The Green Bay Packers put an end to a disappointing season by rolling up nearly 500 yards of offense in handing the Lions their 16th and final loss of the year. The Packers offense rolled and the defense again looked pedestrian. In the end the Lions never had a chance against the Packers’ offense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In a stellar final game, Rodgers threw for 308 and 3 TDs. His 71-yarder to the incomparable Donald Driver was the the dagger.

The Packers also benefited from what may be DeShawn Wynn’s coming out party. His 73-yard touchdown opened the scoring and it showed his continued progress since being cut in training camp and subsequently signed to the Packers’ practice squad. The kid has skills but hasn’t shown the mental toughness. He may have seen the light now. Lets hope he stays healthy. Incumbent Ryan Grant needs a challenge. Grant never quite regained his penchant for big plays this year but still gained 1203 yards on the ground. He’s capable, but can he break the long ones like he did in 2007? Like Wynn did Sunday? We shall see. At least this year Grant will be able to go through the entire Packers’ offseason program, which certainly can’t hurt any. Might keep him healthier as well.

Another factor in the game was the Packers receiving duo of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Jennings had a couple of drops but the season he put together has been spectacular. He finished sixth in the NFL in yards with 1292 and had a 16.2 yards-per-catch average. He had eight catches of 40 yards or more, tops in the league. Jennings is the real Ocho Cinco. With Double-D adding another 1000 yards on the other side, the Packers are loaded at receiver, especially with James Jones and Jordy Nelson waiting in the wings. Even the tight end position looks a little more promising now that Jermicheal Finley made a few big plays. His touchdown catch was a beauty, I guess Rodgers found his “right side” finally. This offense has potential. Against the Lions they became the first team in NFL history to have two 100-yard receivers and two 100-yard rushers in the same game.

On the down side the Packers’ defense looked pretty much horrible again, even against one of the worst offenses in the league. When the Packers went ahead 24-14 the defense quickly allowed a 4-play 80-yard drive to let the Lions within three. Absolutely inexcusable. I don’t care if the Lions do have the best receiver in the NFL in Calvin Johnson, without a quarterback, you cannot allow a drive like that to happen. Inexcusable and certainly it should be another nail in Bob Sanders defensive coordinator status’ coffin.

Cornerback Al Harris had a bad day as well. After playing lights-out since coming back from injury after the bye week, Johnson tore him up. Johnson’s first TD pass happened 20 feet from me and it was a thing of beauty. Charles Woodson and safety Nick Collins both looked down at Johnson’s feet-dragging marks on the turf, shook their heads and jogged to the bench. It was classic. Harris was beat.

The Packers will obviously have to upgrade the front seven on defense big time if they are going to return to contender status in 2009. The other pieces are in place. I would like to find a quality insurance policy for the injury-prone Atari Bigby at safety and another backup cornerback. Woodson and Harris won’t be around forever. Also, it is time to re-sign Woodson to a new contract. Make a statement because Woodson’s  veteran leadership cannot be understated. This team I think has Super Bowl potential in Woodson’s playing days and it can’t afford negative mojo with him.

If the Packers do make a change at defensive coordinators, the list of available candidates could never be better. Romeo Crennel, Rod Marinelli, and Eric Mangini became available today. Mike Nolan is also out there. I kind of would prefer Crennel at this time, but you know the Packers, they always hire no-names.

Finally, now that all is said (not!) and done, the Packers first post-Favre season in the books. Even at 6-10 I find it hard to argue the decision to go with Rodgers as the Packers’ starting quarterback. Rodgers finished the season as the sixth-ranked QB in the NFL with over 4000 yards passing, 28 TDs and only 13 picks. Favre ranked 21rst with 22 and 22. Favre’s Jets did win three more games than the Packers but they also had five more Pro Bowlers on their roster. In the end, the Packers got their quarterback of the future on the field, and he played great, plus a third-round draft pick. The Miami Dolphins got Chad Pennington, the league’s second-ranked QB and a division title. The Jets got increased jersey sales and a coach fired.

We know what the Packers’ weaknesses are, it is up to general manager Ted Thompson to fix them, and basically, he has one season to do so. I personally think the Packers’ executive management, a.k.a, Mark Murphy and the executive committee are not about to fire either figure even if the Packers don’t make the playoffs again next year. Too much money invested. I also don’t think that will be a problem. It won’t take much improvement on defense to turn this team around. Just a key stop here and there and the ability to control the opponents running game. To me it is all coaching. The scheme is bad and the coach is worse. There is no toughness on the Packers’ defense outside of Harris and Woodson. Fix the defense and give Rodgers and his offense more opportunities and this team will be back in the playoffs stat.

