The Green Bay Packers won their second game in a row and with now having won 4-of-6 they are back in the NFC playoff hunt. With games against Detroit Thursday and the Ravens on Dec. 7 in Lambeau, the Packers have a good chance to keep the momentum going as we enter the stretch run. Of course beating the 49ers by only six points was not nearly good enough for most fans I talked to today. It is as if the Packers made a conscious decision at halftime to “let” the 49ers back in the game. Never mind that the 49ers are actually an up-can-coming team that until Sunday was right in the mix in the NFC.
People who actually watch the NFL have seen many games like Sundays’ 30-24 win by the Packers. In fact it pretty much happens every week. Last week it happened in San Diego when Philly fell behind early and rallied late to make the final score not as close the game actually was. The Packers had 368 yards of offense in the first half, it is completely asinine to think the Packers could duplicate that in the second half. I bet you can count the career 700 yard games in NFL history on one hand. In fact, one finger and it happened in 1951. Teams make adjustments on defense and on offense the game plan changes when you have a big lead, right or wrong. My only complaint Sunday offensively was that they should have scored more points with all those yards.
The Packers did not “let” the 49ers back in the game, the 49ers forced themselves back in the game, thanks to a complete change in their game plan to start the second half. The 49ers went to their two-minute offense with thirty minutes to go and thanks to yet another special teams gaff by the Packers they almost had a chance to win. But for the second week in a row the Packers offense rose to the occasion and put the game away. Last week it was a long time-consuming drive to go up by 10 points in a defensive battle with Dallas and this week the Packers ran out the final six minutes of the clock in true grind it out fashion.
The Packers’ offense the last two weeks has finally ditched the “let’s go vertical” offense and actually look like a West Coast Offense again. Short passes to set up the run, more yards after the catch and controlling the clock. Add that to a defense that is getting better by the week and the Packers are hinting at peaking at the right time. Losing Aaron Kampman and Al Harris for the year might be the monkey in the wrench, but I personally don’t think so. Brad Jones should be able to take over for Kampman and if Brady Poppinga returns to health soon they have some flexibility at the linebacker position. Brandon Chiller should again be part of that mix Thursday after not playing much in the last two games because of a hand injury. I’m not that worried about Harris’ position as I think Tramon Williams can do a good job, it is filling Williams’ position that is the problem.
Jarrett Bush plays like he has one and if there ever was a reason to fire Ted Thompson it has nothing to do the quarterback, matching an offer-sheet from Tennessee to keep Bush is inexcusable. There are no free agents available this time of year so the Packers will have to make do with what they got, which will put to the test the coaching ability of coordinator Dom Capers. It is very bad timing for the Packers whose defense is now ranked third in the NFL and has a short week meaning they have zero time to train somebody new. The Packers won’t have to face Matthew Stafford as it looks like for the second time this year he will miss the Packers’ game with an injury. Daunte Culpepper doesn’t exactly scare you anymore, so the Packers may have caught a break, especially when you consider Stafford threw for five touchdowns against the Browns, including an incredible one with no time on the clock and in severe pain.
To beat the Lions the Packers will need their offense to carry the load while the defense re-adjusts. The Lions are 31rst in the NFL in defense so that shouldn’t be too much to ask. Get the win Thursday and the Packers have 11 days until Ravens’ game. Capers and crew will be able to determine a course of action that will keep this train on the right track. Confidence is creeping up. Just don’t lay an egg on Thanksgiving. No offense Mike.
Here a are couple of shots from seats Sunday:
A sad day for two true Packers.