Catching up with the Packers

The title of this post has a dual meaning. One, of course, is that other members of the NFC North have been trying to catch up with the Green Bay Packers for a while now. On that front, as the saying goes, no cigar. Good luck with that this coming season, too, by the way.

Another meaning of this post's title is that PackerFansUnited.com needs to catch up with the Packers. It's been a while since our last post...before the Super Bowl! But, as every green'n'gold-blooded Packer fan knows, not being in that game is still something that it's taking time to get past. Even head coach Mike McCarthy, at this week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, said that the thought this last season's Packers team was the best team in the league. He is likely right. But the best team doesn't melt down with a lead in the NFC Championship Game with about 5 minutes remaining. That's the sad reality. Lucky teams only go so far. Dallas found that out playing the Packers. The Packers found that out playing Seattle. And Seattle found that out playing the Patriots...a team which, as we recall from the regular season, the Packers beat...and likely would have beaten again in a Super Bowl match up. But...not.

Soooooo....let's move on, shall we?

Speaking of moving on...
Among the changes for the Packers since the end of the season are some departures of note. Brandon Bostick, the tight end whose lack of playing his assignment on the now infamous onside kick coupled with his stone hands, resulted in the scoring opportunity Seattle needed to eventually win the NFC Championship, was released. Where did he wind up shortly thereafter? In the elephant graveyard of Packers' castoffs, of course: Minnesota.

Linebacker Brad Jones -- the designated target of abuse on Seattle's fake field goal turned touchdown -- was also released this last week. Jones was also the target of much fan ire over the past couple seasons especially. Every fan probably has his or her own memories of shouting "Jones!" at the TV screen whenever he was out of position, failed to make a play or caused a stupid penalty.

To be fair to both Bostick and Jones, that Championship Game should not have come down to either of those two plays. The Pack should have had the game salted away long before. Generating 6 points off 5 Seahawks turnovers isn't going to cut it. Neither is not going for it on 4th-and-1 from the 1-yard line. (OK, OK...moving on...moving on...)

The common denominator between both the above players, of course, was special teams...which, under the leadership of coach Shawn Slocum, has been among the worst performing special teams units in the league for years. The failures this season, however, were apparently even too much for friend Mike McCarthy to stand behind any longer. In fact, McCarthy has made it clear since announcing various coaching changes that he personally intends to spend more time working with special teams. Amen. About time someone actually pays attention to this unit. When its poor performance essentially costs you a trip to the Super Bowl, yeah, time to take notice.

Other coaching changes
Perhaps one of the biggest changes in the Packers coaching staff for this coming season has to do with head coach McCarthy giving up play calling responsibilities. He's turned that over to new associate head coach/offense, Tom Clements, who has served the last five years as the Pack's offensive coordinator. In addition, the Packers named Edgar Bennett offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt quarterbacks/wide receivers coach, Mike Solari assistant offensive line coach, Jerry Montgomery defensive front assistant, Ron Zook special teams coordinator and Jason Simmons assistant special teams coach. If you're sorting that out, two coaches were added to the staff and five get new titles. Solari and Montgomery are the two new kids on the block as far being part of the Packers organization goes. Note that Dom Capers remains as defensive coordinator. For a story with videos about the new coaching moves, go here. For the complete list of Packers coaches, see this page.

Free agency and the NFL Combine
The two biggest names on the Packers roster that will require immediate attention are WR Randall Cobb and RT Bryan Bulaga. There will be a push to get both of them signed, although Cobb would be considered the more critical of the two given his importance in the offensive scheme on multiple fronts. Bulaga, while certainly important to the overall cohesion and performance of the offensive line, has had a couple big injuries and the Packers could determine that his asking price is just too much given some of their re-signing needs, such as CB Tramon Williams, for example.

Packers General Manager Ted Thompson
Photo by Green Bay Packers
As Packers fans well know, it is not GM Ted Thompson's modus operandi to take wild shots in free agency. He prefers to keep players he knows, build from the draft, and only occasionally add a tested veteran, such as Julius Peppers, to shore up the mix. He will also let free agency play itself out a bit so that the market prices for players are set and he knows what he will and won't spend to get a player that doesn't immediately get picked up by another team.

Thompson and McCarthy also tend to view those players who were on the practice squad or injured reserve as a bit of an extra pool of resources to choose from. Cases in point for this season: WR Jeff Janis and QB Scott Tolzein. McCarthy said he expects Janis to make a big jump in his performance after what McCarthy refers to as Janis' "redshirt" season. Tolzein was active the last few playoff games because of the injury to QB Aaron Rodgers and McCarthy has said he views Tolzein as an ascending player. If you read anything into that, it might be that QB Matt Flynn will not have his services retained, and Tolzein will be the primary backup to Rodgers this next season. But we can and should also expect Thompson to draft a quarterback this Spring, something he hasn't done in the last few seasons. This would probably be a mid- to late-round pick. You can get a good player there. Case in point: Tom Brady was a 6th-rounder.

Also, let's not forget that NT B.J. Raji will also be coming off IR and if the price is right could once again prove to be a valuable anchor in the middle of the defensive line, particularly if Letroy Guion's days as a player are over following his bust earlier this month for marijuana.

What else will Thompson and McCarthy want to consider while attending this week's NFL Combine? Of prime importance -- at least to outside observors -- is an inside linebacker to replace A.J. Hawk who is also likely done in Green Bay. This has been a concern for the last two seasons, at least, and again it was a spot that became a glaring issue for the Packers until they moved Clay Matthews inside in the latter part of the season. Moving Matthews back to his normal outside role and getting an impact player on the inside will help the team considerably.

Another big need for the Packers is a tight end. Some project that if Maxx Williams, from the University of Minnesota, is available when the Pack drafts near the end of the first round, he could be the Packers pick. He is arguably the best tight end in the draft. Whether he lasts that far is anyone's guess.

2016 Super Bowl here we come!
So, Packer fans, this last season did not end with the Super Bowl trip, let alone victory, many of us thought was inevitable. But the good news is that a new season is just around the corner. The Packers are well positioned to once again remain the team to beat in the NFC North. In fact, the oddsmakers have already installed the Packers as 8 to 1 favorites to win the 2016 Super Bowl. The only team with better odds? Those birds from Seattle at 6 to 1. Think that game at Lambeau Field against the Seahawks this season won't be big? It will be huge, folks...epic!

It's great to be a Packers fan!

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers Beat Patriots in Epic Style

Early last evening, the Green Bay Packers held on for a hard-won victory over the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field. With no timeouts left, QB Aaron Rodgers was able to kneel down three times and run out the clock to seal the 26-21 win. In truth, the game was not as tight, for the most part, as the score would indicate.

The Packers racked up a dominant offensive performance, accounting for 478 total yards, the most given up by the Patriots this season, holding a more than 13-minute time of possession advantage over the Pats, and running 70 plays to New England's 50-something. Rodgers threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns. But the Packers also left lots of points on the field, having to settle for field goals rather than touchdowns on early redzone possessions, otherwise they could have put a large point spread between themselves and New England. As many have pointed out, had the Packers gone on to lose this game, that would have been the storyline: how many points the Pack didn't get that they should have.