(watching the replay of the Lions’ game while writing this just makes it so clear how important DD is to this team)

For those of you who think the Packers will lose today, I’m here to say you are wrong. The Packers couldn’t lose this game if they tried, and at times this year it appeared they were trying to lose. Not today though. The Lions are the worst team in NFL history. They only have one good player in Calvin Johnson but nobody to get him the ball. They are the worst defense in the NFL and their offense is 30th. Only Cleveland and Cincinnati are worse.

The Packers available players are fairly healthy and I see the Packers winning 34-14. It will be cold and windy at Lambeau today, the last place the Lions want to be. 0-16 it soon shall be. Incredible.

Always be closing. Always, be closing. The Green Bay Packers of 2008 couldn’t close an umbrella. After choking away another late lead the Packers are 5-10 and have lost seven of those games by four points or less and have lost to only one team with a losing record. The Packers certainly have been unlucky at times, but because of their defense they are where they are for a reason. Just one big stop in all of those seven losses probably would have turned a loss into a win. It is simply amazing and no different again last night. The Packers held the Bears in check for three quarters but when the game was on the line they wilted like John Kitna. Same old story again and again.

To be honest, if the Packers choose to mail it in next Sunday and lose to the Lions, I don’t even care. And to be honest, if I was Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense, I would be hard pressed to get up for this game. Week after week the offense puts the team in position to win only to have the defense give it away. Lately special teams have also contributed to the losing streak. Last night when Bush let the ball hit him and the Bears recovered, anybody who has watched the Packers this year knew the game was over. Bears win. Keeping a player like Bush on the roster is enough reason to fire the entire coaching staff, because apparently none of them know talent when they see it and if they did think he should be cut they didn’t have the balls to say so. This is not the first game that bozo has cost the Packers and probably won’t be the last.

It has been a very strange year. Plenty of good individual performances from players like Aaron Rodgders, who has a chance to throw for 4000 yards and has 25 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. He needs 270 yards to achieve a mark only achieved by three quarterbacks in Packers history. I could be wrong but only Lynn Dickey, Don Majkowski and Brett Favre have passed for 4000 yards in a season for the Packers.

Wide receiver Greg Jennings has turned into one of the best receivers in the NFL. With he and Rodgers being so young, this could be a combination that sets records in the years to come.

Ryan Grant bounced back from a holdout and slow start to rush for over 1000 yards and got better as the season went on. I can’t wait to see him when he can go through the whole offseason program in Green Bay. He may not be considered a top-level back right now, but I think he has a chance. After all, he is ninth in the NFL in rushing yards this year. Not too shabby. I wish they would give him the ball more. It was nice to see him catch some screens the last two games. Where was that all year?

Charles Woodson is getting better with age. His seven interceptions tied for the lead league and he made the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career and first with the Packers. All in little old Green Bay, the last place he wanted to play. His story is amazing and I hope the Packers use his ambassadorship to lure free agents to sign with the Packers, not only while he is playing here but after he retires. Woodson has been completely won over by the Packers organization and the fans and even the city. I love it.

Defensive end Aaron Kampman can’t help but feeling like a castaway on the Packers’ defensive line. He is all alone for most of the time, especially if he is anywhere near an opposing quarterback. Kampman is a true professional and the Packers are lucky to have a guy like him on their roster. People are always looking for leaders and if Kampman isn’t a leader, he should be. He is a leader by example, that is for sure.

Other veterans like Al Harris, Donald Driver, Mark Tauscher and Nick Barnett quietly had good seasons as well. Harris returned with a vengeance after a spleen injury sidelined for four games. Barnett’s loss to injury has turned out to be a huge blow, much like the loss of Cullen Jenkins in September. Jenkins is still second on the team with sacks with 2.5.

After the season for my first time I will do a rundown of who should stay and who should go. In my opinion anyway. You all know I think DC Bob Sanders and his staff needs to be released. But there are plenty of players, mostly on defense, who I don’t think will be around next year. An overhaul of the front seven is in order. With a solid defense the Packers would easily have won more games than they have. I don’t think this team is that far away. In fact, the lessons learned this year could go a long way in shaping the future. We learned the players we have on defense are not very good and we learned that we don’t have to worry about quarterback for the next ten years. While Rodgers had and probably still will have, some growing pains, it is clear he is a better than average quarterback who could be great with the right cast.

