THANKSGIVING TURKEY

Bears Spoil Favre’s Return, Dump Pack 17 – 13

Everything was in place. On a quagmire of a night Brett Favre was there, Bart Starr was there, a beyond capacity crowd of 78,000+ was there and a well fed national audience was there. The Packers defense was there. There was one small problem… the offense once again went missing when it was needed most. The Chicago Bears were the beneficiary of the Packers suddenly ice cold offense that went colder than the near freezing weather at Lambeau Field as they slipped out of town with a well-earned 17-13 victory with a last second defensive stand from their own 8 yard line.

The game was almost anti-climactic as the entire sporting world was on hand to witness the unveiling of Brett Favre’s number 4 in the Packers’ Ring of Honor. Many of Favre’s former teammates were on hand for the occasion and whatever acrimony there was between Favre and the Packer faithful was long gone. And when Packer legend Bart Starr was there to welcome Favre into the select, august group that includes Lombardi, Nitschke, White and Starr himself grown men were reduced to tears at the sight. It was a glorious moment spoiled by another incredibly poor performance by the offense.

Knute Rockne never said “Let’s blow one for the Gipper.” Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy’s frustration with the suddenly stagnant offense can be seen on their faces, seen in their body language, and heard in their voices during their post-game press conferences which must be becoming more and more difficult with every passing week. There have been no questions about the defense of late; for the second straight week the Packers defense held an opponent to under 19 points – and lost.

The defense wasn’t spectacular but solid. They limited Jay Cutler to 200 yards passing but for a change Cutler didn’t play Santa Claus with the ball and outdid Rodgers as he left the field with zero interceptions to Rodgers’ 1. The defense also held the Bears to 101 yards rushing so the finger pointing at Dom Capers and his defense, schemes, personnel and calls get the week off. The offense won’t be so fortunate.

The offensive woes will not be nor should it be so easily explained or overlooked. The urgency was obvious in Mike McCarthy’s post-game press conference when he pointedly said “The reality is we’re not that far off,” McCarthy said. “It’s the attention to details. Our issues are technique and discipline in the technique, and quit worrying so much about the plays. Win the route when the play is called.”

“Win the route when the play is called. The passing game is not clean,” McCarthy continued. “We’ve made scheme changes from last year to this year and it’s not productive enough. We’ll take another hard look at it, as we continue to do, and either emphasize some of the changes we have made or go back to emphasize some of the basics of our offense.” His annoyance was summed up with his parting words. “At the end of the day, you have to beat the guy,” McCarthy said “And we’re just not getting it done.”

Some players are certain to draw McCarthy’s ire this week in preparation for the Detroit Lions next Thursday. Although Eddie Lacy looks like he is getting back into form he was less than secure with the ball. Lacy gained 139 yards on the ground that included the Packers’ lone touchdown but it was his casual flip scant inches over the goal line after he scored and a huge fumble that led to the Bears field goal that essentially iced the game that was the subject of McCarthy’s talk afterwards. “Make no bones about it, if you don’t hold onto the football, turn the football over, your opportunities are going to decrease or go away,” McCarthy said. “Eddie has played very well the last two weeks, but he has to handle the football. On the touchdown, he was careless with the ball there, and on the fumble he was careless with his technique, the ball away from his body. That’s what happens.” True to his word McCarthy had Lacy on the bench for the last 2 series of the first half.

Another player running out of time and excuses is WR Davante Adams. His sophomore slump has continued as have his unnerving number of drops. Much was expected of Adams going into the season, McCarthy and Rodgers were glowing with reviews of the second year wideout and he was living up to the billing until he  went out in the same game with Lacy with an ankle injury in week 2 against Seattle. Losing Jordy Nelson in the preseason meant everyone else would have to step up to take up the slack. Adams was expected to fill the deep threat sideline target Nelson held. Rodgers had developed such trust and chemistry with Nelson it elevated the rest of the WR’s. Nelson’s toe tapping acrobatic catches were underrated for years and now his loss is felt immeasurably. Adams was primed for the role

It has not worked out.

