Armchair Idiots: Green Bay Packers

Showing posts with label Green Bay Packers. Show all posts

In Case You Missed It! In case you were either living in a hole or your significant other made you do something else, here are the highlights from the best playoff game of the weekend.
By best, I mean action packed. So calm down Cowboy fans, I know its been a long time.

FANTASY IN FOCUS The New England Patriots defense continues to struggle. Credit that to their inability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. This is leaving their largely inexperienced secondary isolated and vulnerable. Opposing teams will continue to employ an aerial attack when facing them. This will only change provided their front seven can start generating pressure on a more consistent basis.

The current scenario is bad for Patriot fans but bodes well for Tom Brady, Wes Welker, & Randy Moss owners. The Patriots are 7-5. They hold a fragile one game lead in the AFC east division. Their remaining games are playoff caliber games. They haven’t had a very effective running game this year. So expect this offense to continue to rely heavily on the arm of Tom Brady. The Patriots upcoming schedule: Carolina, @Buffalo, Jacksonville, & @Houston.

Brady, Welker, & Moss are great options moving forward. Consider benching the Patriot defense if you have a better option.

What is going to become of the Indianapolis Colts offensive unit? Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, & Joseph Addai have consistently produced. The Colts stand at 12-0. Head coach Jim Caldwell has said he will be resting his starters once they have clinched a playoff bye. Manning, Wayne, & Clark in particular may see reduced playing time. Owners need to pay close attention to this situation.

The looming question is how playing time will be distributed amongst the backs? Maybe Joseph Addai will get fewer carries? Making way for Donald Brown & Chad Simpson to see increased reps? Watch this situation moving forward.

The 12-0 New Orleans Saints are on a roll. Their QB Drew Brees continues to engineer the leagues top ranked offensive unit.

In week 13 Brees hit WR Robert Meachem on a 53 yard bomb in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Meachem has emerged as this year’s Lance Moore. In recent weeks he has played like a #1 fantasy receiver, out of the #3 spot for the Saints. He has produced 6 TDs in the last 5 games. He is another receiver breaking out in his third year.

The Saints were able to manufacture 33 points against the Washington Redskins. The NFL’s #1 ranked pass defense.

Marques Colston Robert Meachem, & Devery Henderson remain Brees’ most dangerous weapons. I don’t see any of their remaining opponents being able to stop them.

Pay close attention to the running back situation. Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, & Reggie Bush crowd their backfield. Thomas is the best starting option of the three. That could change if head coach Sean Payton decides to rest some of his guys. Even though he has said his players will be playing down the stretch, in hopes of going 16-0. Regardless of that statement stay tuned, to see what will transpire over the coming weeks.

What happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers? They lost in week 12 at Arrowhead Stadium, to a terrible Kansas City Chiefs team. Pair that with a week 13 loss at Heinz Field, to an Oakland Raiders squad. A defeat that drops the defending champs to a meager 6-6 record.

With the Cincinnati Bengals on the verge of wrapping up that division, the Steelers will be fighting for a wild card spot. This is good news for Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, & Rashard Mendenhall owners. Expect them to post solid numbers down the stretch.

Heath Miller has been non-existent in this offense of late. Roethlisberger should find a way to get him re-involved in the offense.

Like the Patriots it is the Steelers defense that has been their downfall. The impending scenario is how long will Troy Polamalu remain sidelined? He is the heart & soul of this defense. Polamalu’s absence has extinguished the defenses spirit. If he remains sidelined consider using another defense.

The Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers & Donald Driver connection continues to roll. Rodgers remains the top fantasy scoring player in the majority of leagues. Donald Driver has served as a reliable safety valve for Rodgers all season. Driver & Jermichael Finley are Rodgers favorite targets, when his pocket prematurely collapses. But don’t make the mistake of leaving Greg Jennings out of the conversation. He has had a disappointing year to date. Poor blocking for Rodgers has hurt Jennings fantasy value. He is a lethal vertical threat when Rodgers is given the time. The Packers O-line has found some cohesion of late. They looked legit against a stout Baltimore Raven front seven. Owners have no excuses in not starting these guys.

