THE LIONS SLEEP TONIGHT

Packers Claim 4^th Straight North Crown,

Suh Plays the Fool Again

It didn’t have quite the dramatic flair that last year’s season ender did against Chicago when Aaron Rodgers launched a 48 yard miracle on 4^th down to seal another NFC North crown. When the smoke cleared it was fairly obvious to anyone who watched that the better team won another title on Sunday as the Packers stomped the Detroit Lions 30-20. The Lions resorted to what they do best and reverted back to an old, ugly form by doing some stomping of their own in the process. The consensus dirtiest player in the NFL in Ndamukong Suh lived down to his classless, clueless, under the rock slitheringly ugly self by stomping yet again on another downed Packer. Only this time it was the stomp heard ‘round the world when he went for the Packers heart and soul Aaron Rodgers and his already injured left calf.

The Packers earned their 4^th straight tile as well as the #2 seed and a week off in the NFC in dominating, convincing style. This Packers group is peaking at the right time and both sides of the ball are coming into their own. Not limiting themselves anymore to a one-trick pony status of all offense and not too much on defense this may have been the most complete game the Pack played all year in all 3 phases of the game.

Although Mason Crosby had another long field goal attempt blocked the Packers won the special teams battle. Micah Hyde opened the scoring of what had the feel, sound and fury of a playoff contest. Hyde took his first punt of the game and took off for the end zone. Blasting through a host of Lions Hyde’s 55 yard TD romp had Lambeau Field going gaga. The much maligned and oft criticized defense took center stage in clamping the Lions down to a mild purr. The defense was resilient, stingy and gave up yards grudgingly.

As the season grinds on Eddie Lacy is becoming known as a late season cold weather runner who typically gets off to a slow start. Watching Lacy push a pile of defenders backwards was no just impressive. Lacy was doing it against the team ranked #1 against the run. The Lions had no answer for Lacy and did not alter their game plan form week #3 that saw them drop 6 and 7 into coverage and the let big dogs up front eat. Unlike the first game Lacy routinely and viciously pounded away at the heart and strength of the Lions by rushing for 100 yards on 26 carries.

Aaron Rodgers was Aaron Rodgers and may have sealed the voting for the MVP Award with his Willis Reed-esque re-entrance into the game when it appeared he was done for the day – and probably the playoffs – as he was carted off after tossing a flip pass of 4 yards to Randall Cobb that gave the Pack as 14 - 0 lead. But Rodgers fell to the ground immediately clutching the calf that he injured last week. Rodgers sudden exit meant Matt Flynn came in and the Packer faithful began a serious game of scoreboard and clock watching hoping the Packers had put up enough to points to pull through. The offensive line was stout in keeping Rodgers safe and Flynn was the only one nailed for a sack by the Lions ferocious D.

No one expected Rodgers to return. Not Mike McCarthy, not Flynn, not the Lions and maybe even Rodgers himself. Momentum is a funny thing. Rodgers exit gave Detroit renewed hope as they put 7 on the board just before the half when Matthew Stafford drove the Lions and hit who else but Megatron – Calvin Johnson – from the 20. The Lions picked up that momentum when Crosby’s 52 yard attempt was blocked by Isa Abdul-Quddus. Flynn opened the 2^nd half for Green Bay but few were holding much confidence. Flynn’s sack ended a short possession and Stafford hit Johnson again from the 4 to knot the game as Detroit had suddenly closed the gap and grabbed the momentum away from a Packers team that had a hammerlock on the game earlier.

Rodgers has developed a flair for the dramatic. Much like Willis Reed’s return form an injury in the NBA Finals Rodgers’ Roy Hobbs entry back onto the field was greeted with a resounding chant of “M-V-P!!” by the 78,000+ in attendance. And just as quick as you can say ‘Suh is suspended again for stupidity’ Rodgers pushed the Pack 60 yards on 7 plays and found Cobb in the end zone to retake the lead. Crosby’s blocked kick could have and should have swung the pendulum back to the Lions side.

It did not last for long.

On the very first play after the block Stafford was rocked and fumbled the ball at the Detroit 42 that was recovered by the opportunistic Morgan Burnett. Another drive ended with Rodgers, ailing leg and all did an impromptu imitation of Bart Starr’s Ice Bowl sneak to give the Packers a 2 possession lead once more. Clay Matthews’s constant harassment of Stafford paid huge dividends when Stafford threw the ball away and was flagged for intentional grounding from the end zone that gave the Packers a safety and a ballooning lead.

 

Just when you thought the Lions had grown up and matured into a team to be reckoned with Suh took the express train to Idiotville in the 4^th quarter. With Rodgers lying prone on the ground Suh stepped backwards and sort of, kind of somehow managed to land on Rodgers ankle. Accidently he claims. His cloddish next move is one that defies comprehension and will cost the Lions dearly in their upcoming playoff game against the red hot Dallas Cowboys.

