My Take -> Week 4

Greetings, G-Force.

2-1. In dramatic fashion. 2017 continues to have the makings of a special year at Lambeau. The Stadium sounded great through the TV. The fans made a difference in the outcome. Lambeau appeared to be in party mode. Without a doubt. The Bengals calling a timeout on the first play of OT? That's HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE! 2-0 at home. Both wins were massively aided by the Faithful. The environment feels so great. I really enjoyed seeing the dude wearing a Craig Newsome jersey straight getting after it. He was elevating the stands, making a different. Marvelous to see.

I sit with the LCD Soundsystem American Dream album rocking through the speakers. Musical creativity at it's finest. They put on a fantastic, high energy concert. Diversity in their music. The sound rings smoothly. This new album is a nice addition to their collection.

Here are my quick thoughts on the past week:

* A short week is not only tough on the players, but it's also tough on the bloggers. Especially those with a full-time job, a wife, a dog and 2 young boys. Oh, and when one of the nights in between involves a Gorillaz concert, you feel the rush of the train to punch out the blog. So, if I'm not overly thorough, it's due to a time crunch.

* Mike McCarthy's team shows that it has the mental fortitude to punch through a trying situation. It certainly felt like melancholy as the teams went into the tunnel for halftime. The team couldn't protect Rodgers. The team was struggling to slow the Bengals offense. But, McCarthy rallied the troops during the intermission and the team rallied in robust fashion. Striking with a 51 yard pass from Rodgers to Kendricks to start the 3rd Quarter.

* Kudos to Dom Capers. He's often maligned. But, he adjusted really well in what felt like a must-win September game. While the offense attempted to gather itself in a comeback effort, the defense really led the charge. After giving up 2 TD's in the first three drives, the defense only yielded 3 more points. Capers was playing without Brice, Ryan, House, Daniels and Perry. Still, he received maximum effort from multiple back-up defenders.

* Aaron Rodgers. I really hope the TD drive to equalize at the end of regulation is the moment that sparks excellence from the 2017 Packers offensive unit. Rodgers was in control when the pressure was highest. A true treat to watch. He's uncanny ability to draw the defense offside is the stuff of legend. It was on display at crucial moments - including on the games most determining play.

* Martellus Bennett has to catch the football.

* Happy to see Lance Kendricks making an impact. He had to be so stoked with his TD grab. Imagine being a WI boy catching a tudd at Lambeau? Man. Epic.

* The Packers need to get the ball to RIP. Give Ty a break. Let RIP bang away at the line of scrimmage. Soften up that defense. Would like to see RIP get 5-7 carries this weekend.

* GERONIMO! I thought he ducked short of the first down marker on a third Quarter pass when he went for 9. Felt like he could've easily got the first down. Left me disappointed that he didn't lunge forward for a first down. But, boy did he ever respond on the final two drives. He caught two passes for first downs on the game tying drive. And, he set-up the game winning FG as he willfully fought for additional yards after contact on his glorious 72 yard reception.

* Jordy gonna Jordy.

* Davante Adams. Showing a lil' shake to his hips after the catch.

* Thought Corey Linsley looked like a Pro Bowler.

* We need you Bulaga. Hustle back.

* I'm surprised at how slow Bennett and Kendricks look.

* I fear that Ty has tired legs. He's playing an abundance of snaps. He's lost a little of his burst. He looks like he could use a massage table and a hot tub.

* Let it be known that the Packers were missing nearly 30% of their starters. Additionally, they lost another starter in-game. They played with two back-up tackles. And, they still won. That doesn't happen in the NFL.

* Rodgers to GERONIMO. Beautiful. What a pass. And, the run after the catch. Gorgeous.

* Maybe it's just me, but I'm not sure the Mixon slipping play was luck. I wonder if it was 80,000 Packer maniac fans making a difference. Creating nerves in the young back. Forcing him to feel the energy from the ghosts of Lambeau.

* Kenny Clark is a budding superstar. Can't wait to see more of Clark and Daniels lined up next to each other. Need Daniels to get healthy.

* Thought Dean Lowry hustled well. His play was inconsistent, but it wasn't due to a lack of effort.

* Josh Jones. We are a completely different defense with him on the field. We're faster. We're more dynamic. We're more versatile. We're more confusing. As he gets more accustomed to the setting, he's only going to get better. 12 tackles. 3 for loss. 2 sacks. 2 QB Hits. When's the last time a Packers defender had that stat line? I can't recall. He was a difference maker. He had instincts. He's in attack mode when he sees the ball carrier. Josh Jones was the MVP of the game.

