Matt Flynn set records for the Green Bay Packer passing attack in his second career start that Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre never achieved.
Rodgers’ backup from LSU threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, including the game-winning strike to Jermichael Finley with 70 seconds remaining to lead Green Bay over Detroit 45-41.
The game meant more to Detroit, who was trying to win for the first time at Lambeau Field since 1991 and avoid having to travel to the Superdome for a first round matchup with the red hot Saints.
Instead Flynn, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to start while Rodgers rested for the postseason, upstaged Matthew Stafford, who amassed 520 yards passing to eclipse 5,000 for the year and five scores of his own.
Flynn, in Rodgers fashion, found Jordy Nelson for three touchdowns of 7, 36 and 58 yards. He hit running back Ryan Grant for an 80-yard score and connected with Donald Driver from 35 yards out in a back-and-forth fourth quarter before finding Finley with the game-winner.
The win did not change Green Bay’s postseason outlook; the Packers had already clinched home-field advantage.
It did open up an interesting question about the value of Mr. Rodgers.
With Peyton Manning in 2010 the Indianapolis Colts went 10-6. Without this year: 2-14.
The Packers, on the other hand, won with Flynn against a Lions team with everything to play for.
Rodgers was unstoppable for 13 consecutive weeks. When Greg Jennings went down with a knee injury, he lost to Kansas City.
Now this.
There’s no question the defending Super Bowl champ is an elite signal caller. But like the chicken or the egg question, is it the system and personnel of Green Bay that makes Rodgers so good or the other way around? (Or maybe simply the Detroit Lions defense is just that bad.)
Let the debate begin.