EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 04: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after the Packers won 38-35 against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 4, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers put their perfect record on the line Sunday against the Oakland Raiders
A couple of weeks ago, it wouldn't have been too difficult to find a Green Bay Packers fan who was worried that their team's undefeated record could be challenged by the Oakland Raiders. While the Raiders still have plenty of weapons and they still are a team very much capable of challenging the NFL's only undefeated team, it's certainly not a result that anyone is predicting anymore. That's thanks to the performance of Carson Palmer and the rest of the Raiders team in Week 13.
Needing a win against a poor Miami Dolphins team to keep their division lead, the Raiders played terribly. Carson Palmer threw a pick-six and couldn't complete half of his passes. The Raiders' defense had no answer for the two-headed rushing attack of Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas. The Dolphins won 34-14, with both Raiders TDs coming in garbage time.
The Packers were finally made to look like a beatable team against the New York Giants, however. If it wasn't for some late-game heroics by Aaron Rodgers and, to be honest, some questionable officiating, the Packers would finally have a loss on their resume. They didn't run the ball well without a healthy James Starks, the No. 1 running back who is out for this game. Rodgers had a great game with four touchdown passes, but his one interception was perhaps the only one of his five on the season that came on a terrible throw and a terrible decision. The Green and Gold got the win, which is all that really matters in the end, but they finally looked like a flawed team.
Oakland will once again be without offensive weapons Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore. This will put the pressure on Michael Bush and Darrius Heyward-Bey to carry the offensive load. In addition to Starks, Green Bay is without offensive line starters Josh Sitton and Chad Clifton, as well as starting middle linebacker Desmond Bishop. A.J. Hawk is questionable, while Charles Woodson is probable.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 11; 4:15 p.m. ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
TV Schedule
National: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
For more on the two teams, check out Green Bay Packers blog Acme Packing Company and Oakland Raiders blog Silver And Black Pride.


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