The injury was a setback but Adams has been skittish since his return and has been fighting the ball. It was never more obvious than in the loss to Detroit when Adams was targeted by Rodgers on the first 3 passes and ended up with an ignominious record. For the game Adams was targeted a staggering 21 times. Of those targets he caught less than half and the yardage to targets ratio set a new NFL record he doesn’t want as he turned those 21 attempts into only 10 catches and (gulp) 79 yards. 

The Packers still had a shot to pull one out of the fire late. With less than a minute left from the Bears 8 yard line and with 4 downs and Rodgers at the helm this is the slam dunk everyone, even the Bears, expected the Pack to salvage. Four shots from the 8 and yet the Packers came away with nothing. The first 2 attempts were throwaways and then James Jones and Adams dropped the ball on third then fourth down to seal the game for Chicago. Without naming names Rodgers opted for the high road by saying afterwards “I like the calls there; all four of them,” Rodgers said of the four plays from the 8-yard line with the game on the line. “I have to throw it better and we have to catch it more often.”

Clearly Rodgers and his receivers are not on the same page and since the Denver game that began the slide it has escalated to the level of downright uncertainty in any part of the passing game. “I’m going to have to make sure my preparation is as high as it’s ever been because we have to get on the same page. We have to make sure there aren’t discrepancies in depth and adjustments,” Rodgers said. “Every year is different. We ran it well tonight. We’ve got to be better in the passing game”

“We had a lot of chances for points. This is on us. We had opportunities to win the game,” Rodgers said. 

Adams is not alone in the criticism department. James Jones began the season as a godsend by hauling in passes from ARod and was finding the end zone. Of late he looks like a receiver who rightfully should have been released by Oakland and cut by the Giants. Jones was never blessed with great speed and now that he is facing tighter coverages he can’t shake them to get open. And when he does as he did with seconds left last night the result has been an all too familiar drop that kills a drive if not the game.

The sudden collapse of the Packers passing game is as stunning to the rest of the league as it is to Green Bay, maybe more so. After all Rodgers is the reigning MVP and it wasn’t too long ago (2011) that Green Bay was destroying records and teams. Now a simple completion is cause for celebration. Even Randall Cobb has not been exempt in the drought contributing drops of his own along the way. When Rodgers found him late to set up the last second failure it looked like old times. It wasn’t; once again it went for naught.

The pressure to catch the ball is mounting and with that players are beginning to press. The Packers are running out of time. The huge lead they held in the NFC North is gone and they are now the chasers with Detroit and Chicago both gaining momentum to pass the Pack. The single area in which the passing game is working is in the screen pass to the running backs. 

The answers will not come in a change of coaches or play callers or planning or even schemes. The mess was created by the players themselves and it will be up to the players themselves clean up their own mess. With the starters faltering it may open the door for Jeff Janis to get his shot. Janis had a huge 63 yard return to set up a score and at this point he can’t do much worse. He did have some snaps but no targets. That may change. The Packers have a full week of preparation for the Lions next Thursday. They can’t make up the games they have literally given away and at the same time cannot afford to continue the trend. It has only been a couple weeks removed from McCarthy saying “We’re not talking about playoffs yet. We’re going to need double digits (in wins) to talk playoffs.” At 7 – 4 the Pack has the inside track to a Wild Card playoff position. A month ago that thought would have been laughable.

If the players on offense can’t figure out how to catch the ball and fast it will make for an even more embarrassing offseason than the one they just lived through after the meltdown in Seattle in last season’s NFC Championship game.

TAKE A BACK SEAT

Packers Host Bears as Favre and Starr Return Home

If it seems like the Packers just played a couple days ago it’s because they did. Fresh off a sound beating of the divisional rival Minnesota Vikings the Packers hit the second leg of their NFC North tour when they host the improving Chicago Bears Thanksgiving night. While the game itself is important the focus of the game will be the halftime retiring of and long overdue induction of Brett Favre’s number into the Packers Ring of Honor.

