Packer's Thanksgiving Day Game - Memories, Honors, & Let Down

The stage was set!  The storybook ending was there for the taking!

Lambeau Field on a cold and raining Thanksgiving Day.  People at home had that family visit and fill of Thanksgiving Day meal!  The evening would be spent watching the Packer Game!
Brett Favre would be there!

And, the number 4 jersey retired!

And, the old field general Bart Starr would defy all odds, and fighting poor health, would honor Brett!

Ans, the Packer Buddies would be there!

The Packers would be playing the old rivalry Chicago Bears!  Everything was set!

And, the Packers 2015 forgot to read the script!  It said Packers BEAT the Bears!  It was perfect, 1st & Goal from the 8 yard line, Less than a minute to play!  The BEST quarterback in football, Aaron Rodgers!

Everything was set up for a storybook ending.  But in the NFL, the other team does not always agree. Tonight the Bears win 17-13.  But, the season still has 5 games and the playoffs to go.  How will this story end?  Stay tuned!  A good story has a few twists & turns.  And the ending has not be written!

Go Pack Go!

Packer - Vikings, What Was Different?

What was different this week?  First, a look at possessions:

Packers - 12 Possessions (11 real possessions)
1 - End of Game  (this one really does not count!)
7 Scores - 5 Field Goals - 2 TD's (Need more TD's, but 7 of 11 scores is GOOD!)
4 - Punts (2 - 3 and outs - better than previous weeks)

Viking - 12 Possessions )11 real possessions)
1 - End of 1st half (this one really does not count!)
2 - Scores - 2 TD's (This is good for the defense!)
1 - Turnover - Fumble
6 - Punts
2 - on downs

This is a winning possession chart!!

Other positive signs:

Packers - No turnovers!
Packers - 6 Sacks - Vikings 2 Sacks (This is after 3 games the Packers had 0 Sacks!!)
Packers - Crosby - 5 for 5 on field goals!  42, 47, 40, 42, 52 yards - a VERY good day!
Packers - Lacy - 100 yards rushing!  THIS IS BIG!
Packers - Defense - Vikings had 0 points in 4th Quarter!!!!
Packers - WIN THE GAME, back in first place, have a win over Vikings in the bag!

Next up, the Chicago Bears!!

In Case You Did Not Hear: Packers Wins! Packers Wins! Packers Wins!

Packers Wins!

Packers Wins!

Packers Wins!

Packers Wins!

And, Adrian Peterson was held to 45 yards

And, Rodgers had 212 yards & 2 TD's!

So, next up?  Bears in Green Bay, Thanksgiving Night!

And, Favre #4 retired!

And, Bart Starr may be there!!

And, 

THE PACKER BUDDIES 

WILL BE THERE!!!!!

Packers vs. Vikings, Where Is This Rivalry Going?

Sunday's game will be a game with MANY twists & turns!  Time to answer some questions!

1 - Which team will be division leaders?

Right now it is the Vikings!  All Time Series Packers 58 wins, Vikings 48 wins & 2 ties.
Last Packer loss was December 2012!

NFC Division Champs
2014 - Packers
2013 - Packers
2012 - Packers
2011 - Packers
2010 - Bears
2009 - Vikings
2008 - Vikings
2007 - Packers
2006 - Bears
2005 - Bears
2004 - Packers
2003 - Packers
2002 - Packers
2001 - Bears
2000 - Vikings

Last 15 years - Packers - 8 & Bears - 4 & Vikings - 3 & Lions 0!

2 - Will the Packers win another game this year? YES!  Chances this weekend slim!  Why?
The Vikings are a good defense and the Packers Offense is not even close.  Receivers cannot
get separation, the running game is no where, the offensive line is banged up & Rodgers  is in
a place we have never seen!  Defense, actually playing well, but we have Adrian Peterson this
week - NOT GOOD!

3 - Like many sports, time moves on and team are either on the rise, or not!  This game will
help decide one of two things, will the Vikings keep rising, or will the Packers keep falling?

So, I have narrowed the games down to two key points:

Can the Packers stop Adrian Peterson?

And, can the Vikings stop Rodgers?

Packers vs Vikings - Wow Things Have Changed!

OK, I just woke up from a dream and it was scary!

I went to bed, Packers were 6 - 0, and visions of Super Bowl trophies dancing in my head!  The Alarm went off, I went down stairs, put on the coffee, and placed my morning bagel in the toaster.  Took the dogs outside, picked up the paper(and the poop) sat down in my favorite chair and sipped my coffee!  I open the sports page(I always read that first) and , and, and, the Lions BEAT the Packers!

I was still sleeping!  It was a nightmare.  The Pack was 6 - 0.  And now they are 6 and 3?  In second place!  Please wake me up!

Sorry, NOT a dream!  Reality!  And now my first look at the Packers entering week 11 of the NFL season!  First, the offense!

Last game, the Packers had 14 Drives.
First - 9 Punts!  Yes, 9 of 14 punts!!!  I do not need to say anything!

Second, 5 - 3 and outs!  That is 3 plays and Punt!  I do not need to say anything!

