The Oakland Raiders are Coming to town

Captain and Commander:
Rodgers and McCarthy

Let the dilemma begin in earnest.

The Green Bay Packers are the best team in football this season. They are on the verge of becoming the “D” word, but Head Coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t want to say so. The NFL landscape is littered with contenders and posers from every generation all claiming to be the next coming of the Packers (‘60s), Steelers (‘70’s), 49ers (’80’s), Cowboys (‘90’s) or Patriots (‘00’s). It’s a new decade and the face of that decade could be the Packers.

But don’t use the “D” word - yet.

To the victor go the spoils

To rank among the pantheon of the greatest teams in history the Packers have to do more than blow away the field as they have done this year. The Pack has travelled this road before, last year’s run hasn’t stopped and the Lombardi trophy resides in Green Bay. There has been no sneaking up on then unsuspecting or unaware or unprepared at all this year. When you have the title “defending Super Bowl champions” in front of your team name your reputation hits town long before the team.

Every game has been someone else’s mini-Super Bowl. If you can’t win the Super Bowl might as well knock off the team that did it and claim validation. Does anybody think the Saints aren’t champing at the bit, eager for a rematch after losing the season opener inn Green bay on a snuffed last minute drive? Think Bill Belichick wouldn’t mind knocking the grin off the Packers face, especially after he had his knocked off his face when Eli Manning and a well-used helmet stole a perfect season from him? Or the Steelers – what are the chances they want a rematch?

Every team in sports uses the previous champion as a bellwether to define itself. Last year the Dolphins and the Redskins had awful seasons, but their hurt was assuaged by the fact they knocked off Green Bay, so they enter this year with hope, the big intangible. Hope doesn’t represent talent or quality. This year has been more of the same and worse for the fins and ‘Skins, so that hope is misleading.

New Raider QB Carson Palmer
and Head Coach Hue Jackson

Now bring in the Oakland Raiders, they of the division leading AFC West for their turn at bat. For the Raiders this game is far more important than it is to the Packers. Hue Jackson now has Carson Palmer at the helm and a whole lot of penalties as well. The Raiders themselves were once a mini-dynasty, but of the years the ‘dy’ has fallen off leaving as team that is just plain ‘nasty’. The Raiders lead the league in personal fouls, and defensive captain Richard Seymour earned an ejection for his little tirade a few games ago.

Certain teams come armed with a mindset and a predisposition for nastiness. The Lions are one, and the Raiders? Well, it seems as if the ghost of Al Davis is still with them. The Raiders enjoy being flagged. They like the notoriety. It’s like the black clouds and cold winds that precede a storm. It is meant to force the weak and timid into battening down the hatches and preparing for the worst.

How effective will that be against the NFL’s hottest ticket?

Ask the Lions. Give Jim Schwartz a call and ask him how his game plan of bullying and bluster worked for him. The Packers are well prepared to meet the storms of their opponents this season.

A.J. Hawk looking to high step
back into the lineup

The Raiders also bring in one of the top running games in the business. RB’s Darren McFadden and Michael Bush have put up eye popping numbers this year and have helped to stabilize a listing ship. The Packers run D will be put to the test, and with A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop and Frank Zombo all nursing injuries it will be up to B.J. Raji, Mike Neal and Howard Green to stuff the interior of the line. Raji and Clay Matthews have seen a lifetime’s worth of double teams this season. They have earned it. Raji eats space like a Big Mac, but with the linebacking corps ailing the Raiders may have an idea they can steal this one away.

If the Giants did anything last week to stop the Pack it was to show other teams that a pounding running game and clock killing drives keep MVP-in-wait Aaron Rodgers in the place he can’t do any damage – right on the bench. Manning engineered the drives, but also shot himself in the foot when CM3 took an errant throw to the house.

He's still a beast! Matthews celebrates

The essential truth is whoever is attempting to KO the Packers will need to play a full 60 minutes. The Packers play all the way through, and whoever is attempting to KO the Packers cannot afford to make mistakes. They also cannot afford to leave points on the field or give ARod and his band of Merry Men a second bite at the apple.

Now let’s throw Carson Palmer in the mix. The Raiders paid a king’s ransom to get Palmer – some say overpaid – by shipping off 2 picks that will in all likelihood end up being 2 first rounders to the Bengals for the disgruntled former top draft pick in Palmer - when starting QB Jason Campbell went down for the year with an injury. Palmer is now assumed to be the gruntled leader of the Raiders while the Bengals are the true winners by having Andy Dalton leading the way with fellow rookie A.J. Green, a winning record and much to look forward to. The Raiders now have a dilemma and a soap opera brewing next season when Campbell, who was playing well for Oakland when he went out, is a bona fide starter and the silver and black will have the who’s starting at QB circus next year.

