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Running game & defense leads Packers victory, playoff hopes remain alive

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File Photo: Dean Lowry

The Green Bay Packers stayed in the NFC playoff picture by knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-20 in overtime on Sunday, snapping a three-game Lambeau Field losing streak.

The Packers improved to 6-6 and will face winless Cleveland on Sunday with the potential return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the final three games of the regular season.

The Packers used a couple of big plays to help their cause.  Linebacker Kyler Fackrell blocked a punt that allowed the Packers to take over at the Tampa Bay 45.  Jamaal Williams later scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Packers a 10-7 lead.

On the very next Tampa Bay possession, Green Bay defensive tackle Kenny Clark stripped the ball from quarterback Jameis Winston and the ball was scooped up in mid-air by Dean Lowry who returned the fumble 62 yards for a touchdown and a 17-7 Packers lead.

The Packers have struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks this season, but they made up for lost time on Sunday.  Clay Matthews returned to the lineup and recorded 2 1/2 sacks.  Kenny Clark added two sacks, the first two of his career, helping the Packers to a seven sack day.  The seven sacks was one short of the team record set against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. [Read more…]

Matthews will be a game time decision for Packers

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Clay Matthews

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews didn’t practice on Wednesday and said his playing status will likely be determined just before the game on Sunday night at Pittsburgh.

Matthews said there is a concern that playing could make his groin injury worse.  He didn’t practice on Wednesday and that doesn’t bode well for Matthews availability for the game against the Steelers.

Matthews was hurt in last Sunday’s 23-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.  If he can’t play, defensive coordinator Dom Capers could go with veteran Ahmad Brooks, who played 27 snaps against Baltimore last week.  Kyler Fackrell also saw more opportunity when Matthews went down and played well.

Even rookie Vince Biegel played 16 snaps last week and should see at least that much this week if Matthews can’t go.

AUDIO: Clay Matthews on his health status for this week :18

 

Matthews shoots for Packers franchise sack record (AUDIO)

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Clay Matthews

When Clay Matthews takes the field against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, he’ll have his sights set on becoming the Green Bay Packers all-time franchise sack leader.

Matthews has 74 sacks in his career, which started back in 2009.  Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (74.5 sacks) is the all-time franchise leader, leaving Matthews a half sack shy of sharing the record and one full sack from moving into the lead.

Matthews is tied for the second-most six-plus-sack seasons in the NFL since 2009 with seven.  Former Packer Julius Peppers (Carolina/Chicago/GB) is the leader in that category with eight.

Matthews ranks in the top five in sacks since 2009 among active players.  Miami’s Cameron Wake tops that list with 81.5.  Houston’s J.J. Watt is next with 76.

Matthews has put himself in some elite company and he’s not even close to being done.

AUDIO: Clay Matthews is hoping to get the sack record and the win on Sunday :09

AUDIO: Clay Matthews said the sack record will mean more when he’s done :12

AUDIO: Clay Matthews was asked of numbers and stats matter to him :23

Bulaga still sidelined by ankle injury

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Bryan Bulaga

The Green Bay Packers returned to the practice field on Monday and will take Tuesday off.  The players returned from their weekend off in pretty good shape.

The only previously injured player that didn’t practice was right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who is still recovering from a sprained right ankle.  Coach Mike McCarthy did say last week that he didn’t have any major concern regarding Bulaga’s availability for the season opener against Seattle this Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Rookie defensive tackle Montravius Adams returned for the first time since undergoing foot surgery the first week of training camp.  Adams took part in individual drills but not team drills and it’s expected to be weeks before he’s ready to play in a game.

Also back on the practice field Monday were linebackers Nick Perry and Clay Matthews, offensive lineman Lucas Patrick and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

Packers to host free agent Brooks today

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Kyler Fackrell

The Green Bay Packers are expected to host free-agent outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks today.  The decision to bring in a veteran is a clear sign that the Packers aren’t happy with the current level of production beyond Clay Matthews and Nick Perry.

The Packers let Julius Peppers and Datone Jones get away in free agency, ready to give Jayrone Elliott and Kyler Fackrell more of an opportunity.

Through three preseason games, Elliott and Fackrell have combined for five tackles and no sacks.

