We are blissing out today not only because of the Packers win, but because we hit the trifecta yesterday: the victory by the Pack, a loss by Da Bearz (a humiliating loss...regrets to my friend, Billy Da Bearz Fan...but even he knows that's true), and a heartbreaking loss by Ol' #4 and his fellow ViQueens. Ahhhhh....it's great to be a Packers fan!
We'll return later on to talk a bit, maybe, about yesterday's victory. But mainly, we'll be looking ahead to the game coming up on Sunday. The rematch. The game that will show whether the Packers are in fact to be counted among the better teams in the league, or whether they still have a ways to go.
But a few things to chew on in the meantime.
Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters today that TE Jermichael Finley will likely miss the ViQueens game because of a knee sprain suffered yesterday. WR Brett Swain was apparently also injured yesterday and will have knee surgery; he's done for the season. WR and returner Jordy Nelson is still out "a couple more weeks" according to McCarthy with the knee sprain he suffered last week. So that takes the Pack down to just 5 healthy receivers and tight ends. Not much room for more knocks to the depth chart there. To that end, McCarthy said, "We'll acquire another receiver definitely. We're working through (that) right now. Personnel department is looking at their options. We'll probably make a decision in the next 24 hours." McCarthy noted that moving up Jake Allen from the practice squad is a "definite possibility."
The Packers will be getting Chad Clifton back into practice this week, and Jason Spitz will also be evaluated. Mark Tauscher and newly-signed Ahman Green will be evaluated to see how they fit into the game plan for the Vikes. McCarthy indicated that going into this week of practice the Packers will go with the offensive line that finished the Browns game: rookie LT T.J. Lang (who again acquitted himself quite well), LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Josh Sitton and RT Allen Barbre. Of special note from yesterday was the fact that for the first time this year Aaron Rodgers was not sacked. Yes, you read that right. No sacks.
The Packers defense has been nothing short of great over the last several games. Granted, not exactly the highest calibre teams on the planet. But still. Here's a few stats to mull over.
- Against the ViQueens (and Adrian Peterson!) the Packers allowed just 63 yards rushing; against Detroit, 78 yards rushing; versus the Browns, 58 yards.
- Across those three games, the defense has allowed only 1 rushing touchdown.
Is that enough of a mouthful to chew on for a while?
