Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Packers Fans Need to Blame Others Before The Refs Edition

Yes that title is right. The refs were still terrible on Sunday, and I will say that the NFL needs to suspend that entire referee crew for at least one game, and ban them from working in the playoffs. Apparently it is illegal to even touch Jared Goff, intentional grounding is apparently reaching the line of scrimmage when a QB is out of the pocket, and St. Brown admitted that he would have gotten up and the refs flagged Wyatt for making sure Goff was down. Also, Jordan gets hit all of the time but never gets any flags for being roughed when literally every single other QB has gotten at least one of those calls. If the NFL can't officiate consistently, then Roger Goodell needs to fix that right away or if not, he should fine himself or resign in shame. 

Getting the rant out of the way early, eh?

Hey, it was time! But my fellow Packers fans have other people to blame for putting us in that position, and I will discuss that later. 

Oh, I don't doubt that.

 Also, congrats to the Brewers for winning a World Series title that was richly deserved. Brewers fans are so happy right now. 

You bet we are. We've been waiting 44 years and now finally our beloved Brew Crew are champions! And there's even proof on the internet! 

True Blue Brew Crew!

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (+20.5) vs. Indiana Google Them, They Win So sadly I have to retire the PJ Fleck can't beat Iowa at home stat. The Gophers now have all three of their big rivalry trophies, which they are probably happy about. Indiana is still very much in contention, and narrowly missed beating the Buckeyes. There is no doubt in my mind that the Gophers are looking good, but the thing is that Indiana is still good, and this could get ugly. Sorry not sorry Gophers. Google Them, They Win 60, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 10. 

Yes, the Hoosiers win. But they won't win by 50. Gophers are a confusing team, but they have had their moments this season. Saturday is not likely to be one of them. Indiana 31, Minnesota 17.

  Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (+3.5) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes I was impressed with the Badgers as they put together a dominant defensive effort against USC to get their second ranked win of the year. However, for Luke Fickell this trip to Kinnick is the one game that he needs to win. He has yet to beat Iowa, and all of the games have been frustrating because he seems to forget the key to this rivalry game. It is low scoring and physical, and you need to take the points. I am still not sold on Fickell, and beating Iowa is going to be a good way to announce that last week wasn't a fluke. This game is going to be relatively low scoring and physical. Also, a special screw you to Fox for putting this rivalry game at 11. Do better, guys. Badgers 17, Iowans 9. 

I'd rather play in Iowa City at 11 a.m. than at night, but either way I don't see this going well for the Badgers. Iowa needs this one and the Badgers, while definitely improved, are not ready yet for the challenge. Hoping I'm wrong, but... Iowa 21, Wisconsin 16.

Minnesota Vikings (+3.5) vs. Detroit LOLions I know that the Vikings are 6-0 on merit, but this team is looking like the 2020 Steelers team that started 11-0. What makes this Vikings team frustrating is that they have a lot of talent offensively to surround Kyler Murray, but they look terrible. How in the world do you have an offense that features the Griddy Man, Addision, Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason and be near the bottom of the league in terms of offensive statistics? That is football malpractice. 

Also, I have a simple challenge to the fine folks covering the Vikings. I want one of them to ask Brian Flores how come he feels the need to blitz all the time when getting pressure with 4 consistently is a hallmark of every Super Bowl winning defense. Call me a hater or a biased rival fan, but this Vikings team is flawed, is grossly misusing offensive talent that every other team in the league would kill to have, and has to run their defense like I used to do in Madden as a kid to win these games. Oh by the way, KOC should be adjusting his scheme and also ordering Flores to blitz only 37 percent of the time as is the league average. This isn't sustainable, especially because the Lions are a team that likes to get the ball out quickly and has a defense that can handle the Vikings putrid offense. LOLions 31, Vikings 9.

I understand where you're coming from on all this, but there's a flaw in your theory - the Lions aren't that good. The Packers should have won in Detroit last week going away, but they were dumb on multiple levels. Say what you will about the Vikings generally, but they aren't dumb this season. Flores blitzes all the time for the same reason a dog licks its, ahem, private parts - because he can. And while there are teams that will hold up against the all-out blitz, I don't think the Lions are that team. Minnesota 24, Detroit 13.

Carolina Panthers (+3.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers also have a lot of issues that happened last week that didn't involve the Zebras, which we will talk about later. What was really jarring was that the Bad Packers came back out, and the mistakes were numerous and frustrating. Carolina is a team that will be a lot more tough than people think. They play hard, they are fundamentally sound, and don't beat themselves. The Packers struggle with those things. Thankfully the Packers seem like they won't let last week become an 0-2 week. Just don't make me mad again, guys. Packers 25, Panthers 24. 

Oh, they'll make you mad. My concern with the Packers remains on the offensive line, which is still a patchwork operation and is hindering their overall execution. You can see flashes of competence, but they have not been able to sustain it this season. I think they can beat Carolina, but it will be close, as you suggest. Green Bay 27, Carolina 21.

And now, it is time for A Very Special Comment. The reason that the officials were able to insert themselves into the game was that the Packers committed more dumb penalties, failed to execute, and had more special teams issues. Trey Smack, I am starting to wonder if I believed the hype on you too soon. You cost us at least 6 points, and we lost by 3. That ain't good. At some point, there needs to be a kicker coming in for competition. Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden, you guys need to catch the ball. I screamed multiple times that you gotta catch that, and it is becoming an issue. I'm not giving up on Golden because he could still overcome the dropsies like Davante Adams did, but that needs to stop being an issue. The coaches also need to make it clear that the personal fouls and roughing the passer stuff needs to be fixed. LaFleur and Gannon need to start benching these guys, because it is a problem and a coaching issue. But LaFleur never fixes issues, and the same issues have plagued this team for the past 5 years at this point. I want him gone, and Gannon, you are on strike one. I expect more since you are handed the defense basically. Penalties are a coaching issue and a technique issue, and that needs to be addressed starting now. 

Congrats to the Brewers and enjoy your weekend. Ben out.