GB vs. TB - post-game

Post-game 4 - GB vs. TB

Usually I do not do a post-game article, but this week I believe it is warranted. The lethargic Packers dropped a 30-21 decision to an appreciative Buccaneer squad. As a Packer fan, that was bad enough, Rodger's injury was the more disturbing news. During this spring's drama, "As the Favre Yearns", one of the major points made about Rodgers was his durability. Sunday he threw his arm/shoulder out throwing a touchdown pass. No defensive hit. No falling down. He just threw a pass. It was a great throw and put the Packers back into a game they were frittering away. Is this guy that delicate? At least Hawk, Jenkins and Collins went out making hits. Of course, as this was transpiring, Favre was busy throwing six TDs against Arizona. The door is now wide open for all the naysayers. The "I told you so"s will be echoing throughout Green Bay. For me the defensive injuries add to the list of non-walking wounded. I assume Green Bay will start looking for a veteran QB, if Rodgers injury is serious. Flynn seemed to be a "deer in the headlights" in his brief stint on Sunday. The next few days could dictate the fate of this young season for the Green and Gold. With a first place schedule, the Packers cal ill afford to go into each game at half-strength. As the Favre soap opera moved on to another venue, the Rodgers dark comedy takes center stage. Stay tuned for Act II…

GB vs Dallas

Pre-game 3 – GB vs. Dallas

After an agonizing victory over Detroit, I'm a realist; we take on the anointed NFC champions. Never mind the Giants, Dallas has been given the nod to make it to the Super Bowl. From what I've seen so far this year, who am I to argue. The Packers have already surprised me by winning its first two games. Will they win this Sunday? The realist says "No". I will be there watching from the stands, since this is one of the Milwaukee ticket package games. I have seen several upsets before. The New England Monday night game in 1979 or the overtime win against SF in 1996. I will be rooting for the Pack, as always, but I hope the game, regardless of the outcome, is well played. This will be a great milestone for Rodgers and the rest of the Packers. You see, I don't believe they were a 13-3 team last year, no matter what their record was. I am a realist.

On a lighter note, I was looking at the tickets for Sunday's game and noticed something different. There is a bar code on it! After decades of having my tickets ripped to shreds by volunteers, when entering Lambeau, I assume the tickets will be scanned. I say assume since it has taken this long for GB to move into the 90s. All other venues and sports team have been scanning tickets for years. This may be a test run this year to see if the bar code is fashionably acceptable. Or maybe the have sprung for scanners, now that they have Favre's money to play with. I guess I will just have to see. Like the environment, THINK GREEN and gold…

Green Bay vs Detroit

I know this is going to sound odd, after the performance he put in last Monday night, but this game could be even more telling and scrutinized. Beating a formidable opponent at home, may pale by comparison to a weak opponent on the road. This, of course, is what Aaron Rodgers will have to overcome, this week. We all know the Packers do not do anything simple and easy. They keep their opponents in the game way to long and seem to play down to weaker teams. It is always surprising when they have a laugher, like last years home Viking game (34-0). Considering the team and the timing (late in the season), this game shocked and, also, brought false hope to many Packer fans. Until the Packers go for the throat and pummel teams they should, they will be mere pretenders. I believe this was the case in the last Chicago game and the NFC Championship. They seemed to wait for something to happen, instead of charging out of the gate. But getting back to this week's event, the Packers will have to score often and early to remove the doubt from the realistic fans. The defense will have to tighten up. Harris will have to show up. The linebackers will have to try to cover tight-ends (which they couldn't do Monday night). The running game will have to get off the ground and become more consistent. The offensive line will have to cut the number of penalties it receives. And Rodgers can take the next step up the ladder of success with a decisive and error free victory in Detroit. My prediction: Packers 20, Detroit 17.

Game 1 - GBP vs Minn

As I have become accustomed to, Monday night's Packer game was not for the faint of heart. With 21 total penalties, 12 beloning to the Pack, sloppy seems to be the appropriate word. From the nauseous feeling I put up with during the first two possessions, to the final "let's try three runs up the middle" fiasco with three minutes left, I was lucky I could get to sleep at all( adreneline will do that). I felt sorry for Aaron Rodgers. It almost apeared to be sabotage. But after awhile, the line settled down and Aaron went to work. Nothing flashy, he just put in a workman-like effort. He took what the defense gave him and accept for his Favre-like throw to Cory Hall, he kept himself turnover free. It's early to say that the Packer management is right. It is too early to say the Packers are the team to beat in the North. But the did beat a division team. One who decided to help motivate the Packers by opening their mouth and issuing threats. All I can say is that it couln't happen to to better teams.