Monday, November 24, 2008

Halftime: Packers 21 - Saints 24

It's a high-scoring 1st half in N'awlins!

The Pack got 2 TDs in the second quarter, one coming early on a pass from Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings, and the second coming with less than 2 minutes left in the half on a 10-yard scramble by Rodgers. In between, there was another Saints TD, with again no pressure on Drew Brees at all.

Unfortunately, after the Pack tied the score at 21-21, they gave up a huge kickoff return setting up the Saints deep in the Packers' territory. Combined with the total lack of pressure on Brees except for the last few plays, another score in the form of a field goal, was a piece of cake for the Saints.

The Packers have to figure out a way in the second half to get pressure on Brees. Heck, give you or me the time he has to pass and we could even complete some passes...OK, that's an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. The Pack doesn't like to blitz. But unless they start mixing it up in the second half and making Brees worry a little bit it's going to be a long night.

The other correction the Pack needs to make is special teams, which has directly contributed to 10 points for the Saints tonight: 7 set up through a bad punt by Derrick Frost -- those are almost synonymous terms, aren't they? -- and the field goal set up through horrible kickoff coverage that gave the Saints -- who really don't need it -- a short field.

The Pack can score on the Saints. The problem is that the Saints can also score on the Pack. If it keeps up like this in the second half it might go down to which team has the ball last.