But on this day, the Packers played in near-championship style against an equally great opponent and coaching staff. They ran Eddie Lacy early and often to force the Pats to bring up a safety nearer the line. While Jordy Nelson was only able to snag two passes on the day because of the tight coverage, one of those two went for a 45-yard touchdown catch and run with 14 seconds left in the first half. It was huge. Rookie wide receiver Davante Adams also had a good day, although he had what could have been a game-changing drop late in the game. It was a pass at the goal line where he was open and failed to make the catch. It was another one of those lost opportunities for points. As was a rare missed field goal by K Mason Crosby.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets sacked late in the 4th quarter by Packers Mike Neal and Mike Daniels
Photo by Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
But let's not focus on the negative here, especially with such a great win. Instead let's give some praise to the Packers defense which stymied QB Tom Brady most of the day. While the Pack only got one sack on the veteran quarterback (which came at a very good time and led to a missed field goal late in the game), the defense had enough pressure on Brady often enough to alter his throws. At times, Brady looked very off. In this battle of number 12's from California, Rodgers was the clear winner.

Give head coach Mike McCarthy kudos for mixing up the game plan, the formations and the personnel. One of the biggest changes was the use of LB Sam Barrington in the middle on the nickel scheme in place of A. J. Hawk. Given this was the scheme for a good chunk of the game, second-year player Barrington received most of the playing time over nine-year veteran Hawk. It's been obvious to many -- including yours truly -- that Hawk's mobility isn't what it used to be...and it used to be slow to begin with. He got exposed badly in Minnesota last weekend and obviously coach McCarthy made the calculation he couldn't have that type of exposure against the Patriots. Barrington performed very well. We may be starting to see the changing of the guard at middle linebacker. See this article for more on Barrington and Hawk.

So, Packer fans, our team sits at 9-3 atop the NFC North and tied for wins in the NFC with Arizona and Philadelphia. Next up is Atlanta which leads the woeful NFC South with a 5-7 record.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers sneak by Vikings, get ready for Lambeau showdown with Patriots

Last Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings probably didn't play out as many Packer fans would have hoped, other than getting the win, of course. Coupled with Detroit getting spanked by New England, the Pack is once again all alone atop the NFC North. Order in the universe is once again restored.

But back to the game against the ViQueens...

The Pack seemed sluggish on offense, ditto on defense, and the perpetrator of a few ill-timed penalties (which begs the question: are there any well-timed penalties? Actually, yes, as it turns out, but that's a conversation for another day). As 8 to 9-point favorites, the Packers escaped Minnesota with a 3-point victory, 24-21. Despite the relative disparity in overall talent level, the game turned out to be -- to the 'Queens' credit -- one of the old smash-mouth divisional varieties. It was a game that was hard-fought on both sides of the ball and, unlike the prior two weeks where QB Aaron Rodgers has sat out most of the second half, the game wasn't secured until RB Eddie Lacy ground down the clock in the closing minutes.

Packers RB Eddie Lacy converts a 10-yard shovel pass into a TD against Minnesota
Photo by Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Lacy rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries during the game and had a few key pass receptions, as well, including a nice little 10-yard shovel pass from Rodgers that he turned into another touchdown. On a day when Packers receivers had a difficult time getting separation from the defenders because of coverage schemes, a big day from Lacy was needed. He delivered. Even as he was, we found out later, battling gastrointestinal problems.

Rookie TE Richard Rodgers accounted for the third of the Packers' touchdowns on the day, garnering his first NFL TD reception. He was the recipient of what is officially a 1-yard TD pass, but one that in reality travelled about 34 yards in the air. QB Rodgers scrambled nearly to the far right sideline before throwing back across his body all the way to nearly the back corner of the left side endzone to a wide-open TE Rodgers. The latter Rodgers also is credited on the day with making some key blocks in the running and passing game. He's coming on and, eventually, may be the replacement for Jermichael Finley the team has been hoping for. But we also have to give kudos to TE Andrew Quarless who also had a good day on the receiving front sans a touchdown.

Defensively, the Packers had 'Queens' rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater a bit rattled in the first half; he was very much off on his throws. He did start to put together some momentum in the second half, however, as his line generally gave him good protection. Whereas Packers receivers seemed to be well-covered most of the game, Minnesota receivers often seemed to be wide open, particularly on crossing routes over the middle. LB A.J. Hawk, as this writer noted during the game on Twitter (@packfansunited), seemed as if he was often running in quicksand; he looked very slow...slower than usual.

Still, ultimately, the defense did what it needed to and handed the ball back to the offense to secure the win. The Packers are now 8-3.

Whew!

Next up: the Patriots come to town
We'll have much more to say in our pre-game preview before this Sunday's game. It is the game of the weekend, Packer fans. The 9-2 Pats vs. the 8-3 Pack, with arguably the two best quarterbacks in the game right now and the two best teams going head to head (but don't just take my word for it: even Michael Wilbon proffered as much on yesterday's edition of ESPN's PTI). Over the past two decades, the series is as even as it gets: 5-5. Of course, there was that Packers' 35-21 win over the Pats in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans (remember that?).

We'll see two powerful offenses matched against defenses that will try to keep up and make a stop when it most matters. It could well be one of those games where whichever team has the ball last wins. The oddsmakers are basically seeing the game as a toss-up right now, giving the Packers the 3-point edge that comes with home field advantage. They're expecting a shoot-out, too, with the over-under currently set as the weekend's largest point total: 58-1/2. Yowza.

Anyway, more to come on this upcoming game, Packer fans. So please check back. In the meantime, you can keep up on nearly real-time updates about the Packers by checking out our Amazing 2nd Page.

Go Pack Go!!!

Week 7: Packers vs. Browns Preview

This week has been a pretty uneventful one for the Green Bay Packers. No...wait...other way around, sorry: it's been a very eventful week for the Pack. It could cause more than a few Packer fans to get...nervous.

After all, the Packers lost two of their starting receivers in the win against the Ravens, James Jones and Randall Cobb, for varying amounts of time. It was hoped that Jones might be able to play this weekend but he did not practice during the week and is listed as questionable for the game. Randall Cobb, well, he's out longer. A lot longer. He was placed on the injured reserve list with a "designated to return" classification. He won't be back till mid-December at the earliest. (Be positive: it will be for the stretch run!)

So the receiving corps -- one of the best in the league at the start of the season -- was down to basically Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin. As a result, the Packers promoted practice squad WR Myles White to the active roster earlier in the week. They also claimed 49ers wide receiver Chris Harper off of waivers a day ago, so don't expect to see him this week. But GM Ted Thompson wasn't done yet. He also promoted TE Jake Stoneburner from the practice squad. With TE Ryan Taylor out, Brandon Bostick will also be getting some playing time. QB Aaron Rodgers will have plenty of targets to throw to. The key will be how many of them are able to make catches and make plays.

Thankfully, the Packers have a running game this season. With Eddie Lacy as the main man, and Johnathan Franklin available (James Starks is out), and the with offensive line playing like they actually like to run the ball, a balanced offensive attack is just what the doctor ordered for this game against the Browns.

Let's not forget the Packers defense, which has been equally hit by injuries. With four of the team's top linebackers now out for varying periods of time -- Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, Nick Perry and Mike Neal -- and veteran backup Robert Francois done for the season, young players are going to have to step up. Rookies Andy Mulumba and Nate Palmer will be called upon to fill the gap -- literally. We can only hope that A.J. Hawk continues his outstanding play because he is going to be needed more than ever.

What else? Well, with Randall Cobb now out of the picture rookie CB Micah Hyde will take over the punt return duties.

