Packers vs Lions Preview

The last regular season game of 2007 will commence for the Packers in less than 3 hours. Whereas last year it was just about getting to 8-8 and turning around a season that started off looking eerily familiar to the dismal 4-12 record of the year before, this year it's about getting primed for the playoffs by finishing 13-3. And blowing away the blip of a week ago where players' focus was not on the field but rather on the heaters. (More on this in a moment.)

So, the offense needs to get back on track. The defense needs to stop third down conversions. And special teams need to be, well, special once again.

Now, it's clear that the coaches won't want to play key starters any longer than they need to. That probably means something like a half for Brett, maybe 3 quarters for some of the others. But it's key to get out of the game without injuries. And win, of course. So, hopefully, the Pack can get off to a hot start, jump out to a big lead and then rest those that they can and should. Kind of like the Patriots had hoped to do last night against the Giants before the Giants decided to make a game of it. Now, the Lions will likely want to do that too. They haven't won in Green Bay since...anybody remember when that was? And they don't win much anywhere else either. So, let's keep that low self-esteem of the Lions going, shall we?

The Packers are favored by 5. Weather conditions will seem downright balmy compared to last week in Chicago: about 29 with perhaps some scattered snow showers. There are no excuses in this one. The Pack needs to take care of business and go into their first round bye on an up note. Packers 24 - Lions 13.

The thing about the weather...remember The Ice Bowl?

It was noted above in reference to last week's game that the players' focus was on staying warm not on the game. It clearly impacted this young team. Da Bearz kept their focus, the Packers did not. And that was the game.

This point was brought home in an Ice Bowl 40th Anniversary (40!) TV special last night. Recall that this was likely the most frigid NFL game ever played. Minus-13 degrees air temp at game time. And although the wind chill factor wasn't invented yet, it's believed that wind chills were somewhere in the neighborhood of minus-48 at times. Compared to those conditions, our young players were in the tropics last week.

While all those interviewed during the special spoke to the weather conditions, Jerry Kramer -- he of the infamous block -- really said it well. And the young Packer players should hear what he said loud and clear. He said that when the players went on the field for the game they had a decision to make: they could either decide to be "miserable" or they could get over it and focus on the task at hand. The fact that the Packers focused so well, especially during the last 4 minutes or so when they were behind 17-14 and had to put together a long drive to get into scoring position, was what ultimately decided the game. How Bart Starr was able to throw the ball...how Boyd Dowler and Chuck Mercein were able to catch key passes...how Donny Anderson was able to run...how Ken Bowman, Kramer and Forrest Gregg were able to get enough footing for that right side line surge for the winning score...that, my friends, was focus. Admittedly, these were veterans. They were playing for their third consecutive World Championship, and their second trip to the Super Bowl. They knew that focus was more important than the weather conditions.

Lombardi taught his players how to excel, to do more than they probably thought they could do. If this young Packer team is to reach this year's Super Bowl, they need to learn what focus is all about. They have done more this season than anyone -- including probably most of them -- thought possible. But they should have also gotten a valuable lesson from last week: either you focus on your task and win, or focus on the weather (or other outside factors) and lose. It ultimately comes down to that.

Go Pack Go!!!

Freeman Signed -- to Retire

Remember Antonio Freeman? The guy with the fifth most catches in Packers history? The guy who played a good chunk of the 1996 championship with a cast on his broken left forearm? The guy who made that miraculous catch on his back, in the rain, on Monday Night Football at Lambeau in 2000 to win the game in overtime against the ViQueens? The guy most of us thought was already retired?

Yeah, that Antonio Freeman.

Freeman was last signed in 2004 by Miami but was released during training camp. Other than the Dolphins (no playing time) and playing for the Eagles in 2002 before one last year with the Pack in 2003, Freeman was always a Packer...is a Packer. And that's why he wanted to retire as one. The Packers signed Freeman yesterday to make that happen.

Freeman was not always the fastest receiver on the field, but he was one of the most sure-handed, reliable, and wiliest receivers the team has ever had, as evidenced by catching 431 passes in his eight years with the Pack, making him number five on the team's all-time receptions list. "Free" was also Brett Favre's favorite receiver during the mid-90s Super Bowl runs, and led the Packers in receiving from 1996-99.

Glad to have you back, "Free." Even if it is only so you can retire. Next stop for Freeman will be the Packers Hall of Fame, where he will then become part of a fine quintet of the Packers' all-time reception leaders along with Sterling Sharpe, James Lofton, Don Hutson and Boyd Dowler. Now that's fantasy football!