Two More Games Remain in the Packers 2021 Season, What to Expect??

 What to expect?

1 - Craziness!  Yes, hate to say it again, COVID is making the NFL just like the rest of the country - CRAZY TIME!  A new variant, politics, unclear leadership, flying anywhere, traveling anywhere, restaurants, families getting together, vaccines, boosters, new COVID pill, ................ 

Every week new players go on the COVID list, new regulations, CONFUSION!  The next month should be interesting with numbers spoiling again!

2 - Injuries - Yes, a constant NFL issue & the Packers are NO DIFFERENT!  Bakhtiari, STILL not back from last years torn ACL!!! Z Smith still out!  Jaire Alexander still out!  Josh Meyers still out!  Finished for the season, Tonyan & Jenkins!  Always injured Kevin King!  Aaron Jones banged up!  And, MOST important, Aaron Rodgers Pinky Toe!

3 - Vikings & Lions games always close, will be close!!!

4 - LaFleur for coach of the year! No matter what happens the rest of the year, this guy deserves it!  From Aaron Rodgers Drama, to COVID, to injuries, this young coach deserves some BIG TIME CREDIT!

So, hang in there Packer Fans!  The FUN is JUST beginning!!

Go Pack Go!

Packers Hang on Again! Edge Browns 24-22

 As a heart patient, I hope my doctors did a good job!  Eleven Years Ago, I missed a Packer Game,  due to Open Heart Surgery!  So, I guess my surgeon did a GOOD JOB!  No - GREAT JOB!!!!!  This team, and many other Packers teams have tested my by-passes each year & this year, is another test!

What have you noticed?  Lately, Packers get ahead, and HANG ON!!!  Again, the defense, AND Baker Mayfield delivered!  4 Interceptions!!!  The Browns had 10 series during the game & 4 ended in interception!  That is 40%!  That is a Christmas Gift even Santa would have trouble delivering!

Cleveland Browns 10 Offensive Series:

4 - Scoring Drives - 3 TD's & 1 FG

4 - Interceptions!  Again, THANKS!

1 - Punt

1 - End of Half

That, my friends is an interesting drive chart!

Green Bay Packers 10 Offensive Drives:

4 - Scoring Drives - 3 TD's & 1 FG

5 - Punts! (3 of those drives 3 & OUTS! - NOT GOOD!)

1 - End of Game

Did you notice anything?  Packers - 3 TD's & 1 FG & Browns - 3 TD's & 1 FG.  The difference, Browns miss their first PAT, and missed a 2 point conversion and that is the game!!!  Whoa!!!

Packer Fans, with injuries, COVID, Officials Calls or No-calls, the NFL is in a weird place...... so expect a weird year!  Little like last year, except, maybe even stranger! 

Two more games - Vikings & Lions.  Two team, with nothing to lose & NFL players on these teams that are trying to show the world they belong!  Teams that will gamble, go for it on 4th Down, Trick Plays, and just a reckless abandon - DANGEROUS GAMES!!

Packers, to keep the number one seed, JUST WIN BABY!

Merry Christmas to All the Football Fans Out There!

What Does This Packer Fan Want for Christmas?

 First, Packers Fans, gives thanks!  The past 30 years, we have been blessed with Great Teams, Great Players & Great Memories!  

NOW, how about we now pretend we are a 10 year old kid!  And, GET GREEDY!!!

My 2021 Packer Christmas List!

1 - A first round BYE in the payoffs!

2 - The return of David Bakhtiari, Jaire Alexander, & Z Smith

3 - A magic cure for Aaron Rodger's Pinky Toe!

4 - A win against the Bucs and Tom Brady in the NFC Championship Game! (And, Tommy throwing another Tantrum in the game!)

5 - And............ of course...................

