Packers pluck the Seahawks 27-17

It may have been publicly downplayed by Green Bay Packers coaches, staff and players prior to the game, but there's no denying the sweet taste of revenge that comes with the Pack's Sunday night win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. After losing three straight to Seattle, in heartbreaking ways, the Packers finally got their "white whale"...or blue-green birds...whatever.

It was a game where the better team exerted itself and controlled the game, particularly in the fourth quarter. To the latter point, the Packers controlled the ball for more than 10 minutes in the final quarter of the game, scoring 11 unanswered points.

As the Packers went to 2-0 in the division and conference, Seattle fell to 0-2, effectively putting the Pack three games up on their conference rival by virtue of the head-to-head tie-breaker, should it come to that at playoff time. The win was a huge one for the Packers and an equally huge loss for the Seahawks.

The Packers defensive line dominated the Seahawks
Photo by Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
While we expect the Packers offense to score points and lead the way (thank you, Aaron Rodgers, may we have another?), it was the Packers defense and special teams which played key roles in the win with unexpectedly strong performances. Outside linebackers generally held contain, while the D-line, anchored by B.J. Raji and Mike Daniels, stuffed RB Marshawn Lynch time and again, holding him to 41 yards on 15 carries. An amazing effort. Seattle QB and former Wisconsin Badger Russell Wilson was the team's leading rusher on the night, with 78 yards on 10 carries/scrambles.

The defense also caused two huge turnovers. Actually, LB Jayrone Elliott was the party responsible for both: he picked off one-handed a screen pass over the middle and then late in the game chased down RB Fred Jackson from behind and caused a fumble. A great night for the young man, who actually was back up to Andy Mulumba.

Packers special teams also are uncharacteristically performing well two games into the season under the leadership of coordinator Ron Zook. They covered well against the Seahawks. K Mason Crosby hit field goals of 54, 18, 44 and 21 yards. In doing so, he passed K Ryan Longwell as the Packers' all-time scoring leader. Congratulations, Mason!

Downsides
While there was much to be pleased with in this game, injuries again reared up to bite the Packers. RB Eddie Lacy was lost in the first quarter to an ankle sprain; there is a possibility -- given the extra day of rest because the Packers don't play until Monday evening against the Kansas City Chiefs -- that he could be available to play. But James Starks carried 20 times for 95 yards as his replacement, proving why Ted Thompson decided to keep him in free agency rather than let him depart. Randall Cobb and rookie Ty Montgomery also got snaps out of the backfield, proving their versatility and how this offense just keeps coming at you no matter what.

WR Davante Adams was also out of the game for a while with an ankle injury, but returned to play. The biggest loss of the night was that of third-year DT, Josh Boyd, who broke his ankle and sustained some ligament damage, as well. He has since been placed on injured reserve for the season; the Packers immediately signed ILB Joe Thomas to the roster spot.

Chiefs up next
Next up for the 2-0 Packers are the 1-1 Kansas City Chiefs. The game will be in primetime on Monday night at Lambeau Field. In keeping with their 1-1 record, the Chiefs have both scored and given up 51 points in their first two games. The Packers, conversely have scored 58 while allowing just 40. The oddsmakers have installed the Pack as 6-1/2 point favorites at this point in time.

Check back with us later to read any updates and be sure to check back closer to game day for our preview and prediction.

Go Pack Go!!!

What the Favre? Part 22

In merely the 22nd installment (22nd?!!!) of our ongoing drama, What the Favre?, breaking news out of Minnesota is that Ol' #4 has returned to Minnesota for his 20th season in the NFL. Literally. His plane landed not long ago.

Former fellow Green Bay Packer, Ryan Longwell, and two other ViQueen shmoes flew to Mississippi yesterday to beg Brett to return...er...ask what his status was.

This is actually a good thing for Packer fans. Really. The Packers' defense now gets a do-over for letting Brett and the 'Queens sweep them last year. One great way to make sure this is in fact Favre's last season will be to send him away with two losses to the Pack. That will stick in his craw as long as he rides his lawn tractor in Hattiesburg...two losses to the Packers in the final season of his career.

