Greetings, G-Force.
In a week-to-week League, you’re only as good as your last game. And, in what was their toughest test to date, the Packers defense returned to the form we remember all too well in years past. Because of it, the Packers have an all-important, must-win game at home against the Rams, if they want any shot at holding the #1 seed.
As I write, I listen to the Dirty Heads self-titled album. It’s by far my most played album since it’s release. I sip a Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper. I love this beer. 10% chocolate, hazelnut goodness. With a tiny hop finish. Perfect for the season.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
LaFleur and Rodgers were not themselves for the first 1.5 quarters. But, when they got rolling, they were unstoppable. #12 was seeing the Field. He was patient. LaFleur was dialing up motion and confusion. Lots of eye candy. That was an entertaining offense.
Injuries or not, that was concerning defense. For as good as they’ve been this year, they’ve struggled to get off the field to seal games late. Tjey allowed SF to score a TD to take the lead. They allowed Cincy to drive to tie it. They got the stop in AZ, but not until they allowed the Cardinals to drive 94 yards. They failed to get the last stop on 3rd down in KC to give the offense a chance. Finally, they were unable to get the stop in MN. While this defense has been highly impressive, they’ve struggled to seal games.
We cannot take these days for granted. Injuries, Free Agency and attitude can strip it all away. Right now, this roster has many players that are absolutely elite. Sad to lose Jenkins. A great dude. An All-Pro quality OL. Solid teammate. This teams needs a healthy Bakhtiari.
Catch the ball, Savage. He’s often in position. He rarely makes the play.
Kenny Clark continues to be as dominant as it gets as an interior DL.
Lowry and Lancaster are playing their best football. Consistently.
Cherish these days with Davante Adams.
The Packers WR’s have been highly criticized through the years. As it stands, they have the best WR in the league, the best blocking WR in the league, a reliable slot WR, and a deep ball threat that is consistently getting better. Much props to MVS. He’s developed into a talented WR. ESB is also playing his best football.
Can the special teams unit continue to fail us? Apparently so! Another missed FG! Oh, and how baffling is it that Amari Rodgers let’s the ball hit the ground and gives up nearly 10 yards every game. Catch the ball, dude.
AJ Dillon has become a highly dependable RB. He’s so good as a receiver as well.
Deguara! I couldn’t believe my eyes!!
You know the special teams units are really bad when 12 nervously looks into an XP try.
This week - it’s the Rams. At Lambeau. An afternoon game. With lights. It doesn’t get better. The Faithful will undoubtedly bring the volume.
Sometimes, it’s the acquisitions you don’t make that benefit you the most. While I believe OBJ had a role in GB; it wouldn’t have been prominent. In the end, you have to imagine that it might not have ended well, if that was the case. So, now, he plays for a top contender. He will demand the ball. Stoked for Stokes will be ready!
Cooper Kupp will give the Packers all kinds of fits. I’m not sure how they’ll defend him and you know the Rams will do everything to get the ball in his hands.
Stafford has typically played really well against the Packers. I expect him to do the same this weekend.
Thankfully, if the Packers OL can give Rodgers time, we will see big plays off of play action. The Packers establish a running game early on. Then, it’s Rodgers to Lazard off of play-action.
Douglas picks off Stafford. Somehow, the defense gets that elusive late stop.
The crowd is rowdy.
The Packers win one that they must have!
Drink up, Packers fans!
Packers 28
Rams 27
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Sunday, November 21, 2021
My Take -> Week 11
Greetings, G-Force.
All of the drama. All of the chaos. All of the overwhelmingly annoying stories that the media have fed us since LaFleur decided to kick the FG at the end of NFCCG. All of it. None of it matters right now. Instead, through all of the madness, the Packers sit at 8-2. Leading the NFC. In control of home field throughout. With 7 games to play. Let’s go!
As I write, I listen to Phish from 7-14-19. Alpine Valley. Ruby Waves. It was a blue morning when I was walking down the street in Downtown Denver this am. I sip a Hinterland Luna Coffee Stout. I love this beer. Perfect on a still yet crisp mid week evening with a near full moon bursting light from the sky. I’m alive.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur. Packers fans, we are blessed. He is ours.
