Got to have this one

The Green Bay Packers can take a big step toward getting a wildcard playoff berth with a win today. With two of their main competitors facing off when Atlanta visits New York today a win and the Packers are in. If the playoffs started tomorrow, at the very least the Packers would control their own destiny. Win and your in. The Packers can help themselves in two other ways today too. Beat San Francisco and you pretty much knock the 49ers out of the hunt. It also means Arizona will lock up the NFC West early leaving them with nothing to play for when the Packers travel to Arizona January third.

I’m a little worried about the Packer ability to handle the 49ers front seven. Give Aaron Rodgers enough time and he will pick apart the 49er secondary, but that is a big if this year. Without Ahman Green the Packers will not have their screen game which has been effective slowing the rush since Green joined the team. Mark Tauscher is back at right tackle after missing the Cowboys game so that should help the protection a little.

I think this will be another defensive battle today and the Packers will come out on top again. Packers 21, 49ers 17.

I’ll be on Twitter @packernetblog.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 am and is filed under Al Davis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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  • Jack in Columbus

    I am feeling optimistic today. I am betting the Packers’ D has finally taken a solid step forward. If the O does not turn the ball over, and the STs play as if they occasionally DO practice, the Pack should win a close one.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Another one we win going away – on paper! “Any given Sunday could work for us too, like last Sunday.

  • Dan

    After the TB debacle, MM got reminded that his Raider deep ball philosophy doesn’t work without a dominating o-line.

    I think MM will stick with the playcalling philosophy used last week (and most of 2007). Mixing up 3-5 step drops, max protection, shotguns, screens, and slants. Then, when you have the defense thoroughly confused maybe take a shot deep.

    Rely on the defense to continue stuffing the run. Our defense matches up really well in this one. Just don’t act like celebrating fools when you make plays early on (aka, TB game).

    This feels like a game we win by playing smart (no turnovers and play call to avoid sacks).

    Packers 27, 49ers 13

  • doug r

    classic mm; on 2nd, no play action after bunch of runs, then obvious pass with empty backfield; field goal, déjà vu every week

  • packer_bob

    I like the way we pounded the rock on the opening drive! Wish we had got a TD, but still liked the attitude of that drive.

    Put my money where my mouth was last night. Have to cover 7. GO PACK GO!

  • Dan

    Happy with that first drive. Would have liked a TD, but points against a weak 49er offense is a good start. Using the run gets the 49ers defense on it’s heals and makes the 49ers think twice about blitzing.

  • packer_bob

    Yeah, Doug, I wasn’t happy with the red zone calls either. But I did like the way we ran on the first drive!

  • Dan

    What was Bigby doing?

  • doug r

    just seems like mm never takes advantage of good runs with play action; then he does obvious pass, it’s such a pattern every week

    But yes, was impressive drive

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Hey, looks good, we’re going to tire Gore out by the end of the 3rd Qtr.

  • Dan

    Is anyone else having experiencing another terrible coverage from Fox? Lost the signal three times on this drive alone.

  • packer_bob

    WTF?

  • packer_bob

    A delay of game penalty on first frigging down? How the hell does that happen?

    Another impressive drive though. We just have to quit leaving points on the field.

  • packer_bob

    Dan,

    Consider yourself lucky. I wish I could lose the audio portion of the Fox coverage.

  • packer_bob

    Two weeks in a row of physical! I like it, and so does Olivia Newton John.

  • Oddball

    Brutal penalty on the grounding call – nice to see some pass pressure. Niners might not have enough players to finish the game the way they’re going.

  • Oddball

    I’m ok losing the audio as I’m on with Wayne and Larry, but the image too??

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Hmm, 63 yarder, thats one way to keep us out of the red zone.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    That darn McCarthy, has he given up on the run again?

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    TOP (Time Of Poss.), 21-7 Pack, what an offensive line!

  • Oddball

    Ok, we’ve put ‘em in the hole. Now let’s bury ‘em.

  • packer_bob

    Love it, LOVE IT!!!

    We got all the mojo, balanced offense, they can’t do squaddoosh on O. We play like this the rest of the game, we win by 50.

    We’ve gotten back to the quick passes and let the receivers do the work, the D looks like they’ve been born again!

    I have a few nits to pick with MM (that would be Mayor McCheese) but this is the kind of ass whuuppin I like! Lambeau has been a MASH ward for opponents the last two weeks, and Daddy Likes!

  • packer_bob

    Got it all rolling! AR looks like he did in pre, laser like precision!

    We’ve got a half to go, but there is no way—-I REPEAT NO WAY–that the 49′ers can do enough on O to catch up!

    Put my balls on the line and all I have to say at this point is this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcCXnXDiKoQ

    Just don’t desecrate the spirit of the lamp.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Poster on another site: “Smith and Rodgers are a wash. One has “garbage” stats to make him look better, but honestly toe to toe they’re the same. Good Lord!

