Without any help from the defense, the Packers have no chance to win. The 2008 season is over. See you in April. This time I mean it. Rip Ted Thompson all you want for trading Brett Favre, but the reality is the Packers’ defense is the worst in the NFL. They suck, they will always suck and the season is over. See you in the spring unless a miracle happens. Don’t count on it. Over and OUT!

Three words. Run to win. The Green Bay Packers won three Super Bowls using those three words. If they are going to win today against Carolina in Lambeau Field they better go back to their roots and give the ball to running back Ryan Grant and let him carry the day. The Packers need to keep the ball out of the Panthers’ hands, control the clock and on defense get off the field on third down. A simple plan, right? If only it would sink into the thick skull of head coach Mike McCarthy. If the Packers commit to the run today they win 27-17, if McCarthy comes out passing again the Packers lose 31-10. We will know on the Packers’ first offensive series how this game is going to play out.

Lets hope McCarthy comes to his senses today.

In America’s real Sin City the Green Bay Packers found defending Drew Brees to be a devilish task and in the end the Packers’ playoff hopes died with an awful sound. Not even Funky Claude could save the Packers on this night. The best secondary in the NFL, just ask them, was torched early and often and left New Orleans in a shamble. This unit will never be the same again as the Saints showed just how easy it is to beat an average linebacking core and aging secondary. Shutting down Tarvaris Jackson, John Kitna, Brian Griese, Gus Frerrotte, Kyle Orton is easy, shutting down Drew Brees is not. The Packers had their heads so far in the clouds they couldn’t even see the Superdome. For whatever reason, head coach Mike McCarthy always has his team thinking they are better than they are. I would think it should be just the opposite.

McCarthy’s blatant refusal to run the ball is certainly going to be his demise as a head coach. We saw it happen with Mike Sherman. Sherman saw first hand how easy it is when you have a great running game when Ahman Green ran for 1800 yards in 2002 I think it was. If he would have given it to Green one more time that year there never would have been fourth-and-26. After that all the Packers did was pass and quarterback Brett Favre had two of his worst seasons of his career, throwing 29 interceptions in Sherman’s last season as head coach. McCarthy, after seeing Ryan Grant save his season last year by rushing for 1000 yards while only starting 9 games (including playoffs), is now following the same path as Sherman. McCarthy wouldn’t give the ball to Grant in the NFC Championship game and used him only sporadically this year, instead relying on a first-year starter at quarterback to win the game. I would think it should be just the opposite.

General manager Ted Thompson has improved almost every position on this team but has failed miserably at offensive line, defensive line and now punter. The linebackers are not that great either. As far as the offensive line is concerned I attribute part of that to the stupid zone-blocking scheme the Packers use. Instead of grading a conventional lineman the Packers either have to find guys who know the zone-blocking scheme, which are few, or project how a guy in a real system will adjust to the Packers’ harebrained scheme. I’m starting to wonder about the scheme on defense, too. Guys like Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole show glimpses of great play, but can never sustain it. Cullen Jenkins was becoming a force when he got hurt, but it doesn’t seem like a defense that really allows the lineman to make plays. Just hold your gap and wait for help. There must be a reason why nobody wanted Jim Bates anymore. The bump-and-run works great on average receivers, but the system doesn’t allow adjustments because the corners only know one style of playing. If they are getting burned, they will continue to get burned, just like Al Harris in last year’s NFC Championship game. The Packers had no answer, and last night, they were absolutely clueless. If the secondary is as good as Al Harris says it is, wouldn’t that be just the opposite?

Thompson has clearly made his mistakes. While he really had no choice but to take A.J. Hawk, Hawk has proven to be just another guy. I don’t have a problem with taking a defensive lineman the next year, but he clearly picked the wrong one. One almost has to consider the Corey Williams trade a mistake, even though I don’t know what Williams is even doing in Cleveland, but by taking Brian Brohm with the pick received from Cleveland was clearly a mistake. I do think Jordy Nelson will be a major player, but not if he makes mistakes like he did last night. I think he’ll gets better. Certainly Thompson’s last two drafts are nothing to write home about. The moves he makes in 2009 will determine his future if you ask me.

