A.J. Hawk News

The Green Bay Packers' defensive line is finally healthy and what a difference it has made.

As told to former Packer Insider columnist Cliff Christl, Eric Baranczyk , an assistant high school football coach and a former player and coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, offers a weekly analysis of the Green Bay Packers with a distinctly Inside Football slant.

The Niners and Packers have been inextricably linked from the 2005 draft, when the Niners selected Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers.

On a normal regular-season week, Green Bay Packers players and coaches would take Sunday night to enjoy their win over San Francisco before returning to work Monday.

Twice in the past four years the Green Bay Packers selected one spot ahead of the San Francisco 49ers in the top 10 of the National Football League draft.

There's no one more important to the Green Bay Packers' defense than cornerback Charles Woodson , and he showed why Sunday.

News and views from Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field.

GREEN BAY -- The verdict on whether the Green Bay Packers should have drafted A.J. Hawk or Vernon Davis with the fifth pick of the 2006 draft: Davis.

GREEN BAY -- Nick Barnett is a realist. As much as he enjoyed going hog wild after Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on Sunday and sacking him twice, the Green Bay Packers linebacker knows the stars have to align just right for defensive coordinator Dom Capers to use a similar plan game in and game out.

When the Packers needed someone to step up, Charles Woodson and the defense provided that boost in the second half to give Aaron Rodgers and the offense momentum and excellent field position to work with.

Refresh this page for a live blog during today's game Packers Gameday now on Newsradio 620 WTMJ with coverage on Live at 10 on TODAY'S TMJ4 HD; also text "sports" to 79008 for score updates and tweet comments about the game @620wtmj.com . 3rd Quarter 4:52 p.m. Cowboys' 1st Drive 15:00 Drive start: Cowboys 36 2nd Quarter 4:32 p.m. Packers' 5th Drive ...

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saluted their past in throwback uniforms, then rookie Josh Freeman gave the struggling franchise hope for the future.

3 INT's by formerly top-rated QB in NFL. Wayne: "this is a disheartening loss for the Packers." Larry: "no joy in Mudville right now." 3:23 p.m. Larry: "It's one thing to lose to the Minnesota Vikings.

There are questions about the futures of Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy.

Josh Freeman, quarterback, Buccaneers: In a game more important in the standings to the Green Bay Packers than it was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a rookie quarterback outplayed a veteran.

For a team that can't generate enough of a pass rush, losing the only guy who can consistently get pressure isn't what the Green Bay Packers need as they're about to face a quarterback like Tony Romo.

TAMPA It has to have a starting point. Every escape from the darkness does. Maybe that game-winning drive late Sunday against the Packers, which produced a 38-28 victory, was it.

Talk of the town Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio. 1. Grading the kid: He is not a kicker.

Dom Capers won't have the services of Brandon Chillar for a while. The linebacker is out for a few weeks with a broken hand.

OK, A.J. Hawk. Here's your chance. ♦ Sign up for Green Bay Packers text alerts.