If you seem to be picking up a youth theme among these changes you are correct. As the article by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, the Packers' "53-man roster now has 14 rookies, including six who were not drafted. At a minimum, the Packers will have seven rookies on their 46-man game-day roster against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Lambeau Field."

Game Prediction
The Packers are 3-2 and the Browns are 3-3. The Packers are favored by 10 points at the time of this post. The Packers pass production could be down because of the loss of Jones and Cobb...those are guys that are difficult to replace in production. Expect coach Mike McCarthy to use Jermichael Finley as a third wideout in some sets. But if Lacy can have a 100-yard day -- and there is no reason to think he won't -- that will take pressure off the passing game.

Note that we haven't said much here about the Browns. It's not that they don't pose a threat because, given the Pack's beat-up status, they do. It's just that if they do what they need to do -- especially on the defensive side of things -- the Pack will come out on top. If memory serves, the Browns haven't yet surpassed 17 points in any of their three losses. If the Pack can hold them to 17, the Pack will win.

So, let's make the call: Packers 27 - Browns 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers outlast Ravens 19-17

It wasn't pretty, that's for sure. But the Green Bay Packers had just enough to beat the Ravens in Baltimore today. It was the first win for the Pack in Baltimore since MacArthur Lane was the running back and, coincidentally, the first time they had a 100-yard rusher in a game versus a Baltimore team since Jim Taylor against the Colts in 1963.

Those historical markers aside, the game was memorable on a few other counts...as well as forgettable on still others.

The nod to the memorable part of the game has to go to the defense which, for most of the game, held the Ravens in check with smash-mouth play. LB A.J. Hawk was a man possessed, seemingly everywhere on the field, responsible for three sacks on Ravens QB Joe Flacco. The defensive front on two separate occasions stopped Baltimore deep in the red zone, once with 1st and goal from about the 2-yard line. On the offensive side of things, Aaron Rodgers threw for more than 300 yards and Eddie Lacy rushed for his first 100-yard game as a professional.

(Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun, October 13, 2013)

One of the forgettable parts was the almost similar 4th quarter collapse (but not this time) as occurred against the Bengals, including a 63-yard pass completion on 4th-and-21 which brought the Ravens to within 2 points of the Packers late in the game. John Kuhn touching and muffing a blocked punt, which instead of giving the Packers the ball deep in Ravens' territory gave the Birds a first down, was another forgettable play.

Perhaps the most forgettable, however, were the injuries. Actually, we probably won't be able to forget these injures anytime soon. First, WR James Jones went down with a knee injury. He was out of uniform and walking stiffly on the sideline in the second half. Then, WR Randall Cobb went down after being hit low on the right knee after making a catch. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and was on crutches on the Packers sideline late in the game. In his post-game interview, head coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't know the severity of the injuries yet but should know more tomorrow.

So the Packers were down to two wide receivers for the second half of the game: Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin.

The Packers now have a couple of starting linebackers sidelined and a couple starting receivers, as well. The injury bug has hit the Pack big early this season. And with the bye week already behind them, there's no time to "get healthy." GM Ted Thompson will have to figure out what to do to bolster the roster. Some pundits are already saying the Packers might have to become a serious contender in the trade market because of today's hits to the receiving corps.

It's not going to be easy. But the Packers have perhaps gone through the gauntlet of the toughest part of their schedule. Sure, there are 11 games left, no more byes and and it's all tough. But the Pack has already played three championship-caliber teams in their first five games and have come out with a 3-2 record. They have -- or had -- the talent to make a deep playoff run. In their last Super Bowl season, they also were plagued with injuries and found a way to win it all. Will that be possible this season? It remains to be seen.

All we can say right now is ... Go Pack Go!!!

We have some catching up to do

It's been a while since our last post here, Packer fans. Far too long, in fact. Our apologies. Several reasons for that. Among them, the bad taste (still) of the loss to San Francisco in the playoffs. That's one that has stuck with us -- and many Packer fans -- for a long time. We won't rehash it...just check our last post for the angst-ridden post-mortem of that game. Another reason for the lapse between posts...something akin to the "interregnum" between Popes...not that anyone here retired or anything. Nor was there the gathering of Packer fans in foam cheeseheads electing a new leader here. It was just a time for a break. And, let's be honest. There really wasn't much going on except talking about what had happened and what might happen. (Wait...isn't that what we're still doing? Isn't that really about all we can do even now?)

But now that free agency has been in play for several days and the draft is upcoming at the end of next month...well, things start to get a bit real again, don't they?

So, let's just catch up on a few things that have happened since we last gathered here, shall we? This is by no means a comprehensive list. More of a top-of-mind thing. You can fill in the gaps.

• WR Donald Driver officially retired.
• CB/S and future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson was released.
• DE Johnny Jolly got reinstated by the NFL and the Packers (seemingly) have decided to give him another chance.
• LB A.J. Hawk took a pay cut and agreed to restructure his contract.
• LB Robert Francois was re-signed.
• WR Greg Jennings was not re-signed in free agency and wound up signing a five-year, $47.5 million(!) deal with the ViQueens, joining a long list of former Packers over the years who the 'Queens have scavenged from the Pack...oh, and Minnesota still hasn't won a Super Bowl.
• TE, human tatto canvas, and all-around fun guy Tom Crabtree was also allowed to explore free agency and the gamble by the Packers failed; Crabtree has apparently reached a deal with Tampa Bay. Dang it! (Good luck, Tom. We will miss you.)
• LB Erik Walden signed an unbelievable contract (reportedly four years for around $16 million!) with the Colts. Huge pay day for an average-at-best linebacker.
• LB Brad Jones may be about to reach a deal with Tennessee.
• Free agents whom the Packers had interest in but who signed elsewhere included DE Chris Canty and RB Steven Jackson.
• TE Jermichael Finley may still have his contract restructured...or he could also be playing elsewhere next season.
• Gaining salary cap room appears to be setting the Packers up to extend the contracts of QB Aaron Rodgers, LB Clay Matthews, and NT B.J. Raji.
• Packers GM Ted Thompson attended the Indianapolis Draft Combine as well as the University of Wisconsin pro day (and perhaps others as well). Thompson, according to reports out of the Wisconsin pro day, was very impressed with RB Montee Ball. Ball made himself some future extra money that day, by besting his Combine 40-yard time. Thompson is reportedly impressed with Ball's all-round skills.

Draft Stuff
Our last bullet point in the list above began to hint at the upcoming draft. This will be a big one for the Packers (aren't they all?) given the number of departures from the team, as well as the obvious needs: defense, running back, defense, offensive line and...defense.

Would the Packers use their top draft pick -- number 26 overall -- on a running back? Some mock drafts think so, with several projecting Alabama running back Eddie Lacey as the best of the crop and perhaps available when the Packers are on the board. Some compare him to Frank Gore. He's a powerful back, more adept at rushing than receiving and not a good blocker. In the Packers' scheme, blocking is a premium. That may mean -- if the Packers look to actually find a featured back for the first time in seemingly a generation -- that they look Montee Ball's way. The Packers could do far worse than taking Ball. But whether they see him as a first round pick...? Time will tell.

As for other possible first-round picks, the mock draft boards are all over the place. So until we get a little closer to the draft, where things may begin to sort themselves out a bit, we'll refrain for the moment from joining in the speculation.

Well, Packer fans, we did a bit of catching up today. Hope you found it helpful. We'll be a bit more regular here now that the off-season stuff starts to gear up a bit. So, please, check back once in a while, will you please? Thanks. We appreciate you reading. We really do.