The reason I think the Packers’ playoffs died last night is simple. To win the division they would have to win their last five games to have any chance even that might not get it done if the Vikings beat the Bears Sunday. There will be no wildcard entry from the NFC North. You can rip me if you want, but I’ll be happy with 8-8 at this point in time. A non-losing season at least and hopefully 16 games of experience for Aaron Rodgers. This offseason Rodgers will have plenty of film to watch of himself and this is a guy who is always trying to get better, much like his predecessor.  I do think the Packers have the talent to win all five games, but they have not shown the consistent good play that they would require to win five straight. If McCarthy puts the offense on Ryan Grant’s capable shoulders, it would certainly help matters. Let’s see where it goes from here, the Packers are at this season’s crossroads. Plenty of football to be played, and the character of men will be revealed, from the front office on down to the players.

Here we go. I will predict 27-21 Packers.

7:43 PM: One play into the game and I want to punch Tony Kornholio right in the mouth. Take Jon and have a threesome for God’s sakes.

7:45 PM: Typical three-and-out by the offense to start a game on the road. Does not bode well.

7:56 PM: What did bode well was a three-and-out by the Packers’ defense. Set up the Packers for a short field after a good punt return and it is all of a sudden 7-0. Sweet. Another three-and-out by the defense would make a statement. Ryan Grant looked good on the touchdown drive and the Packers should ride their horse. One play looked like a variation of the wildcat with Rodgers flipping the ball back to Grant on the snap, and on the touchdown run they kind of faked the same thing but the other way. I like it.

8:00 PM: The 7-0 lead lasted all of one play. Simply unbelievable. Atari Bigby burned. 7-7. Confidence just took a huge hit.

8:07 PM: The Packers are in big trouble. Three-and-out again, short field for the Saints because of another bad Frost punt. 14-7 in about five minutes folks, that is if the Packers defense steps up and holds them to two or three plays. Not good. Frost is the worst punter in the history of the NFL. I can do what he does.

8:15 PM: The Packers’ defense is getting shredded, going to be a short blog tonight. I guess the Packers thought the Saints were going to grind it out on the ground. Who would have thought they would throw on us? Go figure?

8:26 PM: A nice long drive by the offense tied it up, but the defense is atrocious. The Saints are already at the Packers’ 15 because the Packers can’t stop the pass. Drew Brees is not Kyle Orton. 21-14 Saints. Over and out.

8:48 PM: I would love to punch Tony Kornholio in the mouth, and given the chance, I will. Just get a room and be done with it. Call me the hater, because I hate Tony Kornholio. Punch it in Rodgers just to stick it to this f?ckin’ blowhard.

8:59 PM: The Packers special teams goes to sleep after Rodgers does indeed punch it in by running it and now the Packers are down 24-21 at the end of the half. Good job defense. It is like everything that could go against the Packers is going against the Packers. At least Jaws told Kornholio to shut the f?ck up about Favre. The Packers’ defense better regroup at half because they are getting killed. The Packers’ offense has held the ball for seven minutes more than the Saints and still the defense gave up 24 points. I hope Rodgers can keep up.

9:39 PM: Al Harris said they were the best in the NFL. 31 points in 35 minutes. Oops 38, (thanks to Rodgers), bottom line Al, Saints win, you lose, this game. See you later this week, unless Rodgers pulls off a Frank Reich. Not likely with no defense. See you next year. I certainly don’t have the energy nor inclination to put up with the crap that will come the rest of the year. Win or lose. I guess I wasn’t cut out to be a blogger. See you in January with a recap.

I hoped for the best and got the worst. Oh well. The Packers are still my team and I will be in Lambeau next week cheering them on. Been fun, I guess. See ya.

