The Green Bay Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 31-20 yesterday and in the process clinched their seventh consecutive playoff berth. It wasn’t easy, it may even have been ugly at times, but a win’s a win because this is not gymnastics, there are no style points awarded. The Packers are one of six NFC teams with a chance to win the Super Bowl. What more do you need?
However, all is not well in Packerland. Especially if you are listening to Chris Havel and Harry Sydney on WDUZ’s Sportsline, which you can find under our Audio section on a daily basis. According to them guys it is too bad the Packers made the playoffs because they have little chance to even win another game in the regular season, much less the playoffs. Check out the Packers’ 2015 obituary here, the first 20 minutes and last five are unbelievable.
I know I have been accused of being negative towards the team but these two take it to a whole new level. I guess beating an up-and-coming team, on the west coast, in pouring rain, on a horrible playing surface doesn’t mean anything. Yes, the Packers’ offense had a rough first half, but with the game on the line their raised their play and for the second week in a row put away their opponent in the second half.
But none of that counts for Harry and Havel. All they focus on is putting James Starks and Eddie Lacy in the backfield together to jumpstart the offense. What kind of warped football mind do you have to have to think of that. Last Thursday Sean Jones literally laughed in Havel’s face when he suggested it. Neither one of them can block so what are you accomplishing? What, we going to turn Lacy into The Fridge or something?
And all of a sudden Havel thinks they need to draft a wide receiver number one because they need a “stud” receiver. Here’s a flash, they have one. His name is Jordy Nelson. Last I checked Nelson got hurt after the draft. Besides, the Packers did draft a receiver that looks like he could be a difference make in Ty Montgomery, but he got hurt as well and is now on injured reserve.
Head coach MIke McCarthy said it best when he told the media they can “take all the style points stuff and flush it”. For a team that has won more games in the last ten years than anybody but New England there sure is a lot of negativity in the media. And the next person who says the Packers “only” won two Super Bowls with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers I tell them to go check how many Super Bowls the other teams won during that time. Since the Packers 1996 Super Bowl victory only 10 different teams have won a championship. Not a bad to group to belong to.
Yesterday the Packers’ defense set the tone early with two interceptions in the first quarter, the first set up a touchdown and the second was returned for a touchdown. The Packers barely had the ball on offense in the first half and did squander some opportunities, but the Raiders were determined to shut down the Packers’ running game and did just that. The Packers were forced to adjust in the second half and they did just that.
Three plays after the Raiders took their only lead Rodgers hit James Jones for a 30-yard TD and the Packers never trailed again. After the defense held the Raiders the Packers went 92 yards in 19 plays and took 8:11 off the clock. Yes, a touchdown would have been better they got points and iced it five minutes later with another field goal.
On defense the Packers created havoc all day for the Raiders young quarterback Derek Carr, sacking him three times in addition to the two picks. Carr showed why he is a future star in this league though with two beautiful touchdown passes to Amari Cooper, another future star. The Raiders did put up 372 of offense but as has been the case all year the Packers defense’ made it hard for them to score.
This may not be the most dominant team the Packers have had, injuries have been a huge factor in that, but I still think it is a team that can win in the playoffs at home or on the road. The Packers’ defense is good enough to compete with anybody, only giving up 18.9 points per game and have racking up 38 sacks. If the Packers can avoid any more injuries to their offensive line I think the offense will be good enough to get the job done with McCarthy calling plays again. There has been no continuity on the line this year and when everything starts up front that is a problem.
Overall I think it was an excellent win and I think the Packers can do the same thing in Arizona next week, although the Cardinals have really established themselves as one of the NFL’s best teams this year. It will no doubt be a tall order, but we won’t worry about that for a few days. It’s a victory Monday and it’s my birthday. Can’t beat that.