Clean it up, big fella On a positive note, the Packers committed only four penalties for 30 yards in a 10-3 playoff-clinching victory over the Bears. With 78 penalties on the season, it marked the Packers' least-penalized season since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. However, on a negative note, all four penalties were committed by the same guy: rookie right tackle Bryan Bulaga. He had two holding penalties and two false starts. The Packers were held without a first down in each drive Bulaga was penalized.
Chiefs seeing return on Allen trade Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who was acquired with one of the draft picks obtained in the Jared Allen trade with the Vikings, had one of the quietest great seasons by a running back in NFL history. Charles rushed for 1,467 yards on only 230 carries. His 6.38 average fell just short of one of the more remarkable records in league history: Jim Brown's 6.40 average per carry in 1963. Charles was averaging 6.41 yards per carry on the season when he was stopped for a 1-yard loss on his final carry against Oakland on Sunday.
Three hours, two passing records The season record for most completions fell twice within three hours Sunday. First, Saints quarterback Drew Brees reached 448 completions to break his record of 440 set in 2007. Then, along came Peyton Manning, who reached 450 completions. It was Manning's first 400-completion season. Brees now has three of the eight 400-completion seasons in NFL history.
Losers no more in Oakland As usual, things are strange in Oakland. Coach Tom Cable went 6-0 within the division and 8-8 to stop an NFL-record seven consecutive seasons with at least 11 losses. And now there are rumblings owner Al Davis won't pick up the option on Cable's contract later this month. Cable is 17-27 since replacing Lane Kiffin during the 2008 season. But this year's 8-8 mark is by far the best since the Raiders went 11-5 en route to the Super Bowl in 2002. "We're not losers anymore," Cable said after beating the Chiefs on Sunday.
MARK CRAIG