The Green Bay Packers put themselves back in first-place in the NFC North yesterday by whipping the Bears 37-3 in Lambeau Field. The Packers dominated from the start and defensive end Jason Hunter put the dagger in the Bears with a 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. To punctuate his return Hunter performed what I think is the greatest Lambeau Leap in history. Jason Hunter, a defensive end, literally disappeared  into the Lambeau crowd. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Beating the Bears is always a good thing, beating them 37-3 is a great thing. While the Vikings have have crept closer to being the Packers’ biggest rival, as much as I hate the Vikings, beating the Bears still tops to beating the Vikings, especially now that the Bears have made beating the Packers top priority. The thing is, like most of us are unable to do, we still must try not to get too high after a big win or too low after a crushing loss. Judging from the comments the last week, we struggle with the later a lot more.

The things I liked about the Bears thrashing is the continued re-emergence of Ryan Grant and the fact that head coach Mike McCarthy listened to us and rode Grant all day long. Even Brandon Jackson picked up 50 yards against the Bears supposedly tough run defense. One does have to wonder how the Bears could hold the Titans to 20 yards rushing for a game and then turn around and give up ten times that to the Packers. I had a feeling Sunday morning that the Packers might try to fool the Bears and try to run early instead of taking advantage of of the Bears’ poor pass defense. To me it looks like the Bears were expecting pass after pass from the get-go, but didn’t get it. Ryan Grant is starting to prove he might worth the money he held out for and then promptly got hurt for. If his second half of the season is as good as last year’s second half, the Packers are in good hands. Grant has already moved up to number 11 in the NFL in rushing and 1000 yards this year is a forgone conclusion.

I would like to sit here and say this team is on its way to a division title at least, but I just can’t. There is too much inexperience on this team. Last year the same inexperienced team flew under the radar, but going 13-3 pretty much put the kibosh on that happening this year. This year’s team is earning every win and even the slightest letdown will probably lead to defeat. They have, however, played a much tougher schedule.

Five-and-five is nothing to write home about, but I’m happy with where this team is right now. I can’t say I’m real confident they can get it done and win the division, which is the only hope of making the playoffs, but I do feel pretty good. Like I said a couple of weeks ago, if the Packers get in the playoffs they have a team that can be a force, especially if Ryan Grant continues to run like he has the last three weeks. Grant has already won one playoff game for the Packers when he ran all over Seattle last year.

I’m looking forward to the Monday night game against the Saints. A chance for the Packers to make a statement on a national stage. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was pretty good on his first Monday Night game, let’s hope for a repeat.  Rodgers is still the NFL’s fifth-ranked passer and is learning week-by-week. Can’t wait to see him in a couple of years. However, I do think he has the ability to take this team to the playoffs this year. I loved his pre-game speech when he told the team the Bears didn’t belong on the same field as the Packers, then they went out and proved it. Good stuff, Maynard.

One week at time from now out. OK? Let’s worry about the future, not the past. Confidence remains high. Still at DefCon 5.

11:55 AM: The only thing I’m predicting today is the game starts in about five minutes. Go Pack!

12:10 PM: One thing still hasn’t changed. The Packers are the most undisciplined team regarding penalties in the NFL. A holding penalty on Donald Driver and a false start on Jason Spitz. Great start gentleman.

12:19 PM: Well, the defense only gave up one third-and-long, Bears actually had to punt. Let’s go now.

12:29 PM: Packers take the early leaad, 7-0. Nice little drive there. Rodgers off to a 7 for 7 start for 71 yards and a TD. But the best thing is the Packers being able to run the ball so far. Grant already has 55 yards. Too bad the defense looks about the same, bad. Some way, some how they have to turn things around. Very little resistance whatsoever.

12:40 PM: Looks like a shootout coming. The defense is again a no-show.

12:58 PM: Horrible play by Rodgers underthrowing a wide open Driver when Driver had coverage by Brian Urlacher. Terrible play and the Bears are fired up.

1:14 PM: The Packers new power-rushing game is taking control. Ryan Grant is back to Ryan Grant and the Packers lead 14-3. A long way to go but I am shocked. Although, the Bears still have a minute to go and the Packers had to take a timeout before the Bears even run a play because they forgot to put 11 guys on the field. Amazing. Things like that are inexcusable.

1:47 PM: Big stop by the Packers on the Bears opening drive of the second half. See if the offense can keep the running game going now.

1:52 PM: Offense couldn’t keep up its end of the bargain and the Packers have to punt. The offense can’t afford to that again. Asking the Packers’ defense to win a game is asking for quite a lot.

1:56 PM: Just one drive without a penalty. Is that too much to ask for? The Bears on the move.

2:09 PM: One very nice drive by the Packers and it is 24-3. What a great game by the offense. 354 yards in three quarters of play. Nice to have Ryan Grant back to full speed.

2:38 PM: If you only win two games a year, it better be against the Bears. How sweet it is.

If the Green Bay Packers are going to turn their season around against the Chicago Bears this weekend, it will have to start with the head coach. For whatever reason, Mike McCarthy has once again abandoned the running game even though it has been successful the last two weeks. When the Packers were winning two-in-a-row over the Seahawks and Colts, they grinded Ryan Grant over 30 times a game even though Grant only averaged about three yards a carry. The last two weeks Grant averaged 4.5 and 4.7 yards per carry yet only touched the ball 36 times total. What the hell?

Sunday against the Vikings was a joke. Aaron Rodgers is getting killed by Vikings every drop back and Grant is busting 10-yard gains left and right, let’s see, what would you do? What better way to stop the pressure on a quarterback than to gash them on the ground? By refusing to run McCarthy takes the play-action out of his arsenal leaving no guessing whatsoever. Of course, when you go empty backfield on every third or fourth-and-one, what guessing is there to do anyway. I guess.

The Packers’ defensive line couldn’t stop a high-school running back and when you are playing Adrian Peterson, you might want to try and keep him off the field with a ground-control offense. But nooooo! McCarthy goes five-wide or empty backfield half the time and doesn’t adjust to the Vikings rush in any way shape or form. What happened to the tight end in the backfield for protection play? I think Sunday was the worst coaching performance of McCarthy’s three years as coach. It was pitiful and the icing on the cake was challenging the Vikings game-winning touchdown. Coupled with Will Blackmon catching a punt while in the endzone, I think I saw two of the worst decisions in the history of the NFL. Sure would have been nice to have that timeout prior to Mason Crosby’s game-winning kick. Instead of having to rush him out there to kick a 52-yarder, they could have called time out. Crosby would have time to calm the butterflies and considering the Vikings didn’t have a timeout, he knew they wouldn’t call one at the last second. But noooo! Out rushes Crosby, wide right.

And as Pete pointed out in the comments, when Rodgers does throw, it is time to go back to what was working early in the season and let Rodgers throw the ball downfield. There was a time when Greg Jennings led the NFL in receiving yardage. If Jennings can’t beat the double-team, then that’s another story, but I don’t think that is the case. here. Against the Titans Rodgers had some nice plays throwing downfield after breaking the pocket and throwing on the run. Rodgers’ strength is not the quick slant like it was for the previous quarterback. Just get the running game going and use those talented receivers the way they should and the Packers’ offense would be unstoppable.

McCarthy also needs to lay down the law with the defensive coordinator. Bob Sanders’ defense is not showing any signs of improvement or any kind of adjustments, just more of the same “gap control” bovine excrement. I don’t care who you have for players, and I don’t think the talent is that bad, you have to get better play than the Packers have gotten from their defense the last two weeks, and mostly that means run defense. You read about how the Bears shut down the Titans running game yesterday by strategically placing eight men in the box you wonder why the Packers can’t make adjustments like that. Yes the Bears lost, but with the cornerbacks the Packers have they could keep the Titans’ receivers in check much more so than the Bears, still with Rex Grossman at quarterback the Bears only lost 21-14. I remember former Packers’ defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur doing a lot more with a lot less.

