GREEN BAY, Wis. Erik Lorig Womens Jersey . - Go ahead, take shots at the Green Bay Packers and their barely-above .500 record. Question the defence, and make light of how they needed to scratch and claw to win three of their last four games. All that matters to coach Mike McCarthy is that Green Bay won the NFC North and is in the NFL playoffs. "I love our defence. I love our football team. Throw the stats out the window," a rejuvenated McCarthy said Monday at Lambeau Field. "You can throw the bad ones at me and Ill throw the good ones back at you. "Were a playoff football team. Our identity has changed. This team has embraced it, and we know its going to take the full game to get it done, and thats the way we play." The Packers (8-7-1) have grown accustomed to nail-biters on their way to winning a third straight division crown. The most important close call came Sunday at Chicagos Soldier Field, when Aaron Rodgers found Randall Cobb for an unlikely 48-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-8 with 38 seconds left to cap the comeback from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 33-28 win. Whats more, it sent the Bears — Green Bays fiercest division rival — home for the winter. The victory and touchdown reception that featured two key Packers who returned from injuries had sports talk radio shows buzzing throughout Wisconsin on Monday. "Oh man, Its a great a feeling," running back Eddie Lacy said Sunday night about watching time expire on the clock. "Were about to go to the (playoffs), and now we have to keep it going." But the Packers had only Sunday night to celebrate. "Im sure some guys went past midnight," McCarthy said. It was back to business on Monday in Titletown, and as if to emphasize the point, McCarthy sported a suit and tie when he spoke to reporters. "It is playoff time, and were focused on the 49ers," he said. Coach Jim Harbaughs team will visit Lambeau Field on Sunday for an NFC wild-card game. The 49ers beat the Packers 34-28 in San Francisco in Week 1, back in September. Last season, the 49ers eliminated Green Bay from the playoffs en route to the Super Bowl. As much as McCarthy would like to disregard the statistics, on defence at least, the numbers dont paint a pretty picture. Green Bay is 25th in the NFL in total defence, giving up 372 yards a game. After a solid start to the season, the Packers have fallen to 25th against the run, allowing 125 yards per game. It is unknown if pass-rushing linebacker Clay Matthews will return to action after breaking his right thumb for a second time this year. He wont play on Sunday. But the Packers do have Rodgers back after the 2011 NFL MVP missed nearly two months because of a fractured left collarbone. He is the ultimate game-changer, a franchise quarterback who can help mask other flaws on the team. McCarthy said he cant think of a better two-minute drill in his coaching career than the one the Packers executed Sunday night to help win the game. "I think this is probably his finest hour as a Green Bay Packer," McCarthy said of Rodgers. The road back to the post-season has been strewn with obstacles. Besides Rodgers, Cobb and Matthews, injuries have also deprived Green Bay of tight end Jermichael Finley, defensive end Johnny Jolly and cornerback Casey Hayward. Projected left tackle Bryan Bulaga was lost in training camp. But McCarthy believes a team identity has emerged late in games over the last month. The defence staved off the Bears last-ditch drive with an interception by cornerback Sam Shields. Call em the "never-give-up" Packers. "When you really have to earn it to get in," McCarthy said, "yeah, its very rewarding." Notes: Lacy has been bothered by a sprained right ankle the last three games, but McCarthy said Monday that early information indicated the rookie came out of Sundays game in better condition than after the previous game. Khairi Fortt Jersey.C. Lions even though incumbent Rob Maver is ready to kick again. Maver, the CFLs scoring leader last year with 185 points, comes off the nine-game injured list this week. Cameron Jordan Saints Jersey . -- Gustav Nyquist scored twice and added an assist as the Grand Rapids Griffins beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in American Hockey League play Saturday night.CALGARY - The Calgary Flames recalled left winger Ben Hanowski from the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Hanowski has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points with Abbotsford in his first full season as a professional. Hanowski played ffive games with Calgary last season after completing his senior season at St. Joe Morgan Jersey. Cloud State, and scored his first NHL goal in his first game with the Flames. He was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft. ' ' '