Palmer has looked less than brilliant with middling results and has been so-so in his starts. He has had big games but also stunk the joint out. The epic fail against the Dolphins was of a particular embarrassment. With the Tim Tebow led Broncos now running neck and neck with Oakland the Raiders now have to find a way to stop the runaway train the Packers have become to keep pace.

Cool under fire, a McCarthy trademark
as distinct as a Lombardi tirade

McCarthy has no intention of slowing down. When asked if he will go for perfection McCarthy flatly stated “We intend to keep our foot on the gas”, leaving little doubt about his intent. Very quietly last year McCarthy tweaked his team before the season began. In the Packers team meeting room 12 photos of past NFL champions hung proudly in frames displayed to the current team. McCarthy added a black frame, and told his team “This is where your picture will be.” If it was a moment of inspiration the stoked the fires in the bellies of his players, then having his team measured up for their rings the night before the Super Bowl was a moment of divine intervention. True to his word the players responded and McCarthy delivered.

The Legend with
Ray Nitschke

McCarthy is a savvy and excellent student of the game, and he is well aware he walks the literal same path where Lombardi once did. Lombardi pushed his team to be the first to win back to back to back NFL titles in the mid 60’s. He wanted it. He laid it out for his team. He pushed; they responded. McCarthy has a far more laid back style than the volatile Lombardi but shares the same intensity to win.

But Lombardi never had a perfect season.

Don’t think for a second these facts are lost on the uber-competitive McCarthy. His ‘one game at a time’ approach masks his desire to put an indelible stamp that bears his signature not just for this year but for the history books. There is little doubt that MM will not only lead and inspire, but turn the fire in each of his players into a raging inferno. As much as he doesn’t say it, he wants the “D” word associated with this team.

TE Andrew Quarless blew out a knee last week in an sickening non collision play and will be done for the season. With 5 TE’s on the roster how does McCarthy replace him? By bringing up QB Graham Harrell from the PS. The tip of the hand is subtle but simple. The Franchise will play only until he isn’t needed anymore and will turn the game over to Matt Flynn and Harrell will be the emergency 3^rd QB.

The Franchise

As for the Raiders they will not be afforded the luxury of mistakes or penalties. Rodgers has made a field day of punishing teams for their lack of discipline. The Raiders will do what most teams have done this year. Keep it close, keep it respectable but watch as the Packers luxury liner pulls away from the docks slowly, gains speed and disappears on the horizon once they gain momentum.

Palmer will learn the hard way to not test the Packers pass D. Rodgers? How can anyone not expect Rodgers to not have another 300+ yard game with 3 or 4 TD tosses and a QB rating around 121.5? Betting against Rodgers this year is a losing proposition.

The money is on The Franchise.

Don’t let McCarthy hear you or say it out loud but the Packers get even closer to the “D” word.

  GREEN BAY  31 

   Oakland  13  

Packers Take Giant Step Forward

On tonight’s episode of “I Shouldn’t Be Alive”, the story of the 2011 Green Bay Packers go into New York and come out with a last minute win. Tune in to see a team with a perfect record go against a struggling team fighting for its playoff life.

It makes for an interesting analogy. The Packers put their perfect season against the G Men and the Giants, facing a similar situation as the Packers did from a season ago give the Pack everything they could handle. Eli Manning put up a big day but also failed to deliver the knockout blow, while Aaron Rodgers adds to his own spectacular season with another impressive start.

The Giants had their own manhood challenged in the days leading up to the confrontation with the Packers. Having been smoked in New Orleans the week before the Giants faced the unenviable task of having to take on the defending Super Bowl champs the following week, a daunting task for any team in any season. It goes beyond saying that drawing the last 2 Super Bowl winners on your schedule is a quirk that is less than appealing.

The Giants started off red hot, scoring on their opening drive when Manning launched a rainbow into the arms of seldom used Travis Beckum, who weaved his way through the soft coverage of Charlie Peprah and lost Morgan Burnett not once but twice en route to the end zone and a Giant lead.

Enter Rodgers, stage left.

