View from the Mouse-hole

The Packer faithful were treated to a most entertaining contest at Pittsburgh on Sunday, the team coming up short, 37-36, in the final seconds to the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was a game that could have been won., however, penalties ( 7 ) and a key field goal that was not converted, turned an unbelievable 4th quarter comeback into another forgettable meltdown, the Packers falling on a completed touchdown, a mere 3 seconds left on the clock, Steeler kicker Jeff Reed nailing the tie-breaking extra-point with no time left.

In terms of competition, it was the toughest game on both sides of the ball that team has played all year, against a seasoned veteran group, generating 537 yards of offense, the Pack erasing a 4th quarter 10-point deficit, but not prevailing, despite a valiant effort.

The good...PackRat was proud of the never-say-die attitude displayed at Heinz Field and how the team performed in an adverse environment, not just showing up against one of the elite clubs in the league, but competing with a chance to win right down to the final play of the game.

QB Aaron Rodgers, completing 26 of 48 passes for 383 yards and 3 touchdowns, mounting a lead-changing drive in the 4th quarter, setting the Packers up with a 36-30 advantage with 2 minutes to play.

Wide receiver Gregg Jennings with a career-long 83-yd. TD reception, Jennings finishing the contest with 5 receptions for 118 yards.

The bad...the loss of GB cornerback Al Harris has teams picking on his replacements, defensive back Josh Bell caught holding on the final Pittsburgh drive, Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger, torching the GB secondary for 3 TD's, only the 10th quarterback since 1950 to pass for over 500 yards in a game, breaking the Pittsburgh single-game franchise record of 473 yards set by Tommy Maddox in 2002.

Kicker Mason Crosby missing his fourth field goal in as many games from inside the 40-yd. line, Crosby with 33 attempts this year, completing 24, for a 72.7% average.

The ugly...7 penalties and 3 key defensive penalties on the final Steeler drive, Pittsburgh's outside linebacker James Harrison, illegally held so many times ( that, thankfully, were not called ) PackRat was thinking that the referees must be related to the three-blind mice.

If the New York Giants ( 7-6 ) lose to the Washington Redskins ( 4-9) tonight on Monday Night Football, Green Bay ( 9-5 ) on strength of record, is in the play-offs as a wild-card.

A win by the Packers at home next week against Seattle and a loss by either the Cowboys or Giants in the final two games would clinch a playoff berth for Green Bay.

Check back to WWS often for another View from the Mouse-hole, featuring GB Packer news delivered by the most recognizable GB Packer fan of all-time, Mickey the PackRat.

NFL NFC North week-15 results

NFL NFC North division week-15 football results for Sunday.,

The determined Green Bay Packers ( 9-5 ), at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, facing the gritty Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers ( 7-7 ), fighting for their post-season playoff lives, were defeated 36-37, the Packers not winning at Heinz Field since 1970, the Steelers snapping a 5-game skid.

Pittsburgh's QB Ben Roethlisberger, although sacked 5 times, had 503 yards passing against GB's 2nd ranked defense, desperately missing cornerback Al Harris, the Pack torched for 537 total yards, losing in the final 3 seconds on a 19-TD catch to rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace, his second TD of the game.

Packer wide receiver Gregg Jennings grabs a 83-yd. TD throw, the longest play from scrimmage on the season by the team, knotting the contest at 7-7, but the Packers fall short in the final period, kicker Mason Crosby missing a 34-yd. field goal, GB with a slew of defensive penalties, sealing the teams' fate.

The Chicago Bears ( 5-9 ), against the Baltimore Ravens ( 7-7 ) at M&I Bank Stadium in Baltimore, were crushed 31-7, the Ravens, led by QB Joe Flacco, with 234 yards passing and 4 TD's, up by 24 points in the 3rd quarter, Chicago QB Jay Cutler, 10 of 27 passing for 94 total yards, picked off three times.

At Ford Field in Detroit, MI., the Lions ( 2-12 ) were beat 31-24 by the Arizona Cardinals ( 9-5 ), Redbird running back Beanie Wells with 110 yards rushing on 17 attempts and a score, Detroit's back-up QB Drew Stanton leading the Lions to 24 2nd half points, the comeback falling short on downs with a minute left.

Quarterback Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings ( 11-3 ), at Bank of America Stadium, in Charotte, North Carolina, facing the Carolina Panthers ( 6-8 ) and QB Matt Moore, led at the mid-way point, 7-6, Favre 6 of 7 passing for 49 total first-half yards, Moore tallying 125 yards passing with 1 TD.

Minnesota Viking running back Adrian Peterson had 28 yards on 9 carries, including a 4-yd. TD, in the first 30 minutes of play, finishing the contest with 12 carries, accumulating a measly 35 yards and 1 TD.

Carolina, taking a 12-7 lead in the fourth quarter, goes up 26-7, running back Jonathan Stewart pounding the ball for 109 yards on 25 carries, with 1 rushing and 1 receiving TD, breaking Minnesota's 36-game mark, the first back to rush for over 100 yards against the team in 2 years.

The Packer loss at Pittsburgh gives the Minnesota Vikings the North Division title, despite the setback at Carolina, Minnesota holding a 5-0 division record, Green Bay at a 4-2 mark.

Check back to WWS for more NFL NFC North football coverage.