Packers bitten by Bengals

It's taken yours truly nearly two days to get past the gut-wrenching loss of the Green Bay Packers to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Where does one begin? How about at the end? With this game, the Packers became the first team in NFL history to be behind by 14 points, then lead by 16 points, and then lose. Great.

Photo by Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

This was also the first time that QB Aaron Rodgers -- who lit things up the week before in the win against the Redskins -- had two interceptions in a regular-season game since Week 7 of the 2010 season at Minnesota. Combined with the inauspicious start to the game -- an opening series touchdown drive by the Bengals followed by a kickoff fumble by now-unemployed kick returner Jeremy Ross which allowed Cincy to score 14 points in 12 seconds -- and the injuries to starters Jermichael Finley, James Starks and Clay Matthews, you knew this wasn't going to be your typically crisp Packers type of game.

Of course, there has been much second-guessing about head coach Mike McCarthy's 4th-and-inches call late in the 4th quarter, deep in Bengals' territory, and holding a 3-point lead: a handoff to diminutive but speedy rookie RB Johnathan Franklin. As the entire universe knows, Franklin fumbled going straight into the line, the Bengals recovered and returned it for a game-winning touchdown. Why not a QB sneak? Why not a bootleg run/pass option? Was it the turning point of the game? Certainly that could be argued. But so could the fact that the Packers' four turnovers (already mentioned throughout this post if you've paying attention!) hurt them, that a rash of injuries took their toll on key players, or that the offense couldn't capitalize on four turnovers by the Bengals to put them away as they should have, or that the Packers had some stupid major penalties at inopportune times in the game.

It was a wild ride, indeed. With a very unfavorable outcome for the Packers and their fans. The team goes to 1-2 on the season as they head into an early and, as it turns out, a much-needed bye week. One of the things this game demonstrated is the parity among teams in the league. An even bigger one is that when Aaron Rodgers isn't on his A game for the offense or if Clay Matthews is unavailable to the defense, this team will have a hard time winning against anything but the doormats of the NFL.

If there are more demons from this game to be purged, or news of note during this bye week, we'll be sure to post it here. So please keep checking back. And for any real-time updates you might need, just click on the link above for our Amazing 2nd Page. Yes, it truly is Amazing!

Packers 2013 Preseason Game 2: Green Bay butts heads with the Rams

As you may note if you are a regular reader of PackerFansUnited.com, it's been a week since our last post. That article was very long post-mortem of the Packers shut out loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Frankly, it took yours truly a week to recover. Man, that was a clunker no matter how you looked it. And I know...because I looked at it every which way, as you'll see if you look again at that post.

Anyway, in the interim between that post and this one, I hope you've been checking in on all the goings on related to the Packers via our Amazing 2nd Page. That's your one-stop channel for more than you'd probably ever need -- or want -- to know about the Packers, from both the pro sport writers and sports networks as well as the great fans who help make up Packer blogger-land.

So what's the prognosis about tonight's game, which kicks off in less than one hour? Well, with a nod to Jerry Seinfeld, it is not Prognosis Negative. Rather, I think you'll see a much more inspired team this evening. Last week, other than the first series from the starting offense, the game was a flat and uninspired performance on both sides of the ball. CB Davon House, who got burned a couple times on the night, manned up during the week and even said it was his worst performance ever. That's the kind of shock therapy realization that can serve someone well all season long. Good to get that after the first preseason game and not later on in the regular season.

Who needs to show something extra tonight?
Quite a few players, at least judging by last week's performance.

Backup QB Graham Harrell has to show a lot more than an ability to throw underneath to his check-down receivers every time he passes. He is going to have to open it up and look downfield more. A lot more. Expect to see the majority of snaps go to him and Vince Young tonight. With an extra week of practice under his belt, it will really be interesting to see how Young does. He had a few good moments -- and deep throws -- in practice this week, so it will be most interesting to see his progress in the Packers system. While B.J. Coleman may get a few snaps, it seems more and more evident that he's likely to be the odd man out in the backup race for quarterback. Our fan poll (see the righthand column) clearly showed a preference for Young being Aaron Rodgers primary backup...for what that's worth.

