Well, judging by 90 percent of the comments here since the end of the game there is really no reason for the Packers to play out the schedule. I wonder what the rules are for forfeiting in the NFL. The Packers better check into it. They could fire Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy and his staff right now, release all the players and start from scratch next year. I could see Aaron Rodgers ending up in Frisco leading his boyhood team to a championship. Donald Driver could join Favre in Minnesota and Greg Jennings can go play for his home state Lions. All would be well. Not to mention the stress relief it would give to all the Packers’ fans who just hate their team. I would probably volunteer to help the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay on Sunday afternoons. Anything would be better than watching the Packers lose week after week.
Since we won’t get that lucky, I guess I’ll give my take on the game last night. Did Brett Favre kick the Packers ass? Yes he did. Does that mean the season is over? No. If that game was in Lambeau the Packers would have won. Green Bay has taken much better teams into that dome to play much weaker Vikings’ teams and have come out losers, why would things be any different now? The fact is the Packers despite giving up 8 sacks and committing two turnovers had an excellent chance to win that game. Donald Lee’s drop in the endzone on fourth down brought back memories of Jackie Smith dropping a sure touchdown in Super Bowl XIII.
Aaron Rodgers peeled his butt off the turf to throw for 384 yards and 2 TDs against the Vikings with no help from his running game. Just think how good this guy would be if he had half the time Favre had to throw. Rodgers is insanely good and if the Packers find a way to keep him upright he can take them where they want to go. I’ve said it all offseason the o-line and running backs are the weak links on this team. Ryan Grant has never been able to duplicate his success of 2007 and the Packers decision to keep Brandon Jackson and Deshawn Wynn is simply mind-boggling. The difference in the game last night was that the Vikings paid no mind to Ryan Grant, all they had to do was tee off on Rodgers and the Packers had no answer for them.
Bringing back Mark Tauscher is a step in the right direction. Benching Sitton and putting Wells back at center and Spitz at right guard would be another smart move if you ask me. Tauscher will most certainly shore up the pass blocking and give the Packers more options. With Cliffy expected back after the bye week the Packers could have a line with a some experience playing with each other.
I’m not giving up on the season. The Packers should be able to take care of business their next two games which would leave them 4-2 going into the rematch with the Vikings at Lambeau Field. Even if the Vikings beat the Rams, Steelers and Ravens the next three weeks the Packers could pull within a game with a victory and the send the Vikings into their bye week with a loss. Payback is a bitch in the NFL.
My main concern about this Packers team is its lack of discipline, and that falls squarely on the head coach. McCarthy talks tough but doesn’t seem to back it up. In New York last week Buddy’s kid benched David Clowny because he bitched about his lack of playing time on Twitter. Nick Barnett did the same thing and nothing happened to him. And now Charles Woodson is questioning Dom Capers’ play calling. What the hell? Could you imagine players talking like that to the media under Mike Holmgren? It simply wouldn’t happen. McCarthy needs to take control of his team until he does so we are going to see the penalties and mistakes that are so costly continue to happen. McCarthy has two weeks to get his team in shape for the rest of the season he better start by looking in the mirror.