The struggles of the Green Bay Packers when facing just one yard to go on either third or fourth down is documented by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Overall, the Packers have converted 9 of 18 plays on third-and-1 this season and 3 of 7 on fourth-and-1," writes Silverstein. "Their combined conversion rate of 48% (12 of 25) ranks 28th in the NFL, not far ahead of 30th-ranked Chicago (45%)." It doesn't matter whether the Packers convert via the run or the pass, they just need to convert, period. When they run, the offensive line has to do their job. And when they pass, they have to take advantage of match-ups because the ball has to get out of the quarterback's hands quickly.

Head coach Mike McCarthy has let the team know what's at stake. "Having seen all six of his team’s most recent losses decided in either the final 10 seconds of regulation or overtime – a stretch that dates back to the their 37-36 loss at Pittsburgh late last season and their 51-45 overtime loss at Arizona in the NFC Wild Card playoffs and runs through last Sunday’s 20-17 loss at Atlanta – McCarthy wanted to make a point with his players: That while he was coaching a good team, it had yet to take the next step to being a great one," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin. It all has to do with momentum. A win this weekend builds momentum and carries into next week, and so on. It just needs to snowball for the Packers.

Proof that the Packers can still reach that "great" peak is provided by Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Two of the last five Super Bowl champions — the New York Giants in 2007 and Pittsburgh in 2005 — started 7-4 or worse," writes Vandermause. "The Packers seem intent on proving their best is yet to come."

Evidence is building that the Packers' recent history of close losses shouldn't be on the shoulders of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "In nine of the Packers' 12 close losses since 2008, Rodgers and the offense drove for a touchdown or field goal to either tie the score or take the lead at some point in the fourth quarter -- but the Packers still lost. In the other three, the Packers were in position to kick a decisive field goal, but they missed or it was blocked," according to the Associated Press, and presumably Chris Jenkins.

Clay Matthews remains limited during practice. "One reason Matthews might not be as sharp as he was the first nine games is a shin injury that has limited him to one day of practice each week since the beginning of November," writes Tom Silverstein. "Matthews typically takes off Wednesday and Thursday and then practices without pads in the modified Friday workout." Mike McCarthy talked about games on artificial turf not helping his injury.

Wide receiver Donald Driver answers questions about his dropoff in production and whether he's on the decline. "It always happens — you get to the point where if you go out and you’re not 100 percent … and you start to fall off, everyone starts complaining — maybe he’s old and can’t do it anymore,” Driver told Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “That’s not it. You can be young and have injuries. You can be old and have injuries. It doesn’t matter. It’s just how you bounce back from it." If Driver can bounce back, he'll be able to answer some of his critics. Now he just has to do it, otherwise the critics will get louder.

The improvement Sam Shields has brought to kickoff returns is detailed by Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal. "The Packers rank No. 27 in kickoff returns with an average of 20.5 per attempt," writes Polzin. "But Shields has provided a spark with a 26.3 average on six returns, including a 49-yarder against Dallas in Week 9." Can he break the drought of kickoff returns without a touchdown? He has a chance as long as he doesn't fumble his opportunities away.

Mason Crosby and Tim Masthay have begun preparation for cold-weather games. "Another aspect of the preparation for the colder games is spending part of Friday practices in the stadium, which enables the specialists to test the grass and their footing as they try to get a better feel for what gameday will bring," writes Tom Fanning of the Packers official website. Masthay has very little experience punting in cold weather, which bears watching how he performs.

The match-up problem provided by 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis is documented by Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette. "San Francisco’s best defensive player, Patrick Willis, presents a different problem because as an inside linebacker it’s more difficult for an offense to take him out of the game as a run defender," writes Dougherty. "He’s shielded from blockers by defensive linemen in the 49ers’ 3-4 scheme, and because he’s lined up in the middle of the field, offenses can’t run away from him."