Rodgers responds with his own drive, hitting a drop-prone Jermichael Finley at the 2 who rolled the rest of the way into the end zone to know the score. Packer faithful are growing accustomed to the sight. Rodgers comes off the bench, surveys the landscape, does something brilliant then goes back and doffs the beanie and takes a seat innocuously on the bench near Matt Flynn. Just another day in the life of the NFL’s big dog.

And in a game of chess the Giants retook the lead with a Lawrence Tynes field goal. While the Giants held a slim margin it was also an ‘uh oh’ moment. The Packers have the luxury of knowing that trading field goals against touchdowns is still a winning formula. Getting 3 and leaving points on the field against this Green Bay offense is a no no. The Packers are supremely confident in the ability to get the job done at any point in a game and from both the offense or the defense.

And so it was when Manning stepped back, tried to look off the Packer D and he tossed a pass that was picked off by Clay Matthews who ran it in untouched. Bang! Bang! Just that quick the Giants went from a lead to behind and looking dismayed in the process. But Rodgers did the unthinkable – he threw an interception in his own end. It was a very unusual sight and it set the Giants up for a 1 play plunge by Brandon Jacobs that gave the boys in blue a lead again.

Maybe the Giants should have called a timeout to enjoy the moment a bit longer. Maybe they would have had Tom Coughlin not wasted all his TO’s on challenges that went against him. With Rodgers at the helm the Packers are never far behind if they find themselves behind. The Giants have the lead? Okay, here’s our answer. Rodgers uses his legs at finds the Old Man in the corner of the end zone all alone and Donald Driver cradled the ball like a newborn child as Green Bay went into the half back on top 21- 17 in a back and forth contest. Mason Crosby had only his second miss as the half closed, pushing a 43 yarder wide right, points that were left on the field.

Mike McCarthy has learned his lessons well. His halftime adjustments are right now unparalleled in the NFL, and the Packers getting the ball to open a half is a scary sight. Rodgers marches the Packers down the field and caps it off with a toss to Greg Jennings to open up an 11 point lead.

But the Packers were not hitting on all cylinders. Their old friend, the dropsies, showed up for the game. Jermichael Finley saw a fair amount of balls and left a few of them on the turf. Jordy Nelson had an ugly drop as did Randall Cobb. Frustration was seen creeping into the smile of the affable Rodgers and he could be seen giving his receiving corps a death stare that made Darth Vader seem cuddly. Afterwards Rodgers said “We left a few yards on the field (with the dropped passes), but that’s going to happen. It’s part of the game.”

Give Manning credit. He moved the Giants back immediately hitting a couple long throws along the way and Hakeem Nicks brought his team close yet again. After a Tynes field goal the Giants had the uneasy feeling of a man wearing fiberglass underpants in a sauna. The Giants sideline held a feel of “We’re KILLING these guys! How come we’re still BEHIND???” Rodgers again marched the Packers back to open up an 8 point lead, and Manning set out to shake off the notion he can’t lead a comeback.

He did.

9 plays in 2 ½ minutes Manning finds Nicks again and D.J Ware naturally slams it in for 2 points to knot it up. Crosby’s miss looked that much larger now. The omens were in place. The dream was over. The Meadowlands were rocking, all of New York celebrated and the Packers perfect season was a fleeting memory while the Giants could grab the NFC East in a stranglehold.

But wait… hold the phone. Manning left 58 seconds on the clock. As Jermichael Finley scoffed post-game “that’s almost too much time” for this offense.

Cobb did a subtly brilliant thing by fair catching the ensuing kickoff and giving Rodgers the ball at the 20 with the entirety of those precious 58 ticks on the clock left. It took less time than it did to type this commentary or less time than it took to read it for Rodgers to strike. 3 consecutive passes for 24, 27, and 18 yards to Finley, Nelson and Jennings that set the ball on the Giants 14 showed how much faith McCarthy has in his troops. McCarthy deserves slot of credit for green lighting his potent offense to go after the W. Lombardi would have been proud. A lesser coach takes the knee and takes his chances. MM showed a bold initiative by attacking and taking the W away from New York, whose sideline was left in a dismayed sense of disbelief. And McCarthy clearly has his eye on the ball. His mantra of “We’re keeping our foot on the gas” is followed up by running the G Men over in the last 58 seconds. These are the small moments that once assembled make a full portrait of the man.

After killing the clock with 3 seconds left Crosby atoned for his gaffe with a 31 yard shot right down Main Street to make the talk this week all about ‘Can They Stay Perfect?’ and not ‘It’s Over’.

