"Aaron Rodgers took another blow to the head, and the Green Bay Packers took a blow to their ego, if not their playoff chances. In a shocker in front of 57,659 fans, many of them Packers supporters who braved wintry conditions to make it to Ford Field, the Detroit Lions knocked out the Packers' starting quarterback before halftime and used their third-string quarterback to eke out a 7-3 win that snapped a streak of 19 straight NFC North Division losses. Even before Rodgers sustained his second concussion of the season when he refused to slide at the end of an 18-yard scramble in the second quarter, the Packers appeared to lack the gumption necessary to beat the last-place Lions. Just two first downs and 68 total net yards of offense in the first half prevented the Packers from coming close to scoring in the first half. Throw in three turnovers, including two while Rodgers was still in the game, and the Packers were doomed. Despite a solid showing by coordinator Dom Capers' defense, the Packers were manhandled in the trenches by the Lions' worthy defensive front. "You hoped that we were past this by now," Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said. "If we can take away anything, hopefully it's a real wake-up call, especially coming into these last three games. We've got to play some of our best ball, and let the chips fall where they may." With three games remaining, the Packers sit at 8-5 heading into next Sunday night's road test against the New England, who have drilled their last two opponents (the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears) by a combined 81-10. Chicago's loss meant the Packers remained a game back in the NFC North, but their stumble in the Motor City could hurt them in the tiebreaker scenarios. It was the Packers' second division loss, and the Bears (9-4) haven't lost to an NFC North foe. Even if the Packers beat the Bears in the season finale at Lambeau Field on Jan. 2 and end up with the same record, they could lose the title because division record is the second tiebreaker after head to head." Read more: http://packersnews.greenbaypressgaz...nock-out-Rodgers-deliver-a-real-wake-up-call-
