Time For Packers And The Bears! The NFL's Longest Rivalry!

Here we go!  From the Vikings to the Bears!  This is what football is all about!

Rivalry began in 1921!  THE LEAGUES LONGEST!

Bears lead the series - 92-88-6
1920's - Bears 7-6-3
1930's - Bears 12-11-1
1940's-  Bears 16-4-1
1950's - Bears 14-5-1
1960's - Packers 15-5
1970's - Bears 11-9
1980's - Bears 11-7
1990's - Packers 13-7
2000's - Packers 12-8
2010's - Packers 6-1

NFL Title - Packers 13 & Bears 9!

Super Bowl Appearances - Packers 5 - Bears 2
Super Bowl 1 - Packers 35 Kansas City 10
Super Bowl 2 - Packers 33 Oakland 14
Super Bowl 20 - Bears 46 New England 10
Super Bowl 31 - Packers 35 New England 21
Super Bowl 32 - Denver 31 Packers 24
Super Bowl 41 - Indianapolis 29 Bears 17
Super Bowl 45 - Packers 31 Pittsburgh 25

Check out the top ten moments in the Packer & Bear Rivalry!

Packers Defeat Vikings, What DId We Learn?

One thing was settled Sunday, the Packers win the Viking Dome Series - 26 wins & 25 loses!  Many great games!  Many great memories!  Packers comes out one game on top!  AWESOME!

What did we learn Sunday against the Vikings?

We learned Aaron Rogers can pass the football and at the same have a running game!!  He was 24 for 29 for 285 yards and 2 TD's with no interceptions!

We learned Lacy & Starks are running backs to be reckoned with each week!  Lacy 29 attempts for 94 yards and a TD & Starks 7 attempts 57 yards and a TD!

We learned Jordy Nelson can catch, and run, and play in the slot, or wide, and still has that speed!

We learned the offensive line can pass block & run block!  Our young tackles are progressing Bakhtari blocked Jared Allen!  Barclay blocked Robinson!

We learned, missing 3 out of our 4 starting linebackers is not the end of the world!  The "Next Man Up" Lattimore inside, Palmer & Neal outside are able to hold there own!

We learned our defense CAN hold Peterson under 100 yards (13 attempts for 60 yards!)

We learned Micah Hyde can return punts!!

And, we learned the Packers are back as a team to be reckoned with in the NFL!

Viking vs Packers, NFL Rivals

The NFL has some great rivalries!  And the Vikings and Packers Rivalry Rocks!

A look at the records by decades:

1960's     Packers 11-7

1970's     Vikings 15-4-1 

1980's     Packers 14-5

1990's     Vikings 12-9

2000's     Packers 12-9

2010's     2010's 6-1

Totals - Packers 56  Vikings 49 and one tie!

How about the Hall of Fame?

Packers -  21 Hall of Famers
Vikings - 16 Hall of Famers

And how about a few Viking jokes?

Q. How do the Vikings count to 10?
A. 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, 0-6, 0-7, 0-8, 0-9, 0-10

Q. How do you keep a Viking out of your yard?
A. Put up goal posts!

Q. Where do you go in Minneapolis in case of a tornado?
A. To the Metrodome - there's never a touchdown!

Q. What do you call a Viking with a Super Bowl ring?
A. A thief!

Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!

Q. What's the difference between the Vikings and a dollar bill?
A. You can still get four quarters out of a dollar!

Q. How many Vikings does it take to win a SuperBowl?
A. Nobody knows!

Q. What do the Vikings and possums have in common?
A. Both play dead at home and get killed on the road!

Packers at Vikings - Last Game in Humphrey Dome!

What is the record in the Vikings Dome?

Here is Green Bay's history against the Minnesota Vikings, limited to games played in Minnesota. Given all ofBrett Favre's struggles in the Metrodome, you might think the Vikings would have a series edge in Minnesota. This is actually not the case. In fact, the series as it currently stands in Minnesota is an exact tie, with the current mark being a 25-25 deadlock.

This is surprising!  So, this is it!  The Packers could win the series!!!  26-25!

What must happen?  Here are my comments.

Offense

1 - Block Jared Allen

2 - Run Lacy Run

Defense
1 - Stop Peterson!

2 - Pressure the QB!

 Special Teams

1 - Punting - Tim Masthay - a clean game

2 - Kicking Mason Crosby - make everything!

NFL, IS Professional Football In Trouble?