If you don’t think the coach makes that big of a difference look no further than one of the teams the Packers lost to you this year – the Atlanta Falcons. Other than the rookie QB, the coach was the big change and look at the results. Going into the season I thought the Packers had one of the up-and-coming coaches in the NFL, I’m not saying that isn’t true after nine tough games, well, seven anyway, but I’m seeing some of the same stubbornness that doomed Mike Sherman in the end. Let’s hope it is just growing pains associated with the tremendous pressure placed him this season, not only does he have to win the Super Bowl, but he has to do it with a first-year starter at quarterback. Good luck with that, and welcome to the NFL.

I do have confidence in McCarthy to get this turned around, but has he wasted too much time already? Only the next seven weeks will tell. A loss to the Bears Sunday in Lambeau would really give the naysayers strength. This week I will withhold my prediction for a few days. And for the record, Derrick Frost might be the worst punter in the history of the league to ever actually hold a job for as many games as he has. The guy is an absolute joke and if special teams coordinator Mike Stock wanted him you really have to wonder about him, not to mention Ted Thompson’s decision to give in. I’d like to know the real story behind that horrible decision. I would fire Frost and Stock if I could.

11:55 AM: Time for the Packers to put up or shut-up. No more talking about “getting it fixed” Now is the time.

I like their chances. A big game from Rodgers means a big W.

12:07 PM: Three-and-out and bad punt. Advantage Vikings. But the Packers have some big plays coming.

12:13 PM: 7-0 Vikings. Tramon Williams burned badly in the endzone on third down. The Packers gave up three third-down plays on the short drive. Blame a lot of this drive on the punter. That guy sucks so bad it is not even funny. Cutting Jon Ryan was the worst move TT has ever made.

12:29 PM: A C-Wood interception and the Packers answer with a short drive of their own to tie the game. Not too shabby. A good mix of pass and run capped off with a Grant touchdown run. With the pick, advantage Packers.

12:41 PM: The Packers’ defense continues its poor play. No sight of the suffocating defense McCarthy talked about before the season started. No pass rush and simply can’t stop the run. Things are worse off than I thought.

12:54 PM: A revolting turn of events that reminds you of where you are. The Packers were just the victims of a bad call. Rodgers fumbled the ball into the endzone, picked it up and threw toward the tight end. The refs called him for an “illegal forward pass.” Go figure. Basically, though, with the exception of the one drive, the Packers are playing bad on both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers needs to man up and man up soon or this will be out of hand.

1:00 PM: I just saw the dumbest play in the history of the NFL. Will Blackmon caught a punt in THE ENDZONE! Returns it to the ten and after a penalty to boot, the Packers start at the five. If that man steps on the field againt today it proves there is no discipline on this team. No chance of “fixing it” as we keep hearing. This game is close to becoming a rout.

1:08 PM: Penalties and piss-poor offensive line play is stopping the Packers’ offense. If the Packers can just give Rodgers a couple of seconds guys are wide open downfield. Maybe it’s time to get Clifton out of there and play with the line they played with last week.

1:21 PM: Two more horrible plays by the o-line and the Packers are forced to punt again. This is getting uglier by the minute. 4-5 with the Bears coming to town. Wow. And we haven’t even punted yet.

1:30 PM: This is just amazing. Two safeties in one half of football. This one all on Chad Clifton. If Cliffy comes out for the second half, like Blackmon back on the field, something is wrong.

1:33 PM: The Packers are the most undisciplined team in the NFL, hands down.

1:37 PM: Down four after all that crap is pretty good I guess. What a strange game. The score says it is anybody’s game, the play in the trenches says all Minnesota.

1:57 PM: Game over ladies and gentleman. This defense couldn’t stop a replacement team.