It's likely that rookie RB Eddie Lacy will be held out again this week with his hamstring issue. Penciled-in depth chart starter DuJuan Harris is also likely not to see much if any action, just coming off the PUP list. That leaves a lot of potential carry action for Alex Green and Johnathan Franklin, in particular. Green will be given a lot of opportunities to show that he still has his pre-ACL tear burst. It was rumored at times throughout the week that Green's name was being floated as possible trade bait; to whom and for whom were not clear.

WR Randall Cobb is nursing a bicep injury and likely will not play this evening. That opens up more room for backup receivers Jeremy Ross and rookie surprise Tyrone Walker, who made a positive impression against the Cardinals. The knock on Ross is his inconsistency. Talent is no question. Hanging on to the ball consistently...question. As a kick and punt returner, it's his job to lose; head coach Mike McCarthy does not want to be in a position to have to put Randall Cobb back as the primary returner. Let's see if Ross seizes the opportunity given to him tonight.

Johnny Jolly should again see a fair amount of playing time. The defensive line is a crowded place right now. He played well last week in his first game action in three years. But he's competing against some younger guys. He's got the know-how and, his teammates say, he's got the desire. Can he put that desire and physicality back on the field in a way even close to what he was a few years back? We'll see.

There are lots of places to look for insights tonight. Let's hope the good surprises outweigh the bad, whether or not the Packers come out with a "W". Oh, and also let's hope the Pack escapes without any injuries. That would be good too, wouldn't it?

GO PACK GO!!!

Season finale: Packers vs. Vikings preview

In week 17, the NFL regular season finale, the NFC North Division Champion Green Bay Packers travel across the Mississippi River to take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Humpty Dump. At stake for the Packers is nailing down the number two seed in the NFC playoffs and a first round bye. For the ViQueens, a win means -- in all likelihood -- getting the sixth seed in the playoffs. Do you think this game will be the gridiron equivalent of a cage match smackdown? Oh yes. Oh yes it will.

Keeping Peterson in check
In addition to the playoff implications, not only for the Packers and 'Queens but a few other teams as well, many will be watching today to see if Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson breaks Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Peterson needs 208 yards to break the record. Recall that he ran for 210 yards against the Packers in their first meeting earlier in the month at Lambeau Field. He also ran for 212 yards on 24 carries in a win over the Rams on Dec. 16. Bottom line: Peterson has exceeded the yardage he needs today in two of his last four games. So, is it in the realm of possibility that he'll get the record? Definitely. Is it likely the Packers will let that happen? I don't think so. They don't want him to set the record against them.

But not wanting to let Peterson set the record against them and seeing to it that that doesn't happen are two different things. The Packers will have to tackle well -- something they haven't always done this season -- in order to keep Peterson from breaking off those big chunks of yardage he is known to get.

If the Packers at least keep Peterson somewhat in check, then the 'Queens will need QB Christian Ponder to play well. Ponder has been hot and cold this season...generally cold but seemingly warming up a bit as of late. The Pack will need a pass rush, good linebacker support and that tenacious secondary to play the way they did last week in the win versus the Titans. Granted, Minnesota is a far better team than Tennessee (all the more reason for the defense to step up big time), but if the defense plays the way it showed it was capable of last weekend, then the Packers offense can do what it does best: put more points on the scoreboard than the opponent.

The difference
The Packers have at least one key playmaker today they didn't have in the first game: the Claymaker...LB Clay Matthews. That will be huge for the Packers. And with WR and returner Randall Cobb likely sitting this game out with the ankle injury suffered last weekend, the Pack will gladly take the return of WR Jordy Nelson. Jeremy Ross will be assuming Cobb's return duties, at least on punts.

The Packers will also have Ryan Grant as part of the three-headed running attack along with Alex Green and DuJuan Harris. The running-back-by-committee approach is something that has served the Packers well late in the season. While the ViQueens' defensive front, led by Jared Allen, is one of the better ones in the division, the Packers' offensive line also seems to be getting into a groove in its new configuration. Having said that, if new starting center Evan Dietrich-Smith has difficulty today against the Minnesota front expect veteran Jeff Saturday to step back into the role.

The Prediction
Much, much more analysis could be given here. But time and the availability of that type of information elsewhere offers both you, the reader, and this writer the opportunity to forego that repetition.