The Packers can still win the NFC north title. They need the Vikings to lose 3 out of their last 4, and they need to win outright. Every week is a big game.

At times Dom Capers has been able to orchestrate this young defense into NFL elitism. Rookies Clay Mathews Jr. & BJ Raji have played extremely well. Mathews Jr. is a fun one to watch. He flies all over the field and has a knack for the ball. Raji has been able to plug gaps and get a solid push up front. Combine that with perennial ball hawk Charles Woodson and you have a formidable defense in the making. Don’t make the mistake of sitting this defense.

Fantasy Payoff Picks Even if you are not at the top of your league, let's feel good about some of the high draft picks you may have selected this year.

The Tennessee Titans players have been lousy this year. Chris Johnson has been the exception. He is a home run style runner. Johnson has had runs of 30 or more yards in 7 of 9 games this year. His 6.4 yards per carry average on 170 attempts is a testament to his explosive running style. Johnson will be a top three pick in fantasy drafts come the 2010 season.

It is safe to state that Tom Brady has officially returned to his expected form. He has had a career best four straight three-hundred yard games. In those games Brady has thrown 13 TDs. That is a TD/INT ratio just better than 3:1. His upcoming matchups are: NYJ, @NO, @MIA, CAR, @BUF, JAC, @HOU. Fantasy owners will continue smiling in the coming weeks.

Maurice Jones-Drew has been on fire his last four games. He had workhouse numbers in week 6, getting 33 carries for 133 and 3 TDs. Week 7 he was on a bye. In week 8 at Tennessee he accumulated a season high 177 yards on 8 carries! Drew found pay dirt twice that week. Week 9 brought 29 carries for 97 yards and 1 TD versus Kansas City. Week 10 was against a tough Jets defense, 24 carries for 123 yards and 1 TD. Drew would have had another TD at the end of the game but he took an intentional knee.

Aaron Rodgers has more than lived up to fantasy owner’s expectations. Despite having to run for his life every week he has produced. Rodgers has thrown double digit TDs six times this year. He is out scoring Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, & Drew Brees in most fantasy leagues. He was a solid second or third round pick.

Weeks 7, 8, & 10 have brought good fortune to Stephen Jackson owners. Jackson rushed for 134 yards against Indianapolis in week 7. Week 8 at Detroit was even better. Jackson posted his first TD of the season to go with 149 yards. He was able to find pay dirt again in week 10 and ran for 131 yards against New Orleans. Jackson has run incredibly hard all year for a terrible team. Larry Johnson should try to emulate himself after Mr. Jackson.

Reggie Wayne is coming off a 10 catch, 126 yard, 2 TD Sunday evening. He is quite simply as good as any receiver in the NFL. Wayne will once again finish the season as a top five fantasy scorer among receivers.

The Larry Johnson Sweepstakes - I Mean Door Prize When you are 75 yards short of the all-time rushing record for your NFL team and they place you on waivers, you have to know you messed up! That is where Larry Johnson is right now. No team claimed him and his 2+million dollar contract, which was really no surprise. Now however, will someone take the risk on him, his attitude, and his paltry 2.7 yard per carry average. We have seen the turn around for Cedric Benson and the Bengals rushing game, so will a team take a chance on him? The answer will be yes, so lets take a look at a few spots where he could fit in.

New England Patriots: The obvious choice and current NFL half way house. There seems to be a common consensus that Belichick can take on problem cases and turn them into contributing players. His success with Cory Dillon and Randy Moss have proven that a well run system can tame even the toughest of beasts. There really is no standout back in New England, and it seem to be running back by committee. A possibility at best for Larry to be a Patriot.