I can almost see the tears now.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packer updates

Yikes. It's been a bit since the last post here. Sorry about that. But really, there hasn't been all that much going on of major significance recently. Granted, many blogs don't let that prevent them from posting. But that's not the way we do things here at PackerFansUnited.com. Well, at least not most of the time.

So, what has been going on? Get a cuppa java and settle in...this is gonna take a while...

Punter signed
The Packers -- as a sign of their total desperation in the punting game -- last week signed an Australian Rules Football player who has never played a down of American football. Now, some might argue that even veteran NFL punters have never played a down of American football either, but that's a whole other conversation. Since totally botching the punter position by releasing Jon Ryan virtually on the eve of the start of the 2008 season, the Packers have been mired in mediocrity at the position. (It might also be noted that Ryan has gone on to have two good seasons in Seattle and recently signed a multi-year deal with them.)

The fact is, there are just not that many quality free agent punters available at the moment, and the college ranks coming into the draft also don't look compelling...and do we really want a reprise of Mike Sherman's third-round draft debacle of B. J. Sander? So, when all else fails, look down under...no, not there! Australia, mate...put another shrimp on the barbie...Fosters "Australian for beer", etc.

So who is this Aussie? Chris Bryan, a 28-year-old left-footer. He joins Tim Masthay, 23, another left-footer free agent the Packers also picked up recently. Masthay was in camp with Indianapolis in 2009 but didn't even kick in an exhibition game. So, things don't look promising for this aspect of the game at present. If you care to be even more depressed about this than I've already made you, you can read more here. If you wish to read about coach Mike McCarthy's optimistic take on the situation, then check out this article.

Draft order set
The NFL draft will take place over not just two days any longer, but three, starting with a Thursday evening primetime extravaganza. It's all about the dollars, kids, as if there was ever any doubt about that. Here's the Packers' picks during the April 22-24 marathon (btw, I apologize in advance if the table spacing doesn't appear correctly in your browser...keep scrolling...it's there...really):

ROUND	PICK	OVERALL
1	23	23
2	24	56
3	23	86
4	24	122
5	23	154
5	38	169 (Comp)
6	24	193
7	23	230

McCarthy talks O-line
It's not like that is surprising, is it? Head Coach Mike McCarthy has been answering questions about the offensive line ever since he's been at the helm of the Packers. No different this season. At the NFL Owners meeting, McCarthy talked about the offensive line. Check out his comments here.

Pack gets compensatory pick
The NFL awarded the Packers a fifth-round selection, No. 169 overall, as compensation for the loss of nose tackle Colin Cole to the Seattle Seahawks last year. It's the first time in two years the Packers have been awarded a compensatory pick.

Touchdown Havner down?
Linebacker/tight end touchdown maker, Spencer Havner, was recently in a motorcycle accident in California and suffered a broken shoulder bone. Packers medical staff hasn't been able to evaluate him yet because Havner hasn't been able to travel. To complicate the matter further, Havner was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Although no charges have yet been filed, they are apparently under consideration by the district attorney's office in that particular jurisdiction. You can read more here.

Owners make OT rule changes
You've no doubt heard about the so-called "Favre rule" coming to post-season overtimes near you. Some sports pundits speculate that the impetus for the change this year was because the ViQueens lost in overtime in the NFC Championship game. Yes, we all know that all Ol' #4 had to do was take a knee near the end of regulation and Ryan Longwell would have booted them into the Super Bowl. But...well...given a choice between doing what makes sense and being a gunslinger...yep. So, the owners finally decided to make some changes. Currently, these changes only apply to post-season games. But they may review the rule further for regular season play, as well. And, interestingly, the 'Queens were one of only four teams to vote against the rule change; go figure.

Here are the changes approved for 2010 post-season overtime games:
• Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner.

• If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If [that team] scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after [both teams have a] possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.

• If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if [the overtime period's] initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.