My Take -> Week 16

Greetings, G-Force.

The 2021 version of the Green Bay Packers continues to amaze me. The days of a chaotic, disgruntled past are far in the rear-view mirror and it’s been replaced by harmonic unified overtures. These days are savored and the short term future looks bright.

As I write, I sip a Station 26 Mango Juicy Banger. 7.5% ABV. Fruity, hoppy goodness. Lightly clouded pour into a pint glass. Goes down too easy. The first song I played was MTV’s Unplugged version of Natalie Merchant’s “These are days” and no, I’m not sorry. I couldn’t help myself.

Here are my quick vibes from the last week:

Matt LaFleur has taught his team how to win. They’ve been resilient. When the game is on the line, there’s no waffling; someone is going to make a play.

Suddenly, Aaron Rodgers looks to be the odds on favorite to win the NFL’s MVP. A horrendous showing by Brady coupled with Rodgers playing elite level football. What an unbelievable season Rodgers is having. The excitement level is on overdrive.

Watching Davante get double teamed presnap is the stuff of Legend.

Aaron Jones bursting through holes. AJ Dillon pounding through them. It’s possible that we will see a day over the next month that the Packers will have to win on those 4 legs. They look ripe for the challenge.

Marcedes playing with the force of a powerful Mercedes!

When this offense gets rolling, it has a really Super feel to it.

Fun to see MVS fighting for the goal line to get Rodgers the record tying TD pass.

I liked seeing LaFleur calling the underneath crossing route to Lazard early in the game. Put Lazard in a position to win. He was hit and strife and allowed to use his strength to plow forward. Lazard against a LB is a matchup that I’ll take everyday.

While the offense is cooking right now, the defense is struggling if they aren’t forcing turnovers. We’ve reached the point in the season where this team really needs Za’Darius to step in and help on 3rd down. Oh, and the special teams? Well, it might be the most laughable unit that I’ve ever seen in the Green and Yellow.

What’s interesting about the defense is that there are a number of players playing exceptionally well. Clark, Campbell, Rasul, Stoked for Stokes, Amos, Lowry, Gary, Barnes, and Preston are all playing very good football. Sullivan is playing decent as well. Savage is being attacked. He’s been in position to make the play. He’s just now finishing the play. I can’t tell if he’s like a young Nintendo Nick Collins or if he’s morphed into Kevin King as a Safety. When Nintendo Nick was a youngster, he was always in position, but he rarely made the play. Then, in 2008, it all clicked for him and he became among the best play making Safeties in the NFL. Or Savage might be like King. Often in position, but rarely makes the play and because he doesn’t make the play, he becomes a sieve in the eyes of the defense. When it’s all said and done, it’s trending to appear that this season will come down to whether Savage can make a play or not in a similar manner to the way I mentioned the same about King at this time last year. King was brutalized in the NFCCG last year and the Packers came up short. You know who else got torches in that game? Savage.

Really like the way Garvin fights. He’s become a reliable EDGE player. Maximum effort. Good discipline.

Preston and Gary are handling the EDGE at a Super level. When healthy, Clark has won on the interior with that same Super feeling. If Za’Darius can make his way back, this defense might be a force on passing downs.

Slaton and Wild Man 70 are very similar to me. Both make plays that allow me to think that the Packers might’ve found long term starters. And, then, they get blown off the ball. I’m not sure if it’s mental or physical or both? But, both certainly have the capacity to play in this league.

Have to give it up for Tyler Davis. Great to see him streaking down the seam for a 22-yard grab.

Grab the t-shirt and the the hat, Aaron Rodgers.

This week - it’s the Browns. At Lambeau. On Christmas Day. That puts the Merry in Christmas.

The Cleveland Browns are going to try and punch the Green Bay Packers in the mouth. Just like the Tennessee Titans tried to do last year. Last year, the Packers were up to the Derrick Henry challenge. This year, it’s the Chubb and Hunt combo. They’ll strike fear into any DL. Lowry, Lancaster and Clark must be ready to ball out. Campbell and Barnes are going to have to trust their eyes and their secondary. If they see run, they’ll have to hit the hole with intention. If it’s play action, the secondary must win.

Defensively, the Browns are equally as physical up front. They’ll attack Rodgers with vicious desires. They hit to cause pain. The front 7 covers up holes on the Browns back end. If the Packers makeshift OL can somehow win another battle, there will be big plays found down the Field.

Rodgers is determined. He’s a man on a mission. He finds Davante for his record TD pass. It’s also a Franchise record for TD passes from a QB to a WR between Rodgers and Adams. Don’t think that they don’t want that record on the same play.

Once again, the Packers price to be the more physical team in a fight against AFC NORTH muscle. It’s a Christmas celebration.

The defense causes two second half turnovers. Again, LaFleur’s team finds a way to win a close one late.

And, so this is Christmas…

Merry Christmas, all.

Packers 27
Browns 23

Go Pack Go!

Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com