  • Dan

    Solid gameplan going on.

    Only way we lose this is if MM make his usual halftime adjustments.

  • Dan

    That looked like pass interference to me. Flashback, looked just like Irvin when the only way he could get open was to push off.

  • doug r

    Mm is only coach in history that abandons successful running game when leading in 4th Q

  • Dan

    Harris and Kampman with knee injuries is not good.

  • Mel e Mel

    Amen Doug the guy is absolutely mental

  • Mel e Mel

    Crosby is better off kicking out of bounds

  • Dan

    That’s just a bad penalty by Underwood. You don’t tackle up high like that.

  • Dan

    Without Harris, our secondary is terrible. Williams and Underwood don’t belong in the NFL.

  • AATP

    WTF is happening here? I’m not happy with this new defensive playcalling – why let the 49′ers back in this damn game – stupid, stupid, stupid… friggin’ 6 point game after blowing them out in the first half… I’m feeling that sick feeling again…

  • Mel e Mel

    This is really sad MM doesnt belong in the NFL

  • Dan

    MM needs to stop handcuffing the offense here. This game is up to the offense/special teams.

  • AATP

    packer_bob, you may have spoken a tad too soon…

  • AATP

    Need some first downs and a nice drive to eat up this clock… can we do it?

  • Dan

    Huge first down. Injuries made this close.

    Need to get Kampman and Harris back ASAP. Without Harris, Woodson is going to be put on teams #1 WR and we’ll be stuck with Willams, Bush, and/or Underwood out there against starting WR/TEs. At least we have the Lions to feast on.

  • Mel e Mel

    Uhh we need Kampman like we the recession. Harris yes Kampman is too one dimensional for this defense.

  • Dan

    Mel, according to NFL.com’s stats, Kampman had a sack and was the team leader in tackles despite missing much of the game.

    I agree Kampman in coverage is a mistake, but there’s a reason he’s one of the few guys that can regularly pressure the QB.

  • Jack in Columbus

    Two quick post-game thoughts: (1) I am very worried about our D with Kampman and Harris apparently seriously injured — post-game, McCarthy deferred answering the injury question until tomorrow, but acknowledged “it didn’t look too good”; and (2) with our O line, we should NEVER EVER go with an empty backfield.

  • Mel e Mel

    Dan if we in a 4-3 Kampan is too small against the run now he is a liability in coverage.
    I love Kampman as a human being he probably the highest character guy on the team.
    all teams are targeting him in coverage, he cant get it done. Nothing to cry about we have to move on. Today is a exhibit a that MM is a moron. Grant having a great game and MM still somehow drops back and attempts more than 40 passes. Its time for him to get the Dan Devine treatment. The writers shouldnt ask him anything but negative questions. The postal carrier should throw his mail on the lawn etc. He has to be run out of town with the o line coach and ST coach horrible.

  • Dan

    if Kampman was such a liability out there, why did it take 22 minutes before the 49ers had a pass completion?

    Coaches used Kampman in various ways and kept the 49ers off balance.

    It’s no different than guys like the mad stork (sorry, name escapes me right now) and Kevin Greene. Coaches are responsible for putting players in position to succeed. If Kampman’s going to be asked to drop into coverage 50% of the time, then TT should have traded him before the deadline.

  • RayL

    it’s the Jekyl & Hyde syndrome again. But a win is a win is a win…..

  • roy jamison

    You’re probably thinking of Ted Hendricks, a guy we shoulda kept, but that’s another story! unfortunately, I didn’t see the game, just the stats. Seems like a typical game when you get up by almost 3 touchdowns, there needs to be more consistency to put the lid on. But, give the 49ers credit, they are well coached.

  • Dan

    Thanks Ray, yeah Hendricks was the guy I was thinking of.

    Just heard we may get an injury balance for Thanksgivings game. Stafford having an MRI for his shoulder.

  • doug r

    Harris out for season – ugghh

    Jarret bush, here we come

  • Jack in Columbus

    Kampy reportedly out for the year, too. Looks like our post-season is in serious doubt. Jarret Bush couldn’t cover my 79-year-old mother, and if he did he would interfere with her anyway.

  • Mel e Mel

    On Bush where is Derrick Martin and Matt Giordano? Who actually thought that Bush is somehow better than Aaron Rouse? Bush should not even see the field period supposedly a ST player pure joke. If Kampan could cover like Ted Hendricks then that would be one thing… but he covers like Jarrett Bush.

  • Cody

    good win, but I have one question that I would like someone to answer..
    Why the HELL is Jarrett Bush STILL on our team and why is he PLAYING IN THE FOOTBALL GAME!!! I he complete garbage, he cant cover for crap and he doesn’t know how to tackle. WHY IS HE IN THE LEAGUE?????

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