And finally, the Packers were absolutely robbed last night on the coin flip of overtime. That will go down as the first time in history that a coin flip that hit something on the way down was not re-flipped. It has never happened before in any game, bar, party, whatever. If the coin hits something you re-flip. The NFL refs can’t get anything right this year.

7:42 PM: False start. Give me a freakin’ break. Just piss-poor coaching.

7:51 PM: Another flag – this time on special teams. Pure coaching. This is just sick. No accountability on this team this year.

7:55 PM: I was just going to say pass one, run two and punt, but the Rodgers actually got a first down pass to Martin. But because of the penalty on the return the Packers are not even to where they would have started the drive. The little things kill you, and they have again this drive. Blame Tory Humphrey for this drive.

8:14 PM: That was horrible. A tipped pass interception. The Packers were on the move, to. It’s a given the Bears will be leading in one or two minutes, the only question is 3-0 or 7-0. The Packers’ defense hasn’t stopped anybody three straight times since Reggie was here. At least it seems that way.

8:30 PM: A fake punt! Holy cow. Who is coaching this team? Please finish it off now.

8:35 PM: Finish it off they did! Rodgers to Jennings, 7-0 Pack. Wow. 91 yards in this weather. Very impressive. Can the defense does its job?

8:38 PM: I’m sorry. I forgot about our horrible special teams. Same story as every game this year. Offense does the job, the defense and special teams give it right back. I wish I could be mad, but it is like a bad marriage, same crap, different day. It is hard to care at this point.

8:59 PM: The Packers put together a sweet 58-yard drive to take a 14-3 lead. Of course, scared to death they kicked the ball out of bounds and gave the Bears the ball at the 40. My guess is 14-10 at half.

After the latest meltdown by the Packers this season, I had to sit back for a change and try to gather my emotions. No such luck, I guess. But still, even with the disappointment of this season still really two weeks away, I don’t think the Packers are in for 20 years of losing like many of the comments here have suggested. Today’s NFL won’t allow that. Just ask Miami. The Packers are solid on offense and whether or not you like Aaron Rodgers, the fact is unless he gets hurt he will continue to get better. During the Packers 20 years of losing, quarterback was the main problem. However, when they finally got a good one – Lynn Dickey, they had the same problems Rodgers and the Packers have now. No freaking defense. The Packers 48-47 Monday  win over the Redskins in 1983 was a typical game. It was like being in the WAC or something.

The 2008 Packers are almost identical, the big difference is Dickey was simply unstoppable at that stage of his career. With Lofton, John Jefferson and Paul Coffman, the Packers literally could score on any play, the problem was, so could the opponent. The tone was set opening day when the Packers beat the Oilers 41-38. Only twice that year did the Packers give up less than 21 points. Dickey threw for 4458 yards, a Packers record that will never be broken. It was Dickey who was able to at least get the Packers to a 8-8 record. For whatever reason, whether lack of experience or lack of confidence from his head coach, AaronRodgers has not been able to be that difference maker. The only difference on offense is that Dickey had a Pro Bowl tight end (oh yeah, the Packers could have had one of those a few weeks ago), but other than that, the offense is comparable. In fact, Greg Jennings is twice the receiver John Jefferson was. Lofton was a Hall-of-Famer, however, so I guess it evens out.

The biggest difference between those teams and now however is leadership. I’m not saying Ted Thompson and Mark Murphy are the greatest things since sliced bread, I’m saying the structure of the Packers is much different. Back then the team president had more to say about who was coaching and who made the team than many owners did. In 1982 Robert J. Parins replaced Dominic Olejniczak, who had been president since 1958, for heavens sakes. When Bob Harlan took over in 1989 things started to improve, especially when Harlan gave total football operations to a general manager. You may not like this general manager, but what I’m saying is as long as this structure remains in effect, the the Packers will not go through another stretch of losing like they did in the 70s and 80s. That is assuming Murphy makes the right call on the next GM.

I personally think the immediate future is very bright, provided Thompson addresses the Packers’ problems on defense. What was supposed to be a strong point this season with a first-year starting quarterback, turned into a nightmare and doomed the team from the get-go. We should have know we were in trouble when the Lions stormed to a 25-24 lead in the fourth quarter of week two. Thank Thompson for Charles Woodson and Nick Collins for that one. The Packers do have talent on defense, but the coaching talent is not the same. My choice for 2009 defensive coordinator would be the soon to be fired Lions’ coach Rod Marinelli. Anybody who can keep a winless team playing that hard and has the defensive background he has, working for Monte Kiffin, is good in my book. I wouldn’t mind Mike Nolan, either, but please no Jim Haslett.