Packers trounce Titans 55-7

After watching the total beat-down of the Tennessee Titans by the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field yesterday, many have just one question: who were those guys and what did they do with our Packers?!

Was this dominating team, on both offense and defense, the same team we've seen struggling to put away lesser opponents throughout most of the season?

In the last regular season game of the 2012 season played at Lambeau, the Packers put together their most complete performance of the season. The game against Houston earlier in the schedule was also a very thorough performance against, at that point, an undefeated team. But this game yesterday was...different.

To be sure, there were a few miscues, especially in the first half, as QB Aaron Rodgers himself admitted after the game. He missed a few throws that could have easily been touchdowns. Still, when you tally 55 points there's not too much to complain about. There were touchdown passes to multiple receivers, there were three rushing touchdowns (I KNNNOOOOWWW!), two by veteran Ryan Grant and one by rookie free agent DuJuan Harris. Actually, you have to add a rushing TD by Rodgers, as well, for the first score of the day on a quarterback draw.

On defense, the Pack registered seven sacks on the day and 12 knockdowns. LB A.J. Hawk himself had two; the last time Hawk had two sacks in one game was in 2008. The defense didn't let Titan RB Chris Johnson get rolling...they didn't let anything happen until about 2 minutes left in the game when a blown coverage led to a pass reception at the 2-yard line and then a TD moments later to shatter the shutout...which would have gone down in Packers' history had it held up.

As for special teams, they also performed so well that even kicker Mason Crosby's consecutive game streak of eight (or was it nine?) games in which he had missed at least one field game game to an end. Crosby made his only two field goal attempts on the day, although for good measure he did clank the 48-yarder off the right upright before it went over. That's how good of a day it was.

Second-year phenom, Randall Cobb, featured prominently not only in the passing game where he reeled in a remarkable TD catch, but also in the return game. In one remarkable play which displayed Cobb's intelligence rather than physical ability, he was back to receive the kickoff to start the third quarter. The kick came up a bit short and began to roll...and stall...near the 4-yard line. If Cobb had picked up the ball in bounds, the play would be live where he picked it up. In all likelihood, because of the slow roll and kickoff coverage, the ball might very well have wound up right there. Instead, Cobb first put one foot out of bounds -- actually looking to make sure -- before he touched the live ball. Thanks to a rather arcane NFL rule, this made him an out-of-bounds player and which then -- by rule -- made the kick out of bounds...which, in turn, is an illegal procedure penalty on the kicking team. Rather than the ball being on the 4 or 5-yard line, this action by Cobb gave the Packers the ball on their own 40-yard-line. Six plays and 60 yards later, the Pack was once again in the Titans' endzone with a touchdown. Head coach Mike McCarthy said this morning, "It’s the first time I’ve seen that kind of play in a game. That’s something our guys are coached to do. We have video when you show guys what to do. It’s a great play by Randall." Indeed.

The downside about Cobb for the Packers is that he got an ankle injury in the third quarter on a punt return. This has stirred up a hornet's nest of discussion about whether and why the Pack should still have Cobb back on kickoff and punt returns given his overall value to the offense of the Packers. McCarthy had this to say on the matter of perhaps removing him from those duties: "No, Randall Cobb is a big part of our success on special teams. That’s been our most consistent unit of our football team. ... I don’t understand how you play scared in the game of football. I understand the risk involved. Some plays are higher risk than others, but you can’t sit here and say special teams is important if you don’t put a guy like Randall Cobb out for a return."

One of the other big changes for the Packers Sunday was starting Evan Dietrich-Smith at center in place of veteran Jeff Saturday. There was nothing wrong with Saturday but it seems as if McCarthy and the coaching staff have been itching to see what Dietrich-Smith could do at center going forward. By all accounts, he performed well. First test passed.

There were and are a lot of other issues coming out of the game, as well as the loss by San Francisco to Seattle last night, which moves the Packers into the Number 2 NFC playoff seed right now. The possibilities that arise for the playoffs coming out of the final week of the regular season will make your head explode. Given that it's Christmas Eve, we'll avoid that scene. For now.

Check back later in the week when we will review a few of the possibilities for the playoffs and the Packers.

Enjoy the gift we received yesterday, Packer fans. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Packers lasso Texans 42-24

In their most dominating performance on both sides of the ball in a long time, the Green Bay Packers upset the Houston Texans in Houston last night 42-24. It was even better than the score indicated; Houston's final touchdown came courtesy of a late blocked punt recovered in the endzone for a TD.

This is the game Packer fans have been waiting for all season long. At 2-3, the Pack's back was against the wall. After blowing a second half 18-point lead in Indianapolis last Sunday, the Packers dominated this game -- both offensively and defensively -- from the start and never let up.

Offense Clicks
Despite a few sacks and dropped balls, the offense showed what it is capable of doing. The offensive line generally held up well against arguably one of the league's better defensive fronts to this point in the season. RB Alex Green, getting his first start in place of the injured Cedric Benson, performed quite well and did his job by making the defense respect his running ability. He had 22 carries for 65 yards, with a long run of 10 yards. The wide receivers made some remarkable catches which helped to mask a few inconvenient drops. Jordy Nelson had 9 receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns. After only having one TD catch all season, Nelson had his coming out party for 2012. Second-year standout Randall Cobb had 7 catches for 102 yards. James Jones had just three catches for 33 yards, but two of those were for touchdowns and were amazing catches. Even TE Tom "Mr. Tattoo" Crabtree had two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, including an evening-long 48 yards. Oh, yeah...the man throwing all those passes was of course QB Aaron Rodgers who was 24 of 37 for 338 yards and those six touchdowns. His quarterback rating was something like 133 if memory serves.

Defense Dominates
The defense played fast and aggressive at the start, stopping the run and getting to Texans' QB Matt Schaub for three sacks on the night. They also forced three interceptions, one by Sam Shields and two by rookie Casey Hayward. Playing without NT B.J. Raji who was sidelined with his ankle injury from last week's game, veteran Ryan Pickett was extremely stout against the run. Rookie Jerel Worthy played extremely well, as did C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal. LB A.J. Hawk also played a good game at the line, even picking up one of the three sacks on the night. While LB Clay Matthews didn't get a sack on the evening, he was making life miserable all night long for Schaub. Safety Charles Woodson was often used in the position of an outside linebacker as the night went on and the Packers began sustaining injuries.

Injuries Hit Hard
In that regard, the win was a costly one for the Packers on the injury front. Reports are that LB D.J. Smith (starting in place of the injured Desmond Bishop, who is out for the season) and running back Brandon Saine suffered significant right knee injuries. Both players were said to be on crutches in the locker room with their knees heavily wrapped. Both players could be lost for the season. Rookie LB Nick Perry sustained a knee injury in the second quarter and didn't return to the game. CB Sam Shields got kicked in the right shin late in the game and also didn't return.

What's Ahead
This is the game we've been waiting for, Packer fans. Now let's see if the team can put two wins together back-to-back for the first time this season. They can do that next weekend in St. Louis. The Rams are also 3-3, but that's where the comparison ends.

With two home games, against the Jaguars and Cardinals, following the trip to St. Louis, the Packers could be 6-3 going into their bye week, which would set them up well for the second half of the season. With five of their remaining seven games against NFC North division opponents, the Packers could be in position for a playoff run. If they keep up the intensity on display last night. And if injuries don't disrail them.

There's a long way to go in the season, Packer fans. What we saw last night gives hope it may still be a good one.

