Patriots hoping to prey on the Packers

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CIAN FAHEY,

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The New England Patriots (11-2) welcome the Green Bay Packers(8-5) to Foxboro this week looking to continue Tom Brady's streak of 26 consecutive home victories dating back to 2006.

The Packers have their own streak at Foxboro as they look to win their third consecutive game against the Patriots.

It will be a tough task for the Packers who are depleted with key injuries on both sides of the ball while the Patriots are playing some of the best football in their history.

The Packers are potentially missing 15 players from their roster through injury including key players such as running-back Ryan Grant, tight end Jermichael Finley and linebacker Nick Barnett who have all been placed on season ending Injured Reserve. However their latest injury is likely to be the biggest and fatal to the teams chances in this game if not for the rest of the season.

Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Detroit Lions and is expected to miss the game in New England. Rodgers left the loss to the Lions in the second quarter after suffering his second concussion of the season. Coach Mike McCarthy held Rodgers out of midweek practices, saying a final decision on the star quarterback's status wouldn't be made until Saturday, "We understand the importance of the quarterback position, but this is about Aaron Rodgers...being healthy,"

 If Rodgers cannot play McCarthy will hand over the reigns to either Matt Flynn, who went 15 of 26 for 177 yards and an interception after Rodgers went down last week, or second year practice squad player Graham Harrell who was a record breaking quarterback in college for Texas Tech. Neither player has ever started a game in the NFL. It is difficult enough to make your first appearance in such a tough league for young quarterbacks without having to play away from home, in December, against a defense that has given up 10 points in it's last two games and scored 7 points directly, as well as having to face one of the greatest defensive coaches ever in Bill Belichick.

The Packers will look to run the ball on offense to take pressure off whichever quarterback is the starter. This isn't something that the team has been good at since they lost Ryan Grant to a season ending ankle injury. Grant would have been the perfect back to wear down the Patriots defense with his hard running style and physical presence. Grant could easily carry the ball 30-35 times against the Patriots to great effect however his replacement, Brandon Jackson, is a different type of back.

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