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t top notch. It didn’t matter. He was a Leader. And, other than his boneheaded decision that led to the interception, #12 was mostly solid in his decision making.
Aaron Jones. Love this dude. So glad that his injury wasn’t severe. The same can be said for Gary.
Mercilus. Super bummed about his injury. He was becoming a disruptive force.
Bakhtiari. Health to you. We need you. Hoping the recovery is going better than it sounds. This OL needs him. Wild Man 70 has to get off the Field. In many ways, he’s a liability.
AJ Dillon. Where everyone thought Gutekunst was crazy for selecting him in R2 — including myself — well, he’s showing that Gutekunst knew best. It’s possible that Dillon will save the season for this team while 33 is out.
Deguara. While everyone thought Gutekunst was crazy for selecting him in R3 — including myself — well, he’s showing that Gutekunst was wrong with his selection. Deguara seems to make mental mistakes on a weekly basis.
Davante was too much for the Seattle secondary.
Nice to see MVS getting over the top.
Amos was an absolute stud.
King! I’m not sure he caught, but we will take it!
What a tremendous performance by the defense. Shutting out the Seahawks. Dominating the line of scrimmage. Kenny Clark continues to play at an All Pro level.
Barnes and Campbell. For the first time since the Desmond Bishop injury, the Packers have two consistently trustworthy players at ILB.
Gutekunst might’ve found a star in Slaton in this years Draft. He’s becoming increasingly more effective every week. I love his strength + quickness + effort combination.
Stoked for Stokes! Kid can play. He’s disciplined. He has great recovery speed. He gets his head turned around.
Another week. Another game in which Rasul made game changing plays. Dub-V to GB!
Garvin’s game is growing on me. High activity. Hustle monster. Keeps containment. He doesn’t show up much in the box score, but he’s effective.
The special teams woes must stop. Now. It’s baffling that they can’t figure out the FG unit.
This week - it’s the hated queens from Minnesota. With a win, the Packers are in complete command of the NFC NORTH.
The queens are much better than their record suggests. They’ve been the better team in most games that they’ve played. They just haven’t known how to win. They’ve blown leads. They’ve choked games away late. They have rarely played a full 60 minutes.
The Packers defense has played at a Super level this year. This will arguably be their biggest test so far. The queens will feed Cook. They’ll try to run over the Packers defensive front. In the past, the Packers have struggled to slow down Cook. Then, they’ll turn to play action. Cousins has been less prone to the big mistake this year. Without that mistake, it might be tough for the Packers to win. They’re loaded with weapons at WR and while the Packers secondary has been fantastic all year, Jefferson and Thielen are as good as any tandem in the NFL. Conklin is a solid TE. Osborn is a legit #3 WR. This is the weekend for the Packers defense to solidify themselves as a legitimate top 5 defense in the NFL. On the road. In the dome. Against a hated rival. And, a chance to essentially win the Division.
The MN defense should not be able to cover the Packers. If Rodgers is accurate and the timing is dialed in after another week of sitting out practice, the Packers should be able to put up loads of points.
I anticipate that we will see a lot of 4 WR sets. Cobb in motion. Dillon as the single back. Running into smaller defenders who will be asked to take the back back to the turf. Good luck.
Look for MVS to have two big plays off play action over the top. No one in the MN secondary can run with him.
We’ve been waiting for Savage to force a crucial turnover. This is the week.
Packers 31
queens 27
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
All of the drama. All of the chaos. All of the overwhelmingly annoying stories that the media have fed us since LaFleur decided to kick the FG at the end of NFCCG. All of it. None of it matters right now. Instead, through all of the madness, the Packers sit at 8-2. Leading the NFC. In control of home field throughout. With 7 games to play. Let’s go!
As I write, I listen to Phish from 7-14-19. Alpine Valley. Ruby Waves. It was a blue morning when I was walking down the street in Downtown Denver this am. I sip a Hinterland Luna Coffee Stout. I love this beer. Perfect on a still yet crisp mid week evening with a near full moon bursting light from the sky. I’m alive.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur. Packers fans, we are blessed. He is ours.
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t top notch. It didn’t matter. He was a Leader. And, other than his boneheaded decision that led to the interception, #12 was mostly solid in his decision making.