The Packers haven’t been able to stay healthy as well.  Matthews dropped out early on Saturday with an undisclosed injury and Perry later left with an ankle injury.

Elliott has had to deal with back spasms the last couple of weeks and he had to leave Saturday’s game at Denver early.

The Packers also haven’t been able to get former Badger Vince Biegel on the field.  The fourth round pick hasn’t practiced since rookie orientation in May when he broke a bone in his foot.  After surgery, he’s been rehabbing, trying to get back, but its an injury that requires a tremendous amount of patience.  Biegel is currently on the PUP list and could remain there through the first six weeks of the season.

AUDIO: Kyler Fackrell reacts to the Packers bringing in Ahmad Brooks for a visit :16

Packers hold 29th pick in tonight’s NFL Draft

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The Green Bay Packers have many needs heading into the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft tonight.  Cover corner and a pass rusher top the list.

After losing Sam Shields, the Packers struggled in the secondary last season.  They also struggled to rush the passer and will enter the season without one of their top pressure players in Julius Peppers, who signed a free agent deal with Carolina.

They’re hoping Clay Matthews can stay healthy this season after he had one of his worst seasons.

They could go the corner route right away, and if the player or players they want aren’t available at that position, then a pass rushing outside linebacker could be on the agenda.  State football fans would love to see them take Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt, although Missouri’s Charles Harris is considered to be a better bet. [Read more…]

Matthews healthy again, ready for another season

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Clay Matthews

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews had his share of bad luck last season.  Multiple injuries saw the former USC product struggle to put up any kind of numbers, finishing 13th on the team in tackles with 24.  He posted a career low in sacks with five.

Matthews missed four games with injury and was severely limited in several others with shoulder, hamstring and ankle injuries.

To give you an idea what kind of shape the Packers were in, one only has to look at Jordy Nelson, who finished the season with fractured ribs.  He told reporters on Tuesday that he’s not sure how the Packers would have been able to get ready for the Super Bowl, had they beat Atlanta in the NFC Championship game.

Once the season ended, several players welcomed the time off to heal. [Read more…]

LB A.J. Hawk retires as a Packer (AUDIO)

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A.J. Hawk

Former linebacker A.J. Hawk, who played nine seasons (2006-14) in Green Bay, has informed the club of his decision to retire as a member of the Packers.

Hawk was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.  He ranks number-one in franchise history (since 1975) with 1,118 career tackles, having surpassed linebacker John Anderson’s mark of 1,020 (1978-89) in the 2013 regular-season finale.  Hawk led the Packers in tackles five times during his career (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 & 2013), which is tied with LB Nick Barnett for the top mark in team history.

Hawk played in 142 of a possible 144 regular-season games with 136 starts in Green Bay, appearing in all 16 [Read more…]

Packers host Vikings today

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Fans shoveled Lambeau Field on Thursday, only to see another snowstorm hit Green Bay overnight, meaning fans will deal with snow in the stands today.

The Minnesota Vikings flight to Appleton was roughly an hour.  It took them another three hours to get off the plane after they slid off  the taxiway.

Their plane landed safety during a snowstorm on Friday and was taxiing to the gate shortly after 5 p.m. when a wheel slid off the taxiway.  The team didn’t get off the plane until around 8:20 p.m.

Who’s out?

Minnesota Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith was a full participant during practice on Friday and there’s a chance he could be ready to play against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday.  He is listed as questionable on the teams final injury report. [Read more…]

Packers edge Texans on wintry day at Lambeau

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James Starks

James Starks

The Green Bay Packers did enough to pull out their second straight victory and stay within two games of the first place Detroit Lions atop the NFC North Division.  They knocked off the Houston Texans 21-13 on a snowy day at Lambeau Field.

Aaron Rodgers completed 20 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Packers improve to 6-6 on the season.

The Packers couldn’t pick up any ground on first place Detroit.  The Lions held Drew Brees without a touchdown pass in New Orleans and beat the Saints 28-13.  Detroit has a two game lead on the Packers with four left to play.

The Texans are also 6-6 in the AFC after suffering their third straight loss.  They are tied with Tennessee for first place in the AFC South. [Read more…]