2011, Week 17: Matt Flynn!

2011, Week 17: Packers 45, Lions 41

Truth be told: I skipped the second half of the 3rd quarter and the whole 4th quarter of this game because of a sticky situation at the restaurant I was at (an obnoxious Steelers fan was giving me trouble) plus the fact that the game was meaningless. But I followed on my phone in utter amazement.

The Packers played a shootout with the Lions, in a game with more passing yards than any other in the history of the NFL. The Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for over 500 yards (one of only about seven quarterbacks to ever do so) and their star receiver Calvin Johnson had over 200 yards receiving. Yet it was Matt Flynn who stole the show.

The Packers deactivated Aaron Rodgers, refusing to let him get hurt, and also not allowing him a shot at breaking Tom Brady's TD record. Matt Flynn instead started, and he played the greatest game in the history of the Green Bay Packers organization at QB.

480 yards through the air. 6 touchdowns. Both Packers franchise records. The 5 TD performance Rodgers had last week to tie the record? Out the window. Flynn, a guy with only one start in his career, set records and played like a seasoned starter.

Down 9-0 early thanks to a Flynn fumble and an inexplicable choice by Pat Lee to take a safety on a kickoff, Flynn led the Packers into an all-out shootout, which went back and forth all day long. He threw an 80-yard TD to Ryan Grant to give the Packers a 17-16 lead. He threw a 50+yard TD to Jordy Nelson (who caught 3 TDs in the game) to give the Packers another lead. Then, he got the ball back with 2 minutes to play, down by 3.

Flynn went on a clutch drive, throwing a 40-yard pass to James Jones on a 3rd down to set up the game-winning TD pass to Jermichael Finley. Then an interception - one bright spot for the NFL's worst defense - sealed the deal for the Packers.

What Matt Flynn did on Sunday was inexplicable and absolutely outstanding. It's a shame he's a free agent, as there's no doubt Flynn will get a huge contract from some other team needing a QB. But what a way to go out as a Packer - unless there's an injury to Rodgers in the playoffs.

With no defense, it's hard to imagine the Packers cruising to a Super Bowl victory - instead, it looks like every victory is going to have to be like this one. But they certainly have the offense to keep up with any opponent.

15-1, by the way, is the best record in Packers history, and of course ties the mark for 2nd-most regular-season wins in NFL history.

+'s & -'s:

+: Flynn, Nelson, the O-Line.

-: The defense, oh my, the defense.

2011 Green Bay Packers: 15-1

Next week: First-round bye in the playoffs

In 2 weeks: Home vs. #4 New York GIANTS, #5 Atlanta or #6 Detroit on Sunday 1/15