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NFC North: Packers' defense finds its offense

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11/18/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Hunter's 53-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Green Bay Packers' 37-3 pounding of Chicago on Sunday was more than just icing on the cake; it was also a franchise record.

The defensive end's score was the first of his career but also Green Bay's ninth return touchdown of the season, a new team record. It was also the Packers' seventh defensive score of the season, also a new team best.

Green Bay's defense and special teams unit have been finding the end zone a couple of different ways this season. A whopping six of those scores have come off interceptions, while cornerback Will Blackmon has returned two punts to the house this year. Add in Hunter's fumble return, and it equals a record campaign with six weeks still to go.

"A defensive touchdown or a special teams touchdown, they're just huge momentum swings in the football game," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday. "Having seven this year is just a credit to the players and the extra time that they've put in, particularly in our practice structure. We emphasize it all the time, and you can just see the urgency and aggressiveness of our coverage units on special teams and defensively, when they do have an opportunity to get their hands on the ball."

Green Bay's big defensive day came when it was already getting an outstanding performance out of running back Ryan Grant. After posting 956 rushing yards and eight touchdowns last season despite making just seven starts, Grant had been held under 100 yards on the ground in eight of the Packers' first nine games.

He took care of that in one half, posting 105 rushing yards and a score through the first two quarters of Sunday's big win. He ended the day with 145 yards on the ground.

"I have felt better and better," said Grant. "This is the best I've felt all season, so I do feel like I'm getting in a groove. We need to keep it going. Like I said, (the offensive line) did a great job on Chicago's front seven, who has been good all season."

At 5-5 and in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Chicago for first place in the NFC North, the Packers just need to keep doing what they have been doing all season. They have scored the most points by any of the division's four clubs while also allowing the fewest. Yet, it is now a six-game season for Green Bay.

The Packers do have a bit of a tough road ahead, as they next travel to New Orleans for a Monday night test before returning home to face the NFC South- leading Carolina Panthers. Road games in Jacksonville and Chicago are also featured over the season's stretch run.

UP NEXT: Green Bay heads down south to play in New Orleans for the first time since 2002, when the Packers had a three-game series winning streak versus the Saints end. The clubs have split two games in Green Bay since, including a big 52-3 victory by the Pack in 2005.

VIKINGS: ALLEN ON NFL'S RADAR

Jared Allen became the center of the Minnesota Vikings' defense when the club acquired him this offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs. His play this year, though, has made him the center of attention of the NFL's front offices.

Allen recently told Fox Sports that he has been asked by the league to appear on Tuesday to answer questions about some hits he has laid on quarterbacks this year.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive end, signed to a monster contract after being acquired by Minnesota, has already been fined $50,000 for a pair of low hits on Houston quarterback Matt Schaub on November 2. He was then hit with a roughing the passer penalty seven days later for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

That hit could lead to another fine for Allen. Or worse, a suspension.

"I know they protect the quarterback in this league, but I don't feel like that was a late hit personal foul," Vikings head coach Brad Childress had said the day after the Green Bay game. "I think (Allen) made a concerted effort to pull his hands off. I didn't think he was a late hit."

Childress added he didn't think it was a helmet-to-helmet, but gave little insight to the Allen situation on Monday. The coach didn't really comment on the scenario, though he did say he thought Allen should be back in time for practice on Wednesday.

"I don't think they'll put him in the brig or anything like that," Childress said.

A suspension for Allen, who is battling a right shoulder injury but has still managed 29 tackles and a team-high eight sacks this year, would go a long way in hampering 5-5 Minnesota's chances at a playoff spot. The club is currently tied with Green Bay and Chicago for first place in the NFC North after Sunday's 19-13 loss to Tampa Bay.

The Allen situation also comes at a bad time for the Vikings' defensive line in general. Tackles Pat and Kevin Williams were both listed in various reports as being two players facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroids policy.

As far as Childress goes, he also can't stay off the radar of Minnesota fans. With the Vikings' two-game winning streak coming to an end this past Sunday, Childress is under heat for having star running back Adrian Peterson on the sidelines in the fourth quarter of the loss.

Granted, Minnesota held the ball for less than three minutes in the frame, but one would think that would only increase the urgency to use Peterson.

"There's a limited amount of time, and you're playing a different kind of football, generally, with the two-and-a-half minutes we had in the fourth quarter," said Childress on Monday. "(You have to) be smart handing him the football, and there's only a limited number of ways you can get it to him throwing."