Joining Favre will be the two other QB’s that have defined a legacy of greatness. Aaron Rodgers will be there in uniform but for this magical moment the two Packer greats will be joined by Bart Starr, the QB of the Lombardi era who led the Packers to 5 NFL Championships as well as the first 2 Super Bowl wins.

In the history of the NFL it is a daunting task to come up with 3 better QB’s that played for a franchise. Starr connects Favre and Rodgers to the very history of the Packers. Favre along with Reggie White was largely responsible in resurrecting the fallen Packers. The post- Lombardi years did not find the Packers among the discussion of Super Bowl contenders. After his retirement Starr tried his hand at coaching and found little success.

Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf engineered the deal with the Atlanta Falcons to swap a 1^st round pick for a 2^nd round backup QB when he dealt for Favre. Favre had done little to impress the Falcons then coach Jerry Glanville and in fact did his best to be the class clown much to Glanville’s ire. As Glanville tells the story upon showing up Favre said “Sorry, coach… there was a train wreck” Glanville coolly replied “Son, you are a train wreck”.

Some will dwell on Favre’s less than graceful exit from the Packers. Favre’s ego is even bigger than his right arm and in his day Favre was unmatched in throwing the football. He was also unmatched in his ability to be the center of a media storm almost daily. While there was acrimony and bitterness and rightfully so when Favre departed in a trade with the New York Jets Favre’s move to Minneapolis to suit up for the hated Vikings was almost more than Packer fans could bear.

A turning point for Packer fans may have been Favre’s last playoff game when he was beaten and battered by the Bountygate New Orleans Saints who were hell bent on not just beating the Vikings but beating Favre into a pulp. Even those who felt betrayed by the man who for over a decade, a Super Bowl win and 3 MVP awards and was the very face of the franchise began to feel some of the anger dissipate. To b fair Favre’s own petulance drove that anger towards him.

Favre’s country boy “Aw, shucks” demeanor made it feel as if he was one of ‘us’. His penchant for hijinks and an unabashed love of playing football struck a resonant chord that rang in the hearts of not just Packer fans but fans of the NFL. During Favre’s heyday he and Warren Sapp were bitter rivals. Early on the now famous head butting in-your-face- heated argument the two had helped to cement Favre’s legend as a teammate once described Favre as being “…a linebacker’s mentality in the quarterback’s position.” Even Favre’s opponents marveled at Favre’s toughness and along the way hated rivals like Sapp became respected colleagues. It would not be out of place for Favre to help up a defender who had just flattened him with a “Nice hit” comment.

 

Favre being Favre was never better than when Mike Holmgren took over the Packers fortunes. Holmgren was a former teacher and he inherited the class clown. But Holmgren recognized Favre’s talent though Favre’s sometimes reckless, sometimes careless and oft time maddening freewheeling style. Fans of NFL Films still get a laugh hearing a miked up Holmgren on the sidelines during one of Favre’s’ impromptu performances saying, then yelling “Throw it away, throw it away, throw it away… what the hell is he doing? Does he even know the play?” Then Holmgren would call for a backup to QB coach Andy Reid. “Put the other guy in” Holmgren said. He repeated himself and nodded as if he was still trying to convince himself.

But after Holmgren’s short term Favre-induced migraine passed he thought better of it and decided that the two of them – Favre and Holmgren – would be joined at the hip. Either we win together or lose together but you’re my guy and we’re in this together.

Favre also ended up abusing prescription painkillers and did a stint in rehab. Favre was so amiable, so likeable, so talented and yet so flawed we couldn’t help but root for him. He was everyman and we were him living vicariously thought his exploits. When he was bad he was awful. In a playoff loss to the Rams that saw Favre throw 5 ugly interceptions when a reporter asked about the five picks Favre being Favre replied ”Five? Hell, I thought it was six. I probably could have thrown a couple more.”