If the Packers can improve the defense, especially the front seven, and continue to develop not only Rodgers, but Greg Jennings and receivers James Jones and Jordy Nelson, the future is bright. Donald Driver still has a few good years in him as well. To me, though, Driver is one of the guys who is at a crossroads. Driver should have been the veteran leadership on this team but have you ever heard Driver and word leadership mentioned in the same sentence? I haven’t. Driver might be playing elsewhere next year.

The Packers are still the youngest team in the NFL and at some point they have to age if they are going to win a championship. This goes for coaching too. When the Packers were winning in the 1990s most of the offensive staff and some of the defensive staff ended up with head coaching jobs in the NFL. I don’t think any of head coach Mike McCarthy’s current staff is too sought after right now. Changes need to be made, no doubt, but I think they need to start at the coaching level , not at the GM level. Not head coach, but the assistants leave more than a little to be desired. McCarthy needs to almost clean house if you ask me. He was young and inexperienced when he hired this staff and now it’s time for some of them to go. McCarthy is well respected and I don’t think he would have a problem hiring replacements.

The thing is, one player did not make the Packers 5-9. This season had to come at some point. It was made that much harder by  the unexpected success of last season. I think if the Packers could somehow win the last two games, they could feel pretty good about themselves heading into the offseason of change. There will be a new defensive coordinator, for sure, and he will bring in his own people. Charles Woodson and Al Harris will have to adjust if they want to win. Woodson has shown that is no problem by his moving to safety this year. I could see a change at offensive coordinator as well. I know MM is the main man, but the OC has to at least be able to have people lined up in the right spots.

All I want to see is a win over the Bears, especially if the Vikings lose to Atlanta Sunday. Wouldn’t it be ironic that when the Bears suck and the Packers are good we can’t beat them but when they are good and we suck we can? Irony can be pretty ironic.

12:13 PM: Well, the same old Green Bay Packers’ defense showed up today. I makeshift Jags offense goes 73 yards with little or no resistance for a 7-0 lead. Aaron, can you put up 60 today please, it’s our only hope.

12:26 PM: Like the whole season, the Packers couldn’t finish the deal on their opening drive and had to settle for a field goal. Questionable play calling again in the red zone. 7-3 Jags. Can’t afford to lose four points per drive, that is for sure.

12:34 PM: End of one and offering absolutely no resistance to a third-string Jags offense. It might be the saddest thing I have ever witnessed as a Packers’ fan. All I want for Christmas is ONE three-and-out.

12:56 PM: Rodgers overcomes a terrible quarterback draw call and hits Jennings for a short TD. 10-7 Packers. Capped a 59-yard drive after a Jags missed field goal. Thinks are looking up. I’ll be happy with 17-17 at the half.

1:25 PM: Football Follies has hit the Packers offense. After a timeout and a huddle the Packers still didn’t know where to line up. Rodgers should have taken a timeout. What a joke. Instead of 17-7 it is 13-7 and the Jags might still have the lead at halftime.

1:54 PM: Playing Charles Woodson at safety is becoming a bigger mistake each game. With Harris and Woodson on the corners today the Jags would not have a completion to a receiver I bet. Tramon Williams is not ready for every day play, that is clear. Dennis Northcutt is lighting up Williams today. We did stop them, however, so all is not lost. A TD drive here and this game might be over.

2:25 PM: Well, thanks to Fox TV or whoever, I haven’t seen a play in 10 minutes. But going for it on fourth down was the worst decision by head coach Mike McCarthy this year. Your defense is finally playing a little better, so pin them back. This is why the Packers are 5-8.

2:33PM: McCarthy must be a complete idiot. Gave the Jags the lead on a silver platter. I knew we would find a way to lost this game and we apparently did. Every week it is something. This time McCarthy goes with the Kuhn run that everybody and their uncle knew was coming, just like against Carolina two weeks ago. Miss it and game over and that is the best call you got? Ridiculous. Jags lead 14-13 and the rout is probably on.

2:50 PM: Boy, we give up the lead quick. It is all Aaron Rodgers’ fault I guess. If only he could play both ways. This might be the biggest joke of the season. Bob Sanders should not be allowed on the plane home.

2:55 PM: Let the horror begin. It is going to be a long eight months. Simply amazing. And the game goes back to the call by McCarthy to goe for it on fourth down at the Jags 44. McCarthy then made a horrible play call and the Packers lose because of it. Thanks a lot Mike. This is by far the worst defense by the Packers since 1983. It is horrible and no offense could overcome it. See you later in the week. I need a few days to digest this latest meltdown.

