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Packers back in playoff hunt

Aaron Rodgers completed 28-of-39 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns as the Packers shredded the Lions 34-12 on Thanksgiving Day.

Thanks to a three-game winning streak, Green Bay is now 7-4 and if the playoffs were to start today, they’d be in as one of the Wild Card teams. They were helped last night when the Giants (a conference foe) lost to the Broncos in Denver.

The Packers have benefited from having one of the softest schedules in the league, although they do have to play the Ravens, Steelers and Cardinals before the season is finished. Still, if they can beat one of those teams and then handle their business against the Bears and Seahawks (two teams Green Bay should beat), then the Pack should make the playoffs.

One thing that was apparent yesterday is that Rodgers has more time to throw. Granted, the Lions don’t offer much of a pass rush but the Packers’ O-line is starting to protect Rodgers better and give him time to find stellar receivers Donald Driver and Aaron Rodgers.

The defense has also rebounded from its embarrassing effort against Tampa Bay a few weeks ago. The Packers held Dallas to only seven points three weeks ago and then forced five turnovers against Detroit yesterday.

If the offensive line can continue to play at a somewhat respectable level and the defense can resemble Hyde more than Jekyll, then the Packers could be a tough out come postseason time.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

No. 3 Texas edges Texas A&M to stay undefeated

No. 3 Texas gave up a 70-yard touchdown on the third play, surrendered 39 points and 532 total yards on Thursday night.

But they also won, which is the only thing that matters for the Longhorns this late in the season.

Texas racked up 597 yards of total offense while beating Texas A&M, 49-39 on Thanksgiving night. Colt McCoy was brilliant, throwing for 304 yards on 24-of-40 passing and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 175 yards on 18 carries. His 65-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter gave the Longhorns a 14-7 lead and broke a 7-7 tie.

McCoy wasn’t the only quarterback that put on a show, however. A&M junior signal caller Jerrod Johnson kept the Aggies in the ball game throughout the night as he finished with 342 passing yards with four touchdowns and 97 rushing yards on 14 carries. Just when you thought the Longhorns were going to bust the game open, Johnson would make a play to get A&M right back in it.

Of course, neither team was interested in playing defense tonight, so McCoy and Johnson’s achievements are somewhat tempered. This game was a showcase for Big 12 critics that like to hammer the conference for rarely (if ever) playing defense.

Texas is now one win away from appearing in the national title game. They’ll take on Nebraska next Saturday in the Big 12 Championship and assuming voters don’t set up a rematch between Florida and Alabama, McCoy and the Longhorns will get their crack at a title.

Line of the Night (11/26): Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley had 15 points and 12 rebounds in Miami’s 99-98 win over the Magic last night. But his most important bucket came on the final play of the game, when Beasley slammed home a Dwyane Wade’s attempted game-winner, which fell short of the rim. Here’s a look:

With the win, Miami is 9-5, while the Magic fall to 11-4.

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