Aaron Jones. Love this dude. So glad that his injury wasn’t severe. The same can be said for Gary.
Mercilus. Super bummed about his injury. He was becoming a disruptive force.
Bakhtiari. Health to you. We need you. Hoping the recovery is going better than it sounds. This OL needs him. Wild Man 70 has to get off the Field. In many ways, he’s a liability.
AJ Dillon. Where everyone thought Gutekunst was crazy for selecting him in R2 — including myself — well, he’s showing that Gutekunst knew best. It’s possible that Dillon will save the season for this team while 33 is out.
Deguara. While everyone thought Gutekunst was crazy for selecting him in R3 — including myself — well, he’s showing that Gutekunst was wrong with his selection. Deguara seems to make mental mistakes on a weekly basis.
Davante was too much for the Seattle secondary.
Nice to see MVS getting over the top.
Amos was an absolute stud.
King! I’m not sure he caught, but we will take it!
What a tremendous performance by the defense. Shutting out the Seahawks. Dominating the line of scrimmage. Kenny Clark continues to play at an All Pro level.
Barnes and Campbell. For the first time since the Desmond Bishop injury, the Packers have two consistently trustworthy players at ILB.
Gutekunst might’ve found a star in Slaton in this years Draft. He’s becoming increasingly more effective every week. I love his strength + quickness + effort combination.
Stoked for Stokes! Kid can play. He’s disciplined. He has great recovery speed. He gets his head turned around.
Another week. Another game in which Rasul made game changing plays. Dub-V to GB!
Garvin’s game is growing on me. High activity. Hustle monster. Keeps containment. He doesn’t show up much in the box score, but he’s effective.
The special teams woes must stop. Now. It’s baffling that they can’t figure out the FG unit.
This week - it’s the hated queens from Minnesota. With a win, the Packers are in complete command of the NFC NORTH.
The queens are much better than their record suggests. They’ve been the better team in most games that they’ve played. They just haven’t known how to win. They’ve blown leads. They’ve choked games away late. They have rarely played a full 60 minutes.
The Packers defense has played at a Super level this year. This will arguably be their biggest test so far. The queens will feed Cook. They’ll try to run over the Packers defensive front. In the past, the Packers have struggled to slow down Cook. Then, they’ll turn to play action. Cousins has been less prone to the big mistake this year. Without that mistake, it might be tough for the Packers to win. They’re loaded with weapons at WR and while the Packers secondary has been fantastic all year, Jefferson and Thielen are as good as any tandem in the NFL. Conklin is a solid TE. Osborn is a legit #3 WR. This is the weekend for the Packers defense to solidify themselves as a legitimate top 5 defense in the NFL. On the road. In the dome. Against a hated rival. And, a chance to essentially win the Division.
The MN defense should not be able to cover the Packers. If Rodgers is accurate and the timing is dialed in after another week of sitting out practice, the Packers should be able to put up loads of points.
I anticipate that we will see a lot of 4 WR sets. Cobb in motion. Dillon as the single back. Running into smaller defenders who will be asked to take the back back to the turf. Good luck.
Look for MVS to have two big plays off play action over the top. No one in the MN secondary can run with him.
We’ve been waiting for Savage to force a crucial turnover. This is the week.
Packers 31
queens 27
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Friday, November 12, 2021
My Take -> Week 10
Greetings, G-Force.
Feeling strife after a week of drama, the Packers offense looked unprepared, their defense looked Championship caliber and their special teams were pathetic. Add it all up and the Packers fought hard, but fell short. Still, there were many positives to take away from the defeat. The biggest takeaway is that the Packers defense seems shockingly prime to be a pillar. Assuming Jaire and Za’Darius come back, it’s possible that the defense will be the cornerstone of the 2021 season; baffling as it sounds. And, really, to intentionally reiterate the point, when you look at the big picture of this game for the 2021 season, we learned that this defense is good enough. The Packers offense (with Rodgers) and their defense is good enough to be Super. The special teams? Well, at this point, not so much.