His balance now precariously thrown off by Rodgers ankle Suh went for Rodgers injured left calf with yet another stomp, a move that earned him another suspension in a suspension filled career. As Rodgers tried to shove Suh away no flag was thrown but those in the league office took a very dim view of Suh’s latest stunt. In an unusually swift fashion the NFL whacked Suh on Monday with a 1 game suspension for repeated violations of the NFL’s player-safety conduct. Merton Hanks, the former 49er who now serves as the NFL's vice president of football operations responded with a one game ban that will be imposed next week in the Lions playoff game with Dallas. Hanks ruled that Suh engaged in a non-football act which placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury.

In his letter to Suh Hanks wrote "You (Suh) did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided." Hanks letter went on to state "you (Suh) unnecessarily stepped on your opponent's unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself."

Suh’s newest stomp drew a firestorm of reaction from all quarters. Afterwards Mike McCarthy said "I didn't see it live, I didn't see it on the Jumbotron, but from what I'm told, I'm told it was ridiculous.  "There's no place for that. That's where I'm at with it. I don't understand it, frankly." After the suspension was announced McCarthy said "I was hoping this wouldn't go this way (suspension). That was a hell of a football game played yesterday, and that's what I really came here to talk about. I'm not here to talk about behavior (of) players on other teams."

Packers outspoken guard T.J. Lang took it a bit further after the game by saying "I just went by what Aaron said," guard Lang said. "I didn't see it, but Aaron was pissed off after the play. He got stepped on on his bad calf. I didn't see it, but obviously he says it, you have to believe him. I don't really know what to say."

It wasn’t very long after the incident that Lang put his foot down. Lang and Suh were involved in a heated exchange of words and finger pointing after Suh’s inexcusably stupid stunt. "I didn't see it, but there's some history there," Lang said. "So obviously until I see the play, I can have a better judgment call of that, but Aaron said he stepped on him and didn't really appreciate it, so...” Lang continued by saying "He (Suh) likes to play through the whistle. I was continuing to block him (Suh) and finish the play and a couple of little shoves in there from both of us," Lang said. "He had some words for me and I had some words for him. That was it.

"I'm not going to say what he said to me."

For their part the Lions raced to Suh’s defense. Dominic Raiola, the Lions center who was suspended himself for the matchup against the Packers for stomping on the Bears Ego Ferguson last week was furious about Suh’s ban. "The play ... he wasn't even looking at (Rodgers)." Raiola said. "He was getting pushed back a little bit. It was ridiculous what Fox (Television) did right after it. It was crazy, watching it. I couldn't even listen to those guys after he did it. There is no way, at that point in the game, that he did something like that on purpose. No way."

Added teammate Larry Warford: "It's part of what has been happening around here. Obviously, they're going to be stricter on us. That is just a fact of what happened a week before. They're obviously a lot stricter with our team," Warford continued, referring to the NFL. "It's something we have to fight through. A little adversity. We'll make it through."

The Lions gassed the hyper emotional Jim Schwartz last year and replaced him with steady Jim Caldwell who had appeared to have righted the Lions ship and had his troops finally corralled and ready to step up with the big boys. Caldwell said he did not think Suh went after Rodgers' injured left calf.

"I didn't see it and I don't think it was intentional, either," Caldwell said unconvincingly. This is the same Jim Caldwell who also said of Raiolo’s stomp last week that he believed Raiolo’s stomp was unintentional. While his loyalty is admirable it has to cause him to wonder what the hell it’s going to take to rein in a bunch of thugs.

To merely classify Suh as a thug is an insult to every thug out there. Let’s call it what it really is – Ndamukong Suh is a filthy, dirty player and perhaps the dirtiest the NFL has ever seen. There have been noted dirty players in the NFL – Conrad Dobler was famous for biting fingers in pileups but Suh takes it to a level of attempting to injure someone on the field that go beyond just being involved in the play. His utter lack of professionalism and respect for his fellow players is only exceeded by those who rush to defend poor, misunderstood little Ndamukong.

On Monday Caldwell avoided giving his opinion on the incident during his Monday news conference, saying he'd wait to see how the NFL views it. Unquestionably the NFL looks at Suh and the Lions through very narrow eyes. The Lions laughable self-righteous indigence aside there is little to dispute. Rodgers avoided the controversy on Monday by saying “I don't know (if it was intentional). We'll look at the film. He'll probably say it was an accident; he was getting blocked into him. That's what (referee) Walt Anderson said. But we'll see."

Clearly Rodgers was furious with Suh but managed to keep his own views out of the press. And once again the eye of the storm Suh had nothing to say to reporters on Monday.

