Packers Enter Final Game vs Vikings in the Metrodome

BAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOO!!!!! BAAAARRRROOOOOOOO!!!! The Viking horn is a noise that Packers players and Packers fans alike will not miss about the Metrodome in Minnesota. For years that noise has haunted Packers nation because whenever they heard that noise they knew that something was going wrong for the Pack and right for the Vikings. Even as a lifelong Packers fan I will be sad to see it go because of the fond memories I have experienced there and watched on TV. There are a few memories that will forever be etched into my subconscious as a Packers fan.

Vikings mascot ragnar that dumped the popcorn on me
Photo courtesy of http://footballpros.com/showthread.php/6321-Best-NFL-Mascot

My greatest memory of the Metrodome was easily when I was there in 8th grade. I was on a youth football team and the summer before the season started we went up to Minnesota for a USA football tournament in which we would face other youth football teams from around the United States. As a team participating we enjoyed some perks like going to a water park, eating free food, getting free merchandise and other things. However, the greatest perk was being able to go to the Metrodome for a preseason Chargers versus Vikings match up when Ladainian Tomlinson was in his prime. Best of all our seats were on the field right next to the Chargers bench in front of the cheerleaders, kind of a two for one deal. So halfway into the game the real Vikings mascot was trying to sneak up behind us to scare us but I saw him early and nudged my friend on the shoulder to tell him and the next thing I know the Vikings mascot dumps a whole bucket of popcorn on me. Remember this is a real human being dressed like a Viking. He then proceeds to steal my friends cell phone cause he thought it was mine and he gave it to the cheerleader in front of us. Needless to say I already did not like the Vikings and this just gave me more reason not to like them. Having said that, it was one of the most surreal moments of my life and it all happened in the Metrodome.

As a Packers fan the Metrodome was also home to other great moments like Brett Fave passing Dan Marino’s touchdown record in 2007, the Brett Favre’s first game against the Packers on Monday Night Football in 2009, the Packers NFC North clinching win in 2004, and the list goes on and on. The Packers and Vikings rivalry is one that was a staple of the black and blue division because they “hated” each other so much but at the same time they respected each other to an even higher degree.

Sunday will mark the final time the Packers file into the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
Photo courtesy of http://lombardiave.com/2013/05/15/packers-receive-a-gift-in-2014-and-2015-with-the-vikings-new-stadium-plans/

What I wouldn’t do to see one more Favre touchdown pass (as a Packer) in the dome, or another Favre versus Chris Hovan showdown, or watch the Packers silence another sold out crowd. Oh wait I can watch that this Sunday night on NBC as the Packers roll into the final meeting versus the Vikings in the Packers home away from Lambeau…the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Packers Dominate All Around in Blowout of Browns

Go Pack Go! Go Pack Go! The Packers just continue to roll winning 3 games in a row and our now in the proverbial drivers seat of the NFC North division, or as Chris Berman calls it the NFC Norse. Green Bay has battled numerous injuries to key positions and yet have found themselves ahead of all the teams in their division. I don’t know what was better the Hardee’s Bacon Burger I had on Sunday or watching the Packers steamroll the Browns at Lambeau Field. Once again it was the defense and the running game for the Packers that allowed them to ease to a comfortable win over a very inferior AFC opponent. The Packers secondary was able to force the Browns offense to make mistakes and poor plays throughout the entirety of the game.

Green Bay’s defense continues to play at a championship level but are barely keeping their heads above water in the injury department. The Packers have lost 3 of their 4 starting linebackers, their starting safety missed the first couple games, and their offense looks like a different monster after the last few weeks. This 2013 team and the 2010 Super Bowl team have a lot of similarities. One similarity being their defense is playing at a very high level and one that Packers fans haven’t seen the past 2 seasons in Green Bay. Also, the 2010 squad suffered a rash of injuries that the 2013 team is quickly approaching.

Mike McCarthy has always preached that the next guy up has to play at a high level and this season is no different as the Packers start to gather wins and as the end of October approaches they are thinking playoffs. I am excited to see what the team will do when they get back their injured players and add the young players who filled in to the mix the expectations will be sky high. The Packers defense swarmed the Browns offense which left me little to worry about. In fact the only thing I was worried about was whether I was gonna get a Chipotle burrito or order a pizza for dinner.

The real “Green Monster” is not in Boston at Fenway but rather in Green Bay at Lambeau Field with a squad that is athletic and physical and poised to make a push for the best record in the entire National Football Conference.