P.S. I'm very glad to say my pre-game prediction was wrong. I'm very glad indeed.

Packers vs. Chiefs: victory #14 on the horizon

The undefeated Green Bay Packers roll into Kansas City today for the last of this season's road games. If the Packers win, they will have gone undefeated in all their road games, which is something that has only been done a handful of times in the history of the NFL. (Or is it 2 handfuls? Look it up!) More importantly, it will give the Pack 14 wins on the season and secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. It will also set the stage for the final two home games of the regular season against Da Bearz and Lions. 16-0 is just a hop-skip-jump away.

But first, the Packers must dispose of the Chiefs. The oddsmakers have installed the Packers as 13-1/2-point favorites and with the over/under at 45.5 points.

What's to stop the Pack from getting a "W" today? There are always the lists that are put out about "10 things the Packers need to do to win, etc." Ya know, all they have to do is one thing: show up. Now, I don't say that to slight the Chiefs. They can play -- especially on the defensive side of things -- and if the Packers let them hang around long enough anything can happen. Kyle Orton is getting the nod at QB today. But in terms of offensive weapons, they just don't have much. Defensively, the KC defensive backs will have their hands full all day long even without having to cover WR Greg Jennings. The Packers are loaded at receiver and tight end and, obviously, present huge matchup problems for any team. Plus, the Chiefs have really been hit by injuries as well.

Of course, the Packers also have injury issues. Inactives for today just announced are: Graham Harrell, Brandon Saine, James Starks, Desmond Bishop, Chad Clifton, Ryan Pickett, and Greg Jennings. LB Vic So'oto and RG Josh Sitton are active.

Pickett's presence will be missed. The Packers have had problems stopping the run all year and that has been with Pickett having a good season. With Saine and Starks both inactive, that means the only two running backs active for this game are Ryan Grant and John Kuhn. Grant had his best game all season last week against the Raiders and Kuhn was his typical Kuhn-esque self late in the game. Let's hope they both hold up again today. The emphasis, of course, will once again be the passing game. Shocking, yes.

So, what's it all boil down to? That the Packers will come away with their fourtheenth victory of this season, 20 in a row going back to last year. An amazing run, and something not before seen in the history of the Packers. The players want to go 16-0 in the regular season, so I can't imagine them tripping up in a supposed "trap game" against the likes of KC.

I'm calling it Packers 41 - Chiefs 17.

GO PACK GO!!!

P.S. A big congratulations to the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater football team, who Friday evening won their third consecutive Division III football championship, defeating (again) Mount Union, 13-10. It's a great college program and another winner in the fine Wisconsin tradition. Congrats, Warhawks!

Packers route Raiders, 46-16; witnessing "greatness"?

Are there really any more superlatives one can use to describe the 2011 Green Bay Packers? Apparently so. Yesterday, before the Packers took the Oakland Raiders to the Lambeau Field woodshed for a whupping, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher declared that, "In my opinion, no team has been greater." That certainly sets up a conversation filled with opinions. But for now, at least, the Packers are certainly the greatest team this season...and unarguably the second greatest over a two-season span, winning 19 consecutive games going back to last year. This Packers team trails only the New England Patriots of several years back who reeled off 21 games in a row over two seasons.

The Pack are enjoying a historic season from a team perspective, setting records for scoring, consecutive wins, etc. QB Aaron Rodgers finally had his NFL record consecutive streak of games with a passer rating over 100 snapped yesterday, falling just short of that mark. Even an MVP has an off day now and then.

Anyway, back to the Raiders game. Oh, why bother? They didn't show up to play, why should I show up to write about them? Exactly!

The Pack had their most complete game of the season yesterday. Scoring almost at will in the first half, and generating five turnovers on defense. Three players that hadn't scored yet this season got added to the total, now making 19 in all. Ryan Grant, Erik Walden and rookie Ryan Taylor all notched a TD. The only blemish on a perfect day was a blocked PAT...but that just kept the score at 43 points at that time instead of 44. Ah well. Even backup QB Matt Flynn saw more than a quarter's worth of playing time.

Oh...and with the win, the Packers secured a first round bye in the playoffs. If they beat Kanssas City on the road this coming Sunday, they will secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Anyone think that's not going to happen? KC? Puh-leze. All roads will lead to Lambeau this season, Packer fans!

The downside to the game was the injury to WR Greg Jennings, a sprained knee (originally reported as a torn MCL) which will sideline him probably through the end of the regular season. While, no one thinks losing Jennings is a plus, is anyone really worried that things won't keep churning along? The depth that GM Ted Thompson has built is remarkable. One guy goes down, another comes in without any apparent drop off.

Still, injuries are starting to pile up. RB Brandon Saine -- himself a replacement -- had his playing time shortened yesterday after sustaining a concussion. Ditto for Ryan Pickett. Offensive linemen Chad Clifton and Josh Sitton are still out. LBs A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop are ailing. It's nowhere near as bad as last year. But still. Injuries to key personnel, most notably Rodgers, would be about the only thing that would derail this juggernaut. Keep your fingers crossed, folks. Things are looking good. But players need to stay healthy for the final push through the post-season to the Super Bowl.

The Packers are on their way again. And we can all enjoy the ride.

Say it with me: it's great to be a Packers fan!

Packers vs. Raiders preview

The Oakland Raiders -- or Raidahs, if you prefer an ESPN announcer-ish pronunciation -- visit the not-yet-fully-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field this afternoon to become the Green Bay Packers latest victims. The Raiders are in a dead heat with the Tebow-roncos for the lead in the AFC West at 7-5, although technically in second place because of tie-breakers, etc. They are 3-2 in their last five games. After beating Da Bearz 25-20 at home (thank you very much!), the Raiders had an embarrassing loss last Sunday in Miami, losing to the last-place AFC East Division Fish, 34-14. Today, Oakland is a 12-point underdog to the Pack. The over-under on this game is the highest of all games this week, at 51.5. The Packers are averaging 35 points per game and the Raiders just under 23. Some points are going to be scored today. As usual for the last 12 games of this regular season, and 18 games straight back to last season, the Packers will put up more points than their opponent and come away with their 13th win of the 2011 schedule.

That's not to say this will be a gimme game. Oakland is fighting for its playoff life against streaking Denver and they were embarrassed by the Dolphins. So they will come to Lambeau with a chip on their shoulder, no doubt. But it's not as if this will be the first time the Packers have seen that situation this season. It's pretty much a weekly occurrence now: teams with something to prove to either themselves or others.

Raiders quick take
So what are the Raiders strengths coming into this game? A good quarterback in Carson Palmer, although as an in-season pick up he is still learning about his receivers and vice versa. Third-year WR Darrius Heyward-Bey leads the team in receptions and yards, with rookie Denarius Moore not far behind; regrettably for Oakland, Moore is out for this game.

The Raiders have had a solid running game, which is fourth in the NFL, averaging just over 140 yards per game. For the most part, it consists of Michael Bush and Darren McFadden, but the latter is out for this game. Fellow running back Taiwan Jones is also out for this game, leaving Bush, Rock Cartwright (with all of two rushing attempts this season) and FB Marcel Reece to shoulder the carries. Packer fans know all-too-well that the defense sometimes has trouble tackling ball carriers. We can be thankful that McFadden is out today, as that would be a definite challenge.

The Raiders have a lot of injuries, at key positions. They are capable of putting up some points, but it won't be enough against the Packers today.