As I write, I sip a Titletown Brewing Green 19 IPA. The Green 19 cadence is forever in the archives of the Favre era. I listen to the Phish 10-24-21 show from the Forum; my favorite venue to see music. Known for its Showtime era of the LA Lakers, the vibrancy still echoes throughout the arena.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur was scatter brained as a play caller against the Chiefs, but I don’t blame him. His team had barely practiced together for two weeks. The locker room was a COVID mess. He came out and wisely put Love in position to complete two easy passes in the flat. He wanted to make it easy for Love and LaFleur accomplished his mission. Love missed badly. Then, the defense gave up an 8 minute TD drive. LaFleur wisely went to the run game. He had success. But, two embarrassing FG attempts put him behind the 8-ball. After that, it felt like LaFleur was both confused and indecisive. He was out of rhythm. He was almost in panic mode. LaFleur should’ve just stuck with the run.
Jordan Love. I have no idea what his future holds and frankly, I’m not worried about it. I have no idea if he will be good enough to be an NFL starter. I do know that he was asked to manage a game in which the defense played as good as could be expected and Love wasn’t good enough. It’s possible that the coaching staff didn’t tell him to look at man coverage over the middle of the Field on the all out blitzes. If so, that would surprise me. Had he looked at the middle of the Field, he would have had multiple big plays in man coverage. If he was not specifically coached to do that last Sunday, I’m sure he has learned that at some point of his playing career. I’m fairly confident that I learned that concept sitting on my Dad’s lap at 5 years old. All out blitz? Well, that signals the middle of the Field is wide open. Trust your WR. Take a shot. Love never did. Again, I’m not suggesting Love won’t be a good QB in the future, but he was not good enough in his 1st start. The moment was far too big for him. That’s not abnormal for a young QB under center for the 1st time, but it was a painful initial impression.
I’m infatuated with the Dillon and Jones tandem. They are perfect compliments for one another. Speaking of Jones, how did Love not get him the ball as a receiver? Did Love not watch film of the last two times these teams played at Arrowhead? LaFleur certainly had Jones in position to be a target. Love just didn’t look his way. Baffling.
Wild Man 70 must play better or he has to go to the bench.
The defense played so well. Wish they’d have gotten off the Field on the final 3rd and 10, but man, what a performance. So great to watch.
Catch the ball, Kevin King.
Barnes!! What a hit! He came to play.
Campbell continues to impress.
Wish that Savage would play that way every week.
The last time the Packers played the Chiefs in Arrowhead, they targeted Daniel Sorensen on a number of occasions. They had big plays against him. The one time they went after him last weekend, Lazard scored a TD. Sorensen is a liability in coverage. It’s shocking that the Packers didn’t go after him more often. I wonder if LaFleur didn’t dial it up or if Love didn’t execute it?
The Packers have had many porous special teams units over the last 40 years. This is possibly the worst we’ve ever witnessed. And, amazingly, the punter is doing unbelievably well. Literally every other facet of the special teams units is remarkably flawed. It’s almost impressive how poorly they perform week in and week out.
I thought OBJ would’ve been a perfect fit in the role that we’ve seen Ervin, Austin and Amari Rodgers in over the last two years. Would he have been happy in that role? We will never know. I also think the role would have showcased his current skillset in a way that would’ve extended his career as a prominent figure on the Field. Let him return punts. Put him in motion. Let him catch the ball in the open space against LB’s, safeties and nickel CB’s. It’d have been a perfect match. Instead, OBJ took the $$$. He didn’t choose the Rams over the Packers, he took the money.
This week - it’s the Seahawks. An afternoon game. I always love the lights at Lambeau in November during the afternoon games. There’s a special type of magic in the air. I expect ghosts of years past to show up and create turnovers for the Packers. Look for the ball to bounce the Packers way.
Russell Wilson will be back. Hopefully, Aaron Rodgers will be back as well. If 12 comes back and is on target, the Packers could drop points in abundance. These Seattle defense is really bad. They can’t defend the run. They can’t defend the pass. Look for LaFleur to feast on the Seattle secondary this weekend.
Rodgers to Adams. Rodgers to MVS on the deep ball. Dillon up the middle. Jones I’m the flat.
The Packers jump out to an early lead. But, the Seahawks are like cockroaches. They don’t die. Wilson to Metcalf on a big play. Seattle fights back to within a score.