Afterwards Rodgers faced a phalanx of reporters, and his face answers more questions than he ever could. A writer asked Rodgers “Does this now silence your critics who say you’ve never had a late drive from behind?” Rodgers seemed taken aback by the question and he instinctively made a face that said “Are you kidding me? Really?”, but he immediately composed himself, shrugged, and said clearly and dismissively “Sure.”

With the win along with the Lions loss Green Bay locked up the NFC North and secures a playoff spot, a ho-hum addendum as this has been a foregone conclusion since the lockout was in full swing. When you’re on the kind of run the kind Rodgers and the Packers are on, words aren’t necessary. The results speak for themselves.

Pack Prepares for Giants Last Stand

The Platters had a huge hit in the ‘50’s with the song “The Great Pretender”. It went something like

“…Oh - Oh, yes, I’m The Great Pretender

Pretending that I’m doing well

My need is such

I pretend too much

I’m lonely but no one can tell…”

That’s a synopsis of both the song and the next team up on the Packers Perfection ’11 Tour.

The New York Giants are the NFL’s Great Pretenders. They want to be a contender. They claim to be a contender. They talk like they’re a contender. But at every opportunity to prove the critics wrong and prove themselves worthy they fall dismally short of the mark. Their QB, Eli Manning, publicly declared himself in the same class as Tom Brady. Yes, Eli did that one on his own, something big brother Peyton never had to or would think of doing.

Eli does seem to get the bum’s rush, especially in the harsh New York media. He is the perpetual little brother of the King of the Hill and always seems to be yapping at the heels of the big dogs trying to prove himself. Okay, he and Peyton have the same father and same number of Super Bowl rings. The same can’t be said of the body of work. Eli has had the horses around him while Peyton has had to make do most times with what’s available. Peyton wears a perpetual scowl on the field that let’s everyone from the opponent to his head coach to his teammates who exactly is in charge and running this show while Eli bears the countenance of a little boy who has just been told there’s not enough pudding left for dessert. This hardly rallies the troops in tough times.

Peyton could marshal the troops just by his presence. Eli fails to inspire. Even Marvin Harrison was not exempt from one of Peyton’s blistering tirades. Drop a pass and Peyton chews your ass like a dog with a new toy. Eli? The eyes roll, the hands get turned palms up to the heaven’s, he turns away with a “Why me?” look.

Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.

So when the G-Men went into the Big Easy knowing full well they had to put in a full night’s work against the revitalized Saints and the second best QB in the league in Drew Brees they tanked. Literally got blown out of the Dome before the jambalaya had settled. This is for the Giants very playoff life we’re talking about. And Big Blue – a laughable moniker at this point as there is little to fear in the imagery – has not fared well going back to last year in games that Eli could prove himself and his team as worthy opponents.

For a quick refresher going back a year the Packers were on life support. They had lost Aaron Rodgers, lost ugly to the Lions 7 - 3 and then lost to the Patriots in a valiant effort led by backup QB Matt Flynn. They were looking at 6 losses and the red hot Giants coming into town. Green Bay faced the game knowing Rodgers was just coming back after a big blow to the head and they owned a losing streak and their next loss would kill their playoff shot, which was, to be fair, slim at best. The Giants knew that as well, and a win at Green Bay all but punches their ticket in.

And the Giants got their ever loving asses collectively kicked as Manning stunk the joint out while Rodgers led an epic end of season charge that hasn’t yet ended.

Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.

Eli and the Giants have been trying to make a serious run at the playoffs this year, or so they say. But Brees threw up another big day while Manning threw up all over himself and the Giants season. Contenders? Please. The hallmark of the Giants is their pass rush. The intimidation ‘it’ factor that sends chills down the spine of the other teams QB. The Giants and Eli talk a good game but it has been so long since they followed it up with a performance on the field they are hard to take with a straight face. That’s their season in a nutshell… the New York Giants, the NFL’s Great Pretenders

But Eli comes out and says, yeah… he is in Tom Brady’s class.

Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.

A memo to the erstwhile Little Mr. Manning. That was the second best offense in football last week you guys laid an egg against. This week you all get the Varsity team, and they beat up the guys that just beat you up pretty good.

There are, as is the case this time of year, the missing and wounded for both teams. The Packers are still without LT Chad Clifton who injured his back while weight training to prepare after his hamstring injury. Out as well is RG Josh Sitton who strained a knee in the back alley brawl against the dirtiest player in the league Ndamukong Suh and the Lions last week. And OLB Eric Walden was arrested and charged with a domestic battery allegation last week and spent the weekend in lockup, so whether or not he plays and how effective he can be remains to be seen. ILB’s A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop both left with calf injuries and they will be game day decisions based on how the herd travels.

