Rodgers returns after re-injuring calf

The Decision, the Green Bay version, came down to the player who, not surprisingly, was thinking exactly what Packers fans around the world were thinking.

"As bad as it felt, I thought if I can go out there and be able to do some things and we win, I get another week to rehab it," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "That was definitely in my mind."

Rodgers re-injured his left calf on a touchdown pass to Randall Cobb with 2:24 left in the first half of Green Bay's 30-20 victory over the Detroit Lions, and when he was carted off the field minutes later, it scared up the notion that the Packers' chance of a Super Bowl run was going up in smoke.

But Rodgers re-entered the game after the Packers' first series of the second half — a three-and-out — and after the Lions tied the score at 14-14, Rodgers solidified his bid for his second NFL MVP by leading his team to a pair of second-half touchdowns, the NFC North Division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Rodgers said the injury was just slightly different than a similar injury he incurred against Tampa Bay last week.

"Just moved out of the pocket there, felt a very similar feeling in a different spot as I did last week," he said. "Was able to dump that off to Cobb. I was worried about the severity of the injury and my ability to walk off the field at that point.

"But once I got back in the locker room, I was actually watching the game on TV with some heat on my calf thinking if I could finagle myself to go back in. Doc (Pat McKenzie) came in at halftime, we talked. Took a little longer to get taped back up. Went in the tunnel until the possession was over, the first possession of the second half. I came over, did some light drops on the sidelines and felt like I could go back into the game."

Rodgers said it was ultimately his decision.

"In this case I think it was," he said. "It was kind of on me, see how I felt. But I trust Doc McKenzie with my health. We had a long conversation at halftime."