* Blake Martinez read his DL moves really well. He followed Kenny Clark into the backfield. As Clark won his battle, Martinez trailed perfectly in pursuit. Martinez showed intelligence and intensity as he had 11 tackles; 1 of them for a loss. I thought Martinez misread the zone coverage in pass defense on a couple of occasions; especially on the games opening TD. Further, I thought Martinez might have been at fault on the Bernard TD as he failed to pick him up on the pre-snap switch that he called out.

* Yes, Martinez & Jones combined for 23 tackles; 4 of them for a loss. Both played with speed.

* Kevin King plays with confidence. He plays with fire. He plays with swag. He has big moments in his future.

* Really liked Marwin Evans look deep in the secondary.

* Yo, HaHa. You're my boy. But, time to make a play. This team needs you. This defense needs to start forcing turnovers. You are that guy for this team. Be the Leader. Initiate the 2017 turnover party!

* Ahmad Brooks! Making an impact! Not only with the sack, but I thought that he altered the kicker's motion on the missed FG as he burst through the middle of the line of scrimmage.

* Clay Matthews may not have dominated the box score, but he was consistently getting double teamed and he played with high energy throughout.

* Mason Crosby is so clutch.

* Justin Vogel was booming kicks after his first punt.

This week - it's the hated Bears. Yes, the Bears still suck. They're 1-2. But, they're one play away from being 2-1. They've beaten the Steelers. They were in position to beat the Falcons. If the Bears don't turn the ball over, they can play with most teams in the NFL.

Offensively, the Bears run the football. They mix and match Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. Howard brings power. Cohen brings speed. They run the ball early and they run the ball often. They run the ball to set up the play action pass to the TE and the comeback route to the WR. Zach Miller is a talented, under appreciated TE. He is a fighter as a blocker and a sure handed TE. Kendall Wright is a gifted WR who is a threat with the ball in his hands. Markus Wheaton can stretch the field. Deonte Thompson is a tough tackle. The Bears OL is a force. Kyle Long and Josh Sitton are both Pro Bowl caliber OG's. Charles Leno can be beaten at LT, but he's steady. Bobby Massie is a big bodied, athletic RT. Cody Whitehair is a highly touted 2nd year Center. Mike Glennon is a turnover waiting to happen and since most of his passes are underneath, he's vulnerable to the pick-6.

Defensively, the Bears try to move the line of scrimmage. Akiem Hicks is a force on the DL. Willie Young, Leonard Floyd, and Pernell McPhee all get after the QB with a fierce viciousness. Eddie Goldman and Jonathan Bullard are fast improving DL. At LB, Danny Trevathan gets sideline-to-sideline with the best of them in the game. Prince Amukamara is a fighter at CB. He plays every play as if it's his last. Kyle Fuller is a talented CB with play making potential, but he's been picked on to start the season. Marcus Cooper is a long CB who does a good job getting his hands on a WR's. At S, Eddie Jackson is a rookie who shows promise. Adrian Amos can be beaten.

Although both Bulaga and Bakhtiari are both listed as doubtful, I'm hopeful that the Packers can find a way to get both of them on the field. Without either of them, it'll be hard to win. Without them, the Packers will be without their top 5 OT's.

I expect the Bears to slow the pace down. Immensely. They'll look to run the football. In most cases, they'll run the ball on both 1st and 2nd down. They're going to come at the middle of the field in an attempt to keep Josh Jones off the field. It'll be up to Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Quinton Dial, and Mike Daniels (if healthy) to keep the OL from getting to the 2nd wave of defense. If so, Blake Martinez and Josh Jones will be able to roam field. If not, we'll likely see more Jake Ryan and less Josh Jones. Ideally, the Packers defensive front will win the battle and they'll be able to eat up blockers.

The Packers have to play with 8 in the box. Single high safety with HaHa as the safety valve over the top. It'll limit the CB's aggressiveness on jumping routes. But, it's the Packers best chance to force 3rd and 7. It'll be tough for the Bears to move the football when they need to get more than 4 yards on 3rd down. The Bears will have some success outmuscling the Packers front. They'll move the football. Chewing clock. But, the Bears will struggle to find the end zone.

On the contrary, the Packers come with the quick hitters. Cobb gets the ball early in the game. Davante Adams gets a free release and gets loose on a double move. Lance Kendricks finds the middle of the field on play-action.

Rodgers gets McPhee to jump and it's a big ball to Nelson.

The Bears lead late over the injury riddled Packers. But, Rodgers gets one more chance. He finds victory on a strike to GERONIMO.

Expect to see RIP getting some touches pounding the ball at the heart of the Bears defensive front.

Expect to see Rodgers trying to get rid of the ball quickly.

Expect to see Martellus Bennett used extensively as a blocker.

Expect to see the Packers secondary forcing their first turnover of the young season.

3-1 will feel Super exciting. !0 days to get healthy will be much needed for this team.

Packers 24.
Bears 23.

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
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