PACK OVER TROUBLED BRIDGEWATERS

Pack Grabs NFC North Lead with Win over Vikes;

 Lions Fall to Pats

Okay, so it wasn’t another 50 point eruption against an overmatched opponent. And it wasn’t a showdown with a powerhouse. The Green Bay Packers 24 – 21 win over Minnesota was a very efficient, workmanlike effort against a greatly improved divisional rival. Coupling the Pack’s W with the loss New England hung on Detroit has some significant impact. At the close of business yesterday Green Bay is once again in the driver’s seat chasing their 4^th consecutive NFC North title.

Aaron Rodgers didn’t post video game numbers but was nothing less than sharp. For the day Rodgers was a steady 19 form 29 good for 209 yards and 2 TD’s. If one player would like to face Minnesota again it would be RB Eddie Lacy. Lacy ran the ball more times than he has all year. Lacy carried the rock 25 times, good for 125 yards, again his highest output of the season and chipped in with 2 TD’s – one on a leaping plunge into the end zone that gave Green Bay a 7 – 0 lead as the Packers continue to rack up 1^st quarter points and another on a 10 yard toss from Rodgers that put the game away in the 4^th quarter.

Minnesota’s Head Coach Mike Zimmer has the Vikes ship clearly pointed in the right direction. Rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater has played much better than his rocky start. Teddy B posted 21 completions on 37 attempts for 210 yards, 2 TD’s and 1 pick. Bridgewater also added 32 yards on the ground and a 6.2 yards/ carry average. But the impressive news is the new look Packers D once again held its’ opponent to 112 yards on the ground collectively. RB Jerrod McKinnon will not make anyone forget Adrian Peterson. The Packers defense limited his contributions to 54 yards on 15 carries for a 3.6 yards/ carry average.

Detroit is now falling off the lead they once held in the division. New England spanked the Lions 34 – 9 and the showdown in Green Bay nest week is set. But the loss also dropped the Lions one game in back of Green Bay marking the first time all year the Lions have had to look over their shoulders.

The Packers don’t make life easy in the North. As well and as improved as the Lions have been they can’t seem to put enough together in the second half of a season to grab a crown for themselves. Under Jim Schwartz the Lions seemingly invented new and unusual ways of shooting themselves in the foot. Once the weather gets cold and the races heat up the Lions look for a place to hibernate and lose some of their bite. Now Green Bay gets tasked with facing the AFC frontrunner when the Patriots come into Lambeau Field next week.

Minnesota is awaiting the completion of a new domed stadium. Playing on the University of Minnesota’s field the Viking fan base was not as strong or as imposing as it had been in year’s past. There was an air of resignation among the fans as the best they could hope for was what they in fact got. The Vikings were a game bunch but still no match for the Packers.

The game itself offered little from the WOW! factor aspect. IF anything the dizzying, maddening and frustrating flag-fest the NFL has rolled out this year has become annoying, irritating and excessive. While Roger Goodell has taken the noble cause of reducing player injuries, especially shots to the head, the league may have gone too far in trying to add excitement to the game. With the new pass interference rules and emphasis on hands to the face calls games have denigrated into tediously grinding affairs as the officials are garnering more air time than the players. For any doubters if you know the name Gene Steratore then the NFL has gone too far.

Steratore was yesterday’s game referee and the 15 flags thrown gave him plenty of face time. In an effort to reel in the fan that is on the fence about the NFL the hardcore, die hard football cognoscenti are becoming more and more alienated. The flow of games has an organic presence. The constant interruption of yellow hankies interferes with that flow and also the fervent interest in games. If an NFL game isn’t a blowout it is a penalty filled affair that make taking it in unsatisfying. While player safety is something where little compromise should exist the ham-handed, overbearing and overzealous approach Goodell has foisted upon the game has gone too far.

One of the more mind numbing aspects of this approach is the inconsistency that is sure to lay its footprint. Players don’t know what is going to be called or not called. Neither do coaches. Early on Jordy Nelson had Harrison Smith draped on his back and pulled both of his arms away from the ball. But there was no flag. As the Packers coaches were seen literally leaping onto the field in protest most fans sat back, rolling their eyes in a moment of “Here we go again.”

Bridgewater still has a long way to go but has settled into the starters’ role. His ability to extend plays with his legs has been a true asset for him. But even at that Rodgers was still superior. Rodgers put up 34 yards on 6 carries while Bridgewater posted 32 for 5 carries. Bridgewater has a natural throwing motion and style of play that is reminiscent of the Eagles Randall Cunningham. Long and lanky Cunningham could not only run but he could launch a ball 60 + yards with ease. Bridgewater looks like he can deliver it to anywhere and as he learns the pro game he will become a new thorn in the side of the defenses of the league.

With only the season finale showdown in Detroit left in the divisional battles the Pack is poised to go after the division again. The schedule is favorable for Green Bay with the exceptions being the Lions and next week’s biggie against Tom Brady. The media and fans love a good old fashioned heavyweight battle and this is the marquee game of the week. The Pats dismantled the Lions with relative ease and were certainly not guilty of looking ahead. For their part Green Bay did the same. Both teams are well run and can stay in the moment and keep focused on the task at hand.

Against Minnesota Green Bay was good but not quite as sharp as they had been during their recent streak of pillaging. Good enough was the case going against the 4 – 7 Vikings but that is not going to cut it when Mike McCarthy squares off and matches X’s and O’s with Bill Belichick. The Vikings Mike Zimmer commented on the new looks and wrinkles the Packers defense threw at the Vikings. Since moving Clay Matthews inside Dom Capers has been more creative in the deployment of his troops. OLB Nick Perry was a game day scratch and OLB Jayrone Elliot heard his name called on the field for the first time this year. McCarthy and the Pack expected to win this game but it also afforded the opportunity to play not only Elliot but rookie CB Dimitri Goodson, DT’s Mike Pennel and Josh Boyd, LB Sam Barrington and the forgotten Jamari Lattimore. On noted absence of late has been ILB Brad Jones.

In any season there will be forgettable and unmemorable moments. Such is the case with Minnesota. The Packers did what they wanted and what they expected and when the dust settles there will be little to remember about this game except 1) it was played and 2) the Pack won.

Now it’s on to bigger and better things.