A Packer Super Bowl Win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three Packers Make the 2021 NFL ProBowl

 Here are the Pro Bowl Packers for 2022

QB - Aaron Rodgers - Year 17 - Age 38

What else can you say about the talent of Aaron Rodgers?  Watching Aaron throw is special.  Deep passes, short passes, touch passes, passes on the move, and passes he doesn't't throw that lead to possible interceptions!  His command of the clock & reading the defense.  His stats, and tying Brett Favre for all time Packer TD passes at 442! In a league of 32 starting QB's, Packer Fans are blessed.  Is is, without a doubt a Pro Bowl - NO BRAINER!

WR - Davante Adams - Year 8 - Age 29

I will get this out of the way, a Pro Bowl NO BRAINER!  In year 8, after watching Jordy Nelson & Randall Cobb all those years, not only did Adams learn how to play wide receiver, but, has taken the initiative to become a GREAT wide receiver!  Great route runner, great hands, great hands, and outstanding athletic ability!  

DT - Kenny Clark - Year 6 - Age 26

Defensive Tackles are NOT always easy to spot.  In the middle of all the chaos & confusion is a BIG DUDE that creates it all!  Kenny Clark does not always look like a typical, BIG BELLY defensive tackle - HE IS ATHLETIC!  A great high school & college wrestler, he is VERY agile & athletic!  He commands a double team!  He, can stop the run!  He can rush the passer!  He is without a doubt, an outstanding defensive lineman!

Players that would be there, if not for injury?

OT - David Bakhtiari - Year 9 - Age 30

Bakhtiari has made the Pro Bowl when healthy!  Still recovering from ACL surgery from last year, but has commanded the respect of all people in the NFL!  Even injured, David has some of the BEST HAIR!

CB - Jaire Alexander - Year 4 - Age 24

Alexander has become a "lock down corner"!  Check out the article for last year, "Cornerback Rankings" Like a bunch of rankings last year, Alexander was ranked #1!!!!!.  We hope he is back this year for the playoffs!!!!

Player that should be close to Pro Bowl?

ILB - De'Vondre Campbell - Year 6 - Age 28

What a great pick up for the Green Bay Packers! Let go by the Falcons, on the Cardinals Practice squad, Packers pick Campbell up to help a VERY weak inside linebacker group!  WOW!  He VERY easily, may be the MVP of the Packers defense this year!!!!  Great tackler, great range, and leadership!  Campbell has made a HUDE difference this year for the Packers!!!

Packers vs. Browns, Another Game with Meaning!

 December Football is Fun!  Each Game MEANS something!  For example last week, our NFC North friends, the Lions!  Lions are out of the playoffs, BUT, won a game over the Cardinals that MEANS something! 

So, what is at stake?  Packers - NFC #1 seed!  Browns - fighting for a playoff spot!

Games Details?

1 - Game is at Lambeau Field - Home field!

2 - QB - Packers, Aaron Rodgers & we think Browns - Baker Mayfield?  Another interesting battle!  Young QB vs. the Old Vet QB!  Both QB's are banged up!  Of course, the Rodger's Pinky Toe & Mayfield's coming off COVID and has been banged up all year!  

3 - Running backs - Chubb, Browns & Dillon-Jones Battle!  This one is interesting!  My guess is whoever wins this battle, wins the game!

4 - Defense - Browns have some names - Garret & Clowney!  Again, both a inured, but have been playing!  Hopefully, Kenny Clark is back for the Pack!

5 - Special Teams?  I close my eyes when it is Packer Special Teams Time!

So, as every week shows, NOTHING is easy!  But, the Packers still need to show a consistent effort!

Packers & Ravens Game Comes Down to the Wire!

 Final Score:

Packers 31 - Ravens 30

Wow!  That was close!  Every week is a new adventure!  Quick look at the drive charts:

Each Team had 9 drives:

Baltimore - 5 scores(4 TD's-1 FG), 1 Punt, 2 on downs, 1 End of Half

Packers - 5 scores((4 TD's-1 FG), 3 Punts, 1 End of Game

Good news, Ravens missed the 2 point conversion at the end of game!

