Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver watches the final moments of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 19-14. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver watches the final moments of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 19-14. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is tackled by a group of Kansas City Chiefs defenders during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 19-14, handing the Packers their first loss of the season. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning looks on during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said Manning will not return to play in the final two games of the season, but the franchise quarterback did take snaps from center Jeff Saturday this week. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Pat Angerer (51) celebrates with cornerback Kevin Thomas after making an interception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne celebrates as he leaves the field after the team's first win of the season in an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Colts won 27-13. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
NFL Sundays in 2011 haven't been any stranger than this one: Green Bay loses and Indianapolis wins.
The Packers' 19-game winning streak, second-longest in NFL history, was snapped with a 19-14 loss at Kansas City, a team that fell by 27 points last weekend. Defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (13-1) won't have to put up with questions about an undefeated season any more.
"I personally always viewed the undefeated season as, really, just gravy," coach Mike McCarthy said. "The goal was to get home-field advantage and win the Super Bowl. That's what we discussed."
The Packers already own the NFC North title and still have the edge in the conference, two games ahead of New Orleans and 2 1/2 in front of San Francisco, which hosts Pittsburgh on Monday night.
"We were fortunate enough to be in the position to possibly achieve the undefeated season," McCarthy added, "but we still have the primary goal in front of us, and that's to get home-field advantage."
Indy's primary goal in this lost year was to avoid a completely lost season, as in 0-16. That won't happen after the Colts stunned Tennessee 27-13 following 13 straight defeats.
Yes, the Colts finally won one without Peyton Manning.
"I'm happy for a lot of people on this team, for a lot of people in this organization," said Dan Orlovsky, the latest replacement at quarterback for Manning, who hasn't played all season after neck surgery. "It's a lot better than the feeling we've had lately."
Only one team, the 2008 Lions, went 0-16.
"It means a lot, but we're a proud ballclub, so one game out of 13 or 14, we still have a ways to go," defensive end Robert Mathis said. "Everybody held the fort today. We just kept chopping wood and the tree fell today."
Associated Presspenn state game radiohead tour cbsnews ufc on fox fight card florida marlins ncaa basketball boise state football
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.