Packers and NFL Recap

The Packers got a win they needed, 36-17 over the Rams. There isn't a ton to talk about with this game, the Packers are better than the Rams, and they should win.

Defense
The middle linebackers are still a weakness in my mind, and Steven Jackson had a good game against that matchup. I do think Boller coming in threw off Green Bay. When you prepare all week for a pocket passer like Bulger, then an athlete like Boller can throw you off. That is what I think happened to the defense in the second quarter and it looked like adjustments were made as the game went on. Woodson is amazing.

Offense
The third down conversions were a problem on offense and hopefully that improves. The Packers stuck with the running game, and it helped out. Even a two yard rush on first down is OK. It is much better than a sack or incompletion. Even a two yard run on first and second down puts you at a 3rd and 6. That is not a desirable down and distance, but it is attainable. Rodgers scrambling was important, not just for this game, but for the future pass protection. When a team is facing a mobile QB you cannot pin your ears back and go after the passer every play, you have to play a contain on the QB and Rodgers scrambling showed that on Sunday.

Vikings
That was a great throw by Favre, and a great play by him to evade the rush. It is OK for any Packer fan to say to themselves, "That was a nice throw, he still has something left."
What it is not OK, FOR ANY PACKER FAN, and I have heard this across various Packer radio stations, is that at bars where people were watching the game yesterday, when Fox cutover to the Viking game, some Packer fans CHEERED the winning throw. As a fan, you CANNOT do that, if you cheer a Viking win, YOU ARE NOT A PACKER FAN. I do not want to hear, "I cheer for Brett". YOU ARE NOT A PACKER FAN. You can be happy that Brett still has something left, that is more than acceptable, but it is unacceptable to CHEER FOR A VIKING WIN!

Also, this not only should have been a Viking loss, this performance has to kind of worry the Vikings. Frank Gore is the only offensive player of note on the 49ers, and he went out the first play. The Vikings should have won this game either way, but the fact they almost lost with Gore out has to be a small concern.

Another Viking-Packer point. While we should never cheer a Viking win, the way they won is not a horrible thing for Green Bay and this is why. The Vikings should be a little disappointed in their performance against a 49er team w/o Gore, but with the way they won, all of the negatives will be overlooked. It can be very similar to how the Packers beat the Bears. There were a lot of negatives for the Packers in that Bear game, but due to the Rodgers TD pass to Jennings, everybody felt really good about themselves and it showed in the Bengal game.

The Vikings are 3-0 and that is all that matters. It is not up to them who is on their schedule, it is not college, you cannot schedule wins. But there are some issues with the Vikings that I am not sure have been addressed yet by the coaching staff.

1. Favre is taking a lot of shots. He is durable and tough, but he his not young.
2. The passing game is still not looking good. Favre completed under 55% of his passes, that is not good.
3. Adrian Peterson looks hurt.
4. The Vikings run defense has not been as dominant.

So, they are 3-0, but there are flaws. Teams do not always fix things until a loss, so that is a positive for Green Bay, maybe.

Rest of the NFL

Ravens might be the best team in the league.

Cleveland is definetlely not.

New Orleans had a good road win versus Buffalo.

Same can be said for Chicago at Seattle.

The Jets are looking for real. Great, another over-reported New York team.

Stick a fork in the Titans. It is very rare to climb back from 0-3 and they have two games against Indy yet.

Cincy has to treated seriously from hear on out. Packer-Steelers back to back.

Good for Detroit.

Bad for Jim Zorn. Everybody thought he was in over his head when he got hired, he will not make it through the season.

Why do people want to rush out and slam the Pats? They lose a tough, road, divisional game by one touchdown to the Jets, and everybody thinks they are done. Nope.

I still have no idea how good Denver is, but I think their defense is much improved from last year.

I have a very good idea about how bad Jamarcus Russel is. Really, really bad. He is the Anti-Peyton. Inaccurate, bad decisions, and no grasp of the offense.


Peyton
So good, he gets his own section. Peyton Manning is without any question the best quarterback in the NFL. He is a machine. What is great about Manning is the way he will abuse a matchup in his favor. Rodgers-Cromartie is a great athlete at CB for Arizona, but he guesses and takes a lot of chances. Manning abused him consistently.