On The Line: Packers RB Ryan Grant

Ryan Grant told me shortly after Sunday's 37-3 demolition of the Bears that his Packers had just passed through a "defining moment" in their 2008 season.

"This was real big," Grant told me. "This puts us right back in the race."

It certainly does. It's now a three-way tie at the top of the NFC North between the Pack, Bears and Vikings. All are at 5-5 and the Bears and Packers lead the way with 3-1 division marks. The Bears now have the head-to-head edge in their favor as well.

"We knew we needed to have this one," said Grant who pounded out 145 yards on 25 carries for the Pack. Green Bay lost its last two by a total of four points and really couldn't afford to drop another one.

But, Grant insisted, "We weren't questioning ourselves. We responded well. Sometimes you get your back against the wall and find out what you're all about when you see how you respond. This was a defining moment for us. We had to decide if we were going to go forward or not. Guys stepped up. To be able to do that, to the level we did, shows what we're about.

After Green Bay's former quarterback led the Jets to a big win the other night, external pressure vwas perceived to be on the Pack and QB Aaron Rodgers. Even if it didn't register with the team itself.

"We play for each other and our coaches," said Grant. "People outside of us can't have higher expectations than we do as a team. We respect that people have opinions, but we can't get caught up in that."