But when Favre was good he was ridiculously good. Out of this world good. It was these moments that separated him from us. The day after his father, the uber tough Big Irv Favre passed away Favre responded with a career best 400 yard, 4 TD game. That game in Oakland against then Raiders, the Raiders of Al Davis and the intimidation and tough guys and the famous Black Hole in the stands of fans illustrated exactly how Favre was perceived outside of Green Bay. As Favre entered the field the normally raucous and rowdy Raider fan base cheered him. An opponent. In Oakland. Being cheered? And rooted for? Favre earned the respect of not just his teammates and the Packer fans but by his opponents and the fans of those opponents.

Brett Favre rightfully belongs in the Ring of Honor with his number retired. He will certainly be a mortal lock as a first ballot hall of Famer. Favre’s return to Green Bay was must see TV over the summer. It set the table for a Thanksgiving day celebration and giving thanks for Favre being our guy, our QB is what will be on the menu Thursday night. Good or bad, right or wrong, TD or interception, Packer or Viking Favre is and always will be a study in diametric opposites. What we hate in him is why we love him and why we can so quickly relate to him.

Welcome home, Brett… and thanks.

Oh and there is the little matter of a football game being played. The vastly improving Chi9ago Bears will be in town and have somehow resurrected their season. After opening the season 2 – 5 and losing their season opener to the Packers the bears have since gone 2 – 1 and should have beaten the Peyton Manning-less Broncos last week. John Fox has begun to put his stamp on the young Bears and their defensive group has experienced addition by subtraction.

When DE Jared Allen and LB Jon Bostic were dealt away the Bears suddenly looked like a dumpster fire and were looking for a high draft pick. Somehow the moves have not just strengthened the Bears off season prospects in the draft but the team has responded by playing better. Highly regarded first round WR Kevin White began the season injured but has steadily worked his way back to the field. It will come none too soon for beleaguered QB Jay Cutler who has felt nothing but heat in the Windy City.

Cutler is Cutler’s own worst enemy. His penchant for ill time s picks is legion and his sometimes sullen demeanor grate the last nerve of Bear fans. When Cutler is on he is a good. He has a big arm but dfar too often gambles and loses. The Packers have had Cutlers number for some time and there is no reason to think otherwise.

With the train finally getting back on the track the Packers will keep rolling. Look for Rodgers to have a big game. With the watchful eyes of Bart Starr and Brett Favre the equally talented Rodgers is not lost on the drama of the moment.

 

 

 

 

 GREEN BAY 31  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chicago 13  

SIX SACKS SINK VIKES

Packers Defense Dominates, Offense Looks Better

Little Johnny is an all American 11 year old boy. Like most 11 year olds Johnny loves all sports. On a beautiful spring afternoon Johnny came through the front door, his baseball glove slung onto his baseball bat which he carried dejectedly over his shoulder. His knees were dirty and on his grime streaked face tears had run a path from the baseball field’s signature as he moped through the house sadly. Upon seeing Johnny so upset his mother asked “Johnny...What’s wrong? I thought you were out playing baseball with your friends. What on earth happened?”

Johnny raised his head as his little eyes filled with tears and with a trembling chin he looked at his mother and said  ”I was playing ball. I was doing real good until the big kids got out of school.”

The feisty Minnesota Vikings got a very quick lesson from the reeling Green Bay Packers on Sunday in be careful what you wish for. After last week’s contest Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer had T-Shirts placed at every player’s locker that read “Beat Green Bay”. While the Packers offense played better it is still far from the dominant force it was opening the season. On this Sunday night in Minnesota it was the highly charged tenacious defense that carried the Pack to their first win in a month ending a 3 game losing streak, moved Green Bay back atop the NFC North and took command of their own destiny with a solid 27 – 13 win.

The Packers defense had opened the season almost as hot as the offense. At the high water mark the defense was near the top of the team leaderboards in fewest points allowed, total defense, and sacks. During the 3 game abomination the Packers surrendered almost 1,500 yards. In three games. One thousand five hundred yards in but 3 games. The pundits were having a field day at Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews expense and as a team the Packers did little to dispel the notion by losing not just to the unbeaten Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers but also gifting a W to a moribund 1 win team in Detroit. In reality the Packers faced a red hot and young Minnesota team hungry and eager to knock the perennial kings of the North off the throne.

