The 2012 season was the Green Bay Packers' 92nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 94th overall and their seventh under head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers won the NFC North division title for the second year in a row with an 11–5 record. The Packers lost 45–31 to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs, finishing with a 1–1 postseason record. The Packers offense finished the season 5th in points and 11th in yards per game. The defense finished 11th in points allowed and 22nd in yards allowed per game.
Offseason
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2012 team QB Matt Flynn UFA March 18, Seattle Seahawks RB Ryan Grant UFA December 5 Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley UFA February 22, Green Bay Packers C Scott Wells UFA March 16, St. Louis Rams NT Howard Green UFA OLB Erik Walden UFA April 23, Green Bay Packers CB Jarrett Bush UFA March 20, Green Bay Packers CB Pat Lee UFA March 21, Oakland Raiders RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, FT: Franchise Tag
Additions
On January 1 the Packers signed QB Nick Hill. On March 23 the Packers signed former Indianapolis Colts C Jeff Saturday. On March 23 the Packers signed former Indianapolis Colts DE Daniel Muir. On March 30 the Packers signed former Seattle Seahawks DE Anthony Hargrove. On May 23 the Packers signed former Miami Dolphins DE Phillip Merling. On August 12 the Packers signed former Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson. On September 3 the Packers signed WR Diondre Borel, TE Brandon Bostick, QB B. J. Coleman, OT Andrew Datko, DE Lawrence Guy, G Chris Scott, RB Marc Tyler and G Greg Van Roten to the practice squad. On December 5 the Packers signed former Green Bay Packers RB Ryan Grant after placing Johnny White on injured reserve. They also signed G Shea Allard and S Chaz Powell to the practice squad.
Departures On April 23 the Packers released OT Chad Clifton after a failed physical. On April 25 the Packers released S Nick Collins after agreeing to part ways after sustaining a career-ending neck injury in 2011. On May 23 the Packers released QB Nick Hill. On July 25 the Packers released S Charlie Peprah after a failed physical. On August 24 the Packers released WR Andrew Brewer, DE Anthony Hargrove, S Micah Pellerin, OT Herb Taylor and CB Dion Turner. On August 26 the Packers released FB Jon Hoese and DE Jarius Wynn. On August 31 the Packers released S Anthony Levine, CB Otis Merrill, WR Dale Moss, NT Daniel Muir, RB Marc Tyler, G Greg Van Roten, G Reggie Wells, OT Shea Allard, WR Diondre Borel, TE Brandon Bostick, QB B. J. Coleman, FB Nic Cooper, OT Andrew Datko, C Tommie Draheim, C Sampson Genus, WR Curenski Gilleylen, WR Tori Gurley and DE Lawrence Guy as part of the cutdown to the 53-man regular season roster.
Coaching changes On January 21, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was named the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins.Philbin Hired to Lead Dolphins Packersnews.com On February 2, Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements was promoted to the team's offensive coordinator position."QB coach Tom Clements named new Packers offensive coordinator," from Green Bay Press-Gazette, 2/3/2012
Draft
Notes:
The Packers acquired the No. 224 selection in a trade that sent guard Caleb Schlauderaff to the New York Jets. The Packers received the maximum number of compensatory selections available to teams through the NFL's compensatory draft program. Two additional picks in both the 4th and 7th rounds. The Packers traded No. 59 and No. 123 picks to receive No. 51 from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers traded No. 90 and No. 163 picks to receive No. 62 from the New England Patriots . The Packers traded No. 197, No. 224 and No. 235 picks to receive No. 163 back from the New England Patriots .
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Shea Allard Tackle Delaware Don Barclay Tackle West Virginia Du’ane Bennett Running back Minnesota Brandon Bostick Tight end Newberry Jarrett Boykin Wide receiver Virginia Tech Jaymes Brooks Guard Virginia Tech Grant Cook Guard Arkansas Nic Cooper Fullback Winston-Salem State Tommie Draheim Center San Diego State Curenski Gilleylen Wide receiver Nebraska Eric Lair Tight end Minnesota Mike McCabe Tackle Holy Cross Otis Merrill Cornerback Illinois State Dezman Moses Linebacker Tulane Dale Moss Wide receiver South Dakota State Sean Richardson Safety Vanderbilt Dion Turner Cornerback Southern Utah
Staff
Final roster
Regular season
Regular season transactions
Starters on offense POSNameGSNameGSNameGSNameGSNameGSQB Aaron Rodgers 16+1 playoff RB Alex Green 6 Cedric Benson 5 James Starks 3 Ryan Grant 2 DuJuan Harris 0+1 playoff FB John Kuhn 14 + 1 playoff Ryan Taylor 2 WR Greg Jennings 8 + 1 playoff James Jones 6 Randall Cobb 2 WR Jordy Nelson 12 Randall Cobb 4 + 1 playoff TE Jermichael Finley 16 + 1 playoff LT Marshall Newhouse 16 + 1 playoff LG T. J. Lang 11 + 1 playoff Evan Dietrich-Smith 5 C Jeff Saturday 14 Evan Dietrich-Smith 2 + 1 playoff RG Josh Sitton 16 + 1 playoff RT Bryan Bulaga 9 Don Barclay 4 + 1 playoff T. J. Lang 3
Starters on defense and special teams POSNameGSNameGSNameGSLDE Ryan Pickett 14 + 1 playoff Jerel Worthy 2 NT B. J. Raji 14 + 1 playoff Ryan Pickett 2 RDE C. J. Wilson 13 + 1 playoff Jerel Worthy 3 LOLB Erik Walden 10 + 1 playoff Nick Perry 6 MLB A. J. Hawk 16 + 1 playoff MLB Brad Jones 10 + 1 playoff D. J. Smith 6 ROLBClay Matthews 12 + 1 playoff Dezman Moses 4 RCB Tramon Williams 16 + 1 playoff LCB Sam Shields 9 + 1 playoff Casey Hayward 6 Jarrett Bush 1 SS M. D. Jennings 9 Charles Woodson 7 + 1 playoff FS Morgan Burnett 16 + 1 playoff K Mason Crosby 16 + 1 playoff P Tim Masthay 16 + 1 playoff
Schedule
Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 9 at San Diego Chargers L 13–21 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 16 Cleveland Browns L 10–35 0–2 Lambeau Field Recap 3 August 23 at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–13 1–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 4 August 30 Kansas City Chiefs W 24–3 2–2 Lambeau Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 9 San Francisco 49ers L 22–30 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap 2 Chicago Bears W 23–10 1–1 Lambeau Field Recap 3 at Seattle Seahawks L 12–14 1–2 CenturyLink Field Recap 4 September 30 New Orleans Saints W 28–27 2–2 Lambeau Field Recap 5 October 7 at Indianapolis Colts L 27–30 2–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 6 October 14 at Houston Texans W 42–24 3–3 Reliant Stadium Recap 7 October 21 at St. Louis Rams W 30–20 4–3 Edward Jones Dome Recap 8 October 28 Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–15 5–3 Lambeau Field Recap 9 November 4 Arizona Cardinals W 31–17 6–3 Lambeau Field Recap 10 Bye 11 November 18 at Detroit Lions W 24–20 7–3 Ford Field Recap 12 November 25 at New York Giants L 10–38 7–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 13 December 2 Minnesota Vikings W 23–14 8–4 Lambeau Field Recap 14 December 9 Detroit Lions W 27–20 9–4 Lambeau Field Recap 15 December 16 at Chicago Bears W 21–13 10–4 Soldier Field Recap 16 December 23 Tennessee Titans W 55–7 11–4 Lambeau Field Recap 17 December 30 at Minnesota Vikings L 34–37 11–5 Mall of America Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason Playoff round Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap Wild Card Minnesota Vikings (6) W 24–10 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap Divisional at San Francisco 49ers (2) L 31–45 1–1 Candlestick Park Recap
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
After finishing last season with a league best 15–1 record, the Green Bay Packers began their 2012 campaign against the San Francisco 49ers who finished second to the Packers in the NFC with a 13–3 record. San Francisco delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter as David Akers converted a 40-yard field goal. The 49ers further extended their lead when veteran WR Randy Moss (who had joined the 49ers after spending a year in retirement) caught a 17-yard pass in the middle of the end zone from Alex Smith in the 2nd quarter. The Packers scored their first points of the season when Aaron Rodgers connected with TE Jermichael Finley in the center of the endzone on a 1-yard pass. Rodgers and the Packers offense struggled to move the ball and David Akers added two more field goals for the 49ers including a long distance 63-yard field goal that hit the cross bar and bounced through as the 1st half came to an end. The Packers went into the locker room down 16–7. The 49ers continued their scoring in the third quarter with Vernon Davis hauling in a 4-yard pass in the end zone from Alex Smith to further extend the 49ers lead to 23–7. The Packers' managed to chip into the 49ers lead when WR Randall Cobb returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. Rodgers completed a pass to Jordy Nelson for the 2-point conversion to bring the lead down to a more manageable 8-point lead. However, Rodgers threw a costly interception to LB NaVorro Bowman on the Packers next offensive possession which set up the 49ers with great field position. Following the INT, RB Frank Gore scored a touchdown on a 23-yard scamper into the endzone down the right sideline. The Packers drove down and Rodgers completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to James Jones to bring the Packers within 8 points for the second time with a little over 6 minutes remaining in the game. The Packers forced the 49ers to punt with 3:45 remaining on the clock but hope expired on a come from behind victory when Rodgers failed to complete an attempted pass to Jordy Nelson on 4th and 10. The 49ers regained possession and ran out the game clock. With the loss, Green Bay began their season 0–1 matching the Packers regular season losses for all of the 2011 season. Also, this game ended their streak of 13 consecutive regular season victories at Lambeau Field. Green Bay would not lose another home opener game until 2026.
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears
With the win, the Packers improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks
With the controversial loss, the Packers fell to 1–2. QB Aaron Rodgers was held without a touchdown for the first time since the teams' 9–0 shutout against the Jets during the 2010 season. The team was one of six 2011 playoff teams to be under .500 after their first three games.
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints
In spite of the surprising loss to the Seahawks, the Packers returned home for a game against the Saints. The Saints tried to avenge their losing in Green Bay last season. However, the Packers would win this game and improve to 2–2 while the Saints dropped to 0–4.
Week 5: at Indianapolis Colts
The Packers went to Indianapolis for a game against the Colts. Despite the fact that the team was up 21–3 at halftime, the Colts erased the lead in the 2nd half and won the game 30–27. This dropped the Packers' record to 2–3 on the season, 0–1 against the AFC South, and 0–4 all-time in Indianapolis.
Week 6: at Houston Texans
With the victory over the previously undefeated Texans, the Packers improved their season to 3–3 and 5–0 all-time in the city of Houston. Aaron Rodgers tied the franchise record with 6 touchdown passes. Before the game the Texans defense only allowed 6 touchdowns all season.
Week 7: at St. Louis Rams
The Packers traveled to St. Louis to take on the Rams. The game was unfortunately close unlike the previous season's 24–3 blowout win but the Packers would end up winning 30–20 while improving to 4–3.
Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With their third consecutive win, the Packers improved to 5–3, dropping to the Jacksonville Jaguars to 1–1 at Lambeau Field. The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are now the only two remaining teams which have never lost at Lambeau, sitting at 3–0 and 1–0, respectively.
Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals