Some Cold Hard Facts

The bye week is over and the Packers will now play every week until the playoffs. As much as a late bye is welcomed the Week 4 bye was a blessing.

 

Morgan Burnett Is Back

The Packers have once again and for the umpteen straight season are totally wracked with injuries. Strong safety Morgan Burnett has missed the last two games, essentially, with a groin injury after missing the preseason with a bad back. Right cornerback Sam Shields has missed the last two games with his fifth concussion. Tight end Jared Cook will miss the Giants game because of an ankle injury. Left cornerback Damarious Randall might miss the Giants game with a new groin injury.



Outside linebacker Clay Matthews missed the last game with an ankle injury and a hamstring issue. Defensive tackle Letroy Guion missed the last game with a knee injury. Elephant linebacker Datone Jones missed the last game with a knee injury. Fullback Aaron Ripkowski is on the injury list with a back injury.

 

So Far So Good

The only one missing on the injury list is outside linebacker Nick Perry. As the leaves change color and fall this time of year Perry will get injured. So we just have to "Wait For It".

 

The only players listed as definitely out are Shields and Cook. Burnett, Ripkowski, Guion and Jones were full participants at practice with Randall and Matthews limited.

 

Let's Make It Two In A Row

The game against the Giants on Sunday Night Football will come down to three things. 1. Is Aaron Rodgers back or was the first half against the Lions just a blip? 2. Will Eli Manning continue his mastery of the Packers? 3. Will Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers sabotage a good first half, if the Packers have one?

 

The first half offensive performance was a glimpse of Christmas Past. Rodgers and Jordy Nelson were on the same page. Eddie Lacy was running well, for the most part. The offensive line gave Rodgers time to find Nelson.

 

Rodgers looked like his old self, but....... for 15th straight games dating back to the bye in week 7 last year he had had a quarterback rating of less than 100. Week 2 he completed 20-of-36 passes for 213 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception for a rating of 70.7. Opening week he had a rating of 95.1. Last week he finally snapped the streak with a rating of 129.3. Can he do it for a second straight week? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Last week I mentioned that Rodgers had become a second tier quarterback. Well, the reason is where he ranks today in four major categories: 1. Touchdown Passes: Tied for 7th with 7 - Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger lead with 11. 2. Quarterback Rating: 12th (98.6) - Matt Ryan leads with 126.3 followed by Jimmy Garaoppolo, Sam Bradford, Derek Carr, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Brian Hoyer, Ben Roethlisberger, Trevor Siemian, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees. 3. Completion Percentage: 31st (58.5%) - Matt Ryan leads with 72.1%. 4. Yards Per Game: 32nd (205.7) - Matt Ryan leads with 368.2.

 

Despite what the Tedders and Ask Vic is saying those are the cold hard facts.

 

Eli's Coming

Manning has faced the Packers eight times, including two playoff games at Lambeau Field. One in 2008, 23-20, in overtime that ended Brett Favre's Packers career and led to his first Super Bowl victory and again in 2012, 37-20, that ended the Packers attempt to return to the Super Bowl and his second Super Bowl victory.

 

In the six regular season games he won 14-7 at Lambeau Field in 2004, lost  35-13 at home in 2007, lost 45-17 at Lambeau Field in 2010, lost 38-35 at home in 2011, won 38-10 at home in 2012 and won 27-13 at home in 2013. Manning leads Rodgers 3-2 and has won the last three in a row.

 

Man Unhinged

There is a side story here in Odell Beckham, Jr. and his mental stability. Opposing cornerbacks have been able to get into his head and throw him off his game. The Packers secondary is beat up and needs OBJ to be off his game, but I don't think the Packers can do that.

 

The One Armed Man

There is history when it comes to an opposing player having issues. In the playoff collapse against the Seahawks cornerback Richard "The Mouth That Roared" Sherman was playing with one arm useless and the Packers didn't change their game plan and didn't target him at all.

 

So I think since the Packers don't talk trash usually they won't again and OBJ will have his best game of the season. You see OBJ is a lot like Trump. He can't help himself and he will be affected if you try to bother him even though he knows that's what's going on. However, the Packers won't even try. Another missed opportunity.

 

McCarthy Takes The Second Half Off

The final point. If the Packers get off to a good start and lead at halftime McCarthy will ground the offense in the second half. History repeating itself time and time again. If the Packers defense has a good first half the Giants will adjust and the Capers won't. Ditto.

 

This game has all the earmarks of a loss. Manning has the Packers number and McCarthy and Capers will blow it. I hope not.

 

Please Make It Two In A Row