Cleveland Browns: Let's face it the Browns are a mess. The season is a wash, and it is time to develop Brady Quinn. Jamal Lewis only has a bit left in the tank and Larry Johnson could fit in with Jamal just fine. The Browns really have nothing to lose in singing Johnson. If there is any upside at all it could help them improve the run game and help Quinn get used to helming the team full time.

Green Bay Packers: With an offensive line that is a mess, and Aaron Rodgers running for his life, the Packers could help their situation with a good number 2 back. Brandon Jackson has been a disappointment at number 2, and has now lost the job to an aged Ahman Greene. Ryan Grant is ok, but is not a punishing back. With Larry Johnson running in cold weather games, it could be a good fit if he can still lay out the punishment.

Oakland Raiders: Why the hell not. Do I really need to say any thing more? Well at least Johnson and Cable share a love of violence, and Fargas is somehow again their leading rusher.

Larry will get another chance, but will he do something with it or continue to twitter away what's left of his NFL career?

From A Packer Fan: A Letter To Brett Favre Dear Brett Favre,

First off I want to say thank you. Yourself, Reggie White, Mike Holmgren, and Ron Wolff gave me something that many fans will never have. A Super Bowl victory. I figure I was really about six years old when I remember caring about the Packers. I watched through 17 years of pretty much 8-8 seasons and very little hope of ever seeing the team in the big game. I was actually super excited about Don Majkowski. A new quarterback, someone who wasn't a failed draft choice. Nothing against Lynn Dicky, or David Whitehurst, but the "Majik Man" gave us playoff hope. Then he went down, and they put you in. We all know the rest of the story.

Playoff games, respect, the feeling of what it must have been like to see the great Lombardi teams. No longer was the Packer highlight reel capped off with Bart Star crossing the one in the Ice Bowl. We were for real, Lambeau Field was restored as hallowed ground, and a damn tough place to get a win. You embraced the weather, something we are all proud of in Wisconsin, and you used it to win. You started every game no matter if you were hurt, sick, or tired. You did everything that was asked of you, and we were more than happy to pay you what you wanted.

Again Thank You.

Now we all saw the first meeting against the Vikings. The shot of you walking up to the line against the Green Bay defense was "surreal" as Mike Tirico pointed out. I am not even going to discuss the Jets or any of the nonsense about coming back or not coming back. You are now a Viking.

My disdain for the Vikings has always been the same. I will not travel through the Minneapolis Airport because it is in Viking country. Minnesota may be the land of 10,000 lakes, but I won't fish in any of them. I relish in the fact that the Viking have lost 4 Superbowls. My kids really don't ever wear purple and NEVER with yellow. Did I mention I hate the Vikings?

So Mr. Favre, when you come out of that tunnel, I am going to boo you. When our defense sacks you, I am going to cheer and yell primal screams, and when Charles Woodson pick sixes you I will probably loose my mind in delight! I can not root for you, nor can I say how great you ARE. You are a Viking.

So again I thank you for everything you WERE and DID for Green Bay. I praise you for what you DID for me, my friends, and the state of Wisconsin. However on Sunday, and going forward, YOU SUCK AND THE VIKINGS SUCK, and I hope you loose the rest of your games and finish out of the playoffs.

Go Packers,

A Packer Fan

PS When we retire your number at Lambeau Field, I will cheer the loudest along with all of the other great fans in Green Bay!

Week 7 Picks Picks for Week 7:

Green Bay at Cleveland - Packers -9 : With multiple Cleveland players hampered with a nasty flu, the Browns should be torn apart by the Packer offense. There is a very good possibility of a Special Teams or Pick Six against weak special teams and defense. Even though Green Bay is on the road take the Packers and the points.

New Orleans at Miami - New Orleans -7 : This game is going to be closer than most people think. Playing in Miami is always a struggle for road teams, and the Saints will be no exception. Look for the same strategy that the Dolphins used against the Colts. Ball control, and keep Brees from having the ball. Dolphins cover in this one, but probably will still not come away with the victory.

