Motor City Massacre: Packers lose to Lions 40-10

It's taken me -- and many, if not most, Packers fans -- two days to get over the debacle in Detroit. The Green Bay Packers were whipped on both sides of the ball by the Detroit Lions. The team that has been bottom-of-the-barrel in the NFC North for so, so long now sits atop it. The Lions played with determination, energy and passion from start to finish. None of those attributes were present from this current Packers squad.

(Photo from Packers.com)
This photo pretty well sums up not only what the Packers felt like on Thursday, but what Packer fans worldwide felt watching and listening to this game. Despite the Lions handing the Packers four turnovers on the day, the Pack could only convert those into seven points. But that was four points more than the Packers offense could manage for the day in one of its most inept performances in ages: 126 total yards.

The defense, or what might appropriately be called "defense" on this day, gave up 561 yards (or thereabouts...when we're talking these kind of numbers does it really matter???). The "defense" missed 20-plus tackles on the day. Anyone watching saw that CB Davon House was a whiff machine on the day. But he was far from the only one. There was no toughness. No coverage of much account either, with receivers wide open over the middle as they have been repeatedly during this losing streak. Yes, they finally got the takeaways which had been so lacking on the season, but it didn't matter...the offense could do nothing. No running game. No passing game. The former was due to the inability of the offensive line to create any movement at the line, while the latter was largely a result of little time for QB Matt Flynn to throw coupled with his obviously weak arm strength.

A whole lotta hurt
The Packers are in a world of hurt. A few weeks ago, that would have been more a reference to the 12 players on injured reserve, as well as those missing time for other minor injuries. You have to believe the presence on the field of Brian Bulaga, Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley, Casey Hayward, Johnathan Franklin, Robert Francois and DuJuan Harris -- among others -- would make for a different dynamic and level of performance. Cobb is designated for return but at this point...?

The hurt the Packers are in now seems to be more than just the physical injuries. It's mental. It's emotional. It's spirit. It seems, since QB Aaron Rodgers went down with his fractured collarbone, that all the juice just went out of the team. Yes, he's important. And, truth be told, it's looking more and more like he was able to cover up offensively the deficiencies of the Packers defense.

There is, rightly, a lot of soul searching going on right now at 1265 Lombardi Avenue in Green Bay. Players, coaches and even GM Ted Thompson have to be looking in the mirror and taking responsibility for where this team is right now. Mathematically, the Packers are still alive for the playoffs if they win out...there's a chance. But realistically?

The team is terrible right now. It pains me to say that. But we'd be delusional not to just say how it is. Even if Rodgers is somehow able to get back on the field for the next game on Dec. 8 against the Falcons at Lambeau, is that going to make the difference? And if starting center Evan Dietrich-Smith is out for that game with the knee injury he sustained in Detroit, do you really want to see Rodgers running for his life -- and perhaps, career -- behind that makeshift offensive line, including the human turnstile, Marshall Newhouse?

I, for one, would just as soon see Rodgers sit out the rest of the season and heal without risk of further damage. Put Scott Tolzien back in at quarterback. Yes, Flynn knows the system better, but he has the arm strength of a spaghetti noodle; Tolzien demonstrated he can get the ball downfield. Might still make some rookie-type mistakes; let him learn. Right now, that would be a better option than letting Flynn float wounded ducks 15 yards downfield. By giving Tolzien playing time now you can come into next season with a verified backup to Rodgers, which is something Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy -- for all their brilliance -- failed to have ready going into this season.

It ain't pretty, Packer fans. Ain't pretty at all. A 5-6-1 record with four to go, two home and two away. Ain't pretty.

Packers beat Lions, lose Clay Matthews and other linebackers

The Green Bay Packers did what they needed to do yesterday at Lambeau Field: they beat the NFC North Division leading Detroit Lions, 22-9, to pull within one-half game of the top spot. They also moved to within a half-game of Da Bearz. It was an especially great defensive performance, sacking Lions QB Matthew Stafford five times and holding the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league to just nine points.

However, the win came at a price. Starting linebacker Brad Jones went down with -- what else? -- a hamstring injury; his status is still unclear. His backup and special teams standout, Robert Francois, blew out his Achilles and is done for the season. Near the end of the third quarter, uber-linebacker extraordinaire, Clay Matthews, broke a thumb on a sack of Stafford. Late today, it was reported that Matthews will have surgery on the thumb and be out at least a month. It's possible the Packers could use their one special injured reserve spot with return after six weeks to open up a position for another player while Matthews heals. Obviously, no matter who that player is, the Packers' defense took a hit with the loss of Matthews, as well as Jones and Francois. Other players will have to step up big time.