Packers notes
For the Packers, the team will once again be without RB James Starks. Look for Ryan Grant and rookie Brandon Saine to get the carries today, along with an occasional bone thrown to John Kuhn, of course. We might get to see a little more action from TEs Tom Crabtree and rookie D.J. Williams today, after Andrew Quarless was placed on IR for the season. With the loss of second-year player Quarless, the Packers lose arguably their best-blocking tight end. One of these other players will have to pick up the slack. It's also possible Williams could create some match up problems as well if he's factored into the passing game at all. But, as we all know, with the wide receiving corps the Packers have, along with TE Jermichael Finley, there are targets aplenty for QB Aaron Rodgers and match up problems galore for the Pack's opponents week in and week out.

The trick will be for the Packers O-line to protect Rodgers without, once again, starters Chad Clifton and Josh sitton. LT Marshall Newhouse had a great game against Detroit but struggled last week's against the Giants. Look for him to re-establish himself with a solid game.

Defensively, the Packers will also be without starting LB Desmond Bishop once again. A.J. Hawk is listed as questionable. D.J. Smith and Robert Francois will no doubt both see plenty of action again today. They have held up well so far. Charles Woodson is listed as probable coming off his slight concussion sustained in last week's game; in fact, he's one of the captains for today's game...not surprising since he spent the first part of his illustrious career playing for the Raiders, of course. Gotta figure he's looking for a big game against his old team.

Bottom line...
Temperatures for today's game will start in the mid-30's -- balmy for mid-December in Green Bay -- and will dip a bit as the sun goes down for the second half of the game. Conditions will be clear with low winds. In other words, it is great weather for a late afternoon/early evening winter game in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

After throwing all the variables into the Packervac 5000 Computer (Copyright/Trademark!), our prediction has the Pack beating the Raiders by a score of 41-27.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers vs. Giants preview: who's it gonna be?

After a franchise record 17 wins in a row going back to last season, and 11 in a row this season, the Green Bay Packers will face the Giants on the road. The Packers are listed as 6.5-point favorites over the 6-5 Giants. The over-under is set at 54 points.

The odds are one way to look at the game, of course. The other is to note who's in and who's out, especially for the Packers. The Pack will be without their two starting inside linebackers, A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop. In their places will be the relatively untested Robert Francois -- who had a big interception against Detroit on Turkey Day when called up during the game -- and undersized rookie, D.J. Smith, who also was impressive during his play against the Lions. Smith will actually be calling the defensive sets, the job that typically is Hawk's. On offense, the Packers will still be without LT Chad Clifton and today will also be without RG Josh Sitton.

So there are potential areas of concern on both sides of the ball for the Packers. But the Giants have their own concerns. A wide open offense in the form of the New Orleans Saints lit up the Giants for 49 points on Monday night. Any other team remind you of the Saints. Hmmmmm...oh, yeah, the Pack! So, there's that.

Yes, the Giants running game -- big back -- could pose a problem, as it seems most big backs do for the Packers. And Eli Manning can air it out if given the chance. But can they outscore the Pack? Not unless the Packers turn it over or otherwise beat themselves. Sure, the Giants' defensive coordinator was talking smack this week promising that if QB Aaron Rodgers scrambles they were going to hit him and hit him again. Well, Rodgers will do what he needs to do. And that will result in a win. Number 12 on the season and in a row, to be exact.

I'm calling it 34-24 Packers.

Go Pack Go!!!

P.S. A big shout out to the Wisconsin Badgers who defeated Michigan State 42-39 last night in the first ever Big 10 Championship Game for a trip to the Rose Bowl. But if you thought that game was chicken salad, you ain't seen nothin' yet! (I have no idea what that means either. One of the announcers during the game last evening used that expression, "chicken salad" and other non sequiturs to describe various part of the action. Yes, entertaining in a bizarro world kind of way.)

What a week!

As I write this, ESPN is announcing that the NFL Players Association has just decertified. And so, the negotiations between the NFL owners and players now goes to the courts. The NFLPA is dissolved and the union no longer exists; it is now a trade association. Players can individually file antitrust lawsuits. If the NFL locks out players, players can file lawsuits to block the lockouts. Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are expected to be among the lead plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the league. Basically, nothing can happen business-wise with players who are currently in the league once this hits the courts. The NFL Draft supposedly can take place as usual because those players are obviously not yet in the NFL, although I heard one report indicate that, depending upon how the judge rules, the Draft could be out the window, too.

So, after a week's extension of time to negotiate...nada. Now it's gonna get nasty. There's a lockout coming, Packer fans. Just a matter of how long it will last.

Hard to image that these folks can't figure out how to negotiate a win-win situation when there's $9 billion-plus to be had. Can you say "greed"? Even kids learn that it's good to share. These folks must have missed that day in kindergarten.

Other happenings

Head coach Mike McCarthy's contract extension was finalized. He and GM Ted Thompson will be leading the Green Bay Packers' field deployment through 2015 (if memory serves). Both are being rewarded well for bringing the Lombardi Trophy home to Titletown.

The Packers put some tenders on a few players: James Jones, Daryn Colledge, Atari Bigby and John Kuhn (am I missing anyone?). Basically, they are more defensive maneauvers than anything, especially since the entire collective bargaining deal with the NFL Players Association is out the window...no one knows at this point now whether these players will be restricted or unrestricted free agents as there is now no collective bargaining agreement that defines that.

LB Nick Barnett may be the odd man out of the inside linebackers (interesting grammatical construction there but I think you get the drift). Coach McCarthy told reporters that A. J. Hawk (recently re-signed to a new big dollar deal) and Desmond Bishop (big deal signed before end of the season) are his starting inside linebackers. Barnett, coming off his second season-ending injury in the last three seasons, may or may not be back with the Pack if and when football is next played. Consensus among fans, if you can gauge such things from the comments about the various stories and scenarios related to this topic, seems to be that Barnett will be gone and the Packers will be looking to pick up new and younger and healthier linebacker help in the upcoming draft.

Natural and man-made disasters

We awoke this morning to the sad and terrible news of the earthquake (now quakes) in Japan and the ensuing tsunami which has killed hundreds of people and destroyed much property in Japan. A damaged nuclear reactor is also in the mix and is a major concern not only within Japan but from a global perspective. We need to keep the people of Japan and other affected areas in our thoughts and prayers. If you wish to support relief efforts, text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or go here to donate online.

Finally, while it's a matter that I generally try to keep out of this blog, the happenings of the last weeks and days in the state of Wisconsin regarding the collective bargaining rights of public employees and the state budget came to a head when the governor, newly-elected Republican Scott Walker, signed into law this morning the bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature. Anyone who has tuned into any of the news shows -- or even Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report for that matter -- are aware of this matter. Regardless of one's political persuasion, this event has nationwide implications either positive or negative depending upon your view. The state senate majority leader told Fox News the real reason for banning these collective bargaining rights; you can view the video and decide for yourself whether it was about the state budget or something else. Events are scheduled at the Wisconsin state capitol building in Madison for Saturday, March 12. But unscheduled events are just as likely to occur for a long time to come.

For a current list of events in Madison and around the state in support of workers' rights, see here. You can also take a stand for workers in Wisconsin and elsewhere where rights are similarly threatened by going here. And if you use Twitter -- to follow this blog at @packfasnunited no doubt! -- you can see all the various posts related to this situation by using the #wiunion hashtag.