Did you watch the Giants & Vikings game last night?  Is it just me, or is the NFL in trouble?  What makes me say this?

The Monday Night Game between the the Vikings and the Giants was ugly! The caliber of play was questionable! And the decision making of the teams is strange!  For the Vikings, Freeman starting was borderline crazy!  He was not ready and he is not that good!  The Giants, are they really the Giants or a bunch of guys dressed up like the Giants?  Does a Super Bowl team lose it that quickly?

Injuries?  Is it me, or are players dropping like flies?  We know the Packers are having issues, but other teams!  Reggie Wayne, the Colts, for the season!  Sam Bradford, the Rams, for the season!  Jay Cutler, the Bears, 4-6 weeks!  Brian Cushing, the Texans, for the season!  Arian Foster, the Texans, for 2-3 weeks!  Leon Hall, Bengals, for the season!  Jermichael Finley, Packers, for an unknown length of time!  Doug Martin, Bucs, for an unknown length of time! That is just one week!  And thses are major players!!!  It would be nice to see stats comparing other seasons!

Expansion, playing in London?  Playing Sunday Nights?  Playing Monday nights?  Playing Thursday nights, this is the craziest!  I think all these whacky schedule changes are NOT good!

Have you been to a game lately?  The flow of play I think is not good for the athletes!  Kickoff, a 3-4 minute commercial break!  A Punt, a 3-4 minute time out!  A touchdown, a 3-4 minute time out!  2-minute warning, a 3-4 minute break!  A review of a play, a 3-4 minute time out!  An injury, a 3-4 minute time out!  Not good for the fans!  Not good for the players!  No good for the NFL!

And new rules!  Helmet to helmet?  It is a good idea, but the defense is not going lower!  Knee & lower leg injuries!  Hard to play defense!  And more fines!  More stopping play to review hits.  Tackling has evolved into trying to destroy someone, instead of a good tackle!

What do you think?  Is the NFL in trouble?

Packers Beat Browns

Mike McCarthy will say it, this fan will say it, and my Packer Buddies will say it, "Any win in the NFL is a GOOD win!  When you play only 16 games in the season, a WIN is BIG!

And other reasons?

The Bears & Lions lost - the Packers are in first place in their division!

In the NFC, the Packers record now is the 4th best - Seahawks 6-1, Saints 5-1, 49er's 5-2, the Packers at 4-2 - this is good!

Injuries - guess what, many teams are suffering!  Bears, Cutler & Briggs!

The Packer defense seems to be getting better!  The "Next Man Up", Mulumba, Lattimore, and Neal are doing the job.  Burnett is back at safety & Hayward is ready to come back.  And the defensive line is deep and starting to develop a chemistry!

The offense in RUNNING the football.  Lacy looks like a beast.  The offensive line looks like it likes to block for the run!  Starks will be back soon and Franklin needs to play!

We will lose Finley for awhile, but Jones may be back soon!  Cobb is missed, but Boykin looks good.  Taylor is back, and maybe Quarless, Bostick, & Taylor could fill in for Finley?

Special Teams must re-group, since many players are now starting!

A great win - YES, and the Vikings are next (With a new QB!)

Go Pack Go!

Cleveland Browns Coming To Green Bay

The Packers are hurting and I think the schedule may help!

Here is the schedule the next 5 weeks:

Browns @ Packers
Packers @ Vikings
Bears @ Packers
Eagles @ Packers
Packers @ Giants

The Browns have been a big surprise in a positive way at 3 wins & 3 losses!  Even after trading their running back, Trent Richardson, they have played well!  Here are some stats:

Defense - Browns yards per game 7th - 312 yards   Packers yards per game 18th - 371 yards
Defense - Browns points per game 11th - 20.8    Packers yards per game 16th - 22.8

Offense - Browns 24th - 330 yards per game    Packers 2nd - 450 yards per game
Offense - Browns 24th - 19 points per game    Packers 5th - 27 per game

The Packer's defense should handle the Browns offense even without 3 starting line backers.  It really is perfect timing for the young players on defense to get game experience against an offense that is not one of the leagues best!  The QB, Weeden, is not very mobile, so no need to worry about the QB running the ball!  The passing game does have some good wide receivers Bess & Gordon and a tight end, Cameron, that has looked good this year!

