFC North and a playoff berth.

In Week 14, the Packers suffered an embarrassing 7-3 loss to the Lions in Detroit. It was Detroit's first division win in 19 games, and their first against the Packers in 10 games. The Packers lost Rodgers to his second concussion of the season in the second quarter, and backup Matt Flynn couldn't get anything going. Despite being close the entire game, the Packers made virtually no effort to run the ball, with Rodgers actually leading the team in rushing with 25 yards on 2 carries. The loss was huge, as the Packers at 8-5 were on the outside looking in on in the playoff race. The news didn't get much better in Week 15, as the Packers had to travel to New England to take on the NFL's best team. They also had to do it without Rodgers, who was held out of the game due to his concussion. No one gave the Packers a shot but they ended up giving the Patriots all they could handle. Flynn played an excellent game, throwing for three touchdowns but also threw a game sealing interception. The running game showed some life, as Jackson ran for 99 yards. The defense also played huge, holding the high powered Patriots offense to just 249 yards in the 31-27 loss. The most memorable and crucial play of the game came towards the end of the first half, with the Patriots trailing 17-7. Patriots offensive lineman Dan Connolly somehow returned a kickoff 71 yards, setting up a Patriots touchdown that gave them some much needed momentum going into halftime. While the Packers effort was admirable, the loss cost them to fall to 8-6, making the NFC North a longshot and their last two games must win. In Week 16, the Packers met the New York Giants, their closest competitor int he race for the final playoff spot. The Giants were coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Eagles and despite keeping it close in the first half, were overmatched in a 45-17 Packers win. The Packers intercepted four of Eli Manning's passes. while Rodgers returned from his concussion to throw for 404 yards and four touchdowns. Despite the win, the Packers were eliminated from the NFC North title, as the Bears had clinched it earlier in the day. However, the Packers controlled their playoff destiny, and needed to beat the Bears at Lambeau in Week 17. Some thought that the Bears may take the game off, with them having nothing to play for. Those people obviously don't understand the Bears/Packers rivalry. Chicago played their starters the entire game and befuddled the Packers offense for most of it. However, the Packers defense was up to the challenge and kept the Bears offense stuck in first gear. Rodgers led the Packers on a game winning drive in the fourth quarter, completing it with a one-yard touchdown pass to Driver, sealing a 10-3 win and a playoff berth. The Packers road to the Super Bowl would have to come on the road, as they were the NFC's sixth and final playoff team. However, their 10-6 record was a pretty amazing accomplish, considering they had lost 15 players to injured reserve, including six starters.

The Packers started the playoffs the same way they started the regular season, at Philadelphia. Some though things might be different this time, as the Eagles had Mike Vick from the beginning of this game. What people didn't expect was the impact RB James Starks would have. Starks rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries, and was definitely the team's MVP. The Packers never trailed, and a Tramon Williams interception sealed the 21-16 win. Next up was the Falcons at Atlanta, in another regular season rematch. The game started off a back and forth affair but an interception return for a touchdown by Williams put the Packers ahead 28-14 going into halftime and they never looked back. Rodgers finally began to be recognized by everyone as an elite QB after a breathtaking 366 yards, three touchdowns and just five incompletions on 36 attempts performance. The Packers blew out the NFC's supposed best team 48-21 and had instantly gone from six seed back to Super Bowl favorites. They would have to reach the Super Bowl by going through their rivals, the Bears. In just their second playoff meeting ever, the Packers won at Soldier Field 21-14, to reach their first Super Bowl in 14 years. The Packers offense looked crisp to start the game, forging ahead 14-0. The defense was harassing Jay Cutler, eventually knocking him out of the game. After Todd Collins looked like the 127 year old QB he is, third stringer Caleb Hanie eventually replaced him. Hanie drove the Bears down the field, making the game 14-7. However, late in the fourth quarter he threw a pick six to huge BJ Raji, making the game 21-7. Hanie wasted no time and the Packers defense appeared to take the series off, quickly making the game 21-14 with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Earl Bennett. Hanie was driving the Bears down the field again, before throwing an interception to Sam Shields, his second of the game. Rodgers didn't have his best game but the defense once again stepped up when it needed to. The Packers had become just the second sixth seed to reach the Super Bowl and will try to win their fourth Super Bowl on Sunday.