Third, after 3 quarters Packers have 3 points!  One Field Goal!  I do not need to say anything!

So, my sixth sense is buzzing!  Is Aaron Rodgers the same man?  Is the offensive line slowing down?  Was Jordy that important?  Is Eddie Lacy eating too many hot dogs? Is McCarthy at that 10 year point of the beginning of the end?  Is Ted Thompson missing something? There is something NOT right!  Beyond the x's & o's, how could a great offense look so average?

We have had a great 6 year run of playoff football!  Unless something changes, this team does NOT look like a playoff team!!

Prove me wrong Packers!  

Rodgers!  

Cobb!

Lacy!  

Anyone!

How Packers Beat The Lions - Game #9

The next game is the most important game!  This, is the most important game!  Why? And How?

Two loses in a row, CANNOT have 3!

Aaron Rodgers, stop worrying about interceptions!
Watch a couple Starr videos & BE A LEADER!
Watch a couple Favre videos, wing it!

Clay Matthews - do something different - cut your hair & knock out a front tooth on a tackle!

Offensive line - watch the old Lombardi Green Bay sweep & knock someone on their ass!

Julius Peppers - keep yelling at people!

Randall Cobb - go long!

Mike Daniels - Stay mad & play mad!

Lacy & Starks - run to daylight!  One of you please run for 100 yards!

Rookie - Jake Ryan - time to shine - HIT somebody!

And Rookie - Aaron Ripkowski - time to shine HIT somebody!

Dom Capers(Defensive Coordinator) - stop all the tricks, substitutions, play defense!  Straight up!

Edgar Bennett(Offensive Coordinator) - let Rodgers call his own plays!

Mike McCarthy - stop blaming bad technique & penalties!  Play Football!

OK, simple!  We have 11 young man, playing against 11 young men!  Each play beats his man!

Packers win 35 -13

Vince is Watching!

Would The Real Green Bay Packers Please Stand Up?

OK, Packer fans, what do we have?  There are two choices:

1 - A playoff team. with the BEST quarterback in football, a diversified offense that can run, or pass.  A young defense that is going to get better each & every game the rest of the season?

Or,

2 - A pretender.  A team that has been to the playoff the past 6 years, but is in decline?  A quarterback that is too worried to throw an interception, then to make courageous plays.  A young running back the is overweight.  An offensive line that is over-rated, and wide receivers that cannot get separation. A defense that continue to give up BIG chunks of yards and not playing as a team?

Answer is,..........  a little of each answer!

Look at the Drive Chart for the Packers offense

16 Drives (that is tooooo many)
4 - scores
2 - end of half & end of game
2 - turnovers - 1 fumble - Lacy & 1 interception - Rodgers missed open receiver for TD
8 - PUNTS - tooooo many!  And, 6 - 3 & outs - WAY to many!!!

Not a good offense!

And the Packer defense, look at the Panther Drives

15 Drives -
7 - scores (4 TD's & 3 FG's) &
1 - missed FG
1 - interception
6 - Punts - 6, 3 & outs! (That is good for the Packers)

Half way through the season, we have a 6 win - 2 loss team, tied for first in division.

Half way through the season we have an inconsistent team, that MUST be MORE consistent!

Packers Vs. Panthers 2015

Seasons change, last year the Pack started fast & put a whooping on the Panthers.  Players change, both the Packers & Panthers have a lot of new faces.  Injuries are part of the NFL, and the Packers lead the way for the "NFL Band-Aid Award"!  So, all you fans out there, be honest, how to you feel about tomorrows game?

For me, watching the 2015 version of the Packers, and UNEASY feeling.  This team, as mentioned earlier, has not been healthy & is still not healthy.  This team, has shown signs of greatness, but, not enough to make me sleep well at night!  Aaron Rodgers, has not been Aaron Rodgers.  Is it love?  Has Olivia cast a spell on number 12?  We have not been able to stretch the opposing defense - we miss Jordy!  The running game is VERY inconsistent!

On defense, we still have Clay Matthews in the inside linebacker spot.  A defensive line that has had its good days, and some bad ones!! Sacks have been a positive, but, teams still run on us!  Peppers & Matthews have been steady, but Neal, Perry, Mulumba, Elliot have been inconsistent & banged up!  The defensive backs, again, injured, found at places, and given up a bunch of yards!!!!

So, confident - NO!  Uneasy stomach - YES!  Last week I totally missed the score!  And, like Coach McCarthy, I was embarrassed!  Away games are difficult, Carolina did play Monday night.  So, I'm sorry to say, I see another loss, score?

Panthers 27 Packers 17

I hope I'm wrong!

Come on Pack!

Packers and Panthers 2015

The NFL is reaching the half way point of the season!  And, one of the concepts in ANY sport is to peak at the end of the season.  Every year, a team develops a new personality.  Do the Packers have that personality entering game #8 on their schedule?

My short answer is NO!  Not yet!

The offense is not there.  Lacy, not running well. Starks is a great back up, but a back up.  The receivers, a lot of nagging injuries!  We really do not know what we have!  Cobb, shoulder, Adams, ankle, Montgomery, ankle, and we have Jones, Abbrederis & Janis.  First, need to get healthy, then, stay healthy!  Tight end, whoa!  Rodgers, not making the big plays, Quarrels hurt.  Offensive line, no big running days & no big passing games, so, No Comment!