There are some who will believe that the NFL come down too hard on Suh and that is more a reflection of Rodgers status as the best in the business and less on his actions. It’s time to put that one to rest. Suh, his supporters and the Detroit Lions have fostered and protected a band of hooligans. The Lions have become the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers of the ‘70’s that kicked, fought, and hacked away at their opponents with little regard for consequence. They so stormed the NHL that the league was too slow to put an end to the violence that almost ruined their sport.

The league as a whole would be better off without Suh. One game, two games, $100,000 fines and a list of suspensions longer than the Lions futility in the NFL are not getting the message through.

When we should be talking about a great game – which it was – we are also forced to deal with the elephant in the room with Suh and his shenanigans. In Suh’s case we’ll dismiss the elephant and replace him with a more appropriate animal, one that better exemplifies Suh - like a jackass. With Suh there is no benefit of the doubt, no grey area. Go back to last year when he kicked (or didn’t kick according to Suh) Matt Schaub in the groin. He has clearly earned his latest sitdown and maybe it’s time to put some teeth into a suspension. Maybe a one year ban would send the right message. Perhaps docking the Lions a first or second round draft pick would get through to management and ownership.

The biggest blow would be a Lions loss in part because the very talented but immature giant who mans the middle of one of the NFL’s best defenses will be at home watching his teammates shoulder on without him. The ban also means for Suh that he will not be permitted to attend team meetings and functions, attend or watch practices, appear at the club's facilities for any reason, or have contact with any club personnel except to arrange off-site medical treatment or rehabilitation.

There is doubt anything will get through Suh’s thick skull. The Lions will most likely let him test the waters of free agency, which is a shame because when Suh sticks to playing football he could be one of the best. His long list of transgressions are simply too much to overlook.

The win means then Packers can get an extra week of rest and rehab. Considering Rodgers calf that is nothing but good news. And it means the Lions can celebrate their loss with a trip to Dallas.

Without their resident jackass.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Another Year, Another Epic Finale as Pack Hosts Lions

For the second straight year the Green Bay Packers will close out the regular season with an intra-divisional matchup for all the marbles in the NFC North. Last year it was the Chicago Bears who went down in disastrous fashion on a 4^th and 8 with 48 seconds left when Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb on a bomb from 48 yards out. The strike was devastating to Chicago and Marc Trestman’s career as the Bears have yet to recover from blowing that game. The Bears were expected to be there again but in their place the Detroit Lions have stepped up to the plate this year for the winner-take-all Sunday afternoon.

The poohbahs of the NFL have rightfully decided to move the game from 1pm to 4:25 to attract an undoubtedly larger audience. The Lions most significant change from years past has been their ability to win the close games this year, the types of games they routinely would manage to blow. The biggest reason for the sudden change in fortune is the long overdue change at the top. The fiery, emotional Jim Schwartz tolerated thuggish behavior on the field and at times behaved like a petulant schoolboy when things didn’t go his way. Remember the famous back slap confrontation with the equally fiery and equally ready to be gassed Jim Harbaugh of San Francisco? Schwartz did little to keep his team in check and has been replaced by the more stable and steady Jim Caldwell who was unceremoniously dumped in Indy.

Caldwell’s influence has been immediate and has paid dividends right off the bat. The Lions are a far more disciplined team although C Dominic Raiola’s actions last week were a reminder of how far the Lions have come. Raiola stomped on the ankle of the Bears Ego Ferguson and it was reminiscent of Ndamukong Suh’s famous stomp on Evan Dietrich-Smiths arm a few Thanksgivings ago. The Lions will be without his service as the NFL has sat the center down for a game – this game against the Packers whose defense is suddenly beginning to take shape.

The Lions strength has been up the middle on defense. Led by Suh and fellow DE Ziggy Ansah the Lions have become more ferocious and have some bite. Nick Fairley has played fairly well when he wasn’t hitting the front of the all you can eat buffet line. But Fairley won’t dress for the game and although he is still trying to battle through a knee injury he hasn’t yet been placed on the season ending IR list. Detroit is hedging its bet he can be ready for the playoffs. DeAndre Levy is the focal point of the LB’s and is the leader on defense. Levy led all linebackers with six interceptions last year and didn’t get in. Levy is third in the NFL in tackles this year and is the only player with more than 100 solo tackles (109). His All Star snub hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Motor City as Levy was conspicuously left off the list along with WR Golden Tate who had an excellent year. But where the Lions have improved most unexpectedly is in the defensive backfield. Rashean Mathis and Darius Slay have been more than just some warm bodies. Throw hard hitting FS Glover Quin into the mix and the Lions have speed and smarts and thump in their repertoire. Mathis and Slay will have to contend with the deadly duo of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb who gave the Pack their first ever pair of 1,000 + yard/ 10+ TD receivers in their glorious history.

