The Green Bay Packers’ defense for one game looked like the shutdown defense it was during last year’s playoff run. This game was better than the St. Louis game in which they only gave up three points. The Rams basically killed themselves in that game.
Against the Vikings the Packers were flying around with reckless abandon and instead of relying on turnovers, they made stops. After giving up a few early third down conversions, the Packers put the clamps on Vikings for the rest of the game.
The question now is can they sustain it? I’m sure you saw the poll question about the defense and I must say I’m a C – ask me Thanksgiving night. Thorn in the side Tampa Bay comes to town this week and the Packers never seem to fair well against the Bucs.
I’m not worried about the Packers getting up for a game like the Vikings’ game, Monday Night Football, division opponent, but getting up to face the Bucs with a huge game against Detroit four days later does worry me a little.
That is why if the defense is indeed back, it couldn’t have come at a better time. It was the defense that broke down two years ago in Tampa when the Packers lost to the winless Bucs. The Packers had no answer for Josh Freeman that day. Sunday would be a great day to redeem themselves against the struggling Freeman.
That was then and this is now and currently we have two teams going in different directions. The Bucs got blown out last week and even though they have played a tough schedule they have been wildly inconsistent. If the Packers’ defense plays the same as they did Monday my worries will be short lived.
As good as Aaron Rodgers and the offense is, I think it will be the Packers’ defense that keys a successful title defense. The weather is going to get worse and the cushion the offense has been giving is going to shrink.
Beat the Bucs and Lions and I change my vote to A.