But, it’s Rodgers and Adams as an unstoppable duo. Seattle doesn’t have the answer.
Packers 34
Seahawks 23
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Feeling strife after a week of drama, the Packers offense looked unprepared, their defense looked Championship caliber and their special teams were pathetic. Add it all up and the Packers fought hard, but fell short. Still, there were many positives to take away from the defeat. The biggest takeaway is that the Packers defense seems shockingly prime to be a pillar. Assuming Jaire and Za’Darius come back, it’s possible that the defense will be the cornerstone of the 2021 season; baffling as it sounds. And, really, to intentionally reiterate the point, when you look at the big picture of this game for the 2021 season, we learned that this defense is good enough. The Packers offense (with Rodgers) and their defense is good enough to be Super. The special teams? Well, at this point, not so much.
As I write, I sip a Titletown Brewing Green 19 IPA. The Green 19 cadence is forever in the archives of the Favre era. I listen to the Phish 10-24-21 show from the Forum; my favorite venue to see music. Known for its Showtime era of the LA Lakers, the vibrancy still echoes throughout the arena.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur was scatter brained as a play caller against the Chiefs, but I don’t blame him. His team had barely practiced together for two weeks. The locker room was a COVID mess. He came out and wisely put Love in position to complete two easy passes in the flat. He wanted to make it easy for Love and LaFleur accomplished his mission. Love missed badly. Then, the defense gave up an 8 minute TD drive. LaFleur wisely went to the run game. He had success. But, two embarrassing FG attempts put him behind the 8-ball. After that, it felt like LaFleur was both confused and indecisive. He was out of rhythm. He was almost in panic mode. LaFleur should’ve just stuck with the run.
Jordan Love. I have no idea what his future holds and frankly, I’m not worried about it. I have no idea if he will be good enough to be an NFL starter. I do know that he was asked to manage a game in which the defense played as good as could be expected and Love wasn’t good enough. It’s possible that the coaching staff didn’t tell him to look at man coverage over the middle of the Field on the all out blitzes. If so, that would surprise me. Had he looked at the middle of the Field, he would have had multiple big plays in man coverage. If he was not specifically coached to do that last Sunday, I’m sure he has learned that at some point of his playing career. I’m fairly confident that I learned that concept sitting on my Dad’s lap at 5 years old. All out blitz? Well, that signals the middle of the Field is wide open. Trust your WR. Take a shot. Love never did. Again, I’m not suggesting Love won’t be a good QB in the future, but he was not good enough in his 1st start. The moment was far too big for him. That’s not abnormal for a young QB under center for the 1st time, but it was a painful initial impression.
I’m infatuated with the Dillon and Jones tandem. They are perfect compliments for one another. Speaking of Jones, how did Love not get him the ball as a receiver? Did Love not watch film of the last two times these teams played at Arrowhead? LaFleur certainly had Jones in position to be a target. Love just didn’t look his way. Baffling.
Wild Man 70 must play better or he has to go to the bench.
The defense played so well. Wish they’d have gotten off the Field on the final 3rd and 10, but man, what a performance. So great to watch.
Catch the ball, Kevin King.
Barnes!! What a hit! He came to play.
Campbell continues to impress.
Wish that Savage would play that way every week.
The last time the Packers played the Chiefs in Arrowhead, they targeted Daniel Sorensen on a number of occasions. They had big plays against him. The one time they went after him last weekend, Lazard scored a TD. Sorensen is a liability in coverage. It’s shocking that the Packers didn’t go after him more often. I wonder if LaFleur didn’t dial it up or if Love didn’t execute it?
The Packers have had many porous special teams units over the last 40 years. This is possibly the worst we’ve ever witnessed. And, amazingly, the punter is doing unbelievably well. Literally every other facet of the special teams units is remarkably flawed. It’s almost impressive how poorly they perform week in and week out.
I thought OBJ would’ve been a perfect fit in the role that we’ve seen Ervin, Austin and Amari Rodgers in over the last two years. Would he have been happy in that role? We will never know. I also think the role would have showcased his current skillset in a way that would’ve extended his career as a prominent figure on the Field. Let him return punts. Put him in motion. Let him catch the ball in the open space against LB’s, safeties and nickel CB’s. It’d have been a perfect match. Instead, OBJ took the $$$. He didn’t choose the Rams over the Packers, he took the money.
