NFC championship: 2 teams, different perspectives

ATLANTA | The Falcons are well aware of just how desperate this city is for its first Super Bowl championship.

AL HAMNIK: Packers no longer the runaway NFC North favorite

Surprisingly, there is no purple bunting stretching across Green Bay like a giant spider web.

Merrillville's Neal offers 'sack' of football goodies for his family

CHICAGO | If Mike Neal were in his 10th NFL season with all the nagging injuries he's had, you'd agree it was the price athletes pay in this punishing sport.

Briggs joins Marshall in unloading on Packers

LAKE FOREST | The NFL's oldest rivals are spicing up their Sunday showdown with some serious trash talk.

NFL INSIDER: Bears in do-or-die territory

It's the time of year when the men are separated from the boys in the NFL.

Cutler back to normal with Bears?

CHICAGO | The Bears offense appears to be back in sync, even if the same might not be true of quarterback Jay Cutler and his offensive coordinator.

The Daily Fix

Offering perspective on today's issues

NFL suspends Packers DE, Merrillville grad Mike Neal 4 games

GREEN BAY, Wis. | The NFL suspended Green Bay Packers defensive end and Merrillville product Mike Neal without pay Tuesday for the team's first four games of the 2012 regular season for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances.

Packers' wins over Bears was my own Super Bowl

Winning back to back Super Bowls is not easy. Living in Bears country is no joy, either. Bears and Packers fans just don't mix well. It's a hate that won't go away, much like Democrats and Republicans, or Sox and Cubs.

Mike Neal

Mike Neal, Merrillville grad, Green Bay Packers, defensive end, 2011

No postseason for Bears, who lose to Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. | Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdown passes for the first time in his career to help the Green Bay Packers nail down the No. 1 seed in the NFC and claim another round of bragging rights in the NFL's most storied rivalry by knocking the Chicago Bears out of the playoff chase.

Aaron Rodgers is 2011 AP Male Athlete of Year

GREEN BAY, Wis. | When Aaron Rodgers needs to rekindle the feelings that drove his rise from a junior college quarterback to Super Bowl MVP, he doesn't have to look too far.

Schererville girl receives surprise package from Green Bay Packers quarterback

SCHERERVILLE | Six-year-old Erin Mauder received a surprise package Monday from Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Bears limp into week with Packers looming

LAKE FOREST, Ill. | The Bears offense needs to regain its balance, for Jay Cutler's sake if nothing else.

NFL INSIDER: Are you ready? I mean, ready?

I should get hazard pay for this.

Pack out to buck trend of recent champs' struggles

GREEN BAY, Wis. | Well aware of how recent Super Bowl champions have struggled to defend their titles, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy put his statistical guru on the case.

It's all in the hips at Football Summit

HIGHLAND | One step forward, two steps back.

Respect drives Jets fan to tend to Lombardi grave

GREEN BAY, Wis. | This is a story that might make legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi roll over in his grave.

Longtime Packer backer relishes Super Bowl victory

SCHERERVILLE | Don't accuse Pat Tuleja of hitching a ride on the Green Bay Packers sausage-and-cheese wagon in the wake of Super Bowl XLV.

Lansing's Quinn may honor Bears bet

LANSING | Gov. Pat Quinn earlier this week canceled an appearance at a Milwaukee food bank to honor his end of a bet with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker over the Super Bowl playoff face-off between the Bears and Green Bay Packers.