The Giants are missing DE Osi Uminyora, but given the sorry state of the Giants pass rush it may be hard to notice. The key to the Giants has always been their defense, and in particular their ability to get to the other teams QB. That’s something that has head coach Tom Coughlin seeing redder than Santa’s suit these days and does not bode well for New York. The Packers may be forced into using a combination of Marshall Newhouse, Derrick Sherrod, Evan Dietrich Smith and huge G Rey Dominguez as a platoon type of line this week. With Sitton out OC Joe Philbin and Head Coach Mike McCarthy may employ more rollouts to give Rodgers more time and allow him to use his legs and his arm. If there has been a more accurate passer on the rollout than Rodgers we can’t think of a name. Yes, there have been good rollout QB’s and scrambling QB’s, but Rodgers is seemingly more accurate on the rollout than sitting in the pocket. Rodgers unique ability to put a ball in a bread box sized opening from 25 yards or more while on the run is unbelievable. His combination of touch, accuracy, athleticism, decision making and arm strength has never been seen in Green Bay, not in one QB, and is what is driving Arod to his first and well deserved MVP of his career.

Some critics want to take shots at Green Bay’s defense, especially against the pass. This is a hugely misleading stat. The Packers offense is putting up so many points that the other teams are forced into trying to play catch up and long, clock killing drives from behind do not get the job done. The pack D gives up points and yards, but they also lead the league with 22 interceptions, they lead the NFL in turnovers and points scored by a defense. It is a bend but don’t break D and now that Tramon Williams’ troublesome shoulder seems to be healed his play his elevated as well.

On the positive side the Packers D will finally see DE Mike Neal on the field. He has some spot assignments against Detroit, and now he should be healed from a preseason knee injury and Dom Capers says none too soon.

The Packers are beginning to talk perfection. McCarthy has done a masterful job of keeping it one week at a time. With the veteran leadership on the team the Packers are on a roll and have been focused every week, every game. Now with 10 days rest and Eli’s Pretenders in town Eli can say he’s in Tom Brady’s class all he wants.

Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.

It won’t translate on the field as the Giants endure their second consecutive butt whipping while Eli throws up a few more wounded ducks to be picked off against a much better defense than he saw last week and a much better defense than anyone wants to acknowledge in Green Bay. The Giant running game is as ineffective as their pass rush of late. Bruising RB’s Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have not carried the mail while Bradshaw’s unhappiness over his contract has played out onto the field. Rodgers and the Pack keep on rolling, their only question being how to play out the string for the last 4 games? Perfection, or prepare for the playoffs?

One note on Brady worth bringing up. Brady is a defiant QB and has a long body of work in bringing his team back from the edge. He has done it and proven it, and he is of the mindset he is going to do it again and again. There is no need to forward his own opinion of himself. That’s what makes Tom Brady Tom Brady. Aaron Rodgers faced this type of game last year and was relentless in carving up the vaunted Giant defense. Eli? After this game Eli will no doubt have his head hung, exasperated look on his face, his arms outstretched with the palms turned up to the heaven’s and the football gods after having tossed a few more picks. The Giants season as the Great Pretender ends with a whimper and not a bang.

Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.

  GREEN BAY  41 

  New York  19 

NFL Puts its Foot Down on Suh

How's this for a kick in the pants? The poster boy for bad behavior and human personal foul machine better known as Ndamukong Suh has been suspended for two games by the NFL for his stomp on Packer G Evan Dietrich-Smith's arm.

The suspension comes without pay and Suh will not be able to practice with the Lions in that time as well. Suh's lack of contrition and his troubling post game comments were followed with an apologetic phone call to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. No doubt Suh's lengthy record was a factor, and he is truly a kid who just is not getting the nmessage yet.

Sorry, but we're not buying his humilty one bit. A truly apologetic man goes up to the guy he just kicked, mans up, and takes his lumps. Minnesota's Brian Robison kicked T.J. Lang in the nuts earlier this year but also sought out Lang to apologize to him - not his coaches or teammates, or 'true fans' or Goodell - on the field where the fight is fought. Save those apologies for the privacy of the drssing room, not a press conference.

We support the NFL and completely agree with T.J. Lang's reaction and assessment on the whole mess published in our sidebar.

It can only be assumed A Boy Named Suh will spend his time staying in shape by playing Kick the Can.