Brandon Weeden was under constant pressure all day from the Green Bay front seven
Photo courtesy of packers.com

Packers defensive backs force a Weeden pick that set table for rest of the game
Photo courtesy of packers.com

Packers Defense Looks to Stack Success After Dominant Performance vs. Lions

Sunday was a big statement game for the Packers defense as it went up against one of the more prolific offenses in the NFL in the Detroit Lions. The Lions are a divisional opponent and are co-leaders at the top of the NFC North with the Chicago Bears. I have to admit I was pretty relieved to find out that Megatron (Calvin Johnson) was not going to be able to play. The Packers were 1-2 and in need of a big win because with a loss they would have fallen nearly 3 games behind the Lions. Fortunately the Packers defense played with a sense of urgency and pride and were able to yield their best defensive performance of the season to date. I watched anxiously from my cheap Walmart chair as the Packers applied enormous pressure on Matthew Stafford and shut down one of the leagues best offenses.

The Packers linebackers were flying around the field despite injuries to Clay Matthews (broken thumb), Robert Francois (ruptured achillies), and Brad Jones (hamstring). Back-up Jamari Lattimore was able to step up and not let the Packers defense miss a beat as he filled running lanes and played blanket coverage over the middle against the Lions depleted aerial attack. There was also a Nick Perry sighting with the 2012 first round pick recording a couple of sacks and registering many tackles on Reggie Bush in the running game. It was truly a team effort on defense for the Packers as they used their first line players as well as their backups to pretty much shut down the Lions potent offense.

Packers fans have much to be excited about considering they are missing starters on defense yet they are able to force turnovers, create pressure on the quarterback, and shut down the running game of their opponents. While Clay Matthews is going to miss some time I am confident that the Packers “next man up” mentality will prove once again why the Packers are a model organization and a winning organization. Expect the Packers not to drop off as much as you might think on defense because they have a good system in place and still have all-pros and pro bowlers all over that side of the ball.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to eat cheap Chinese food and watch the Packers take on the defending world champion Ravens on Sunday. I will be at the Buffalo Bills game in Ralph Wilson Stadium for my dad’s birthday but you better believe that I will be keeping tabs on the Packers defense and overall performance against the Ravens. I can guarantee that I will record the game and re-watch it when I get back from beautiful Buffalo. Get ready to see some “smash mouth” football in Baltimore this Sunday and if you so choose flip on the Bills game to see the Bills whoop up on the Bungals (No I didn’t misspell that).

Here’s a link to the Packers defenders reacting to their performance against the Lions: http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Packers-defense-executed-gameplan-vs-Lions/73628bb2-3d44-40a9-9ecd-bb1bd1d25732

Clay Matthews notches his 3rd sack of the season
Photo courtesy of http://www.packers.com/media-center/photo-gallery/Game-Photos-Packers-vs-Lions/1e3d2946-1033-4d2c-a9e6-5825de5ff07e#5bf7dd2b-fab8-484f-a0f3-860292fea2a2

Packers linebackers forced pressure on Matthew Stafford all day in a dominant performance.
Photo courtesy of http://www.packers.com/media-center/photo-gallery/Game-Photos-Packers-vs-Lions/1e3d2946-1033-4d2c-a9e6-5825de5ff07e#1f9cdedc-4796-4b48-a521-1ff64e5b5c94

Packers Defense Looks to Get Healthy During Much Needed Bye Week

This past weekend was especially tough for me because I really had no sports to look forward to on Sunday because the Packers were on an early bye week. So as I drove 5 hours from Wilmington North Carolina back to my apartment in Blacksburg I started to think about what the Packers defense should be doing on the bye week and I came up with only one conclusion…GET HEALTHY! The Packers defense was reeling after the game against Bengals before the bye for a couple of reasons. For one the Packers blew a 16 point second half lead and they compiled a few more injuries including all pro linebacker Clay Matthews. While the Packers 2013 bye week comes as early as a team can have the Packers needed an extra week to get their players healthy for a visit from division leading Detroit in week 5.

The Packers defense limps into the bye week with a laundry list of injuries
Photo courtesy of http://www.packersnews.com/article/20130904/PKR01/309040451/Defense-eager-fresh-start-after-playoff-flop

I’ve listened to all the analysts and all the experts say that they expect Green Bay to bounce back and that they are not worried about the Packers but I say that it is time for them to prove to us fans that they are totally fine. I got back from my trip on Sunday to find out that the Lions had beaten the Bears and the Vikings had taken down the Steelers, in the international series, meaning that the Packers moved closer to the top of the division but at the same time can now see the Vikings in their rear view mirror. With most of the injured Packers defensive players hamstrung the bye week will be used to get them rested and healthy because the defenses depth is becoming increasingly thin especially in the secondary.