Good News - Rookie CB, Stokes was in the final defense break up of the conversion to TE, Andrews, who killed the Packers ALL NIGHT!  We won without our game changing defensive tackle, Kenny Clark!  Rodgers looks like he is in the zone & the broken piggy toe is under control!  The Special Teams seem to be STILL be an issue!  More good news (maybe), are we closer to getting back, OT-Bakhtiari, CB-Alexander, &OLB-Z Smith????  

Results? 

1 - Packers are the 2021 NFC North Champs!

2 - Packers solidified the grasp on the top seed with a win, and the Bucs & Cardinals losing!

3 - Packers are finding new ways to win every week!

Packers Take to the Road, Baltimore Ravens Next on the Schedule

 Every week is a challenge, for every NFL team.  Week 14 is here and what are the hurdles??

Injuries?

Packers - TE-Dafney, WR-Taylor, WR-Valdes-Scantling, WR-ST. Brown, OT-Turner, RB-Jones, OT-Bakhtiari, QB-Rodgers

Ravens - Westry, Ricard, Brown, Jackson, Powers, Mekari, Houston, Williams, Phillips, Young, Villanueva, Boyle, Campbell

Of course, the BIG issue  -  QB, Packers, Rodgers TOE & Ravens, Jackson ANKLE!

COVID is still our there, Packers lose Kenny Clark, our top defensive lineman!

What is on the line?

1 - Clinching NFC North

2 - Keeping the NFC #1 Playoff Bye

3 - Taking the team on the road, for a physical AFC opponent

What to look for?

1 - Rodgers mobility

2 - Ravens coverage of Davante Adams

3 - Packer TE - Degura - needs to become a factor

4 - Defensive Line - NO KENNY CLARK - someone step up!

5 - Win the turnover battle!

First Gut Reaction to the Packers Win Over the Bears!

 Watched the entire game today as usual.........

1 - No Sound

2 - Fast Forward All Commercials & Crap

3 - Rewind Good & Bad Plays

What is my initial reactions........

1 - What the Heck is going on with Special Teams!!!!!???????

2 - The Packer Offense and Defense in the Second Half was "Super Bowl" worthy!

3 - Aaron Rodgers is special

4 - Kenny Clark is special

5 - Brian Gutekunst, our GM is special - free agents pick ups Rasul Douglas & De'Vondre Campbell

So, more to come.  Enjoy the win & let's go 1 & 0 next week!

Go Pack Go!

Packers vs Bears, Packers Need to Win Games That They SHOULD Win!

 Every sport has a team that should win, and a team that should NOT win.  The Packers & Bears fit this game on Sunday Night!  So, this could be called a TRAP GAME!  And, the Bears have video & bulletin board material....... remember game one this season & our quarterback saying to the lovely Bear fans, "I own you, I f......ing own you!" The Packer - Bears are in game #204 in their series!  So, what to expect?

So, we we know what is on the Bears bulletin board!  Now, what should we expect Sunday Night??????

1 - The game is in Lambeau!  That is a GOOD THING!

2 - Aaron actually practice Friday.  That is a GOOD THING!

3 - The Packers are coming off a Bye Week!  That is a GOOD THING!

4 - The Packers are motivated to win the NFC North!  That is a GOOD THING!

5 - The Packers defense is continuing to play well!  That is a GOOD THING!

And, the Bears?

I'm sure, the old Bear Ghosts will be haunting the Bears locker room this week!  George Halas, Walter Peyton, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, ............ and don't forget the guys still around, Butkus, Singletary, Ditka..........

And, forget the records, it is......................

Packers vs Bears!

Time to Give a BIG SHOUT OUT to the Packers Offensive Line & Coaches!

 OK, think about a team missing their BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN all year! (Davis Bakhtiari) Missing their second best offensive lineman, (AND, most versatile) for the REST of the year! (Elgton Jenkins).  And, the rookie starting center! (Josh Myers) And, this team is STILL WINNING!