Instead the Packers defense rolled up their sleeves, got their noses bloodied, and their jerseys a little more grimy than usual. Perhaps it was a funk, a collective air of malaise that hit both the offense and defense simultaneously. Maybe the Packers read too many of their press clippings. It’s possible their best effort wasn’t put forth since, hey – they were undefeated, riding high and the little things are just that – little.

On Sunday night the Packers did all the little things and did them right. The Pack hounded, harassed, hurried and hit Viking QB Teddy Bridgewater as if he somehow had old them money from the old neighborhood. The Pack’s defense opened the first 6 games of the season with 23 sacks and was 2^nd in the league in that department. During the slump they did not post a single sack. With the offense suddenly stagnant the defense curiously and simultaneously also went missing.

All that ended with a 6 sack performance that saw the Pack playing defensively like they belong back in the discussion of top teams. They will have to earn some respect back but in reality the D played very well against Detroit but they were outstanding in Minnesota. Led by a fired up Datone Jones (2 sacks/ 1 batted pass) and the always fiery Mike Daniels (1 sack) the Packers treated the young Vikings like an annoying schoolkid who hadn’t gotten the hint he wasn’t big enough to sit at the big people’s table yet. In addition to the 6 sacks the Packer defense kept Adrian Peterson in check and under 100 yards. Well under 100 yards.

Once again the Packers took their opening drive down the field, stalled in the red zone and settled for a Mason Crosby field goal. The points were good and seeing Crosby strike the ball so well after his flub at the end of last week’s Detroit disaster, a kick so bad it will be used in clinics to show future kickers how not to kick a ball, certainly made the Packers sideline breathe a little easier.

The game was not without its “uh oh” moments. After being down Minnesota struck back when Teddy B hit TE Kyle Rudolph on a 47 yard catch and run, a play that was aided immensely by Micah Hyde’s injury to his already aggravated hit. Hyde went for the ball but turned awkwardly and collapsed helplessly to the turf as Rudolph did the rest. Injuries have decimated Green Bay once again this season and the dreads feeling of “here we go again” engulfed the Packer faithful. The usually reliable Blair Walsh missed the extra point and of course Rodgers moved the Packers downfield to knot the score. Hyde did not return and may miss even more time.

Mike McCarthy had been going with James Starks as his #1 back in the absence of Eddie Lacy as he recovered from ankle and groin injury. While Starks play admirably he has not provided the thundering collisions that drive defenders backwards and challenge the will and manhood of his opponent. When Lacy finally got the ball it didn’t take him long to get unwound. One game is too small a sample size to declare Lacy back but there is no mistaking the value Eddie Lacy brings to the Packers offense.

Lacy’s combination of patience, vision, explosion, cutback ability and downright brute strength was on display as Lacy dazzled with his signature full circle spin. Lacy posted exactly 100 yards on 22 carries, his first such achievement since last season. No one was happier to see Lacy back than Aaron Rodgers. Defenses had eschewed any semblance of a run D during the slump and crowded Rodgers and his WR’s. While Lacy only added one catch it was obvious McCarthy was been cautious with overloading his star back.

Rodgers had a day below his norm – 16/34, 212 yards, 2 TD’s and no INTs. Rodgers hitting less than 50% of this throws is cause for attention if not necessarily concern. Randall Cobb had several key drops in situations where he typically does not hear footsteps. The offense is still pressing but as the game wore an air of confidence was palatable. In spite of his drops Cobb posted the first TD of the Pack’s bounce back in the second quarter to give Green Bay a lead it would hold in commanding fashion the rest of the way.