This week Lambeau is empty but on in week 5 it will be a huge factor for the Lions to overcome
Photo courtesy of http://persquaremile.com/2012/05/04/football-and-small-towns/

Green Bay’s defense needs to be as opportunistic as they were in Cincinnati and force more turnovers and generate more pressure in order to increase their odds on winning. In the past the Packers have been able to overcome their injuries and I expect nothing different this year especially when you consider they have an early bye week and have one of the best training staffs in the NFL. All in all the Packers need back Morgan Burnett, whom they gave a hefty raise in the off season, Clay Matthews, Jarrett Bush, and others in order to maximize their potential week to week. Green Bay will need all the help they can get when they take on the Reggie Bush, Calvin Johnson, and the rest of the high-powered Lions offense on Sunday. I am looking forward to eating some cheap delivery and watching the Packers defense give Matthew Stafford fits this upcoming Sunday.

Here is a link to Morgan Burnett’s interview about him returning to action: http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/S-Morgan-Burnett-is-eager-to-return-to-the-field/6a5407ca-0a00-447d-8c44-993377ab8ede

Packers Defense Forces Turnovers In Loss

MD Jennings returns fumble for TD to increase Packers chance of winning
Photo courtesy of http://www.packers.com/media-center/photo-gallery/Game-Photos-Packers-at-Bengals/ea03a82c-08ce-40d6-9526-d6353296ebc8#ee893c86-a144-4ef4-9317-a096ac6f2f1e

As I sat in my neighbors Walmart lounge chair stuffing my face with cheap Chinese food I watched the Packers defense put up a great effort highlighted with turnovers and sacks. Despite the fact that I almost choked on my wonton soup after Jonathan Franklin fumbled on 4th and inches and the Bengals defense returned it for a touchdown to put them up by four late in the game, I thought that the Packers defense played well enough to win. The defense was led by their defensive backs who were the shining stars on that side of the ball for the Packers. Sam Shields was able to pick off an Andy Dalton pass that was intended for star wide out AJ Green, however the Packers were only able to yield 3 points off of that turnover. The Packers secondary was very opportunistic in this game and were able to create pressure and force the Bengals offense to make a bevy of mistakes. After a short nap during halftime I woke up to the Packers running up the score and seemingly opening the flood gates in Cincy. The Packers swelled the lead to 16 and the game seemed all but over considering the way the defensive backs were shutting down the Bengals receivers. Sam Shields shut down AJ Green, Tramon Williams blitzed effectively, and MD Jennings was able to score a touchdown to seemingly turn the tides.

As I sat content on my friends leather couch I felt as though the Packers would not blow a huge double digit second half lead because they had played solid the entire Sunday afternoon. The slot blitz had worked to perfection, Matthews brought pressure of the edge, and the Bengals best wide receiver had been held in check all day long. Not to mention my fortune cookie said that “Your day will be filled with much joy and happiness.” I mean come on when your team is up 16 on the road in the second half plus your fortune cookie, from China Kitchen, says that you are money in the bag. Plus you add the fact that the Packers defense forced 3 fumbles and 1 interception the formula HAS to be a win. Despite those aspects going in mine as well as the Packers favor they were unable to escape Cincinnati with a much needed road victory. After that loss I was left wondering whether I should have gotten General Tao’s chicken or the Kung Pao chicken combination platter or whether I over tipped the delivery person who interrupted the Packers game. Either way I knew the Packers were 1-2 going into the bye week and that I had to digest sub par Chinese food before the Breaking Bad episode at 9 o’clock.

When I sit back, in my craigslist bought couch, and look back at the Bengals game I have to think that the Packers will find ways to win those close road games ad that they will be able to turn 4 turnovers into more points than they did. All in all the Packers limped away from Paul Brown Stadium literally hamstrung. Clay Matthews, Casey Heyward, Morgan Burnett, ad Jarrett Bush all have hamstring injuries for the Packers defense and they all hope to be able to play at home against the division-leading Lions (What the hell?) after the bye week.

Shields started off the turnovers with a INT early in the game.
Photo courtesy of http://www.packers.com/media-center/photo-gallery/Game-Photos-Packers-at-Bengals/ea03a82c-08ce-40d6-9526-d6353296ebc8#af3b5179-2d6a-4f21-9236-a8d1d264a429