The Green Bay Packers!!!!!

First, coaches: Adam Stenavich and Luke Butkus!  WOW!  What a great job! Woking with young players, and free agent signing, these two people have kept the Packers moving the football!

Starting Offensive Line as of this week?

LT - Yosh Nijman  6'7" - 314 lbs - Year 2

LG - Jon Runyan  6'4" - 307 lbs - Year 2

C - Lucas Patrick  6'3" - 313 lbs - Year 5

RG - Royce Newman  6'5" - 310 lbs - Rookie

RT - Billy Turner  6'5" - 310 lbs - Year 8

First, the youth!  Nijman, Runyan & Newman are babies (BUT BIG BABIES)  This group has been amazing!  Year 5 - Lucas Patrick, is one of those players you cheer for every year!!!  Even making the team was a big question!  Playing different positions!  Settling in at center, a position, like the QB, you touch the ball every play, and, you call the blocking scheme every play!  Lucas Patrick has been a HUGE plus!  The vet, holding this group together, Billy Turner!  He was a GIANT free agent signing by Gutekunst! When you listen to his interviews, he has that calm and cool and under control feel.  You know that no moment is too big for Billy!

In the wings:

Ben Braden - 6'6" - 329 lbs - Year 2

Jake Hanson - 6'4" - 296 lbs - Year 1

Dennis Kelly - 6'8" - 321 lbs - Year 9

A nice mix of youth and vets.  With David Bakhtiari trying to get back, this group looks better and better!

So, THREE CHEERS FOR THE BIG GUYS!!!!

Packers Offensive Line

Packers vs Bears, Game #204 in the Series!

 Yes, it is Packers vs Bears!

#204

The all time series is Packers 102 wins - 95 losses - 6 ties!

First meeting November 27, 1921 - Chicago Staleys (now the Bears!)  20 - Green Bay Packers 0

Last Meeting October 17, 2021 - Green Bay Packers 24 - Chicago Bears 14

So, what is the game plan?

Packers #1 - Win a game you should win & move closer to clinching NFC North

Bears #1 - Head Coach Matt Nagy trying to save his job!

Packers #2 - Packers Defense wins the turnover battle

Bears #2 - Is it Fields or Dalton?

Packers #3 -  Offense - Consistency in the run & pass games & red zone 100% scoring!

Bears #3 - Defense is not the same!

So, all the arrows are pointing in the Packers direction!  BUT, it is still the Bears & Packers!  It is still a game of professional athletes!  You still need to play the game well!  And, the players NEED to want it!

Winning in the NFL?

 In the last 100 years of the NFL, winning has changed?  It has gone from a SPRINT to a MARATHON!  

From 8-12 games in the early days to 14, to 16, now 17 games in the regular season.  The playoffs have expanded, from two teams to the present 14 teams!  

Players playing on both offense & defense and doing the punting & kicking, to specialists!  A long snapper ONLY!  A punter ONLY!  A kicker ONLY!  

Players taking the off season to do a second job, sell cars, work for a company, or just hang out (IF, they were lucky!)  Now, players train & lift weights ALL year long!  

Before 1970 there was NO minimum salary, in 1970 the minimum salary was $9000 - in 2021 it is $660,000! (By the way, I am a retired educator, started in education at $7700.  If my salary went up at the NFL rate (73 times), I would have retired at $562,100!)  So, in my lifetime, an NFL player went from an average American, to a wealthy American!  

As you can see, in the past 100 years, a professional football player is at a new level!  So, how does that change the way a team wins in the NFL?

1 - Stay healthy!  It is a marathon!  Are you able to stay healthy for August to February?? 5-6 months!

2 - Salary Cap - how is the $$$$$ divided up among the 50-60 players!

3 - Quarterback Play - You need a GREAT ONE or a Quarterback that will not make stupid mistakes!