A late, great friend mine always used to complain that is no pride in the NFL. We will find out today in Jacksonville. Two teams that won playoff games last year and were expected to return to the playoffs this year meet today with nothing to play for but pride. The Packers have at least been competitive pretty much every week but one, but have not been able to pull out the close games. The Jags have been hit just as hard if not harder by injuries than the Packers have just not played well as a result.

Coming off the devastating loss to the Texans, the Packers will either pack it in or get pissed off. While even though it would be too little,  too late, lets hope it the latter. Finish strong and condidence will be high going into the offseason. Lose three more games and nothing will get better until they start playing games next September and we see what we have. It will be a long eight months.

That said, for at least a week, anyway, I think the Packers postpone the horror. Packers 29, Jags 21.

Were the Packers playing Oklahoma Sunday? In Lambeau Field! This might have been the worst display of defense ever exhibited in Lambeau, I’m sure those numbers will come out in the coming days. One thing is sure, it was a complete embarrassment to head coach Mike McCarthy and more importantly defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. Not to mention the fans. I certainly was embarrassed by what I paid to see today. In 10 degree weather no less.

549 yards. As a defense you almost have to try NOT to stop anybody to give up that many yards. Al Harris said we are “the best” secondary in the league, yet Matt Schaub can throw for 414 yards on them. In Lambeau. Yes Bob, you are a genius. Way to adjust. If this is the best Al, I’d hate to see the worst.

After today we all know where the problem lies and who to blame. Sanders is the problem and McCarthy, who hired him, is to blame. Judging by Ted Thompson’s comments in today’s Press-Gazette, it is a given Sanders is gone. Thompson said the defense needs to be “orchestrated better” and the orchestrater is Bob Sanders. This season is obviously over, so McCarthy’s challenge now is to keep the team playing hard for three weeks with nothing to play for and a defense that probably can’t help then win in any way, shape, or form. Good luck with that Mike.

I have to believe unless the Jaguars or Bears lay down, the Packers might have won their last game. The Lions have to be licking their chops waiting for week 17.

From this day forward we are looking at next year. It is time to evaluate what we have and determine where we need to upgrade. Shouldn’t be too hard. I hope in the last three weeks Rodgers continues to play as well as he has and doesn’t try to do too much to overcome his pathetic defense. I hope either Ryan Grant or Brandon Jackson take ownership of the running game. I hope the new punter does well. And I hope Bob Sanders is fired on December 29.

And so are the days of our lives…

This is easily the worst loss in Green Bay Packers’ history. Head coach Mike McCarthy should be fired immediately. I will not attend another game until that “Pittsburgh Pussy” is fired. He has turned the Packers into wimps. It is very simple. So much for the macho shit. The Packers are wimps and will always be wimps under McCarthy. This is my opinion on today’s debacle, talk to you next week after the Packers get pummeled in Jacksonville.

I am done. McCarthy should be given a one-way ticket out of town and it should happen today. He is a quarterback coach and not a head coach. Pure and simple. Ted Thompson needs to clean house and if he doesn’t fire McCarthy and the rest of the staff after this year they are doomed to losing for the foreseeable future. It is what it is. To lose to a bunch of wimps from the south in cold weather in Green Bay is inexcusable. Period.

The Packers are a joke. There has never been a defense more pathetic in 50 years and it is unlikely there will ever be another one this bad. I feel so bad for Aaron Rodgers. He throws for over 3000 yards and 22 TDs in 13 games and has nothing to show for it. Very sad. I know Heckle and Jeckle will get another year, it had better be a playoff year or I am done shelling out big bucks for this team. Small town market or not, win or get out of the league.

A sad state of affairs in Green Bay right now, that is for sure. Thompson made the right call on the QB, but missed horribly on the offensive and defensive line. It will probably cost him his job, and his coaches job. So be it. Matt Millen is available last I checked.

The Green Bay Packers are facing playoff elimination today at frigid Lambeau Field, it likely won’t even be 10 degrees by kickoff, and they are facing a warm weather team in the Houston Texans. The Packers have everything in their favor today, so if they lose this game it will be devastating to the franchise.  If  head coach Mike McCarthy can’t get his team up for this something is wrong. While I do see the Packers winning, but we know this season anything is possible. The Packers have lost seven of their last ten games after a 2-0 start and most of the losses have been close and excruciatingly painful. I’m hoping the Packers can ease some of that pain with a big win today over Houston.

I think they do just that. Aaron Rodgers sounded like a guy looking forward to playing in the cold and that attitude should carry over to his offensive teammates at least. Look for the quick start the Packers need and fairly easy win – Packers 27, Texans 13.