Having a 3 game losing streak and playing poorly the thought of having to face the hot Vikings and the NFL’s best back in Adrian Peterson would cause sleepless nights for many defenders. Peterson has once again used his rare combination of speed and power to lead the NFL. It was the Packers that bottled up and corralled Peterson limiting him to only 45 yards on 13 carries – his longest being an 11 yard scamper - 1 lone TD and a very costly fumble.

Green Bay’s 3^rd down efficiency was anything but great. The Packers converted 37% of their 3^rd down attempts but is a good increase over the league worst 27% they brought into the game. One area in which the Packers shined was in penalties. Green Bay was flagged only 4 times for 19 yards while Minnesota was tagged 8 times for 110 yards, the greatest damage coming on a drive that saw Minny draw a flag 3 times on 3^rd down as the clock wound down. The biggest penalty saw Jeff Janis draw a 50 yard pass interference call on Terrence Newman late in the 2^nd quarter for a huge gain. More importantly it extended the Packers drive.

Twice more Minnesota was hit during Rodgers clock challenging drive. Rodgers toss to TE Richard Rodgers for the score was nullified by the beleaguered David Bahktiari holding call but that penalty was nullified by Linval Joseph’s penalty for roughing the passer. One thing is certain – giving Aaron Rodgers a second chance deep in your territory is not a successful formula. Yet on the very next play LB Anthony Barr was hit for illegal contact stopping the clock. Rodgers finally found Cobb with 10 seconds left and the Vikings will hear about it and one would think rather loudly from their disciplinarian coach Mike Zimmer.

Once again the Packers took the 3^rd quarter kickoff and burned almost 5 minutes off the clock to extend the lead on a Crosby kick. For the day Crosby was 5 for 5 in FG attempts with zero notion left to what might have been last week against Detroit. The Vikings showed some life as Bridgewater countered with three long passes to set up Peterson’s lone TD burst to narrow the gap to 19 -13.

These are the times in a game in which Aaron Rodgers defines himself. Rodgers moved the Packers right after the Vikings score back down the field hitting Davante Adams and James Jones to set up a vintage Rodgers play as the 3r quarter closed. Jones had a lunging fingertip snag that was a thing of beauty but paled in comparison to what came next. On 3^rd and 9 from the Viking 28 Rodgers rolled to his right to buy time and found James Jones cutting back to his side. Rodgers fired a dart only Jones could catch, and catch it Jones did as he dragged both toes through the green grass scant inches from the white out of bounds line essentially squashing whatever notion Minnesota had of knocking off the Pack. Crosby’s late FG locked up an important W in every sense of the word.

The Packers are not out of the woods however. The defense is giving the offense a game the offense can use for a win. The D has not been the biggest problem. There are still concerns about drops and timing. Rodgers seems to be out of sync still, even with Cobb, Adams and Jones. Thankfully the Packers may have learned from trying to force feed Adams into a bigger role last week when Adams was targeted an insane 21 times. The drops have been across the board. Cobb, Adams, Jones and Richard Rodgers have had their share of missed plays and leaving points on the field doesn’t make McCarthy happy.

However beating the Vikings on the road will make McCarthy happy. Although the records are the same at 7-3 by virtue of their win Green Bay has a head to head advantage over Minnesota and Green Bay can be thankful they are in that position. Their next game will by the highly anticipated Thanksgiving evening game against the very improved Chicago Bears that will be as much spectacle as it is a game when a certain former gunslinger will see his number retired into the Packer’s Ring of Honor.

The schedule is calling for Brett Favre to be joined by Aaron Rodgers and Bart Starr who has worked feverishly to rehab from a series of strokes and heart attacks to be there. It will be a night for the ages.

A STUDY IN CONTRASTS

Pack Travels to Minny for a Must Win Showdown

After opening the season at 6 – 0 and holding a commanding lead in the NFC North as well as being among the best in football who would have seen this Sunday’s game against the upstart Minnesota Vikings would be the first big game of the season? Denver and Carolina were both undefeated as well when they flattened the Pack but Minnesota has been quietly, steadily improving under the leadership of Mike Zimmer and have put together an impressive start to the season. The Packers are in total freefall after being unceremoniously dumped by the Detroit Lions, a team who they have beaten every season since 1991. At home.