This week - it’s the Seahawks. An afternoon game. I always love the lights at Lambeau in November during the afternoon games. There’s a special type of magic in the air. I expect ghosts of years past to show up and create turnovers for the Packers. Look for the ball to bounce the Packers way.
Russell Wilson will be back. Hopefully, Aaron Rodgers will be back as well. If 12 comes back and is on target, the Packers could drop points in abundance. These Seattle defense is really bad. They can’t defend the run. They can’t defend the pass. Look for LaFleur to feast on the Seattle secondary this weekend.
Rodgers to Adams. Rodgers to MVS on the deep ball. Dillon up the middle. Jones I’m the flat.
The Packers jump out to an early lead. But, the Seahawks are like cockroaches. They don’t die. Wilson to Metcalf on a big play. Seattle fights back to within a score.
But, it’s Rodgers and Adams as an unstoppable duo. Seattle doesn’t have the answer.
Packers 34
Seahawks 23
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 7, 2021
My Take - Week 9
Greetings, G-Force.
Over the course of the last 40 years, we’ve seen many versions of the Cardiac Pack. The 2021 version might be the most unique. Thus far, this team has had a pension for completely outplaying their opponents yet they’ve been incapable of putting the opposition away. Eventually, this inability to apply the early-to-mid 4th Quarter dagger will likely catch up to the Packers, but for now, it’s important to enjoy the ride. The 2021 Packers have proven that they don’t flinch when they face in-game adversity. And, more importantly, in crunch time, this team knows how to win. Now, sadly, this team will face a different set of adversity. The face of the franchise chose not to get vaccinated. And, he thought he was smarter than all of us throughout the process. Oddly, he tried to protect his image and not come clean from the start and because of it, he strangely because a Preacherman about it all. He even grossly tied MLK into this. Now, the Packers will be without their 3x MVP QB for at least 1 week and possibly longer. In LaFleur, we will have to trust.
As I write, I sip a Green Flash West Coast IPA. Hop bursting enthusiasm. I listen to the Friday Night Phish in Las Vegas show from this past weekend. The band is on fire right now. Buzz in!
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur. What an exceptional leader. His team believes in him. His competitive spirit reflected through this team on a short week. In Arizona. Against the undefeated Cardinals.
Aaron Rodgers willed this team to victory. He was determined. His energy was palpable.
Jones and Dillon. This combination has become a dynamite 1-2 punch.
The Packers OL continues to play great football.
So sad for Big Bob Tonyan.
Congrats to Dre Campbell. He’s been phenomenal!
Clark and Lowry continue to play exceptionally well.
Thought Gary and Preston were really solid on the EDGE.
Mercilus has been an impact player. He’s so disruptive.
Rasul Douglas! Dub-V! A play for the ages! Unbelievably epic!
Stoked for Stokes! The kid can play.
Happy for Black! Quick reactions to a fortuitous bounce!
Randall Cobb is playing with great desire. Willpower.
If you’ve followed this blog long enough, you know that I fully believe in the CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE. The Championship Drive is when the offense puts the game away in the 4th Quarter. It’s when they make a 2-score game a 3-score game with less than 12 minutes to play. Or when they make a 1-score game a 2-score game with less than 5 minutes to play. In Week 3, the Packers had multiple chances to put away SF; but instead, they needed a last second 51 yard FG. In Week 4, with the game seemingly in hand against Pittsburgh and the Packers ramming the ball down the Steelers throats; almost oddly, the Packers started throwing the ball. They stopped the clock and nearly let Pittsburgh back into the game. In Week 5, the Packers had numerous chances to put away Cincinnati, but they let the Bengals hang around and nearly blew it. In Week 6, we saw our first glimpse of a Championship Drive when Rodgers emphatically flashed the Belt and gave us a forever moment in Chicago. In Week 7, offered hope that they were becoming a team that had the mental wherewithal to play a 60-minute football game. Finally, in Week 8, after the Packers had seemingly just completed their most impressive back-to-back drives of the season to give them a 2-score lead; the offense fizzled. While I don’t understand how the officials justified that there was conclusive evidence that Jones didn’t score, it’s unbelievable that the Packers were unable to punch it in from what looked to be 6-12 inches away. It was absolutely sublime to see Rasul coming away with the interception to seal it, but this offense must learn to apply the dagger if they have aspirations beyond a Division title.
