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Day-After Notes: Defense Peaking At Correct Time Head Coach Mike McCarthy agreed on Monday using the notion that defenses win championships. Well, the Packers have a tough path to a title as an NFC Wild Card team relegated towards the road throughout the playoffs, but McCarthy will definitely go into this postseason believing his defense is playing its best. That, in his thoughts, provides Green Bay a fighting likelihood against any person. "I feel it is crucial for your team to be noted for excellent defense," McCarthy said. "That's usually been the objective in my tenure here, and I feel we undoubtedly have reached that. "It begins with defense. I've often looked at defense as the thermostat. When you have fantastic defense, they keep you in games, week in and week out." That has verified accurate for the 2010 Packers, who completed the regular season ranked second within the league in points allowed (15.0). Green Bay lost six games this season, but all had been by three- or four-point margins largely since the defense still gave the team a shot at victory when the offense had off days. The defense kept three teams - the Jets, Vikings and Bears - out of the finish zone over the past nine games, and two of the season's largest victories came against the Jets as well as the Bears when the offense managed just 19 total points in 9-0 and 10-3 decisions. The defense also held Detroit to just seven points in Week 14, which allowed the offense to have a opportunity to win at the finish of a 7-3 defeat. This past Sunday's win-to-get-in performance might have been the most impressive with Chicago having scored 78 points in its prior two games. The Bears posted just 227 total yards and only once drove the ball into the red zone, settling for a field objective for their only points. The only other red-zone possession, set up by the Bears' defense by way of turnover, ended scoreless as a result of another turnover. "This defense shows up week in and week out," stated linebacker Clay Matthews, who completed his typical season having a team- and career-high 13? sacks. "I assume we do a great job with scheme we have, the players we have, and to hold team that is been on a roll to three points is a fantastic job, so we're happy about it. Defensively we really feel very good." Added fellow linebacker Desmond Bishop: "I believe the course of the season, our body of work has given us real confidence. We'll go anyplace, anytime and play." That is the mentality the Packers will need as their playoff road starts at NFC East champion Philadelphia on Sunday, as well as the defense faces a main challenge in dual-threat quarterback Michael Vick. Unlike in Week 1, when the Packers prepared all week for Eagles starter Kevin Kolb, only to see Vick replace an injured Kolb for the second half, this time defensive coordinator Dom Capers will have the requisite time required to formulate a strategy for Vick. In addition, unlike last year - when the Packers' perceived vulnerability against elite passing quarterbacks proved true in the playoffs as Arizona's Kurt Warner threw 5 touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals to a 51-45 overtime win within the Wild Card round - there do not seem to be those glaring question marks hanging over the defense's head. "Last year, that is old news," safety Nick Collins stated. "I'm not even going back there. We really feel like we're a better team now." They are, having dropping their regular-season points-allowed common by much more than a field objective (18.6 to 15.0 per game) despite much less prolific turnover numbers (40 in 2009, 32 in 2010) along with a slide from the league's No. 1 defense against the run final year (83.three yards per game) to No. 18 this year (114.9). In other words, this defense doesn't hang its hat on a few points, but appears much more well-rounded, even in the face of a season-long spate of injuries and a variety of fill-ins making key contributions. This group also is arguably a lot more battle-tested, having held two double-digit-win teams within the Giants and Bears without a touchdown over the last six quarters. And should you chalk up 14 points in the New England game to gifts no one could do much about (an interception returned for a touchdown plus a extended kickoff return to set up first-and-goal on the 4-yard line), the defense hasn't given up much more than 20 points in any of the final nine games. That's what McCarthy signifies when he says, "When you've wonderful defense, you're in every game," which then leaves it up to the offense to do whatever it takes to win. It may possibly appear a somewhat curious mindset for a head coach with an offensive background like McCarthy to possess, and he can't precisely pinpoint when he initial espoused it. But operating for the very first six years of his NFL coaching career below Marty Schottenheimer in Kansas City, a blue-collar team recognized for defense, played a role, and if he ever entertained even the slightest doubts about the philosophy, they were erased after the way the Packers exited the playoffs a year ago. "The intensity we played with (Sunday vs. Chicago), we need to maintain playing with that intensity throughout," cornerback Charles Woodson stated. "We can't have a repeat of what happened last year. This playoff game, we have to come out and play with same fire played with (Sunday) and very good things will happen." Hopefully for longer than just one far more week. "If we can get points going the way we know we can," cornerback Tramon Williams stated, "it's going to be a great run." Game balls
Reflecting how well each the defense and unique teams played Sunday, the entire defense received a game ball whilst 4 players on special teams also received the recognition from the coaching staff. Punter Tim Masthay, extended snapper Brett Goode and defensive back Jarrett Bush, along with Williams as the return man, all received special-teams game balls. The only player on an admittedly rough day for the offense to receive a game ball was center Scott Wells, who received considerable praise from McCarthy. "I think Scott is having his greatest year in my time here," he stated. "I can't reflect on how he played prior to my arrival, but I think this is clearly Scott Wells' finest season. He grades out quite high week in and week out. I believe he will clearly grade out as the highest offensive lineman when it really is all mentioned and carried out. I feel Scott has had a Pro Bowl-type year." Injury update
Four players who missed Sunday's game as a result of injuries - safety Atari Bigby (groin), fullback Korey Hall (knee), linebacker Frank Zombo (knee) and defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf) - are expected to go via testing on Monday and Tuesday and could possibly return to practice this week.
Bigby and Hall have just missed one game due to their existing injuries, but Zombo has missed the last three and Jenkins the final four. All 4 players will likely be re-evaluated by the medical staff on Wednesday morning.
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