Last week’s loss hasn’t crippled the Packers but it certainly has made the road to the playoffs much dicier. Minnesota has been finding ways to win and is piecing together a team that is young and hungry and has just enough veteran leadership that they can no longer be taken lightly. Right now the Packers are struggling to pick up the pieces. How has such a good team with such a good start suddenly and inexplicably fallen so far so fast?

The answers are subtle and a myriad of reasons. There isn’t a single element or quick answer to explain the Pack’s recent slump. For the record it has been over 30 days since their last win. Detroit’s win was difficult to stomach. Everyone, Lions fans included, kept expecting the Packers – the real Packers – to show up and put the Motor City Kitties in their place. It never materialized. Waiting for the Packers to show up became another chapter in “Waiting for Godot”.

What is a real headscratcher is how both sides of the ball, offense and defense, could suddenly and simultaneously go AWOL. The special teams aren’t exempt either. Last week’s surrender of a 104 yard kickoff return by the Lion’s Abdullah Ameer to open the second half was a kill shot that put the Pack behind the eight ball and Mason Crosby’s wounded duck kick at the gun to try to pull out a miracle was a thing of ugly.

The loss of Eddie Lacy has had greater implications than at first expected. James Starks has done well in his absence but Starks is a compliment back, not a feature back. Starks can hit the hole and explode through it but lacks Lacy’s lower the shoulder and lower the boom thunder that causes the smaller DB’s to cringe knowing the collision is coming. Lacy hasn’t seen the field since Denver and is having a subpar campaign. In resuscitating an old theme harkening back the year before Lacy was drafted teams and defenses no longer fear the running game of the Packers. Without Lacy to take the load off Aaron Rodgers the running game has been a sort of, kind of running game. More yardage has been gained via the screen pass that the rush. Without their bell cow the Packers have tried to utilize the running game to try to keep defenses honest.

It hasn’t worked.

Defenses are now challenging the very strength of the Packers and that’s in the passing game. Detroit’s brazen “I dare ya to throw!” approach last week paid huge dividends. Without Lacy Rodgers has been pressing more and in some cases forcing the ball. Rodgers is a great player but right now he needs to take some of his own advice and R-E-L-A-X. By abandoning any type of run defense Carolina and Detroit have been stacking the box and playing flat out man coverage against the Packers wideouts while the blitz has been effective in hurrying Rodgers.

For their part none of the WR’s have stepped up in this slump to lead the way. Randall Cobb has been drawing the most attention and has struggled to finds the holes in the D. The loss of Jordy Nelson is now evoednt. Losing Cobb and his ability to gain yardage in the open field has been crippling. It was clear last week Mike McCarthy, Tom Clements and Rodgers were hell bent on getting Davante Adams into a larger role. Rodgers opened by throwing to Adams on the first 3 plays offensively and kept up the aerial attempt to involve Adams. Throwing to a single receiver 21 times (out of a staggering 61 attempts) Adams responded with a dud of a performance only catching 10 of them for a puny 79 yards. He didn’t help his case with 2 key drops as well as the drop of an attempted 2 point attempt after Green Bay closed on Detroit late.

Unable to shake the tight coverages the Pack’s pass catching group has begun to press and start begging for the refs to call pass interference. Adams’ pleading of his case last week led to a stupid unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that killed a drive. James Jones has been persona non grata in this stretch and isn’t even an afterthought. How much rookie Ty Montgomery’s absence has been is anyone’s guess. In theory no rookie should be missed so greatly but Montgomery had been becoming a WR upon whom Rodgers could depend in the clutch. Jared Abbrederis had his moments last week until he was blasted on a long catch and run and now has a rib injury that will keep him out of the lineup for a while. TE Andrew Quarless is not yet off the IR/designated to return list and his loss is being felt as well.

