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PACKERS NFL TITLE GAMES & PLAYOFFSCOMMUNITYADMIN. &COACHESVETERANSDRAFT &FREE AGENTS2012 REVIEWPLAYOFFHISTORYLAMBEAUFIELDMISC.back James Starks.Starks, a sixth-round pick who was beset by injuries andappeared in just three games during the regular season, set afranchise rookie postseason record with 123 yards on 23 carries,repeatedly gashing the Philadelphia defense.The Packers’ defense, led by Clay Matthews, CharlesWoodson and a host of others, executed an aggressive gameplandesigned to contain the explosive Vick. They held him to just33 yards rushing, and Philadelphia’s 16 points were the fewestsurrendered by Green Bay in a road playoff game since the 1997NFC Championship Game, the last time the franchise won on theroad in the postseason.Packers . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 7 0 — 21Philadelphia . . . . . . 0 3 7 6 — 16GB — Crabtree 7 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)GB — J.Jones 9 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)Phi — FG Akers 29Phi — Avant 24 pass from Vick (Akers kick)GB — Jackson 16 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)Phi — Vick 1 run (pass failed)PACKERS 48, ATLANTA 212010 Divisional PlayoffJan. 15, 2011, at Georgia Dome, AtlantaThe Atlanta Falcons entered their divisionalround matchup against the Packerswith the No. 1 seed in the NFC, home-fieldadvantage throughout the playoffs, and awell-rested, veteran team set to take thefield in front of more than 69,000 fansinside the Georgia Dome.Green Bay entered with Aaron Rodgers, Tramon Williamsand the momentum of having won three consecutive eliminationgames, and that was all the Packers would need to keep theirplayoff journey alive.Just six days after clinching the Wild Card win at Philadelphiawith a leaping interception in the end zone late in the fourthquarter, Williams outdid himself in Atlanta. He intercepted ProBowl quarterback Matt Ryan twice, the second of which was avirtual backbreaker he returned 70 yards for a touchdown as timeexpired in the first half. The momentum-changing play extendedGreen Bay’s lead to 28-14 and sucked the life out of what hadbeen a charged home crowd.While Williams stole the show on defense, Rodgers put onone the greatest individual performances in NFL postseasonhistory. In a display of passing precision seldom seen on such abig stage, he completed 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards and threetouchdowns through the air, also adding one on the ground.His ability to escape pressure, extend plays and deliver accuratethrows downfield had the offense in rhythm from the openinggun, and had the Falcons defense searching for answers.Throughout the game, the Packers compromised the identityAtlanta had established during their 13-3 regular season. TheFalcons ranked No. 3 in the NFL in both time of possession andturnover margin during the regular season, but possessed theball for only 21:41 and committed a total of four turnovers. Theyalso boasted the NFC’s leading rusher in standout back MichaelTurner, but on this night, he was limited to just 39 yards, matchinga season low.Packers . . . . . . . . . . 0 28 14 6 — 48Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 0 7 — 21Atl — Turner 12 run (Bryant kick)GB — Nelson 6 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)Atl — Weems 102 kickoff return (Bryant kick)GB — Kuhn 1 run (Crosby kick)GB — Jones 20 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)GB — Williams 70 interception return (Crosby kick)GB — Rodgers 7 run (Crosby kick)GB — Kuhn 7 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)Atl — White 6 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick)GB — FG Crosby 43GB — FG Crosby 32PACKERS 21, CHICAGO 142010 NFC ChampionshipJan. 23, 2011, at Soldier Field, ChicagoA touchdown-saving tackle by aquarterback, a pair of interceptions byan undrafted rookie, and an interceptionreturn for a touchdown by a nose tackle. Animprobable script to be sure, but one thatplayed out in the NFC Championship Gameat Soldier Field.In what appeared to be an illustration of him picking up wherehe had left off the previous week at Atlanta, Aaron Rodgers leda pair of early scoring drives that staked Green Bay to a 14-0halftime lead.On the offense’s first possession of the second half, Rodgersagain led the unit inside the Chicago 10-yard line en route towhat would seemingly be an insurmountable three-possessionadvantage. On third-and-goal, however, the quarterback wasuncharacteristically intercepted at the 6 by veteran linebackerBrian Urlacher, who immediately embarked on a long return withmost of the offensive players in his wake. Rodgers, the last man tobeat, held his angle and dove at Urlacher’s legs, tripping him up atthe Chicago 45. The tackle ultimately kept the Bears off the scoreboard,as Chicago was forced to punt on the ensuing possession.The Green Bay defense was once again outstanding in theearly going, forcing five punts and an interception on Chicago’ssix first-half possessions. Rookie cornerback Sam Shields led theway by becoming the first rookie in NFL history to record a sackand an interception in a playoff game, accomplishing the feat onrespective Bears possessions to close the first half.Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was unable to move the ball withany regularity and also suffered a knee injury just before halftime.Following the first drive of the second half, he was replacedbecause of the injury by backup Todd Collins. The Packers’ defensequickly rendered Collins ineffective, and he was benched after twopossessions in favor of seldom-used third-stringer Caleb Hanie.To the surprise of many, Hanie led the Bears on a 67-yard scoringdrive at the start of the fourth quarter, tightening Green Bay’slead to 14-7. Two possessions later, Chicago took over at its own10 and on third-and-5, Hanie was intercepted by nose tackle B.J.Raji, who then lumbered 18 yards for an unlikely albeit memorabletouchdown that pushed the score to 21-7.Refusing to quit, Hanie and the Bears’ offense respondedquickly, driving 60 yards on four plays, and finishing with a35-yard touchdown on a catch-and-run by wide receiver EarlBennett.After a quick three-and-out by Green Bay, the Bears used 12plays to get the ball to the Packers’ 29-yard line. On a fatefulfourth-and-5, Hanie looked deep over the middle but was interceptedby Shields, his second of the game. Green Bay kneeleddown to run out the clock and the celebration ensued.The Packers were presented the Halas Trophy inside thevisitors’ locker room and were set to begin preparations for thefranchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in 13 years, Super BowlXLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Packers . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 0 7 — 21Chicago . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 14 — 14GB — Rodgers 1 run (Crosby kick)GB — Starks 4 run (Crosby kick)Chi — Taylor 1 run (Gould kick)GB — Raji 18 interception return (Crosby kick)Chi — Bennett 35 pass from Hanie (Gould kick)N.Y. GIANTS 37, PACKERS 202011 Divisional PlayoffJan. 15, 2012, at Lambeau Field, Green BayThe Packers had almost forgotten thefeeling. After winning six consecutive eliminationgames to close out the 2010 seasonas world champions and then stormingthrough the 2011 regular season with afranchise-best 15-1 record, the concept ofdefeat had become somewhat unfamiliar.Unfortunately, these Packers picked the wrong day to play theirsloppiest game of what had to that point been a fantastic season.Green Bay fell victim to a series of uncharacteristic, costly turn-482