UP NEXT: The Vikings play their second straight road game this Sunday, when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars for the first time ever. It will mark just the fourth all-time meeting between the teams, with Minnesota winning two of the previous three. That includes a 27-16 win in the last meeting in 2004.

BEARS: RUN DEFENSE FALTERS

The Green Bay Packers ran wild against the Chicago Bears' defense in this past Sunday's 37-3 setback. That unit now needs to make sure that doesn't happen again.

The Bears entered Sunday's big divisional tilt as one of the top teams against the rush, but were tagged for a total of 200 yards on the ground. A healthy chunk of that came in the first half.

When asked after the loss if he was surprised by Green Bay's success on the ground, head coach Lovie Smith said, "No, because last year they pretty much did the same thing. We have focused quite a bit on our pass defense for the last few weeks, but you have to stop the run, too. They dominated us (Sunday), period."

Green Bay managed a total of 246 rushing yards versus the Bears in splitting the two-game season series a year ago.

"It was just a poor display of football, both on defense and special teams," said Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who had eight tackles and an interception in the loss. "We did a good job of preparing, but we didn't come out and get anything done. We didn't do anything to silence or stop any of the criticism (against the defense)."

Chicago figured to see three top-tier running backs on this current three-game road trip that next goes to St. Louis before ending in Minnesota. However, the Rams' Steven Jackson is out for this weekend's game, meaning the Bears have plenty of time to get ready for the Vikings' Adrian Peterson.

Peterson torched Chicago's run defense last year, managing 224 yards and three touchdowns in an October 14 meeting in Chicago. The Bears defense then "held" him to 78 yards and two TD's in a December 17 matchup.

After that, the Bears still have meetings with Jacksonville, who features two big-name backs in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, as well as New Orleans and again Green Bay. New Orleans playmaking back Reggie Bush should be back on the field by the time the Saints play in Chicago on December 11.

If the Bears want to emerge as NFC North champions, the defense will need to find ways to shut down those backs. The club is currently in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Green Bay for first place in the standings at 5-5.

"You could say that we are starting over again with six games left to our season and tied for first," said Smith. "We have veterans in the locker room. We have been down before and now it is a critical stage, so we will step up, get some things corrected and go from there."

UP NEXT: The Bears, who have now lost two in a row, had dropped their last four games to the Rams before beating the club in 2006 in the last meeting between the clubs.

LIONS: MARINELLI STILL BELIEVES

Despite being 0-10 this year and having lost 17 of their last 18 games dating back to last season, Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli still believes in his team.

And not just because his job says he has to.

"I believe in them because I've coached them. I believe in them because I've coached them from Day 1," Marinelli said on Monday. "I believe in them, and when I get attached to somebody and I believe in them, it never stops -- it never stops. You can ask any player I've ever coached."

Coming off a 31-22 loss to the Panthers on Sunday, Marinelli says his team needs to move the chains more if it is to find the win column. He compared a fourth-down conversion in opposing territory to getting a turnover, and also said getting first downs will allow his club to run the ball more.

Of all of Detroit's problems this year, time of possession has been one of the biggest. The Lions are holding the ball offensively for just 26 minutes and 50 seconds a game, the second-lowest total in the NFL. It is no surprise, then, that Detroit's 211 rush attempts on the season are dead last in the league as well.

The Lions are converting just 22.1 percent of their third-down plays this year, the lowest percentage in the NFC this year, but were 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) versus Carolina. Detroit also moved the chains twice when going for it on fourth down, helping the club hold the ball for 34:17 to the Panthers' 25:43.

"Instead of giving the ball to (the Panthers), we keep it and have another series," Marinelli said on Monday. "So that was our attempt and we were successful. That's why the time of possession worked out, but now when we get on defense and we're fresh we've got to be able to stop them."

That proved to be Detroit's downfall, as the Panthers rushed for 264 yards in the game. The Lions were also burnt by the big play yet again, allowing Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams to rip off a 56-yard scoring run as part of a 21-point second quarter for the Panthers.

With six games left to play, Marinelli isn't giving up on his club, even if people around him may be tempted to pack it in.

"I'm not fake, I am who I am, and you (the media) know that," he said. "And everything you see and I tell you right here is from my heart. That's what I believe. I can't fake it. Some people are great fakers. They're pretty good at it too. I'm not."

When asked who he thinks if fake, the head coach replied, "I keep those things to myself...Loose lips sink ships."

UP NEXT: Detroit begins a three-game homestand this weekend with a test against Tampa Bay. The Lions, who are 0-4 at home this year, had lost four straight to the Buccaneers before beating them at home last year.