The Lions counter with Megatron Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate who emerged as a more than competent 2^nd banana to the Lions top dog. Johnson missed time earlier this year with a concussion and other ailments but seems poised to pressure the Pack’s DB’s. In his absence the former Seahawk and star of the epic fail Mary against Green Bay stepped up and became a force in his own right. When Megatron went out Tate filled the gap almost seamlessly. With 96 catches and 1,286 yards the only real knock is his TD total of a mere 4. Johnson has had 6 while missing 3 games entirely.

The offense is carried by side slinging QB Matthew Stafford who has had a fine year. Stafford has thrown for over 4,000 yards and has added 19 TD’s against 12 INT’s. RB Joique Bell chipped in with an 800 yard season with 7 TD’s while Reggie Bush has fallen dramatically in the Motor City. Bell has an Achilles issue that could hamper his running. If Bell is unable to post yardage inside and try to gash the Packers suspect run defense it could be problematic for Stafford and the rest of the offense. Stafford still has a terrible habit of flattening out his delivery by dropping his shoulder and slinging the ball almost side armed at times, especially when he is being harassed in the pocket. The loss of Raiola could spell trouble for Stafford considering just how far the Pack’s defense has come in its’ own right. Rookie C Travis Swanson gets his first action of his career in what is only the Lions biggest game of the year. The Packers 7 sacks last week against Tampa Bay won’t escape his attention.

The Lions have grown considerably and have found ways to win the close ones. It’s good for them that they did because 8 of their games thus far have been decided by 8 points or less and the first meeting with Green Bay was a score of 19 – 7.

In round 1 the Packers offense hardly looked like the Packers offense. Even Cobb acknowledged as much by saying recently it took him time this year to get going. But when Cobb finally got untracked he did nothing to hurt his cause for a long term deal he will be seeking in the off season as his contract is up after this year. Cobb’s focus remains on playing and is leaving the money talks until the season ends. The likelihood of Ted Thompson not looking up one of the NFL’s most dynamic players is the same as a beach party being held after the game in Green bay Sunday night. Cobb will be the next beneficiary of the Pack’s history of rewarding its own and expect to see him in Green Bay for a nice extended run.

Aaron Rodgers was held in check in the first outing and coming off a calf injury and battling the flu he looked rightfully off his game in Tampa Bay last week. The loss against Buffalo did little to impact the outcome of today’s game. With the Lions holding then tie breaker advantage even if Green Bay had won if the Lions come out on top in the finale they will claim the NFC North in a same record scenario. Rodgers will be ready for this one and the Pack will need him to play more like his normal best-in-the-league self. RB Eddie Lacy will be counted on to carry a big load Sunday. Last time around the Lions rushed 4 and dropped everyone else into coverage and sealed off the Packs passing attack. Lacy was not near as dominant then as he has been of late. If the Lions try to rush 4 look for the Packers to feed Lacy and test the Lions ability to containing the Pack’s raging bull in a china shop. If Lacy can force the Lions safeties into coming up to help it could tilt the field in Green Bay’s favor and the Lions know it.

"First and foremost, you have to stop the run," defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. "Eddie Lacy is a dominant force and I think when he's rolling, he's got their offense moving forward on the ground, that's where you struggle. Then you have a two-headed sword you have to deal with and then go from there." The other head is Rodgers and he and Nelson and Cobb have formed a deadly triumvirate. "Most of Jordy (Nelson) making plays down the field, a lot of times, is off their scramble drill," cornerback Darius Slay said. "Rodgers makes good plays on his feet and Jordy gets behind the defense. They are really good at that. Some of them are also Jordy just being Jordy. They're real consistent making plays like that so we're preparing for it."

The impact and ramifications of this game are huge. A win gives the Pack nothing less than the #2 seed and ensuring a first round bye and some home cooking along the road to the Super Bowl. A loss puts them in a wild card position mostly likely against Dallas. For Green Bay to be successful the defense has to step up and the offense has to hit in all phases. The Lions are more respectful and wary of the Packers this time around. Having been on the business end of a few smackdowns over the years the Lions have matured and are more ready to face the challenge of trying to knock off the reigning kings of the hill.

This one will be decided in the trenches and will be a defensive battle. The Packers incredibly solid, incredibly improved and yet incredibly overlooked offensive line will get another big test. The pack offensive line has been together for the vast majority of the year and has grown into one of the league’s best and most underrated units. Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga, David Bahktiari and rookie Corey Linsley have been stellar in protecting Rodgers and opening up holes for Lacy. On the flip side this will be the biggest test for the Lions front 4, a mano a mano epic battle brewing.

The point total will be down and instead of a shootout it should be more of a slugfest. Look for Stafford to toss a late pick while Lacy runs wild. If Lacy gets going the skies will open up for Rodgers. The Packers weapons on offense will be too much for a Lions team that was routed by Tom Brady and the Patriots. No rout will be on but in this good old fashioned NFC North slugfest the Packers will get an extra week off to prepare for round 2 of the playoffs.