This week - it’s the Chiefs. In Kansas City. An afternoon game. For all of the country to see.
The Chiefs are as dangerous as it gets for a 4-4 team. They're the 2-time defending AFC Champs. Their backs are against the wall. They need a win. They still have Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, Mathieu and Jones. They have an abundance of talent. They can score as quick as any team that I've ever seen. Defensively, they can put pressure on the QB. They're suseptible to giving up the big play.
Jordan Love says all the right things. He's such a good guy. A true professional. Everyone seems to love him. However, he’s not ready to start an NFL game in Arrowhead against Mahomes. No matter how bad the Chiefs defense might be. My gut says that this game will have moments that will be too big for Jordan Love. So, it'll be crucial for LaFleur to control the clock. It'll be important for the Packers to win the line of scrimmage. It'll be important for LaFleur to put Love in favorable down-and-distance situations.
Love will be fortunate to get Adams, Lazard and MVS back this week. The Packers stable of WR's will be in tact. Love should also benefit from a productive run game. Love will also benefit from playing a Chiefs secondary that is performing at a poor level. Love will have to be aware of where Mathieu is on the field. Mathieu will look to play mind games with Love all game long.
How can the Packers beat the Chiefs without Rodgers? It'll have to start with a run game and with defense. Mahomes is terrific, but in 2021, he's been putting himself in a position where he's been forcing the ball. Turnovers can be had. Additionally, the KC offensive line has been below average. The Packers DL must win the battle at the line of scrimmage. If so, they'll give the secondary opportunities to make a play.
I imagine that Stokes will be matched up with Hill. I'm interested in seeing if Stokes can run with Hill. Amos will have to body up to Kelce.
LaFleur will look to get the ball into Jones' hands in space. If so, big plays can be had. We will see screen passes. Play action roll-out passes to the TE. LaFleur keeps it easy. But, then, LaFleur will also look to have Love throwing the deep ball to MVS down the seam. Look for an early deep pass off of play action. MVS snags a big play.
Dare I say? The Packers control the clock. Mercilus gets to Mahomes to force a turnover. LaFleur puts Love in position to win and coaches him up to not force the ball in the Red Zone. LaFleur might even go conservative inside the Red Zone to ensure points. But, against KC, you can't settle for FG's. Dillon bails out the Packers as he fights through tackles to plow into the end zone.
Packers 24
Chiefs 23
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Over the course of the last 40 years, we’ve seen many versions of the Cardiac Pack. The 2021 version might be the most unique. Thus far, this team has had a pension for completely outplaying their opponents yet they’ve been incapable of putting the opposition away. Eventually, this inability to apply the early-to-mid 4th Quarter dagger will likely catch up to the Packers, but for now, it’s important to enjoy the ride. The 2021 Packers have proven that they don’t flinch when they face in-game adversity. And, more importantly, in crunch time, this team knows how to win. Now, sadly, this team will face a different set of adversity. The face of the franchise chose not to get vaccinated. And, he thought he was smarter than all of us throughout the process. Oddly, he tried to protect his image and not come clean from the start and because of it, he strangely because a Preacherman about it all. He even grossly tied MLK into this. Now, the Packers will be without their 3x MVP QB for at least 1 week and possibly longer. In LaFleur, we will have to trust.
As I write, I sip a Green Flash West Coast IPA. Hop bursting enthusiasm. I listen to the Friday Night Phish in Las Vegas show from this past weekend. The band is on fire right now. Buzz in!
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur. What an exceptional leader. His team believes in him. His competitive spirit reflected through this team on a short week. In Arizona. Against the undefeated Cardinals.
Aaron Rodgers willed this team to victory. He was determined. His energy was palpable.
Jones and Dillon. This combination has become a dynamite 1-2 punch.
The Packers OL continues to play great football.
So sad for Big Bob Tonyan.
Congrats to Dre Campbell. He’s been phenomenal!
