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GREEN BAY, Wis. In this week's media session with Aaron Rodgers, the Packers quarterback talked about Matt Flynn's record-breaking performance, the most important games of this season and the NFC playoff picture.
Five question-and-answer highlights:
1. What was it like calling plays from the sideline for Flynn on Sunday?RODGERS: It's nerve-wracking. It's a lot more nerve-wracking than playing, to be honest. Matt can attest to that. I was a little bit nervous in the locker room knowing that I was probably going to get a chance to get some calls in there. But when you've got a quarterback that's in the zone and hot, it makes it a whole lot easier.
2. Will having that sideline play-calling experience help you now on the field at QB?RODGERS: I think so. It gives you a good perspective. It's different when you're on the sidelines than on the field because you see things differently. Sometimes in those no-huddle situations I'll be the one calling stuff. It's a different perspective when you're on the sideline, you're looking at the calls, you kind of have an idea of what you want to go through. On the field you do, as well, but there's a lot of things that can distract you between those 40 seconds of each play. It was fun. Me and Matt spent some time together making sure we were on the same page and knowing kind of what he was comfortable with. I don't want to take too much credit because he played incredible. It wasn't like I was out there making some amazing calls. I was making some stuff that he liked and he made it work.
3. What games this season were the ones that defined this year's Packers team?RODGERS: Hmm, Sunday? I think two games that really stick out, the Detroit Thanksgiving game was important for us. A lot of people picked us to lose that game, tough environment, they were playing well, they had been playing well all season, that's a tough place to play with the rejuvenation with their fans and the crowd noise and kind of the extra half step off the ball that they get because of the noise and the way they rush the passer, that was a big game for us. And the other one was the Giants game, because there was a lot of adversity that game. Again, a tough environment, a playoff team, a team that knows how to win, a lot of veterans. And it was a back and forth game, we made some mistakes, they made some mistakes. But the way we responded to adversity, I think, those two games were big wins for us.
4. There are a lot of great quarterbacks in the NFC playoffs. Brees, Stafford...RODGERS: I think you have to add Eli (Manning) into that and Matt Ryan had an exceptional year and Alex (Smith) probably played his best year in seven as well, so this is the trend of the NFL. You have to have a quarterback playing well to go deep in the playoffs. Everybody is in the playoffs now, everybody has a chance to make their run. We did it last year as the sixth seed, the Steelers did it as the sixth seed, the Giants as a five seed. We know it's going to be tough. It's going to be tough games and we'll be fortunate enough to have that at home and I'm excited about that advantage.
5. How will you watch the games this weekend: Taking notes, or just enjoying them as a fan?RODGERS: Little bit of both. It's hard now being in the league seven years not to watch a game and kind of take mental notes and look at different things with what you're seeing on TV. Obviously, it's a little different than what you're seeing through film, but I'm a fan like the rest of us. I'll pay attention to it. I'm not sure if I'll watch the whole game. I'll be interested for sure.
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