 

 

 

 

 

   GREEN BAY 27  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Detroit  23  

THE BUCS STOP HERE

Packers Defense Throttles Bucs with 7 Sacks

When it was over the Green Bay Packers had qualified for the playoffs again under Mike McCarthy by stifling the Tampa Bay Bucs 20 – 3. In the process the Packers found a ferocious defense that is beginning to come together at just the right time and the Bucs found out that an ailing Aaron Rodgers on one leg is better than any other QB on two healthy legs.

It was a good old fashioned defense dominated performance that carried the Pack. This time it wasn’t all Aaron all the time. QB Aaron Rodgers was nursing a calf strain that severely limited his mobility and even throwing motion. For the game Rodgers’ numbers were on par with a typical Rodgers day: 31/ 40, 318 but only 1 TD and a passer rating of 108.1. Not bad numbers but Rodgers clearly lacked zip on his throws and did not move as nimbly as usual. He was seen in the 3^rd quarter trying to stretch out his calf and at one point backup Matt Flynn was seen loosening up.

Afterwards Rodgers revealed he hurt his left calf early in the contest. "I'll be OK for next week. I hurt my calf pretty good, but the training staff helped me kind of get through it," Rodgers said. "It got really tight about halftime. Came in and got a little treatment, it loosened up just a tad, but it was still pretty tight. ... I was able to move in short segments in the pocket, which was all I needed to do today."

It didn’t help matters that Rodgers had come down with the flu earlier in the week either. "I battled the flu the past couple of days pretty bad, and that's why I was surprised I hurt my calf because I hydrated like no other (week)," Rodgers said. "I was drinking a ton of water before the game. Unfortunately, the calf kind of gave up on me there. But it was a good win for us. The defense played great. Offensively, it wasn't pretty, but we had enough points to win."

These Packers have become a resilient bunch on the way to an 11 – 4 record. With next week’s NFC North Showdown for the Crown winner-take-all at home against Detroit McCarthy likes where his Packers are right now. The defense had a stranglehold on Tampa Bay all game and refused to let go. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a much needed win. "We've won six out of seven games, so I'd like to classify that as playing a lot of solid football, that's for sure," McCarthy said. "We'll clean this game up tomorrow; we'll be on it. We'll also start on Detroit. I like where we're at, and I really like this football team. ... I feel good about the offense, defense and special teams."

Since going limp against Atlanta in the second half 3 weeks ago the Packers defense has clearly ramped up their game. Granted neither the Falcons, Bills nor Bucs have a fearsome offense. But then fact of the matter remains they are still in the business of trying to bring the Pack down. Buffalo managed to do it last week but then followed that up by bombing against the Raiders. QB Josh McCown felt the wrath of a Packer defense that is now beginning to gel and come together as a cohesive unit. If the Packers D took the 2^nd half off against Atlanta they were certainly in attendance against the Bills and against the Bucs they were a robust pack of dogs.

The Bucs began the game with five consecutive three-and-outs.  LB Julius Peppers had two of Green Bay's seven sacks and forced a fumble while LB Clay Matthews had 2½ sacks, pushing his season total to double digits once again. The Mikes - Neal and Daniels – also added some spike to the punch with sacks. Matthews has been playing some of his best football of the season of late and has become an inside/ outside terror and has also laid the lumber with QB pressures and hits. In all the Packers sacked McCown 7 times and had him on his back more often than he was upright.

The Packers D did not limit itself to merely gaudy sack totals. The rush defense – the much maligned and at times invisible rush defense – was stout against the Bucs’ Doug Martin. Martin was held to a miniscule 17 yards on 10 attempts good for 1.7 yards/ carry. As a team the Bucs were held to a paltry 109 yards, 40 of which came on a long pass to Vince Jackson that set up the Bucs lone field goal. Gifted rookie WR Mike Evans was a nothing factor and held in check all afternoon. Most telling were the three and outs. At a time when defense becomes a premium the stars are beginning to shine and none too soon.

Next week the new-look Lions come to Lambeau for the showdown that everyone had circled in red as soon as the schedule was released. Forget the Bears; their season has been an implosion surpassed only by the meltdown in San Francisco. The Lions are no longer wild, impulsive bunch pf petulant juvenile delinquents. Under Jim Caldwell the Lions have managed to forge a new identity. It is one of grit and toughness that has replaced most of the self-inflicted stupidity under Jim Schwartz’s regime.

That doesn’t mean the Lions have suddenly taken to wearing halos and choir robes. C Dominic Raiola has heard immediately from the league offices about his Ndamukong Suh inspired stomp on the back of Bears lineman Ego Ferguson’s leg on Sunday. No doubt it will draw a hefty 5 figure fine and given the Lions history he has been suspended by the league for the game against Green Bay for his idiotic actions. The Lions can ill afford to lose the key member of their offensive line even if his actions warrant it.