2:04 PM: The rout is on. Rodgers is horrible today, granted under extreme pressure. Welcome to the NFL young fella. 4-5 with the Bear coming to town. The Bears are trailing right now, so it still might be a game for first place as the Vikings travel to Tampa Bay. All is not lost, but the pressure on Rodgers and the offensive line is mounting. Another poor performance against Chicago and the Packers are pretty much out of it.

2:17 PM: The tease is on. Unless the defense does that three more times, the outcome is not in doubt. The Packers only have 98 yards of offense late in the third quarter. Not good.

2:23 PM: Thank God there is no discipline on this team. Will Blackmon makes up for his mistake by taking one to the house. This is getting ridiculous. I don’t know what to think anymore. If we win this game there is no stopping us. But I still don’t see it happening. We can’t move the ball a lick to run time off the clock and the defense is getting tired.

2:39 PM: If the Packers were trying to get Rodgers hurt, they might have succeeded. The offensive line is an absolute joke at this point. That is the reason for my pessimism.

2:56 PM: The game might hinge on the next play. 3rd and five at the Vikings 22.

2:57 PM: A false start! Are you kidding me?! Just walk off the field if you don’t want to win it.

3:07 PM: For the second week in a row the Packers’ defense wilts. And now head coach Mike McCarthy challenges the touchdown. If the Packers win the challenge the Packers lose the game. If the Packers lose the challenge the Packers have time to get a field goal. McCarthy should be hung out to dry for this decision. After all the crap that happened in this game, McCarthy blows a timeout at the least on the a challenge that means nothing. Like I said, 4-5 the Bears lost, so all is not lost. Over and out.

3:20 PM: Crosby chokes it away. The Packers got what they deserved and pretty much all hope is gone. Building for the future now. Hopefully some good games down the stretch, but any postseason hopes just went out the window. See ya next week. No comment this week.

The Green Bay Packers may only be 4-4 and by all means could have had a better record at the midpoint of the season. But considering all the turmoil of training camp and the injuries to the defense, and the fact they have played only two teams with losing records at this stage of the season and just took the best team in the league to overtime on the road, I’m not too worried. In fact, I’m kind of excited. This Packers’ team and new quarterback Aaron Rodgers are becoming more battle tested every week. Poor Rodgers, he has to play a first-place schedule in his first year as a starter as opposed to the third-place schedule the Packers played last year. No cream-puffs other than Detroit and Seattle thus far. Six of the the Packers’ eight games have been against opponents with at least a .500 record. To be .500 is not all that bad after that.

No matter what, the first half of the season is a learning process for the Packers and new quarterback Rodgers. For most of the first half of the season the Packers’ defense has been a sieve against the run, the last three games they have improved, but the early damage was done. If the Packers want to look at the game that they really blew in the first half it has to be the Falcon loss. The Packers might have been overconfident going into that game and even though the Falcons are proving to be a pretty good team, it was still a game the Packers should have won.

For his first eight games as as a starter, I couldn’t be happier with the way Rodgers has played and the fact that the Packers have amazingly found a quarterback to lead them for the next ten years hopefully. Rodgers, at age 24, is light-years  ahead of where Brett Favre was when Brett was 24. In this day and age of the NFL, quarterbacks who make mistakes like Favre did in 1992 and 1993 find themselves on the bench. The Packers finished 8-8 both years. I guess Favre couldn’t raise the level of play of Sanjay Beach to Jerry Rice level at that time. Don’t ask me why.

I don’t think the Packers will finish 8-8 this year. I think 10 or 11 wins are more likely. Ten will probably win the division and ten is what the Giants won in the regular season last year. Like the Packers of this year, the Giants started slow and lost tough games to tough opponents. Not only did they rebound, the rebounded by winning it all and now carrying it over to this season. They did it with a 27-year old quarterback. I may be wrong but I don’t think a 39-year old quarterback ever won a Super Bowl, in fact I doubt one ever made it there.

