From Almost Worst to First

I hate it when the Packers are favored. All the talk this week is the Packers winning and that scares me to death. Like I said I don't trust the Packers anymore. Here's what is being predicted:

All 8 ESPN pickers and the computer pick the Packers. All 8 of the CBS Sports pickers pick the Packers. Ben Goessling and Rob Demovsky of ABC Sports picks the Packers. The Big Board at FOX Sports says the Packers have a 54.3% chance of winning. Get the drift.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART VINTITRE'

(Italian because that's where the German terrorist was killed)

SUBLIME

On The Set of the "Big Fan"

It seems dating a movie star has given Aaron Rodgers the beginning of Hollywood Fever. After appearing on Celebrity Jeopardy last year Rodgers will appear January 9 on the second episode of the new ABC night time game show "Big Fan" hosted by Conan O'Brien's Ed McMahon Andy Ritcher.

Second Verse Same As The First

Second verse....well maybe fourth verse is more like it...same as the first after the Packers eked out a 30-27 win over da' Bears thanks to Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson and, for that matter, Mason Crosby to keep the Packers not only in playoff contention with their 4th straight win, but also Masters Of Their Own Fate.

After the Washington Redskins lost to the Panthers Monday night the Packers are NOW the sixth and last playoff team ahead of the Bucs, Redskins and the Vikings and just 1 game behind the Lions in the race for the 4th seed and the North title.

This week the Packers (8-6) host the Vikings (7-7), who beat them 17-14 in week 2 while the Lions (9-5) play at the Cowboys (12-2), the Bucs (8-6) host the Saints (6-8) and the Redskins (7-6-1) are at da' Bears (3-11).

The Giants (10-4) are the top wild card leaving the Packers with only the North title and 4th seed to win or the 6th seed to hang onto left to them.

The True Leader of the Pack is Aaron Rodgers

3 weeks ago the Packers were sitting at 4-6 with the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008 when quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, "I think we can run the table. I really do."

Just like in 2014 when the Packers started 1-2 and Mr. Rodgers quieted the young and the restless with these immortal words that should be enshrined on a plaque outside the main gate to Lambeau Field, "R-E-L-A-X".

The entire phrase from September 24, 2014 was "Five letters here just for everybody out there in Packer-land: R-E-L-A-X. Relax. We're going to be OK."

No truer words were ever spoken at the right time. The Packers went on to advance to the Conference title game and had the Seahawks on the ropes with 5:04 left when Morgan Burnett had his "No Mas  Moment" followed by "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" blowing an onside kick. If the stupidity of those 2 plays had not happened the Packers would have won the Super Bowl.

Season And Future At A Crossroads This Week

I know I've said this before, but the game against the Seahawks at Lambeau Field will determine the future of the Green Bay Packers in the short term and the long term.

 

General Manager Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy have backed the Packers in a corner this season having to win the last six games in order to keep their playoff streak alive and, to be brutally honest, nothing more than that because Thompson has left the 2016 Packers without enough talent to seriously content for the Super Bowl.

 

After wins over the Eagles and Texans following four straight losses to teams the Packers should have been able to beat (Falcons, Colts, Titans and Redskins) and seeing the Packers Power Ranking drop to 24 and sitting not only behind the Lions, of all teams, but also behind the Vikings after letting the Vikings win the North Division with a victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field the current owners of the mantle of Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren have put the Packers on a course the "Tedders" and Ask Vic have been afraid of.

 

Ted Thompson's Record Examined

The first of the mock drafts came out today by Luke Easterling from USA Today Sports. The selections are an indictment on the job that General Manager Ted Thompson has done since the Super Bowl.

 

No. 1. RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State; No. 2. TE Jake Butt, Michigan; No. 3. EDGE Marquis Haynes, Mississippi; No. 4. G Kareem Are, Florida State; No. 5. CB Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech; No. 6. WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M; No. 7. S Weston Steelhammer, Air Force

 

The actual player is unimportant, however, TE Jake Butt is interesting because the rumor is former 49ers coach and current Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is rumored to be in the mix for Mike McCarthy's job next season.

 

Ted Thompson Has Curious Office Hours

Watching the Packers.com transaction section is a mission in frustration. First, Packers.com is the ABSOLUTELY last place to go for timely news. The national news wires have Packers news quicker than Packers.com, so I normally don't check it.

 

Second, General Manager Ted Thompson only does business on Friday and Saturday. He makes moves for the next game at the last minute so whatever player he picks up doesn't have time to get ready for the game, leaving the Packers with one or two players unable to contribute.

 

Once again this happened this week. Cornerback Demetri Goodson, who had finally began to contribute in his third season, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a very serious knee injury three games ago against the Titans.

 

Who Will Run The Ball Against The Texans And Other Stuff

Since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury in Week 6 quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the Packers leading rusher. He has consistently gained yardage averaging 6.2 yards a carry and saved drives by making 20 first downs most on third down.

 

However, last week in the win over the Eagles Rodgers tweaked his hamstring, so his mobility will be restricted leaving the ground game up to the halfback James Starks, tailback/slot back Ty Montgomery, fullback Aaron Ripkowski and halfback Christine “A Boy Named Sue” Michael.

 

Starks is beginning to show signs of life with 41 yards on 17 carries against the Eagles for 2.8 yards a carry after beginning the season with the worst statistics of his career averaging just 1.8 yards. Starks had some good runs, but he needs to do more this week.

 

If We Only Had Defense

"We could while away the hours, conferrin' with the powers, consultin' with Mike Pence. And my head I'd be scratchin' while playoff thoughts were hatchin' if we only had defense."

 

Prior to the win over the Eagles last Monday Night the Packers suffered through a four-game losing streak, the longest since a 5-game streak in 2008 when Aaron Rodgers became the starter and the team fell to 6-10.

 

While the Packers offense in general and Aaron Rodgers in particular had been dysfunctional at best and downright awful at worse for 14 straight regular season games it wasn't the offense that let a 4-2 record fall to 4-6.