Even though Rodgers was limited in mobility and he did not display the usual zip he has on the ball that did not prevent Randall Cobb from having a career day. With 11 receptions for 131 yards Cobb put up the best day of his career and he and Jordy Nelson have become a terrific 1 -2 knockout punch combo. With Rodgers firing the missiles Cobb and Nelson have both put up 1,000 + yards and 10+ TD’s this year. Rookie Davante Adams is coming along but has not yet completely adjusted to how fast Rodgers’ rockets reach the destination. Twice yesterday Adams was caught with his pants down dropping relatively easy uncontested throws. The Pack can ill afford for Adams to go into the tank now.

McCarthy named the playoff captains for the rest of the year and on Saturday night prior to the Bucs game there was a player’s only meeting with the new appointees and the rest of the team. It will come as no shock that Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb, Julius Peppers, Morgan Burnett and Jarret Bush will serve as the leaders the rest of the way. Burnett has truly earned his ‘C’ this year. After a season where the play of the safeties was raked over more often than newly planted sod Burnett has quietly put together an outstanding year. His presence in the box has boosted his tackle totals and he along with Micah Hyde and rookie Ha Ha Clinton Dix have combined to shore up a weakness and convert it into a strength.

The Packers defense has not given up a TD in the last two games. In the process the balance McCarthy is looking for is coming when it will be needed most. Eddie Lacy surpassed the 1,000 yard mark for the second time in his 2 years in Green Bay with 99 yards against the Bucs that included a powerful blast that saw Lacy rumble 44 yards for a TD against Tampa Bay. Nelson chipped in with his 13th TD of the year in the 4^th quarter to ice the game. Granted the D has not faced a top flight offense but these are the types of games that help build momentum.

Now Detroit, a dome team, will have to come to Lambeau and face a Packers team ready to claim its’ 4^th straight divisional crown. Detroit would like nothing more than to send the Pack packing and into a Wild Card spot. Detroit has flirted with disaster all season and the question that they will have to answer is are they for real or will the bill finally come due for all the times they could have lost but didn’t. The NFL mavens have moved the game to the optimal slot at 4:30 to give a national  audience to the event that will be the game of the week.

The Packers have not fired on all cylinders over the course of the past 2 ½ games offensively. They haven’t had to their loss to the Bills aside. Rodgers insists his calf will be fine and the effects of the flu won’t slow him down. This is the same Rodgers that told Packer Nation to R-E-L-A-X earlier this year and although we all hate to see the season go this is the one game that has been looming for the Pack since week 3. There will be no love lost between these teams and the table is now set for another finale. It should be a doozy, and just like Christmas it is something the entire league has been waiting for all year.

We can’t wait.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Our Take on the State of the NFL

Now that the Green Bay Packers let their best shot (and the football) fall through their fingers last week against Buffalo, we take some time to take stock of the NFL. They face Tampa Bay this week and see nothing that says the Pack won’t roll them like a wino in an alley.

The Bills are for real on defense. Don’t laugh but the Packers are capable as well. The D held the Bills to 0 TD’s. Too bad the offense was stuck in the hotel in a blizzard because what showed up damn sure wasn’t the Packers everyone has come to know and fear.

Tampa Bay has an opportunity on Sunday. Lose and you’re in the hunt for the #1 pick in the draft (translation: Marcus Mariota, the Heiman QB from Oregon). Just don’t screw up the shot by winning boys. One interesting sidebar is if Oakland or Jacksonville gets the #1 pick – and they are right in the running – do they take Mariota, who is being seen as a potential star in a very weak draft class or trade the pick and let him go to another team? After Oakland took David Carr and the Jags snagged Blake Bortles last year it does present an interesting dilemma. Look at it this way: what if the Packers HADN’T taken Aaron Rodgers when they did? At #24 don’t you think there are a few teams kicking themselves now for what they passed over? And had the Packers not selected him with Brett Favre still playing well now they’d have the unenviable task of playing against him.

In a move that surprises no one Jay Cutler of the Bears is about to be yanked and benched. In the immortal words of Sir Edmund Hilary “what took you so long?” Don’t be surprised for a serious cut and gut in the Windy City. We genuinely feel bad for Cutler but his atrocious play will cost him as well as much of the coaching staff in the off season.

Even from the bench Cutler managed to throw two interceptions.

The annual “Coaches on the Hot Seat” bonanza is officially under way. The locks for pink slips are Marc Trestman, Jim Harbaugh, and Rex Ryan and maybe even Mike Smith. Trestman couldn’t help Cutler but then again neither could a trip to Lourdes. Da Bears will also likely gas their offensive and defensive coordinators, blow up the team and start from scratch. Harbaugh’s yelling and screaming and histrionics are great for a young team but wears thin on the vets – and management. He’ll land in Michigan where it’s a constant turnover of young players every 4 years. Ryan has been zooming backwards for a few years now. Someone must owe him something big as he should have been done years ago.

