Packers vs. Vikings: Sunday eve Favremageddon

Installment #3 of the duel between the Green Bay Packers and the Ol' #4-led Minnesota ViQueens kicks off at 7:20 p.m. tonight at Lambeau Field. The Packers are favored by 3 points -- the home field advantage. Temps will be in the mid-50s, great for late October. Showers are expected to taper off. If rain persists, it may turn the event into a running game...which would favor the 'Queens and RB Adrian Peterson. Especially since the Packers' running game has basically been put on the back burner of head coach Mike McCarthy's play calling, despite his protestations to the contrary. One of the keys to this game, though, is really about keeping Peterson contained more so than getting the moribund (look it up!) running game of the Packers going. Keep Peterson in check, as the Pack did in their two games last season, make Ol' #4 have to throw the ball, get pressure on him -- as the Pack did not in their two games last season -- and that will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.

On the flip side, Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers has to play better than he did against his counterpart in the two meetings of last season. It would help, of course, if his offensive line also protected him better than it did then. 'Queens DE Jared Allen isn't the sack machine he was a year ago and tonight is no time for him to begin reprising that role. Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga -- likely getting the start at tackle again for Mark Tauscher -- will have to be on their game. Rodgers, for his part, needs to get rid of the ball more quickly than when these teams last met. Of late, he seems to have reverted a bit to this old habit which could come back to haunt him and the Pack. Let's hope not. RB Brandon Jackson and whomever else coach McCarthy tosses in to run a few times need to do enough to keep the Minnesota defense honest and out of a constant blitz barrage. Rodgers and his receivers also need to do a much better job of converting third downs. To date, that has been a situation which has contributed directly to the Pack's three losses. If it's the same old tune tonight...well, that wouldn't be good.

The Packers' defense should get a boost from having linebackers Brandon Chillar and Clay Matthews back in the lineup, along with DE Ryan Pickett. All three are still listed as questionable on the Packers' injury report, but expectations are that they will see action. Matthews is obviously critical to getting pressure on Favre. And Chillar's ability to cover over the middle will also play a role in the defense's success tonight. Pickett's ability to anchor the end of the line will also be key to helping contain Peterson. The news on the return to practice of CB Al Harris and S Atari Bigby this week was a plus, but no moves were made to make them active as of yet. Newly-acquired S Anthony Smith should see some action today backing up Charlie Peprah.

Special teams? Well...containing Minnesota returner Percy Harvin will be a challenge. And if they don't that could be the difference between winning and losing this game. Add in the need by punter Tim Masthay to do a much better job than he has done recently in helping the Packers manage the opponents' starting field position and this is still a major area of concern.

What's the bottom line? For a lot of reasons, the Packers need to win this game. The season is not done, however, if they don't. But getting the 'Queens at Lambeau, with a distracted (we hope) Brett Favre, and with a healthier (relatively speaking) defense, is a plus. If the Packers offense can just put 4 quarters of consistent effort across, the Pack should take this game. But it will be close. Very close, as most of the games between these two teams are.

I'm calling it 24-23 Packers.

Go Pack Go!!!

SNL parodies Favre
If you happened to catch Saturday Night Live last night, you saw them lampoon Ol' #4's recent alleged "incident," so to speak. They created a parody of Favre's Wrangler Jeans ads (which, by the way, Wrangler has pulled from airing recently) which is spot-on. If you didn't catch it, you can see it here. Very funny. But also very sad for the QB who once was known for something other than this.

Packers Fan Fest notes

The Fifth Annual Packers Fan Fest took place yesterday and today at the Lambeau Field Atrium. And, perhaps for the first time, it was not a sell-out. Management, players and fans all attributed that rare circumstance to the current economic situation.

Another nod to current situations related to retiring Ol' #4's number. Packers President Mark Murphy indicated that would probably not happen this season. He told reporters that both sides probably need a bit of time to pass before that happens. And, Murphy pointed out, the Packers had already had to cancel one such retirement ceremony, implying that they'd just as soon wait to see if Mr. Favre is, in fact, retired for good this time. As to renewing the marketing deal the Packers had on the table to Favre last year, that is apparently not a given. Something would likely be done. But whether it would be along the same lines as the Pack extended to Favre last season appears questionable.

Kampman on board with new "D"
New Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers told reporters that one of the first players to come to see him in his office was defensive end Aaron Kampman. According to Capers, Kampman wanted to know what weight Capers wanted him to play at. The two apparently had quite a good conversation, leaving Capers with the impression that Kampman is excited about the new defensive scheme. That's a good thing. Because for the Pack to have any chance with the new 3-4 defense this season, Kampman really has to have a great season...wherever and however they play him in the scheme.

Bush gets offer from Titans
Restricted free agent defensive back Jarrett Bush was signed to an offer sheet by the Tennessee Titans on Friday. Terms were not yet known. According to a report on ESPN.com, "The Green Bay Packers retained a right of first refusal to Bush by making him a one-year tender offer of $1.01 million last month. Green Bay has seven days to match or pass on the offer sheet. If the Packers match it, they keep Bush and assume the terms of the offer sheet. If they pass, Bush moves to Tennessee and the Packers receive no draft pick compensation, since Bush originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent."

As the article notes, "Bush started one of 47 games in three seasons, but the former Utah State standout can help a team in a lot of ways, including as a nickel back. He has double-digit special teams tackles in each of three seasons in the league, including 17 last season." At 6'2" and 200 pounds, Bush can play either corner or safety, and delivered some big hits on special teams. But with the Packers' signing of D-back Anthony Smith this last week, Bush might very well be expendable.

In need of defensive line help, Packers sign a safety

As has been rumored for the last several days, the Packers had interest in adding free agent Steelers safety, Anthony Smith, to their roster. And so they did.

Smith was a 10-game starter in 2007, but disappeared last year. At age 26, he is young and said to be loaded with athletic ability. The knock on him has been his maturity. As noted in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel report on the signing, "Smith's career took a wrong turn in Week 13 of 2007 when he guaranteed a victory on the road against the New England Patriots, who then hammered the Steelers, 34-13." Worse, Smith was the safety in coverage who got burned on two of those Patriots' touchdowns.

You can read more about Smith, his past play, and why the Pack decided to take a shot on him despite possible attitude adjustments that might be necessary on his part, here.

It's great that the Packers are dipping into the free agency pool. Just a shame there's nothing on the D-line front so far.