By Dean Michaels

The Green Bay Packers, who have clinched the NFC North division title, defeated the New York Giants 38-35 in Week 13 to improve to 12-0 and become the second defending Super Bowl champion (1998 Denver Broncos) to start the following season 12-0.

"It's the NFL, so I think everybody is going to give you their best shot every week," says quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is one of three quarterbacks -- Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas (1959) and Peyton Manning (2004) -- to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of a team's first 12 games. "Being undefeated and the defending champions, there might be an extra motivation at times. We're looking forward to each challenge."

With a victory against Oakland, the Green Bay Packers will become the eighth team in NFL history to start a season 13-0

Team Year Undefeated Start Regular Season Record Playoff Result
Source: NFL
New England Patriots200716-016-0Lost Super Bowl XLII
Miami Dolphins197214-014-0Won Super Bowl VII
Indianapolis Colts200914-014-2Lost Super Bowl XLIV
Chicago Bears193413-013-0Lost NFL Championship
Denver Broncos199813-014-2Won Super Bowl XXXIII
Indianapolis Colts200513-014-2Lost Divisional Playoff
New Orleans Saints200913-013-3Won Super Bowl XLIV

 

"Every week is going to be a challenge," says head coach MIKE MC CARTHY. "We're 12-0, but we need to get to 13-0. We have other goals in front of us before we can even entertain 16-0. I hope we're in a position to talk about that, but right now, we aren't. Home-field advantage is our goal now. We've got 12 wins and it's important for us to stay focused. There's so much more in front of us to accomplish. Winning the Super Bowl is what this business is all about."

Green Bay has won 18 consecutive games overall, including last year's run in the playoffs that resulted in the team's NFL-record 13th championship. The Packers' 18-game winning streak (including the postseason) is tied for the second-longest in league history and Green Bay can move into sole possession of second place this weekend with its 19th win in a row.

Season(s) Team Winning Streak
*Active streak Source: NFL
2003-04New England Patriots21
1933-34Chicago Bears18
1941-42Chicago Bears18
1972-73Miami Dolphins18
1989-90San Francisco 49ers18
1997-98Denver Broncos18
2007New England Patriots18
2010-11Green Bay Packers18*

 

The Packers improved to 12-0 last week when MASON CROSBY kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Giants. It marked only the third time in NFL history that a team maintained a perfect record at least 10 games into a season by scoring the winning points in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

In 1934, the Chicago Bears improved to 10-0 with a 10-9 win over the Giants on a 24-yard field goal by JACK MANDERS with 50 seconds to play.

In 2007, New England moved to 12-0 with a 27-24 victory at Baltimore on an eight-yard touchdown pass from TOM BRADY to JABAR GAFFNEY with 44 seconds remaining

OAKLAND RAIDERS (7-5) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-0)

The Raiders are tied with Denver for the AFC West lead and look to become the first team to defeat the defending Super Bowl champions. Oakland has won three of its past four games and is 4-2 on the road this season. However, the Raiders are coming off of 34-14 pounding by the resurgent Dolphins

"It's the NFL, so I think everybody is going to give you their best shot every week," says Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS, who is one of three quarterbacks -- Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas (1959) and Peyton Manning (2004) -- to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of a team's first 12 games. "Being undefeated and the defending champions, there might be an extra motivation at times. We're looking forward to each challenge."

Green Bay improved to 12-0 last week with a 38-35 win at the New York Giants when Mason Crosby kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired. It marked only the third time in NFL history that a team maintained a perfect record at least 10 games into a season by scoring the winning points in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

In 1934, the Chicago Bears improved to 10-0 with a 10-9 win over the Giants on a 24-yard field goal with 50 seconds to play. In 2007, New England moved to 12-0 with a 27-24 victory at Baltimore on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds remaining.

NFL 2011 - Green Bay Packers Continue March Towards Perfection