The Packer offense has another opportunity to see how the running games is maturing!  It would be great to see 100 yards from Lacy and Franklin to get meaningful playing time!  The passing game should be interesting  Will Boykin start to show he belongs?  Can Finley carry some of the load and prove he is one of the better tight ends in the league?  And who will surprise us this week?  Quarless, White, ..........

Every win is BIG.  And we need to stay close to Detroit & Chicago!

One Last Look At The Ravens & Packers Game

In the NFL a win is a win, not manner what the score, no matter what the statistics!

First, and most obvious the Packer injury issues!  Let's take a look at the season so far......

Starters Out:
Left Tackle - Brian Bulaga - entire season?
Slot Receiver - Randall Cobb - 8 weeks or more?
Wide Receiver - James Jones - this week?
Outside Line Backer - Clay Matthews - 4 weeks?
Inside Line Backer - Brad Jones  - one week?
Outside Line Backer - Nick Perry - two weeks?
Corner Back - Casey Hayward - one week?

Bench -
Robert Francois - LB entire year
Sedderick Cunningham - CB entire year
Kevin Dorsey - WR entire year
DuJuan Harris - RB entire year
Greg Van Roten - OL entire year

NEXT MAN UP!

OK, the good news!

Packer Defense
1 - The young guys are growing, Neal, Perry, Hyde, Lattimore, ....
2 - Johnny Jolly - welcome back!  Run defense - much improved!  Defense leadership!
3 - AJ Hawk!  Wow!  What a game!  And leadership!

Packer Offense
1 - Running Game!  Eddie Lacy!!  Come on Franklin!!
2 - Passing Game - Enough to Win!  Nelson & Finley!
3 - Offensive Line!  Starting to gel!

Some of the play selection was interesting.  Here are my issues - I hope McCarthy is reading
my blog!
1 - On a 3rd & 1, Franklin is in & not Lacy?  Why
2 - Attack the middle of the field MORE!  Big plays Nelson & Finley!
3 - Screen Passes, draw plays, shuttle passes, .......
4 - Defense NO 3 man rushes please!!!!!!!!!

Packer Buddies Visit Baltimore

The Packer Buddies made a road trip this past weekend!  A trip on the Light Rail to Baltimore!  The Packer Buddies - Phil, Bill, Terry & Jim left from Lancaster, PA around 9 AM Sunday morning.  The plan was to take the normal route toward Baltimore, Route 30 west, Interstate 83 South and just on the Light Rail at Hunt Valley, Maryland.

The Light Rail, took about one hour and dropped us off right outside the stadium! (used the Hamburg Street exit)

The train was filled with PLENTY of Packer Fans!

We entered the stadium around 11:45 AM & made the trip to the bathroom & concession stand!  Start the Baltimore vs. Green Bay game with a little home cooking - a warm & tasty Crab Cake Sandwich!

We get to our seat early - AS USUAL!

Left to Right - (Terry, Phil, Jim & Bill)

Seat were not the best, about 4 rows from the top in section 531! But, a great view of the field & the city of Baltimore!!

View of Baltimore from our seats!

The game started and ended well - a Packer win!!!

First play of the game!

Packers 19 - Ravens 17

What Will Packer Defense Look Like Against the Ravens?

Next Man Up!

Here is the probable lineup:

Defensive Line
Right Defensive End - BJ Raji
Nose Tackle - Ryan Pickett
Left Defensive End - John Jolly

And rotation should include - CJ Wilson, Datone Jones, Michael Daniels.
I still feel this defensive line is not athletic enough.  And I still feel, not enough sacks come from this group!  This group needs to play well for the help the line backers this weekend!  Stop the Ravens back Ray Rice & pressure Flacco!

LineBackers
Here we go, will will find how our depth is in the depth chart!
Left Outside Linebacker - Mike Neal
Left Inside Linebacker - AJ Hawk
Right Inside Linebacker - Jamari Lattimore
Right Outside Linebacker - Nick Perry, this is a guess, Perry himself likes the right side!

I have a good feeling!  I think Neal & Perry are ready!  They need to step it up the next few weeks, this will tell me what our 2014 draft will look like!!  Inside, Lattimore will also show if he is a NFL player! AJ Hawk is key - alignment, they must start in the correct place & know their assignments!  The physical is up to the player!!

Defensive Backs
LCB - Tramon Williams
RCB - Sam Shields
SS - Morgan Burnett
FS - MD Jennings

Burnett must not get beat deep & the Ravens will test the deep throw!!  The Ravens, with Flacco will test the Packer secondary!  Would love to see at least two interceptions!!!  And wouldn't it be nice to get Hayward back!!!!