Don’t knock Rex too hard, though. After all the Jets still have Geno Smith and the “…guy that will knock your face in…” Ryan passed on the Packers Ha Ha Clinton Dix for Calvin Prior. When the Pack faced Rexxie and the Jets it was Prior who ended up with a faceful of Lambeau after Jordy faked him right out of his jockstrap. Guess who is laughing last? Yeah, ha ha indeed.

Don’t look now but the newest hottest team in the NFL is the Seattle Seahawks. It’s time to acknowledge Russell Wilson is a pretty darn good QB. His presence, decision making, ability to run and his arm are the real deal. To top it all off he’s a genuinely humble guy who spends much of his free time being… well… a good guy. He visits hospitals and spends time with sick and ailing children and is always a great interview. Kinda hard to hate the guy. But we hate the little creep when the Pack plays the Hawks.

It’s also time to acknowledge that Colin Kaepernick is a pretty darn awful pocket passer. How many boo birds can fill the stadium by the bay? Now that teams have figured him out he can’t make a throw to save his life or Jim Harbaugh’s job. We predicted San Francisco was on the verge of implosion in our pre-season picks and now that pigeon has come home to roost.

Don’t look over your shoulder or ahead too far. The Detroit Lions are playing with verve, swagger, confidence and for the first time since the Truman era discipline. No more bonehead penalties have the Lions right up with Seattle and Buffalo as a top notch defensive unit. Jim Caldwell has done a coach of the year type job with them. And the Lions have discovered some grit. The number of last second, heart stopping wins is mounting.  And instead of finding clever ways to blow the game they are now winning them. Complain all you want but Detroit has feasted on winning the close ones. Now they’ll have to answer the question “Can they win the big ones”? We’ll find out next week.

Ordinarily we preview the Packers coming game and opponent. All we can find is the Muscle Hamster, RB Doug Martin. He hates the nickname but we don’t. The Bucs are Muscle Hamster left, Muscle Hamster right, Muscle Hamster up the gut and punt. If there isn’t a turnover. Martin may hate the nickname but we love it. Say it with us – Muscle Hamster, Muscle Hamster, Muscle Hamster.

Isn’t it time to publicly say Mike McCarthy is a great coach? We know it but do the rest of the NFL scribes? McCarthy’s low key, well organized style has been a perfect fit in Titletown. His marriage to GM Ted Thompson has produced a terrific run of consistent playoff appearances that others in the division can only envy. Right, Chicago? Right, Minnesota? Right, Detroit? At some point he deserves a coach of the year award.

We don’t get the criticism of Ted Thompson and his reluctance to mortgage the future in going after the big name free agents. The big lament in the off season was not going after S Jarius Byrd of the Bills. Byrd spent his season ending up on the IR and with Ryan got for the (sometimes) big hitter in Prior Clinton-Dix landed in Green Bay’s lap where TT took him at #21. Who wants to crow about that Byrd?

The 2 free agent signings of DT Letroy Guion and DE/LB Julius Peppers may be the best pickups in the off season. The Bears figured that Peppers had nothing in the tank and went after Minnesota’s Jared Allen who had his worst season as a pro. Chi-town figured wrong. Minnesota gave up on its’ former first rounder in Guion. Instead of old Packers going to the NFL’s LaBrea Tar Pits in Minnesota to die both Guion and Peppers have enjoyed stellar years in green and gold. With B.J. Raji out for the year Guion’s play has not gone unnoticed.

Has anybody noticed that TT hit the jackpot not once but twice in the past 2 years with late pick Offensive Linemen? Last year 4^th rounder David Bahktiari stepped in when LT Bryan Bulaga went out and ended up with the job permanently. Now Ohio State alum 5^th rounder C Corey Linsley filled the gap left by Evan Dietrich Smith (FA/ Tampa Bay) and JC Tretter (knee injury). Once is lucky, twice is a pattern. Add in 4^th and 5^th rounders Josh Sitton and TJ Lang and that’s some mighty fine picking.

One thing that has been noticed is how little A.J. Hawk is seeing the field these days in favor of Sam Barrington. Hawk’s notorious lack of foot speed and troubles dropping into coverage has finally caught up to him. Better start looking at who the late first round ILB’s will be in next year’s draft.

We are saddened by the loss of Fuzzy Thurston. One half of the Packers famed pulling guards on the power sweep with Jerry Kramer Fuzzy was one of the best ever. And we also wish nothing but the best for Bart Starr who suffered a stroke earlier this year. Both are great players who are better men in life.

Could a Cutler for RGIII trade work? Both have been disappointments and will likely be gone as soon as the season ends. For Griffith he has never been able to recapture the sizzle since his knee was injured, which is a shame because the NFL desperately needs some class guys amid the off field idiots these days.