Update: Packers to re-sign A. J. Hawk

WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee is reporting that the Green Bay Packers will re-sign LB A. J. Hawk to a new five-year deal on Thursday, Mar. 3. The report says that Hawk is flying back to Green Bay to finalize the deal, terms of which have not yet been disclosed.

Hawk was released earlier today, along with TE Donald Lee and S Derrick Martin. As reported then, it was only a matter of time before the deal would be done. There was some thought Hawk might wish to test free agency. Apparently, no need. He loves Green Bay and the Packers want him back in the fold before the current collective bargaining agreement expires.

See here for more.

Great job, Pack...and congratulations Mr. Hawk. Glad to have you back. Seemed like only...today...you were gone.

Packers release Hawk, Lee and Martin

Making business moves like many other teams prior to the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association, the Green Bay Packers today released LB A. J. Hawk, TE Donald Lee and S Derrick Martin. Lee and Martin will not be back. Hawk likely will be.

It's clear the Packers want Hawk on the team going forward. He had arguably his best season this past year. After effectively being benched for the opening game against the Eagles, Hawk played an increasingly important role as the season went on. After fellow linebacker Nick Barnett was lost to season-ending injury for the second time in the last three years, Hawk became the defensive play caller, relaying the calls from defensive coordinator Dom Capers to the rest of the squad; when those calls came in late or were cut off (via a system similar to that in the quarterback's helmet), Hawk had to make the call himself. He also came up big in the playoffs and Super Bowl. Head coach Mike McCarthy has praised Hawk's consistency and calm presence both on the field and in the locker room.

So why release him when he still had a year left on his contract? There are 10 million reasons, as in dollars. Hawk was scheduled to be due $10 million this coming season. As one commentator noted, that's beginning to approach starting quarterback money. There was no way the Packers were going to pay it, and that came as no surprise to Hawk. The team and his representatives have apparently been trying to get a deal worked out ahead of the deadline but the sides were apparently too far apart. Hawk may test free agency, whenever that kicks in given the current circumstances. But he wants to be in Green Bay and the Packers want him there, too. Expect a deal to be worked out. Sometime.

You can read more about all this here.

Mmmm...Super Bowl...Goooood

With proper respect to Homer Simpson, yes, Super Bowl..mmmmm....goooooood.

It will be exceptionally good if the Packers win, of course. Which they will. More on that later with my specific score prediction. But for now, let's consider what it's going to take to bring the Lombardi Trophy back home to Green Bay where it rightly belongs.

Just about everything that can be written about both teams' players, the storied franchises, the legacies, the championship wins and more has been written. And let's not forget the stories about the fans. The Packers and Steelers have the best fan followings in the country. The game is being played in Dallas, which likes to assume the title of America's Team. We all know that's as big a pile of horse hockey as to be found anywhere. These two teams' fans know where the truth lies.

So, we're roughly 27 hours away from the kickoff of what will be the most-attended Super Bowl ever, and likely the most-watched Super Bowl, as well. The Packers have been confident and loose all week, according to reports. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters yesterday, "We respect Pittsburgh, but we feel that this is our time and Sunday will be our night." No doubt Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin feels the same way about the Packers and his team's chances.

A look at each team's units
OK, that subhead doesn't sound right, does it? But you know what I mean...get your mind out of the gutter!

It has been said for the last two weeks that the Packers and Steelers are pretty much cut from the same cloth: great defenses -- number 1 and 2 in scoring defense -- and great quarterbacks. Most are predicting a close game. The 2-1/2 point spread in favor of the Packers is the tightest margin since 1983, when the Washington Redskins played the Miami Dolphins. Many are giving the edge to the Steelers' defense. Well-deserved praise, for sure. They are loaded. But so is the Packers' defense. In my view, that's a draw. It will be up to individuals on each unit to make an impact one way or another, to cause a turnover, make a tackle, blow up a run or pass, and so on. Game-changing stuff. When looked at that way, I think the Packers "D" has more impact players in more places. Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, B.J. Raji, Tramon Williams, Cullen Jenkins, Desmond Bishop, Sam Shields, Nick Collins, Ryan Pickett, A.J. Hawk... I mean, c'mon on.

Special teams? A few months ago I would have said -- actually, did say -- that the Packers' special teams unit was the team's Achilles Heal. No more. They still might not have found a returner on the roster, but the coverage units have gotten much better. And free agent punter Tim Masthay has turned into a great punter over the last part of the season. He could be as much a key to a win as anyone, believe it or not. Especially if the game comes down to field position.

As to offenses, the Packers have the better offensive line, and I'm not the only one saying that. Packers NT B.J. Raji should have a field day going against the Steelers backup center. On the Pack's side of things, if they can just create enough of a push to get rookie RB James Starks two or three yards a carry that will help considerably when the Pack unleashes its air attack from play-action. The Packers receiving corp is arguably the best in the league; they are certainly the best in this game. Donald Driver hasn't practiced the last few days due to a quad injury, but as coach Mike McCarthy said there's no way he can imagine Driver not playing in this game. It would be an added bonus if rookie TE Andrew Quarless felt this was the time for him to also learn to catch the ball on critical downs.

Last but not least, let's look at the quarterbacks. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl wins under his belt already. That experience helps big time. He's done it and he's won it. But his big frame helps more when he's both in and out of the pocket. The Packers defense will have to somehow figure out ways to get him down. He's got a big arm and is great at improvising. But those last two qualities are shared with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. In fact, Rodgers has the added benefit of having a quicker release on his passes and that, again, helps give the Packers an edge. In listening to a cast of former Super Bowl winners this morning on ESPN, from coaches to players -- including Mike Ditka and Steve Young -- it was nearly unanimous that Aaron Rodgers was the key to victory for the Pack. He's been hot. And there's no reason to suspect he won't be on Super Bowl Sunday.

Former QB and Super Bowl winner Kurt Warner had some advice for the Packers with regards to Rodgers, however. He suggested, quite wisely, that coach McCarthy should help Rodgers by giving him an easy throw or two coming out of the box to build confidence and get into a rhythm. When Rodgers gets into that flow quickly, it usually means good things in terms of the final outcome.

Here's the final prediction
The game will undoubtedly ebb and flow. These are two great teams. It will be a physical game. Both teams will be brining it, as they say, for the full 60 minutes. The defense that wears down first might be the one to let the game slip away.

Throughout the regular season, the Packers never lost games as much as beat themselves. They aren't going to do that on this stage. Even if they get down, they are capable of getting back in it. They will never be out of it.

I'm thinking that coach McCarthy will unleash his offense and, as he's done all season, rely on defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his great defense to hold down the Steelers. The final score? I'm calling it 31-24 Packers.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers lock up Bishop

No, the Green Bay Packers have not instigated an ecclesiastical junta in the Diocese of Green Bay. Rather, they have according to reports nailed down a four-year $19 million contract extension with LB Desmond Bishop.

Yay!

Bishop has been a top performer on special teams and in preseason games for the last several seasons. Finally, with the rash of injuries which decimated the Packers' linebacking corps, he got his chance to show what he can do as a starter. And he's done well. Now, he's going to get paid well, too, although some suspect that he might have been able to bank more funds if he'd gone to free agency in the off-season. Apparently, he wants to stay in Green Bay. And why wouldn't he? The Packers' defense -- despite the numerous injuries that hit that unit throughout the course of the regular season -- has become a dominating feature of the Pack. It is well coached. And the players that have been plugged in have each excelled in ways unexpected, in large part due to the coaching of defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his assistants. Kudos have to particularly go to linebackers coach Kevin Greene for the tremendous job he's done with the revolving cast of characters at the linebacker spots.

