"Someone is always digging and clawing at Ryan Grant's forearms. Someone is always looking for the weak spot in the foundation. Even during the Minnesota game after the whistle blew the play dead, one of the Vikings hollered, "I almost had that, Grant."

"No you didn't!" Grant shot back.

Green Bay's starting running back hasn't fumbled since the Indianapolis game Oct. 19 and hasn't lost a fumble since Week 4 at Tampa Bay. So even though his carries are way up, he has also been protecting the ball.

"You just can't let it happen," said Grant.

New Orleans, the Packers' opponent Monday, isn't known for forcing it out on running backs. It has seven forced fumbles and recovered five. But fumbles do happen and Grant prepares himself for every opponent with the intent of protecting the possession.

"Defenses are supposed to rip the ball out," said Grant. "So if you watch every team on film, at some point they're not even trying to tackle, they're just trying to rip the ball out.""