His huge drop in Buffalo aside is there any better deep threat combo than Jordy Nelson and Aaron Rodgers? Even Nelson was stunned when he dropped the ball. Don’t bet the Kansas farm on that ever happening again. Nelson is a class act among the prima donna divas of the NFL that populate the WR position. Catch the ball, get into the end zone, flip it to the ref, do your quickie Lambeau Leap and get back to the sidelines. And Nelson makes the impossible look so easy.

Memo to NFL - whatever credibility you may think you have will take a hit when you are about to allow a team maybe as bad as 6 – 10 into the playoffs and send someone more deserving (Arizona, Philly) to the golf course. So, in theory, a team could be so bad it makes the playoffs AND gets a top 12 pick in the draft. This isn’t parity. It’s rewarding mediocrity. Fix this. It stinks.

We don’t really give a damn about how long ago it was. It was a damned interception in Seattle and we hope that the reindeer leave skid marks around replacement ref Lance Easley’s tree. Toss a few lumps into his stocking for good measure.

We have noticed a growing trend. The fan is becoming more and more fanatical each year. It has become the norm to take a fan’s passion to absurd levels. Ergo we find absolutely nothing wrong with feeling Lance Easley should be permanently placed on the ‘Naughty” list or the above sentiment. Yes… we feel better.

What happened to the Falcons and Jets? Is it a “Hard Knocks” jinx? Man, have they stunk the joint out in the past couple of years. The Falcons and the Jets are both nose diving and can’t pull out of it. Those that once flew have fallen to crash and burn.

Not for one snowball in hell’s minute do we buy into any of the Johnny Manziel hype, promo, or trumpeting. There has been nothing to show he is ready to even able to take the reins in Cleveland. Forget Johnny Jam Boogie (groan) or Johnny Football – this kid is strictly Johnny Bench. And don’t think for a second every defensive lineman that buries him in his fire drill roll outs won’t get up and start rubbing their fingers together. We can’t wait for the genius who will put a bunch of $1 bills in his jersey and then shower Manziel with a money flurry while rubbing their fingers in Manziel’s face. The flag would be worth the price of admission.

We have a confession to make. We like the Aaron Rodgers with Hans and Franz “Pump – you up!” commercials. We secretly think the large, muscular blond whose hair Aaron is attempting to move is hot. VERY hot.

Memo to NFL #2 – Okay, enough with the flag fests already. We’re seeing more of the officials than we’ve heard Peyton Manning yelling “O –ma-ha!” Have ‘em put the hankies away and let ‘em play. Some of us have to be up the next morning.

Speaking of Manning is he annoying anyone else with his smarminess? Like the game against Tennessee when backup Brock Oelander grabbed his helmet in garbage time thinking he would go in with the Broncs holding a 41- 17 lead over the hapless Titans. Uh uh. Siddown, kid… Manning needs some numbers and you ain’t getting ‘em. Manning sounded just so snarky afterwards with his Elvis lip curling sneer and was less than convincing when he said hey ‘ he’s ‘only’ trying to win the game.’ His greed in stats is kinda off putting.

By comparison how many more TD’s would Aaron Rodgers have had he stayed in during their massacre games this year? Rodgers has probably missed a full game and maybe more from his early exits.

Rodgers receivers are making him look both brilliant and human at the same time. The TD catches and long bombs take your breath away but 4 of Rodgers 5 INT’s this year bounced off his receivers’ hands. Jordy Nelson, Andrew Quarless, Davante Adams and Jarrett Boykin have done the ol’ whoops a daisy with the ball too much.

It’s about time Jordy Nelson was recognized as an elite WR. He is finally in the mix at the popularity contest Pro Bowl and was just the cover boy for Sports Illustrated. Is it a weird coincidence that Nelson’s whiff came right on the heels of his SI appearance? Can you say “SI Curse?”

Memo to NFL #3 – If you really want to deal with the flag fest start with a reexamining of the shackles you’ve placed on DB’s. This is a bit of overkill and it is diluting the quality of the games throughout the league. Mel Blount is shaking his head in disgust somewhere.

Memo to NFL# 4 – Better take a good, long, hard look at the number of blowouts in the league. This is going to cost you viewers at some point on some level if these Xbox Madden-type numbers aren’t addressed.

It goes without saying that the Green Bay Packers are exempt for the above memo. They’re just so darn much fun to watch destroy teams.

And we close with a simple Christmas wish list. Dear Santa ~ all we want is a nice little 6 games winning streak, just like the one you brought us 4 years ago. Let’s start against the lowly Bucs.

And as we fly out of sight we wish a Merry Christmas to all and to all a big win tonight. Starting in Tampa Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREEN BAY 45

 

 

 

 

Tampa Bay 19