4 - Turnovers!  DO NOT DO IT!

5 - Coaching? Year ago, control & basics - today - moving to a players coach & creativity!

6 - Depth & making moves during the season.  As we started health is a concern, so, a second string player, that is ready to go, is critical!  And, picking up a free agent or another teams practice squad player, is imperative!

7 - Team - does the team have IT?  Chemistry, leadership, and, do they have each others back???

Let's look at the top tams in the NFL now:

NFC - Arizona, Green Bay, Tampa Bay & Dallas

AFC - Kansas City, Baltimore, New England, & Tennessee

All have IT!  Quarterbacks, players, coaching, ......  How will this all finish???  Time will tell!

Bye Week 2021 - A Look at the Current Packer Roster

 What does the starting lineup look like on Offense:

QB - Aaron Rodgers

RB - Aaron Jones & AJ Dillon

WR - Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, & Randall Cobb

TE - Mercedes Lewis & Josiah Deguara

LT - Yosh Nijman     RT - Billy Turner

LG - Jon Runyan      RG - Royce Newman

C - Lucas Patrick

Starters Out for year - Elgton Jenkins, Robert Tonyan, Josh Myers  Starters due back - David Bakhtiari

Defense:

DE - Dean Lowry & Kingsley Keke

NT - Kenny Clark

OLB - Rashan Gary & Preston Smith

ILB - De'Vondre Campbell & Krys Barnes

CB - Rasul Douglas, Eric Stokes & Kevin King

S - Adrian Amos & Darnell Savage

Starters due back? - Za'Darius Smith & Jaire Alexander

So, the Packers are 9-3, without All Pros - David Bakhtiari, Za'Darius Smith & Jaire Alexander.  Also, starters Robert Tonyan, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers - that is 6 of 22 starters!  Plus, some other key people, DE- Whitney Mercilus a 2021 pick up, and Kylin Hill our starting return man.

The BIG keys?  Will we get David Bakhtiari back?  He is our BEST offensive lineman and the leader of that group!  Jaire Alexander was becoming one of the BEST shut down corners in the NFL!  That is BIG! Will he be back???  Za'Darius Smith has been our TOP pass rusher!

A lot of mystery!  Players that could make the Packers a REAL NFL threat!!  Time will tell!

Packers Over Rams, How Did This Packer Fan Prediction Look?

 Here was my list:

1 - To beat the Rams, Packers RUN the football! (Dillon over 100 yards)  (69 yards)

2 - To beat the Rams, win the turnover battle!  (Yes - 3 for Packers & 1 for Rams)

3 - To beat the Rams, MAKE all attempted Field Goals!  (Packers missed one Field Goal)

4 - To beat the Rams, pressure Ram QB with 2-3 sacks & 2-3 hurries  (2 sacks & 5 hurries)

5 - How about a little SNOW during the game!!! (YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!)

So, not to bad - especially the SNOW!!!

If you watched the game, the Packers were in control.  Exception, to long pass plays.  The offense controlled the tempo.  The defense, except for the 2 long pass plays, was in control.  The special teams, one missed field goal.  Again, with several starters, 3 starting offensive lineman, 2 starting defensive players, and those nagging issues (Aaron Rodgers - pinky toe!)

Rams - 14 Offensive Drives: 5 scores (3-TD's & 2 FG's), 5 Punts, 1 Downs, 2 Turnover, 1 End Half

Packers - 13 Offensive Drives: 6 scores (3 TD's & 3 FG's), 5 Punts, 1 missed FG, & 1 End Game

Now, the BYE week!  Who will be get back for the last 5 games??  How will the regally season end?  Remember the last 5 games:

Week 14 - Home - Chicago Bears

Week 15 - At - Baltimore Ravens

Week 16 - Home - Cleveland Browns

Week 17 - Home - Minnesota Vikings

Week 18 - At - Detroit Lions