The defense.  The line, definitely not dominate!  Jones, Daniels, Guion, Raji, Pennel, NOT a formidable crew.  Linebackers, Matthews out of position, Peppers a year older, Perry & Neal, playing like Perry & Neal, Palmer inside, and Elliot outside, NOT a formidable crew.  Defensive backs, more aches & pains!  Burnett finally back last week, then Shield goes down at corner.  Rookies Randall & Rollins are rookies. Hyde & Hayward, nothing special.  NOT a formidable crew!

Special Teams are playing well, but not a lot of big plays!  NEED one big play a game!

So, stay healthy, and the team can develop a personality this year!  First!  Aaron Rogers MUST have a few good games in a row!  So, the highest paid player & BEST player on the team....................

Aaron Rodgers MUST start to roll!  Why not this week!!!

Let's Take A Look At Packers vs Panthers 2015!

OK, time to move on!

Let's Take A Look At Packers vs Panthers 2015!

To do this, let's go back to last year!

Final Score - Packers 38 - Panthers 17
Date October 19th 2014

Stats:
Rodgers - 19 for 22 and 255 yards & 3 TD passes & 0 interceptions
Newton - 17 for 31 and 205 yards & 1 TD pass & 1 interception

Rushing Yards
Packers - Lacy - 63, Starks - 36, Rodgers - 21 the Packer Total - 122 yards
Panthers - Stewart - 55, Newton - 41, the Panthers Total - 108 yards

Sacks
Packers - 3 sacks
Panthers - 2 sacks

Key stat - Packers get out early, score 21 points in 1st Quarter!
Halftime Score - Packers - 28 - Panthers 3!!

Quick Start!  Pack had a lot of quick starts last year!  NOT so much this year!

Time for the Pack to get their MOJO back!  A little Swagger!  A QUICK start!
And FAST finish!  Play with an edge, with something to prove!!!

Maybe I need to give the Pre-Game speech, it would go something like this........

Last week, WAS not the 2015 Green Bay Packers!  We need to show people
that the Packers ARE one of the top teams in the NFL!  Aaron, you were the
MVP last year, play like it!!!  Offensive line. McCarthy said you we one of his
BEST, play like it!  Defense, last week we were number 1 in the league at points
per game, play like it! And, by the way, STOP GIVING UP SO MANY YARDS!

It is time, to play each week with an edge!  THIS is football!  This game is PHYSICAL! PLAY LIKE IT!  This game is EMOTIONAL!  Show it! Play EVERY play!  Make every TACKLE!  Show this
league the Packers are still a team to be RECKONED with!  Play like it!

Need One More Day On The Broncos Game

Need one more day to vent!  I always, very faithfully, view all the Packer Videos on the Packer website!  The video was the weekly Mike Spofford, The Small Plays.

First, I am a 62 year old, retired educator.  Coached some high school football & track & field.  And, while watching the video, here is my concern.

The Packers, the last 5-10 years have had some HUGE offensive days!  But, the plays Spofford displayed from the Broncos game made me think!  Uh Oh, here we go!

The plays showed a lot of tight man-to-man coverage in the secondary.  Most, were man, with a deep safety over the top.  I wonder why I saw no crossing patterns.  Some "pick" plays?  Some bunch receiver plays?  And, maybe, we need to use some speed?  Janis, or is Jordy ready yet(TOO BAD).

And, still, no running game?

What has happened in 2015?  Jordy out for year.  Adams missing a bunch of games.  Lacy hurt & overweight.  Cobb frustrated, double teamed, and he started the year with a bad shoulder.  Bulaga missed a few games, Lang had a bad knee.  Quarless out for the past 6 weeks.

Other teams have injuries!  Come on Packers!  Suck it up!

Play with some E-M-O-T-I-O-N!

Packers Embarrassed In Denver

Good old BUTT kicking!

Sunday Night Football, only game on TV, the countries football fans sit down to see two undefeated teams battle it out!  Two of the games BEST quarterbacks.  And what do we see?

Peyton Manning  21 for 29 and 340 yards

Aaron Rodgers  14 for 22 and 77 yards (YES, 77 yards!!!)

Denver Rushing Yards  160 yards & 3 TD's

Packers Rushing Yards  90 yards & 1 TD

Denver 4 Sacks (And a bunch of hits on Rodgers)

Packer 0 Sacks (And Peyton looked like he was 28 years old again)

Denver leading receiver D. Thomas 8 receptions & 168 yards

Packers leading receiver 6 receptions & 27 yards (And D. Adams 1 for 8 & J. Jones 1 for 2)

Denver - 9 drives - 3 TD's - 2 Field Goals - 3 Punts - 1 Interception

Packers - 8 drives 5 punts - 1 safety - 1 TD - 1 Field Goal

And that's just a few stats!  This my last look at the Packer - Denver Game!

Time to Move On!  Panthers! (Another BIG test!!!)