Quick Takes From Chi-Town

The quickest take from the win over the Bears was same old, same old. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions and Jay Cutler threw an interception at a crucial time. Result: Packers 31, Bears 16, oops I mean 23 (more on that later).

 

The next quickest take is the win snapped a three-game opening game losing streak. If you've been reading I was worried about this game and being down 13-10 at the half didn't give me much confidence.

 

Now for some slower takes. Rodgers and the offense was rusty. Rodgers and the offensive line hadn't played together since the second pre-season game. I don't care what you pampered, over-paid prima donnas say pre-season games do mean something. Football is the ultimate team sport that depends on 11 men (so far) playing in rhythm to be successful. One game (as our Mr. Rodgers wants) is not enough to develop that rhythm and today's game proved that in spades. The second half was when Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood started to click.

James Jones finds the endzone not once but twice

Speaking of rusty James Jones wasn't. The old rapport with Rodgers was there and it resulted in the first two of what I hope is many touchdowns. He caught all four balls thrown his way (two with spectacular catches) for 51 yards with a long of 34.

I liked what I saw from Tom Clements' first official game as the play caller for the most part, but I still saw some of Mike McCarthy's safe drive-killing plays late in the game.

 

With 7:38 remaining the Packers stopped the Bears on 4th Down at the two leading 24-16. The first play was Rodgers throwing in the right flat to Davante Adams for six yards. McCarthy would have run Lacy to left for no gain. The second play came directly from McCarthy with Lacy running off left tackle for one yard. The third was a short pass to Lacy in the right flat that was incomplete. McCarthy would have run Lacy off left tackle. Either way it ended with a punt from the nine that left the Bears knocking at the door at the Packers 41.

 

I want to see more Clements and no more, nadda, never again, none, zero plays from McCarthy, who Troy Aikman said during the pre-game was one the best play callers of all time. Aikman, of course, has never watched a second half during the McCarthy era and is still suffering from post-concussion syndrome. He is an idiot, No. 1, and a Packer Hater, No. 2, or visa versa.

 

The defense is troubling to say the least. I know and anyone who has ever watched or played Jay Cutler is when you get in Cutler's face and/or hit him he folds like a cheap tent. Dom Capers never put any pressure on him until late in the game and even then it was tepid.

 

Now before you jump on me and say Julius Peppers and B. J. Raji sacked him on the first series of the game and Peppers sacked him and forced a fumble that was overturned on the second series I will say those two plays were not in his face testing his manhood. It wasn't until late in the third quarter when Clay Matthews hit him after he let go a pass that he got that fear in his eyes (and it only took one). He was tentative after that until the final drive where Dom Capers lays down and spreads his cheeks so the other team can score. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE take him out of my misery and FIRE HIS ASS.

 

B.J. Raji is back better than ever

 

Nose tackle B. J. Raji started the game and I thought played a whale of a game, but not a big old fat blue whale, but a swelt sperm whale because he has lost weight. He was active going side to side and pushing the pocket. He finished with four tackles (2 solo) and a half a sack, which also meant he had one of the five Cutler hits in the game.

 

Still on the defense. It looks like rookie No. 1 pick Damarious Randall has won Tramon Williams' old left cornerback job. Casey Hayward played in the slot when Micah Hyde was forced to play strong safety in place of the injured Morgan Burnett. I wager that Randall stays out there and Hayward and Hyde will play the slot.

 

With Randall all by himself on the left side (for the most part) Cutler chose to test the million dollar man Sam Shields and he was found lacking. He is short as Dez Bryant showed last year and you can't coach short, but he had several missed tackles and missed assignments, which might mean as the season progresses No. 2 pick Quinten Rollins might be pushing him for a job.

 

The Packers were called for 10 penalties for 74 yards, which is bad, but none were on special teams. I call that a victory after what happened in the pre-season.

 

Ty Montgomery can return kicks

 

Speaking of special teams Ty Montgomery looked very good on kickoff returns (3 for 35.3 average with a long of 46). BIG PLUS. Micah Hyde didn't have a chance to return a punt, but Tim Masthay punted twice. The first for 54 yards down the middle of the field (instead of the coffin corner) allowing it to go into the end zone for a touchback, so it was actually for 34 yards. The second was from the 9-yard line at a crucial moment in the game (see above) and he hits a line drive punt with virtual no hang time leading to an 11-yard return and the Bears at the Green Bay 41 trailing 24-16. Masthay has not fixed his problems, so I think it is time to solve his issues for him by relieving him of his duties be put on the immediate agenda.

 

That just leaves the elephant in the room - how was the inaugural batch of Mann's Bootleg Brew. It was a big hit, but not in the manner you would think.

 



After the game the 'Dead Soldiers' in the Field



 

It passed the "Pouring of the Beer" test when it counted (THUMBS UP). Andrew, who normally keeps track of the time of the "Pouring" wasn't paying attention when the time was nearing (THUMBS DOWN), so I had make sure (and I hate to do someone else's job) the pouring was on time, and (as it happens when our normal routine is thrown off) it didn't seem to make much difference (so I blame Andrew for the first pouring being off its game).

 

However, it was Andrew (THUMBS UP) who looked over at me and indicated it was time for the second "Pouring of the Beer" (which in our group is a desperate act and only called upon if needed to win the game) and it worked beautifully. Three plays later Clay Matthews intercepts Cutler. THUMBS UP AGAIN.

 

For the victory over the Bears and having traditions that I have kept alive today (hopefully the NSA isn't surveilling me like J. Edgar did the original bootleggers my Grandmother and Grandfather Mann).

 

So for a good day all the way around, "This one's for you Grandma and Grandpa."

 

Grandpa and Grandma Mann (Middle to Right)