So what are your plans for January 3rd and 4th?

Mine?

Let's see. Saturday, Jan. 3, I know I have to work my other job.

Sunday, Jan. 4 is the Marquette-Cincinnati game, and I've got tickets for that.

Am I free those days?

Barring a miracle collapse that would make Josh McCown-to-Nate Poole seem like everyday commonplace happenings, yes.

Why?

Because, as the Packers' offensive line and complete defense proved again, the Packers can't close out games.

The last three-or-so minutes proved to be one of the most painful experiences I've ever had in watching a late-game experience, with two different opportunities to take control of the game destroyed by mistake after mistake.

The litany today?

3:02 left, 4th quarter
After the Packers got a 58-yard catch and run from Donald Driver after a perfect delivery by Aaron Rodgers (who, in a game where he had a 104 passer rating, can only be blamed for something Brett Favre did often in early stretches of games - overthrow receivers), the Packers' offensive line blew what would have been a go-ahead drive.

Tony Moll committed a holding call that wiped out a Ryan Grant run that got the Packers 13 yards from victory.

2:56 left, 4th quarter
Then he and the rest of the Packers' offensive line blew it in allowing Aaron Rodgers to get sacked and out of field goal range.

2:00 left, 4th quarter
Jeremy Kapinos does what Derrick Frost couldn't do so many times this year, and get a key punt deep in Texans territory...the three yard line.

So normally, you'd think the Packers would be in perfect position to force the Texans into overtime.

Uh, Houston, who had gashed Green Bay all day long, had other ideas - like slitting their throat.

1:43 left, 4th quarter
Apparently the Packers' linebackers chose to not pay much attention to former teammate Vonta Leach. He took a short pass to go 22 yards to the Houston 28, and out of a huge hole.

:50 left, 4th quarter
Apparently the entire Packers defense chose not to watch Houston tight end Owen Daniels either when he was at Wisconsin, or in game preparation. As I blogged earlier, I was the closest potential Packers defender to him, and I'm sitting in a radio studio in Milwaukee.

Result: 27-yard gain to Kris Brown's wheelhouse, the Green Bay 25.

:00 left, 4th quarter
Three plays later, Brown put a stake in the Packers' postseason hopes with a 40 yard field goal.

All day long, the Packers' pass defense was non-existent. 414 yards for Matt Schaub and company? Puhleeze!!!

All season long, the Packers neglected to do what was necessary in late-game moments to hold teams in critical stretches.

In the five losses where they lost by 14 points or less:

Oct. 5 vs. Atlanta: Down 20-17, Aaron Rodgers threw an interception with 4:42 left to set Atlanta up at the Green Bay 19, where Atlanta punched it in with three plays.

Nov. 2 at Tennessee: Up 16-13 with 1:49 left, the Packers let the Tennessee Titans drive 63 yards to kick a tying field goal. Then, on the first drive of overtime, they let the Titans run the ball down their throat for the most of a 55-yard drive to end the Packers' hopes of beating the then-undefeated Titans.

Nov. 9 at Minnesota: Up 27-21 with 5:56 left, the Vikings went 69 yards on seven plays, the last of which was a 29-yard run by Adrian Peterson.

Nov. 30 vs. Carolina: Up 31-28 with 1:57 left, the Panthers went 55 yards (set up by bad kickoff coverage to allow a 45 yard return) in two plays, the first of which was a 54 yard bomb to Steve Smith, the second a DeAngelo Williams 1 yard touchdown run.

Dec. 7 vs. Houston: a 75 yard drive for a touchdown in the last two minutes to set up the game-winning field goal.

Five losses. One of which was a quarterback's fault in the late going.

Four of these losses came to the fault of the defense in the late going.

In fact, Rodgers could be commended for solid late-game leadership in the last two.

Folks, get the blame game going, and more than any other reason, get it on the defensive side of the ball.

And make your plans for the first weekend in January.  Maybe, you can fly out of the cold with the cheap airline fares now out there and head to a warmer climate.

If so, send the Packers' defense (and this week, the offensive line, too) the bill.