One wonders whether this move to sign Bishop long-term is a security blanket in case the Packers decide to part ways with Nick Barnett, who will be coming off yet another season-ending injury, or whether it will be a negotiating tool in an attempt to get A. J. Hawk to renegotiate his contract, which calls for him to jump from $4.623 million this season to a base salary of $10 million next season. Hawk has arguably had his best season as a pro. He's been as solid a performer as they come, and is the primary signal caller at linebacker. Since reportedly adjusting his workout routine, Hawk even seems to be quicker than before and able to even handle short pass coverage better than in prior years. No doubt he's the kind of quality person and player that the Packers would like to keep on hand for the long haul. But at what price? That remains to be seen. The Packers will have a crowded field at linebacker going into next season, with all the players coming back from injury (e.g., Barnett, Poppinga, Chillar, Jones...remember them???) and the players that were given opportunities no one expected at the start of the season, such as Frank Zombo and Erik Walden as well as Bishop.

There will be some interesting decisions coming down the pike for players and team alike.

But for now, congrats to Mr. Bishop. He's played like he's had something to prove, and prove it he has. He's earned his keep.

A great performance on Sunday vs. Michael Vick and the Eagles would be a wonderful way for Bishop to confirm the faith the Packers have placed in him.

Five Packers named to Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl selections have been announced by the NFL, and five Green Bay Packers were named to the team: left tackle Chad Clifton, safety Nick Collins, wide receiver Greg Jennings, linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson. Collins, Matthews and Woodson were named starters for the NFC squad.

What about QB Aaron Rodgers? Or CB Tramon Williams? Well you may ask. They were named as first alternates.

Yes, it is a bizarro world indeed where Rodgers and Williams are "alternates." That should go on one of the ESPN segments of "C'mon, Man!".

Other alternates include wide receiver Donald Driver, linebacker A.J. Hawk, nose tackle B.J. Raji and guard Josh Sitton.

You can read more about the selections here.

Packers vs. Lions Preview

As a blizzard is set to hit Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers are set to hit the Lions in Detroit. The Pack took to the air in time to beat the snowstorm. Still, a few players will not be on the field Sunday when gametime arrives. Key among them from the Packers' standpoint is DE Cullen Jenkins; he strained a calf muscle in last weekend's game vs. the 49ers. Trying to fill that sizable void on the D-line will be C. J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. It's possible Howard Green might also be moved around in the rotation as well with B. J. Raji and Ryan Pickett.

But it's not the running game that is of primary concern from a defensive standpoint. It's the passing game of the Lions. And even though their starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is still sidelined, the backup to the backup, Drew Stanton, is a serviceable QB. Kinda like Jay Cutler...on a good day. (Ouch!) More importantly, whoever is tossing the ball in Motor City has WR Calvin Johnson on his side. His size and speed make him the Lions' main offensive weapon. But he's not the only one. TE Brandon Pettigrew benefits from Johnson opening things up. He's a big tight end, although not fast. Since linebackers A. J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop will likely wind up covering him, he may get some opportunities. But he should be able to be kept in check.

While a few Packers won't be on the field this time around, there was at least some good news going into the game: it appears that LT Chad Clifton is cleared to play, and the ankle sprain sustained during practice this week by Charles Woodson was not as serious as initially suspected; he'll also likely be good to go Sunday...it's a game in Michigan, right? Woodson won't miss that one!

The Packers are 10-4 in dome games under head coach Mike McCarthy. Is it surprising? The Packers offense is geared to the air game. And there's no better place to air out the ball, especially in December, than inside. I know, I know, that's almost heresy in Packerland. But given perfect conditions in which to throw the ball, guess what's going to happen? The Packers are going to light up the Lions, particularly given the sorry state of Detroit's secondary. QB Aaron Rodgers will have a big day, as will his receiving corps. Toss in a seemingly resurgent (yes, for the Packers that does mean just one game) running game with rookie James Starks and the Pack will be far more than the Lions can handle, even if they do happen to make it a game for a while.

Coach McCarthy, if memory serves, is 9-0 against the Lions. Sunday will make it 10-0. Despite the final score of the first meeting this season, most games aren't that close. The Packers are currently favored by 6-1/2 points. They'll take care of that going away.

What's my prediction on the final score? You'll have to check back Sunday morning for that. Barring a blizzard-born power outage, you'll get my call then.

For now...Go Pack Go!!!

Packers - 49ers Preview

It's less than two hours to kickoff at a nippy (that's Wisconsin-ese for cold) Lambeau Field. It's the first game the Green Bay Packers have played back home since whupping the Cowboys back on Nov. 7. The weather has changed a bit since then. Today the forecast is for temps in the mid-20s and windy.

December, as we all know -- or are at least told -- is when the running game is supposed to carry the day in these bad weather games. Now, for folks outside of the Midwest, let's just say upfront that temperatures in the mid-20s is not exactly bad weather. At least for these parts. But cold and wind can affect the passing game. Given the fact that the weak spot of the Packers' offense is its running game, or more appropriately, lack thereof, this could be a concern. It shouldn't be today, however,

The 49ers have a decent run defense. But that's a bit moot when you're playing a team like the Packers who don't count on much from their running game anyway, right? Of course right. So, given that Aaron Rodgers doesn't seem to be bothered by the cold, expect the Pack to continue to do what they do, which is to spread out the defense and attack through the air. There should be plenty of opportunities to do just that today. Yes, it will be to the Packers' advantage for the rest of the season if they at least can muster a token rushing attack. But, the Packers are who they are and, perhaps more specifically, head coach Mike McCarthy is who he is, and the Pack's offense is centered around the passing game. It will either work or not like it is for the rest of the season. You just have to hope, however, they figure out how to rush for a yard or two at the goal line or to convert first downs on 3rd-and-one.

As for the Packers defense, they should have a good day going against the 49ers QB, Troy Smith. He's led the Niners to three wins in the last four games since replacing Alex Smith. He's more of a scrambler than a passer, which can cause some problems for a team like the Pack. But he's no Michael Vick. TE Vernon Davis is the 49ers version of Jermichael Finley. He can cause problems. And it's possible that LB A. J. Hawk might be matched up on coverage of Davis. Hawk has done a better job in coverage this year than last, but this is one of the times that the absence of Brandon Chillar might be very evident. The Packers should be able to handle the 49ers running game, although last week Brian Westbrook looked like the player of old, replacing Frank Gore and rushing for more than 100 yards. Westbrook always seemed to cause the Pack headaches when he was with Philadelphia. Let's hope those days are long gone.

There are many other aspects of this game which we could break down, including special teams which is always an adventure with the Packers. We don't, for example, know how Sam Shields will field kickoffs for the first time in cold weather. Nor do we know how punter Tim Masthay will punt in these conditions. Keep your fingers crossed that special teams do not cost the Packers a win again. Honestly, though, if it comes down to the special teams deciding the outcome of this game in yet another 3-point situation, there were bigger problems in the game than just special teams. That's not going to happen today.

The Packers are favored by 9-1/2 points. For our part, we're calling this game Packers 31 - 49ers 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

BTW...the Packers will be wearing their throwback uniforms today. Brown helmets (an homage to the original leather helmet days) and blue jerseys honoring the 1929 championship team. Some are referring to the look as the "Powerball" uniforms. You'll see why when you watch the game or see the highlights.