As the receivers can’t get open Rodgers has been holding the ball longer and the protection is breaking down. What has hurt in this stretch has been Rodgers’ legendary ability to get the ball off in under 2 seconds has also taken a powder. Without the quick hitters Rodgers has been forced to create more time with his legs and at the same time run for his life. Injuries are a fact in the NFL and it was revealed earlier this week Rodgers has had a sore throwing shoulder as a result of the plethora of knockdowns and sacks and hits and hurries. The collective mix of circumstance has put the Pack now behind Minnesota in the chase for the NFC North crown.

In spite of the recent losing streak Green Bay still effectively controls their own destiny. The loss to the Lions also added a loss in the divisional game column that could prove to be huge as Minnesota has none. With the Chicago Bears suddenly finding their game they can no longer be looked at as a pushover and a walk making the race that much more interesting. Even with the loss to Detroit if Green Bay can right the ship starting this week they can put themselves right back in command of the division.

Minnesota was a mess when Mike Zimmer was hired away from Cincinnati. Zimmer is a no-nonsense/ no BS type who has turned the Vikings fortunes around completely. QB Teddy Bridgewater is starting to find his groove. WR Cordarelle Patterson may not be around much longer. The former first rounder pick Patterson’s greatest impact is as a kick returner but has impressed anyone at the WR slot, Zimmer especially. Teddy B has looked elsewhere to throw the ball and has found rookie Stefan Diggs and the two are developing great chemistry. Last year it was former Packer Charles Johnson. Bridgewater has shown maturity and has taken to Zimmer’s approach eagerly. His sophomore season has not had the uncertainty many 2^nd year players have and now he is spearheading the Vikings attempt to take the North.

As much as the offense has struggled in Green Bay the abrupt lack of a pass rush in Green Bay has been equally as troubling. After posting 23 sacks in the first 6 games The Pack’s D has not had one since. The Packers are still looking to find the right combination in the inside linebacker position with Clay Matthews. Jake Ryan has shown promise but as a rookie he hasn’t quite earned the coaches trust enough to become full time. The injuries – Sam Shields (shoulder), Quentin Rollins (thigh), Nick Perry (hand/ shoulder) have hurt the Pack’s pass defense. Someone needs to step up. Rookie Damarious Randall has made some clutch stops in his early career and has become a reliable component of the D.

The Packers are faced with the daunting task of ending their losing skid but having to face a hot divisional opponent to stop the schneid. Adrian Peterson has come back with a vengeance and is running through, around, and over defenders along the way. Peterson’s presence has certainly helped to take the load off Bridgewater and gives the Vikes a formidable attack. Stopping Peterson may be out of the question. It will take a Herculean, Seattle type of preparation and execution to even think about stopping Peterson. If the Packers’ defense can at least limit the damage done by AP they’ll have a fighting chance.

This is the time of year when the contenders start distancing themselves from the pretenders. The Packers had been widely regarded as the cream of the NFC crop. One month later they’re struggling to find solid ground. The Vikings were the sexy pick as one of the most improved and they have lived up to that expectation. It will be a classic study of contrasts… the upstarts vs. the established. Old vs. new. Lacy vs. Peterson. McCarthy vs. Zimmer. Bridgewater vs. Rodgers. In one game the Packers can reestablish their cause… but it won’t be easy. They’ll have to do it in front of a hostile crowd in Minnesota and will have to re-find what had been working for them. Minnesota has to prove they can hang with one of the perennial big dogs of the NFC.

I

t may be a bit early but there is no mistaking the importance of the game to both squads. The winner has the inside track to the NFC crown and a potential bye. The loser will be most likely looking at a Wild Card entry into the playoffs. It will be a close, back and forth old-school black and blue division slugfest. It will be the first ‘must-win’ game for the Packers and for Minnesota it is the first real challenge to their bid to become one of the contenders. The only question left to be answered will be who will be standing when the bell finally rings?

It will make for must see can’t miss TV.

 

 

 

    GREEN BAY  24   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Minnesota  20