Sports : Monday, 12/5/16

The Packers used two long fourth quarter scoring drives to take control and hold off the Houston Texans 21-13 at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Packers led 7-0 at halftime and gave up a tying touchdown to Houston in the 3rd quarter. Aaron Rodgers then connected with Jordy Nelson for a 32 yard touchdown that capped a 12-play, 98 yard drive to take a 14-7 lead. Following that the Packers mounted a 8 play 89 yard drive that ended by a 3 yard touchdown run by Aaron Ripkowski. Houston had a 44 yard touchdown pass with 1:51 left in the game, but missed the extra point. The Packers recovered the onside kick and effectively ran out the clock, save for a final Houston possession that went nowhere.

Aaron Rodgers was 20 of 30 for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Ty Montgomery led the team in rushing with six carries for 40 yards, and Jordy Nelson had 8 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

The Packers are 6-6, they host Seattle next Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Elsewhere in the NFC North:

Detroit now has a two game lead on Green Bay and Minnesota in the NFC North, thanks to a 28-13 win at New Orleans. Matthew Stafford threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The Lions improve to 8-4, they host Chicago next week.

The Bears picked up their 3rd win of the season, 26-6 over San Francisco at Soldier Field. Rookie Jordan Howard rushed 32 times for 117 yards and four touchdowns in the win for Chicago. San Francisco now has lost 11 straight games following their win in week one.

The Wisconsin Badgers fell to number eight in all of the national polls this week, following their 38-31 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday night. Wisconsin finished number eight in the USA Today Coaches Poll, AP Top 25 and the final College Football Playoff Rankings.

The Badgers also learned they would play in the Cotton Bowl against 13-0 Western Michigan on Monday, January 2nd. The game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a Noon kickoff. It’s the Badgers’ 15th consecutive bowl bid. Western Michigan is the champions of the Mid-American Conference and defeated two Big ten teams in the Non-Conference, Illinois and Northwestern.

In the College Football Playoff Rankings, the top four consisted of Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington. Penn State and Michigan finished number five and six respectively.

The playoff semifinals on New Year’s Eve include #1 Alabama vs. #4 Washington in the Peach Bowl, and #2 Clemson vs. #3 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Winners will meet Monday, January 9th in Glendale, Arizona for the National Championship.

Other Big Ten Bowl Games:

Penn State vs. USC in the Rose Bowl

Iowa vs. Florida in the Outback Bowl

Michigan vs. Florida State in the Orange Bowl

Nebraska vs. Tennessee in the Music City Bowl

Indiana vs. Utah in the Foster Farms Bowl

Northwestern vs. Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl

Minnesota vs. Washington State in the Holiday Bowl

Boston College vs. Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl

Men’s College Basketball: Marquette 89, Georgia 79

Women’s College Basketball: Wisconsin 64, Illinois State 46

Baseball: Former commissioner Bud Selig and longtime general manager John Schuerholz have been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. Schuerholz was picked by all 16 voters on a veterans committee at the winter meetings. Selig was listed 15 times in becoming the fifth of 10 commissioners to reach the Hall.