I think the way the Packers played against the Titans was a strong effort. If anything the Packers’ vaunted secondary had one of its worst games. Three dropped interceptions and gave up crucial pass plays to receivers who couldn’t make the Packers’ practice squad. One of those crucial pass plays was a linebacker mistake though when Chris Johnson was left wide open in overtime. That play pretty much won the game for the Titans. Rodgers was the first QB to pass for 300 yards on the Titans and running Ryan Grant had his best game, if not yardage-wise. The Packers should have used Grant much more in my mind as he was gaining huge chunks of yardage at times. After giving him the ball 64 times the previous two games, for some reason head coach Mike McCarthy went away from the run and as usually happens the Packers lose.

I know everybody is gripping right now, but lets see this thing play out. I am not concerned about 4-4, I am excited about the future of this team with the improving Rodgers at quarterback, not only this year but in future years. If Rodgers’ career would have started last year, the Packers might have won the Super Bowl. One thing is absolutely indisputable, Rodgers would not have thrown that lame duck in last year’s NFC Championship game. This year Rodgers is on pace for 10 interceptions while Favre is on pace for 26. I know who I want.

If Rodgers thought the Packers opening night game against the Vikings in Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football was a big deal, he hasn’t played in a big game yet, which in a way he hasn’t. This week’s game against the Vikings in Minnesota is the biggest game of Rodgers life. A loss to the Vikings and dropping to third place in the division could be disastrous, then again in the NFC North this year, who knows? Now I sound like Mr. Kimble. But falling below .500 will put the heat on like we haven’t seen since Mike Sherman’s last year as head coach. I don’t see it happening. Rodgers bounces back, the defense bounces back, Packers 34, Vikings 13.

12:06: Bad start for the offense. Let’s see what the defense can do. The Titans are fired up. Just have to weather the storm here for a little while.

12:13: Well, could have been worse. What should have been a three-and-out results in a 3-0 lead for the Titans. Now Rodgers gets his second chance. Better calm down. Try running the ball once maybe.

12:27: McCarthy’s lack of faith in his punter might have just cost the Packers big time. If the Titans take the ball and make it a 10-0 game, the Packer will be hard-pressed to comeback against this tough Titan defense. I do think the play they called was a good one but for at least the second time today a Titan blitzer had a free path to Rodgers. If the Packers can’t figure out this Titan pass rush Rodgers is going to be a sore man three hours from now.

12:43: The Packers are not playing well nor smart at this time. The defense stops the Titans but Brady Poppinga gives them new life and results in three more points. Very stupid move by Poppinga. The get a long pass to Jennings but the Packers can only had three. Oh well, 6-3 is better than 10-0. It is still a game. Packers need a turnover by their defense now.

1:11: The Packers use a nice drive to take the lead then are poised to give it right back after a long run by Lendale White. Damn! Touchdown Tennessee in about a second. I can’t believe it. This is sick. All the good work the Packers did on defense down the tubes. Titans back on top.

1:29: Halftime down 13-10. Could be worse I guess. Positives are the offense is finding it’s groove against a tough defense. The defense however is not playing up to par. 4-play drives on the Packers should not happen. And no turnovers. The second half will be interesting. Confidence remains high.

1:53: The Packers were on the move and Rodgers does his best Brett Favre impression and throws into double-coverage for an interception. That hurt. No reason to go deep there. Period. Grant is running the ball well, use the man.

2:02: Confidence is no longer high. The rush has been getting to Rodgers all day and this time Rodgers is hit and fumbles. Back-to-back turnovers by Rodgers. They must hold them to three points or the Packers have no chance to win this game.

2:16: Packers come back but fail in the red zone again. Got to get touchdowns when you get down there against a team like the Titans. 16-13 bad guys.

2:29: The Packers simply cannot protect the quarterback today. The Titans have shut down Grant in the second half and are teeing off on Rodgers. Running out of time. The Titans will grind it out now.

2:42: Packers tie it up but again fail to get in the endzone. Donald Driver is having a good day but has dropped two crucial passes and almost gave the game away on the last one. Defense needs to make a play right here and right now.

2:59: The Packers defense is to blame for this loss. Unbelievable.