Minnesota at Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh -5.5 : With Winfield out in the Vikings secondary, look for the Steelers to open up the passing game early and the run in the fourth quarter. No Favre magic at Heinz field, the Steelers easily cover in this one.

Atlanta at Dallas - Dallas -4 : Even though this is desperation time in Dallas, the Falcons are a much better team. Better QB, better coach, better team all around. The Falcons will cover and get the win.

Good Luck

The Idiots

Armchair Picks As we have settled in and seen what most NFL teams are now capable of, lets look at some good last minute bets for Sunday's action.

Detroit at Green Bay - - 14 points - Take the Lions and the points. Even without Stafford, the Packers have not been running away from teams and tend to play to the level of their opponents. The game should be closer than most think.

Baltimore at Minnesota - 3 points - Take the Ravens and the points this week. The Ravens are a good team and the Vikings are prime for a let down. This is the toughest competition the Vikings have faced thus far, as well as the toughest run defense. Look for Favre turnovers, and an easy win for the Ravens.

Chicago at Atlanta - 3.5 points - The Falcons giving 3.5 should be no problem in this NFC matchup. Too many weapons on a superior offense should have no problem pulling away from the Bears average Defense in the second half.

Philadelphia at Oakland - 14 points - If you don't htink the Eagles should win this one by 20 plus you probably are painting your face Balck and Silver and still have some committment to excellence you are working on. Take the Eagles. This one should be in over by mid second quarter.

Remember if you do follow our advice, remember to tell your friends that you heard it from a couple of idiots!

Good Luck

Brett Favre: The Green Bay Hangover There was a great shot on MNF when Brett Favre walked up to his center and surveyed the Green Bay Defense. Mike Tirico aptly called it surreal. Packer fans were excited and apprehensive prior to the game. Vikings fans, well they were just jacked up.
Favre, Monday Night Football, Green Bay Minnesota. Huge game for Packer fans, Viking fans, and NFL fans in general.

Favre brought enough to win the game. Had a couple of great throws, had enough Adrian Peterson to get him into scoring range, and had enough Jared Allen on the other side of the ball to put Aaron Rodgers on his back 4&1/2 times.

You had a feeling that the Vikings were going to win and maybe win big.
However with all they had going for them did they really play that well? If they want to make their run to the Bowl, they are going to have to step up higher than what we saw last night.
Few things that could have made last night a bit more interesting and thoughts on where the Vikings really are:

Massive penalties against Green Bay hurt the Packers offensive attack
Ryan Grant ran the ball pretty well against that front 4
A really bad call on a great play by Charles Woodson caused a 14 point swing and really was the difference in the game
Peterson put the ball on the ground again

This should have been a blow out. The Green Bay line is awful. They really have no run attack, and they are still figuring out a new defensive scheme. I have to think that if the Vikings are going to go all the way they should be destroying teams like Green Bay, especially at home.

Last weeks' Favre heroics, saved a game for them that they should have lost to an OK 49er team. Favre always gets up for Monday Night games, and you knew he was going to be up for this one. It was an experience for Green Bay fans to move past the legend and move on, and a way for Vikings fans to stick it to their arch rivals I am sure the Vikings fans are buying their Superbowl tickets as I write this!

It was not a playoff game, Green Bay is mediocre at best, and the Vikings have alot of work to do. They seem a long way from beating the Saints, the Giants, or a Philly team with McNabb at the helm.

Enjoy your victory Viking fans, if your real star Adrian Peterson keeps rolling all will be fine, but if defenses can stuff your run game, look out. As the weather gets colder, the schedule gets a little tougher, and you run into games that do not have the emotional attachment for Favre like last night, the interceptions and forced play will rear its ugly head. Don't celebrate too much too early, the hangover could get rough in December.

The Demo Site

BlogCatalog

Categories

Sample Text

Ads

Advertisement

Featured Video

Photos