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Next game: Sunday, December 13th at Chicago
Packers Gameday at 10:00 a.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ, a live blog and coverage on Live at 5 and 10 on TODAY'S TMJ4 HD

Some things in life are beautiful because they have sheer, pure, unfettered beauty.

Think of the natural scenery of Hawaii (which I was blessed to see last week), the most beautiful picture you have of your spouse, etc.

Then there are things in which the beauty comes from struggle, from persevering while looking ugly-gritty doing it.

Think of the story of a typical hope-through-hard-times Bruce Springsteen song or photos of a Packers offensive lineman from the 1965 Mud Bowl NFL Championship Game.

Packers 27, Ravens 14 • Game Blog • Analysis: Winning Ugly Is Beautiful Packers Rewind - Super Pilgrimage with Willie Davis: • Story/Video | Photo Gallery Audio: • Mike McCarthy Pregame • Packers Insider: Donald Driver • Pro Football Weekly

Or, in terms of symbolism, think of Monday night's 27-14 Packers win over the Baltimore Ravens, one in which grit was more beautiful than purity.

"The adversity of the game was something we'll carry forward as a football team," said Mike McCarthy. "Just the way our players fought back, time and time again, will carry forward."

Monet wouldn't have painted this one, a game with the second-most penalty yards between two teams in the same game in NFL history.

Maybe your seven-year-old might have if art class had been in a pig sty.

But it looked beautiful.

Beautiful was Tramon Williams adjusting to a broken-off pass pattern and interception a pass in the end zone mere seconds after allowing the ugly, his second pass-interference penalty in the end zone in one half.

Beautiful was Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley both making great, key catches after allowing the ugly, drop after drop after drop through their hands, and Donald Driver doing the same following a fumble.

Beautiful was Aaron Rodgers responding after an ugly interception for key throw after key throw.

Beautiful was the defense that allowed the ugly, two scores in the third quarter, allowing -3 yards in the fourth quarter until the Ravens' last ditch drive which ended with a Clay Matthews sack.

Beautiful was a Packers team that, after committing an ugly 175 yards in penalties, responding with big plays after some of them:

1) A Nick Collins interception following a Tramon Williams pass interference penalty.

2) A defensive stop following a Charles Woodson pass interference penalty and Clay Matthews offsides flag.

3) An Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass following a Chad Clifton false start.

4) The aforementioned Tramon Williams redemption.

5) A Mason Crosby field goal in the fourth quarter, mere minutes after his shank to the left caused partially by a bad snap.

The Ravens are a bit of a throwback team, an in-your-face group that circa-1940 George Halas would have loved. They make you win ugly.

The Packers were only happy to oblige.

It typically won't get you to a game in February with the world watching, but it was good enough tonight.

It was ugly, and it was beautiful.