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Game notes: Driver sets postseason mark

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Donald Driver continued to cement his place in Packers history on Sunday.

Driver's three catches in the 37-20 loss to the Giants at Lambeau Field gave him the franchise record for postseason receptions with 49. He came into the game one behind Antonio Freeman's mark of 47.

With 45 yards receiving, 16 of them coming on a fourth-quarter touchdown, Driver moved into second place on the franchise list for postseason receiving yardage with 675. He moved past Robert Brooks (651) but still trails Freeman (748).

Nothing is certain, but with the Packers having two young receivers on their practice squad this season, it's possible Driver – the franchise's all-time leader in receiving yards – has played his last game with the Packers. He declined to speak to reporters after the game, which completed his 13th season since joining the team as a seventh-round draft choice in 1999.

Future still in doubt: Safety Nick Collins is expecting to learn the status of the recovery from his neck injury in March.

That will be six months since Collins had surgery on his neck, which he injured in Week 2 in Carolina while trying to make a tackle. Collins will not know whether he can resume his football career until he consults with his doctors.

In the locker room after the game, Collins was disappointed for his teammates and still very uncertain about what the future holds for him.

"I feel for my team," he said. "I feel for this organization that worked so hard to get to this position and try to reach greatness, and you fall a little short. For myself, it's tough as well because I have to make a decision if I'm going to come back or not.

"I'm positive. I have a positive attitude that I'll be able to come back, but I definitely have to make sure that I get looked over and everybody is on the same page as I make that final decision."

Philbin returns: Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin returned to the team on Saturday following the tragic death of his son, whose funeral was on Friday. Philbin was upstairs in the coaches' box for the game on Sunday, in his usual position and fulfilling his normal duties.

"He was in the meeting yesterday and he was at the hotel last night," offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga said. "It was great to have him here, great to have him up in the box, doing what Joe does. He's a big piece of the whole thing here. It was good to have him around."

Players were supportive of Philbin and his family all week, but none of them said the off-the-field events had anything to with the team's rough day on the field on Sunday.

"Challenges are a part of life, so I don't think that anyone should or will use that as an excuse by no means," running back Ryan Grant said. "I think guys rallied behind it. Guys were not necessarily using it as motivation but rallying behind the Philbin family and using that support on both ends."

Added receiver James Jones: "I don't think our minds were really focused on what happened. We prayed for Joe. Everybody showed up at his son's funeral. We're sorry it happened. We all wanted to win the game, he wanted to win the game, that's why he was here, and we didn't get it done."

Big block: Linebacker Brad Jones' block of a 40-yard field-goal attempt by Lawrence Tynes in the second quarter was the Packers' first blocked field goal attempt in a playoff game in 10 years and two days.

Green Bay's last blocked field goal in the postseason was by defensive lineman Cletidus Hunt against San Francisco in a wild-card game on Jan. 13, 2002, at Lambeau Field.

The Packers' last blocked field goal in any game came on Sept. 27, 2009, at St. Louis by defensive lineman Johnny Jolly.

Rodgers' record: Aaron Rodgers broke his own single-game franchise postseason record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 66 yards on seven carries. That topped his 39 yards in the NFC Championship at Chicago last year.

Rodgers also moved ahead of Bart Starr and into second place on the franchise list for postseason passing yards with 1,781. He is also tied with Starr for second place in postseason TD passes with 15. Brett Favre holds both marks with 5,311 yards and 39 TDs. Additional coverage - Packers vs. Giants

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