Hold the Raven to 24 points or less!!!

Packers Prepare for Ravens

A road game!  So far this season 0 wins - 2 losses!

More injuries - Matthews our for at least one month!  Perry & Neal STEP IT UP!

Will Hayward get back?  With Matthews down, defensive backs must step it up!

Jones is down at inside linebacker - backup, Francois, is down as his backup Latitmore must step it up!

We need the defensive line pressure the QB!

Running game is improving - STAY HEALTHY LACY!  And do not fumble Franklin!

Need red zone TD's!

Special Teams - need some game changing plays!!

Just like the Super Bowl year, the Packers had many injuries.  And, the team had that "next man up" attitude!  And the play on the field carried over to wins!  This year is turning out to be that same kind of year!

Brian Bulaga - starting left offensive tackle out for the season!
Dujuan Harris - starting running back, out for the season
Morgan Burnett - starting safety misses first 4 weeks of the season!
Casey Hayward - leader in interceptions lat year - misses first 4 weeks of the season!
James Starks - after 100 yard game at running back, out last two weeks!
John Kuhn - starting fullback (and beast on special teams) misses last week
Eddie Lacy - starting running back, misses week 2, Starks take over & rushes for over 100 yards
CJ Wilson - starting defensive line, misses week 5, Packers defense hold Lions to 9 points!

This week, we need to see people step up!  Who will it be?

Nice Win For Packers! Now Packers Must Win On the Road!

In the NFL, with only 16 games in a season, EVERY win is a good win!  And, winning home games is critical.  Let's take time to analyze the win.

Offense
Rogers and Lacy, pass & run, balance is becoming part of the theme for the 2013 season.  So far, Rogers has been Rogers.  Passes on the mark, moving the team up & down the field.  The only concern is red zone offense.  Is is Rogers or the play selection?  Time will tell.  The past 3 games, 100 yard rushers, has been the norm.  Starks, Franklin, & Lacy have proven they can do it.  The offensive line have proven it.  Now the running backs MUST stay healthy.  And NOT fumble.

Defense
Injuries are improving, and injuries are occurring!  Burnett is back at safety - this is critical.  He is the quarterback on defense & the secondary NEEDS a quarterback!  Matthews breaks his thumb!  He must stay healthy!!!  Perry makes a step and has a good game.  Jones has hamstring issues!  His back up gets hurt! The defense, IF IT SAYS HEALTHY, has a chance to be good.

Special Teams
No turnovers!  Crosby 5 for 5 in field goals!  Punting still solid!

Good news is the Packers, Bears, Lions all have TWO loses.  Now, the season begins again!

Big Game, Detroit! Packers Need to Bounce Back

Here we go!  A VERY familiar opponent!  What is my prediction?

Offense
We are scoring points!  Game 1 - 28, Game 2 - 38, Game 3 - 30 = 96 points! Per Game = 32!  That is enough to be undefeated!  So, continue!

1 - NO Turnovers - if so, we should win!

2 - Cobb - our play maker!  He must touch the ball 10-12 times!  And, use him on special teams!

3 - Finley - stay healthy, 8-10 targets.  Score!

4 - Lacy & Franklin!  120 yards total!  And have a plan to alternate!  Lacy - run & pass receiving!  Franklin, get him the ball in space!  Screens, one-on-one with a linebacker!

5 - Rogers - better body language & leadership - SHOW SOME FIRE!!!

Defense
Here we go again!  Play an entire game!

1 - Pressure the quarterback!  That makes everyone look better!

2 - Matthews - stretch the hamstring!

3 - D- backs!  Burnett is back, let's see some leadership & tight coverage!  Calvin Johnson - double, make someone else beat us!

4 - Reggie Bush - need to know where he is at all times!!

5 - Dom Capers - time to start earning your pay!

Special Teams
Need help!  Make some plays!

1 - Randall Cobb

2 - Randall Cobb

3 - Randall Cobb

4 - Randall Cobb

5 - Mason Crosby - make ALL field goals!
The Saints use Sproles!  We need to use Cobb!  Seahawks use starting receiver Tate! We need to use Cobb!  Patriots use starting receiver Edelman!  We need to use Cobb!

I will stress again!  We need to use our playmakers!  We need to stay aggressive!  We NEED to figure out this hamstring issue!!  The clock is ticking for the 2013 season!