The Packers are 3-1/2-point favorites today. That seems to be about right. This will in all likelihood be a tight game throughout. A key turnover, a blown coverage or a missed tackle by either side might well determine the final outcome. Oh, do I need to also mention a missed field goal? Unfortunately for both fans and the Packers, given K Mason Crosby's issues over the last couple months, we need to reference that as a possible factor in the final score, too.

We're calling it 27-24 Packers.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers beat Bears -- again -- and win NFC North

The Green Bay Packers did what they needed to do Sunday -- and are accustomed to doing as of recent years in this series -- by beating the Chicago Bears 21-13 and claiming the NFC North Division title for the second straight year.

We had projected one of two scenarios in our game preview: either the Packers would go up early and never let Da Bearz back in, or, the game would be close in the first half and the Packers would take control in the second half. The latter was the scenario that played out, jump started by a late first-half interception that was turned into a touchdown to put the Pack up 14-7 at halftime.

Chicago actually scored first. But after that, the Packers ran off 21 unanswered points. The Packers controlled both sides of the ball. It was a given the Packers would score points, the question would be whether the Packers' defense could contain WR Brandon Marshall and RB Matt Forte. They did. They also continued to harras and sack QB Jay "Why Me?" Cutler. It's getting so bad that you almost feel sorry for him. Naaaaaaah.

Actually, the Packers' defense not only got sacks on Cutler but shut down the run and made Marshall essentially a non-factor. They also had several great defensive stands, including a first-and-goal from about the one-yard line. Actually, if it wasn't for two Packers' turnovers leading to six points, and two missed field goals -- again -- by kicker Mason Crosby, the game wouldn't have been as close as the score indicated.

It also wouldn't have been as close if the Packers hadn't called what was one of the most ill-timed and boneheaded special teams' plays EVER. With roughly eight minutes left in the game and the Packers leading 21-10, Chicago punted to the Packers' Randall Cobb, a sure-handed and dangerous returner. For some reason known only in a bizzaro football world, the Packers decided to take the ball out of the hands of its best special teams' player and do a trick play where Cobb -- a former quarterback at Kentucky -- threw backwards to a teammate on the other side of the field. Only problem was that the receiving player, WR Jeremy Ross, failed to catch the ball or secure it once he dropped it. Da Bearz recovered the ball inside the Packers' redzone. This was a gift from the football gods to Chicago, putting them in easy range of making it a 21-17 game with nearly half the 4th quarter remaining. Once again, though, the Packers' defense shut down Chicago's offense, holding them to a 34-yard field goal to make it 21-13. In his press conference today, head coach Mike McCarthy tried to explain the rationale behind the trick play but finished by saying, "In the end, it was not a good decision." That's an understatement. The Packers were lucky they were facing Chicago's inept offense and not a more productive team or it really could have put the game in jeopardy. Instead of taking time off the clock and preserving the lead...well...anyway...bad decision and likely will not be seeing this play again anytime soon. Or ever.

That's where the scoring ended, as the Packers were able to secure the victory through a clutch corner kick punt by Tim Masthy inside the final two minutes of the game that went out of bounds at Chicago's 2-yard line. With no timeouts, and a devastating sack on Cutler by Clay Matthews (his second of the day), the clock finally wound down to zero.

QB Aaron Rodgers was under pressure and was sacked several times. But his passes, especially his three touchdown passes to WR James Jones, were keys to victory, as was his ability to keep plays alive with his feet. He wound up injuring his right ankle on a late run, but McCarthy said at his press conference today that it was not serious. Jones, for his part, had a career day with his three TD catches, for a league-leading twelve. The Packers' three-head running attack of Alex Green, DuJuan Harris and Ryan Grant once again accounted for more than 100 yards rushing, which helped open the passing game for Rodgers, who finished the day 23 of 36 for 291 yards and the three touchdowns. Grant, though, on his first carry of the day, had one of the team's two turnovers on a fumble after a nice gain, halting a promising drive.

Still, it was a win. Six straight over Da Bearz now.

Game. Head-to-head series. Division title. Home playoff game. It was a good day in Chicago.

Go Pack Go!