As to the Packers' offense, it did what it needed to do. Aaron Rodgers was his efficient self throwing for a tad under 300 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Eddie Lacy rushed for 99 yards. Randall Cobb ran out of the backfield for 60+ yards on one play. James Jones caught the longest TD pass and play from scrimmage this season, 83 yards. Jordy Nelson made acrobatic catches that are becoming his trademark. Mason Crosby tied a franchise record by kicking five field goals; he hasn't missed a field goal attempt yet this season.

But the offense had to settle for field goals the two times it got into the red zone yesterday. This has been a disturbing pattern so far this season: not finishing drives or capitalizing on turnovers...the latter played a role in the loss to the Bengals last week.

Still, a win is a win, especially over a division opponent.

Oh, and did I mention this was the 23rd consecutive time that the Lions have lost on Wisconsin soil? They came in roaring...they left meowing.

Next up for the Pack will be a road trip to Baltimore to take on the 3-2 Ravens. Check back here during the week for more about Packer developments and game previews.

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 vs. Rams: preview and prediction

Coming off their much needed victory against the Houston Texans last Sunday evening, the Green Bay Packers make a stop in St. Louis today as the third of their back-to-back-to-back road trips on the schedule. Sitting at 3-3, the Pack has yet to win back-to-back games. Today offers an opportunity to get on a roll and go into their bye a few weeks down the road at 6-3.

But first, the Rams. Also sitting at 3-3, but one could -- and I will -- make the argument that these are very different 3-3 teams facing each other. The oddsmakers apparently have a similar view as they have the Pack installed as 5.5-point favorites. Granted, the Packers will be without five key starters in this game: WR Greg Jennings, NT B.J. Raji, LB Nick Perry, CB Sam Shields and LB D.J. Smith. Note that four of these five are on the defense. For a unit that seemed to just be getting its mojo in gear, it's not ideal. The Packers have become particularly light in the linebacking corps; don't forget that Smith was starting in place of the injured Desmond Bishop. So look to Brad Jones and Robert Francois to plug in the gap. Replacing Sam Shields will likely be Casey Hayward, the rookie who had two interceptions in last week's game and already has three on the season in a backup role. He always seems to be around the ball, and may have opportunities again today, particularly if the Pack's front seven can hold down the Rams' running game and then create the kind of pressure on third-year QB Sam Bradford the way they did against Matt Schaub. Also look for CB Davon House to get some action today for the first time this season. He was showing great promise in camp before being injured.

On the offensive side of the ball for the Packers, with the exception of Jennings, QB Aaron Rodgers will have his full complement of receivers. James Jones seems to be finally rounding into the player that everyone thought he could be. Jordy Nelson had his belated season coming out party last week with three TD catches after only one in the preceding five games. Randall Cobb continues to emerge as a threat on many levels. RB Alex Green will again get the start. Green did a servicable job last week keeping defenses honest and thus opening up the passing game for Rodgers and crew. If he can continue to do that this week, the offense gets a boost. If not, there are really not many options for the Packers at running back right now, especially with the season-ending injury to backup RB Brandon Saine...and of course, Cedric Benson was lost the week before for at least a couple months if not the season. That pretty much leaves James Starcks as the primary replacement, and he hasn't seen much action at all this season, nor can he seem to avoid nagging injuries and stay on the field when given the chance. The Packers did claim RB Johnny White off waivers from Buffalo this week, but don't expect him to probably even be active today.

The Packers' offensive line will have its collective hands full with a very good defensive front on the part of the Rams, led by Chris Long. The Rams have also drafted DE Robert Quinn (2011) and DT Michael Brockers (2012) to help bolster the D-line. Given how well the Packers' offensive line handled JJ Watt et al in Houston, if they can reprise that effort today, Rodgers could have another big day. Remember: this is another dome game and Rodgers and the receivers like that fast track as it opens things up downfield. While mis-firing in that regard a bit too often early in the season, it seemed as if things started to finally click last Sunday night. Again, that pattern should continue today.

Prediction
I'm a big fan of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Packers beat writer, Bob McGinn, as frequent readers of this space know. Here's his take on today's game: "In three of their six games, the Rams have faced rookie quarterbacks. They're 2-1 there, and they've also defeated Arizona's Kevin Kolb. Given their voids in the offensive line, at wide receiver and at safety, the Rams should not compete with, let alone defeat good teams. It's the Packers in a rout."

I concur with McGinn. It's a big "if" given the Packers injuries in key spots. But it seemed as if last week was the Pack's first complete game of the season; it was how we expected this team to be. I think they've found their groove, injuries aside.

I'm calling it 38-24 in favor of the Pack. Don't know if that qualifies as a rout or not, but it's a win and that's all that matters.

With the Jaguars and Cardinals coming to Lambeau Field over the next two weekends, this game is the key to being 6-3 heading into the bye. Then, with five of their remaining seven games coming against NFC North Division opponents -- twice against both the Lions and ViQueens and once against Da Bearz -- the Packers would be well set to make a playoff run -- if not outright division title -- down the stretch.

First things first, though...say it with me: 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.)