leader for this team and hopefully guide us on a playoff ru

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers are in playoff mode, even after a loss on Sunday at Buffalo clouded their post-season prospects.Breaking from the norm, coach Mike McCarthy had his players elect playoff captains Monday, six days ahead of a critical game at Tampa Bay. Usually, that voting isnt conducted until the Monday after the conclusion of the regular season.Were looking at this game as really the start of our playoff approach, playoff mindset, McCarthy said Wednesday. This is a road game that we have to have. We clearly understand the importance of winning in December, but we feel like we need to take it up a notch as a football team to make sure that we improve not only as a team but, most importantly, in the win column. This is a playoff-type preparation. We discussed it in the team meeting.Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Jordy Nelson were selected on offence, linebacker Julius Peppers and safety Morgan Burnett on defence, and Randall Cobb and Jarrett Bush on special teams.Of course, the Packers wont need playoff captains if they dont play better than they did in a 21-13 loss at Buffalo. If Green Bay wins at Tampa Bay and either Philadelphia loses to Washington or Dallas beats Indianapolis, the Packers will clinch a playoff berth. Beat Tampa Bay and then Detroit, which is tied with Green Bay for the NFC North lead, and the Packers will earn the division title and a coveted first-round playoff bye.Offensively, it starts with Rodgers bouncing back after what statistically was the worst game of his career. The Packers, who entered last week with the most points scored and fewest giveaways in the league, managed only one touchdown while turning over the ball twice.I think its a mindset of dealing with adversity in a positive way and pushing through it, and when the going gets tough, they say the tough get going, Rodgers said. (Being) mentally tough, I think, is a trait that allows you to overcome some rough performances, and thats what I rely on after a poor performance is my mental preparation and my mental fortitude.Its not only Rodgers whos looking to put last weeks performance behind him. The Packers dropped six passes after entering the game with only 17 for the season, according to STATS. The receivers didnt do any more ball drills than usual, Nelson said, and the only recourse was to move on to this weeks game.The focus level and guys working hard and trying to continue to improve (are the keys), said Nelson, who dropped what might have been a 94-yard touchdown that could have changed the outcome against Buffalo. Even though its late in the year, you cant start settling for where youre at, and theres always areas to improve each and every week, whether its individually or as an offence. I think weve got professional guys in here that take a lot of pride in our work, whether its in practice or if its in a game.That pride has shown up this season. After the Packers three losses, theyve bounced back to win by an average of 23 points. With a healthy Rodgers, the Packers havent dropped back-to-back games since October 2010. That starts with the leadership, McCarthy said, which is why he decided to elect playoff captains now rather than waiting a couple of weeks. Hes looking toward his leaders to take the responsibility of pushing this team past last week and into the post-season.Its that time of the year. Its the playoff time of the year, said Peppers, a quiet veteran who was added during the off-season. So yeah, if you want to say its that time to turn it up, then you can say that. Its an honour to be voted by your teammates. Any time youre voted captain, youve got to accept that responsibility and step up and be a leader.Added Nelson: Its an honour. Probably one of the higher honours you can get is when guys on your team look at you in that way. But theres also a responsibility and pressure with it, so I take that very personal and look to be a leader for this team and hopefully guide us on a playoff run.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Marlins Jerseys China . -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night. Cheap Andre Dawson Jersey . And fellow Leaf, Jake Gardiner, hiking in Whistler. http://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.com/ .com) - A top-10 showdown is on tap in at the McKale Center on Saturday, as the 10th-ranked Arizona Wildcats play host to the eighth-ranked Utah Utes in a key Pac-12 matchup. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Heck, we might just miss the BCS. Maybe? It sort of worked out this season. Top-ranked Florida State (13-0) was the only team to get through the regular season unbeaten, and the Seminoles did it in dominating fashion. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders.MELBOURNE, Australia - India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from test cricket on Tuesday, ending a 90-test career shortly after his side drew the third match with Australia.The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced Dhonis decision on Twitter, adding that Virat Kohli would captain India in the fourth test starting next Tuesday in Sydney.The 33-year-old Dhoni, was captained the team 60 times, made no mention of his intention to retire during a lengthy and jovial news conference immediately after Tuesdays match.In a later statement, the BCCI said Dhoni has retired from test cricket to concentrate on the shorter limited-overs and Twenty20 formats of the game.One of Indias greatest test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the test rankings, M.S. Dhoni, has decided to retire from test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket, the statement said.Dhoni was batting on 24 at the end of the third test as he helped hold off the Australian bowling attack to earn the draw.He has come under increasing scrutiny for his captaincy in the series against Australia, which the home side clinched Tuesday with a 2-0 lead.A wicketkeeper-batsman, Dhoni made his test debut against Sri Lanka in Chennai in 2005, a year after playing his first one-dayer. He has since scored 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09 with six centuries and 33 half-centuries.Dhoni has also taken 256 catches and 38 stumpings, as well as becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to take nine dismissals in a match — achieved in the just completed third test.Dhoni took over from Rahul Dravid as India captain in 2007 and ledd the side to 27 wins, 18 losses and 15 draws.ddddddddddddHe was also in charge when India assumed the No. 1 test ranking in 2009, which it held for two years.Wriddhiman Saha is to be named India wicketkeeper for the fourth test after standing in for the injured Dhoni in the first test in Adelaide.BCCI while respecting the decision of M.S. Dhoni to retire from test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India, the BCCI statement said.Dhoni is enormously popular in India and was this year ranked by Forbes magazine at 22nd in its list of the worlds highest paid athletes, with estimated total earnings at $30 million, mostly from endorsements.Former India great Sachin Tendulkar was among those who praised Dhoni on Twitter.Well done on a wonderful career in test cricket @msdhoni. Always enjoyed playing together. Next target 2015 WC my friend!! wrote Tendulkar, referring to next years Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in which Dhoni will likely play.Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted Love the way @msdhoni plays the game ... But its now the right time for @imVkohli to take the Indian Test team in a new direction.....Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said during the Melbourne test that he wondered whether Dhoni was still able to bring out the best in his test teammates.Its not just these two matches, its for a while now, Ganguly said. He just hasnt really got the team going at test-match level. The record he has in one-day cricket, hes a good captain. But in test conditions overseas, its just fallen away a bit. 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