Clark and Lowry continue to play exceptionally well.
Thought Gary and Preston were really solid on the EDGE.
Mercilus has been an impact player. He’s so disruptive.
Rasul Douglas! Dub-V! A play for the ages! Unbelievably epic!
Stoked for Stokes! The kid can play.
Happy for Black! Quick reactions to a fortuitous bounce!
Randall Cobb is playing with great desire. Willpower.
If you’ve followed this blog long enough, you know that I fully believe in the CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE. The Championship Drive is when the offense puts the game away in the 4th Quarter. It’s when they make a 2-score game a 3-score game with less than 12 minutes to play. Or when they make a 1-score game a 2-score game with less than 5 minutes to play. In Week 3, the Packers had multiple chances to put away SF; but instead, they needed a last second 51 yard FG. In Week 4, with the game seemingly in hand against Pittsburgh and the Packers ramming the ball down the Steelers throats; almost oddly, the Packers started throwing the ball. They stopped the clock and nearly let Pittsburgh back into the game. In Week 5, the Packers had numerous chances to put away Cincinnati, but they let the Bengals hang around and nearly blew it. In Week 6, we saw our first glimpse of a Championship Drive when Rodgers emphatically flashed the Belt and gave us a forever moment in Chicago. In Week 7, offered hope that they were becoming a team that had the mental wherewithal to play a 60-minute football game. Finally, in Week 8, after the Packers had seemingly just completed their most impressive back-to-back drives of the season to give them a 2-score lead; the offense fizzled. While I don’t understand how the officials justified that there was conclusive evidence that Jones didn’t score, it’s unbelievable that the Packers were unable to punch it in from what looked to be 6-12 inches away. It was absolutely sublime to see Rasul coming away with the interception to seal it, but this offense must learn to apply the dagger if they have aspirations beyond a Division title.
This week - it’s the Chiefs. In Kansas City. An afternoon game. For all of the country to see.
The Chiefs are as dangerous as it gets for a 4-4 team. They're the 2-time defending AFC Champs. Their backs are against the wall. They need a win. They still have Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, Mathieu and Jones. They have an abundance of talent. They can score as quick as any team that I've ever seen. Defensively, they can put pressure on the QB. They're suseptible to giving up the big play.
Jordan Love says all the right things. He's such a good guy. A true professional. Everyone seems to love him. However, he’s not ready to start an NFL game in Arrowhead against Mahomes. No matter how bad the Chiefs defense might be. My gut says that this game will have moments that will be too big for Jordan Love. So, it'll be crucial for LaFleur to control the clock. It'll be important for the Packers to win the line of scrimmage. It'll be important for LaFleur to put Love in favorable down-and-distance situations.
Love will be fortunate to get Adams, Lazard and MVS back this week. The Packers stable of WR's will be in tact. Love should also benefit from a productive run game. Love will also benefit from playing a Chiefs secondary that is performing at a poor level. Love will have to be aware of where Mathieu is on the field. Mathieu will look to play mind games with Love all game long.
How can the Packers beat the Chiefs without Rodgers? It'll have to start with a run game and with defense. Mahomes is terrific, but in 2021, he's been putting himself in a position where he's been forcing the ball. Turnovers can be had. Additionally, the KC offensive line has been below average. The Packers DL must win the battle at the line of scrimmage. If so, they'll give the secondary opportunities to make a play.
I imagine that Stokes will be matched up with Hill. I'm interested in seeing if Stokes can run with Hill. Amos will have to body up to Kelce.
LaFleur will look to get the ball into Jones' hands in space. If so, big plays can be had. We will see screen passes. Play action roll-out passes to the TE. LaFleur keeps it easy. But, then, LaFleur will also look to have Love throwing the deep ball to MVS down the seam. Look for an early deep pass off of play action. MVS snags a big play.
Dare I say? The Packers control the clock. Mercilus gets to Mahomes to force a turnover. LaFleur puts Love in position to win and coaches him up to not force the ball in the Red Zone. LaFleur might even go conservative inside the Red Zone to ensure points. But, against KC, you can't settle for FG's. Dillon bails out the Packers as he fights through tackles to plow into the end zone.
Packers 24
Chiefs 23
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
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