I find it really incredible how quickly Bears fans went from thumping their chests about how they were going to beat the Packers to saying how they are going to win next weekend at Solider Field and how this was a good effort. You really hate to see it.
I was happy with the result, but as Robert Frost would say, the Packers have miles to go before they sleep. And they'd better not sleep on the Broncos.
I can't really gloat about this because the Packers have a very tough game against Denver this weekend and are going to have to play the Bears in a game that could be for first place.
You want to gloat though, don't you?
Of course, but you know my high standards for objectivity and decorum, Geritol Fan!
Fabled in song and story and known from coast to coast.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Minnesota Vikings (+5.5) vs. Dallas How Bout Them Cowboys? So in the interest of full disclosure, I was coming back from an overnight trip and saw very little of last week's Vikings game live. After watching the highlights, it was clear to me that the Vikings dispatched a struggling Commanders team in impressive fashion. The Cowboys are going to be fighting for their collective playoff lives as they are going to need a win badly. The key for the Vikings is going to be someone on their maligned defense needs to hold down George Pickens. I know that CeeDee Lamb is their top wideout, but Pickens torched the Packers in Week 4, and seems to be a favorite target of Dak these days. This is going to be a hard test for the Vikings and one that they will keep close until Dallas pulls away in the 4th quarter. Though what would help the Vikings is for Justin Jefferson to stand up and go off. Quite frankly, his production hasn't been worth the QB money he is getting even allowing for the QB issues. How Bout Them Cowboys 28, Vikings 17.
You can play defense in this league and the Vikings have been known to do it at least intermittently this season. Can Dallas block the Vikings pass rush? If they can, it's going to be a long day for the Purple. The second question - can J.J. McCarthy put together two good games in a row? Up to this point, he has not proven that he can. He has an opportunity this week. I smell a shootout. Cowboys 38, Vikings 31.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-2.5) vs. Denver Broncos The Packers were challenged by the Bears, but came through in the 4th quarter to get back leadership of the NFC North and put themselves in a good position to get the top seed in the NFC. However, the Denver Broncos are in a great spot with leadership of the AFC West and are also looking to get the top seed in the AFC. The Packers have only won in Denver once.
Yes, I remember:
Beyond that, the Broncos are a team that is tough minded and knows how to win close games. Also, keep in mind that with the Chiefs looking like they are going to miss the playoffs, a lot of AFC teams are thinking that this is a great chance to break through. I don't think that the Packers are going to overlook this game and prepare for the rematch against the Bears, but this is going to be a battle that the Packers need to be prepared for. I also can't count on the Browns winning in Chicago on Sunday. But the good news is that even if Josh Jacobs can't go, the Packers have won in places they have struggled in recently. Why not continue the trend this weekend. Packers 31, Broncos 24.
And now, a musical interlude from recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Warren Zevon:
Some good tips for visiting Packers fans right there.
You're always helpful, Old Dude. Now, could you pick the game?
I suppose. I don't know what to think about this game, other than to be annoyed with it. This is a very tough assignment for this time of the year and the way the schedule plays out, it seems incongruent. Having said that, the Packers are well situated now. Based on what I've seen this year, the Packers should win this game. Vegas making Denver a home dog is rare, but the wise guys know things. If Jordan Love has time, he will torch the Broncos defense. Packers 28, Broncos 24.
So at about 2:30 on Sunday, I was thinking that the Badgers were going to be the subjects of a Very Special Comment. But thankfully for Luke Fickell and the Badgers athletic department, the Packers decided that they wanted to make me very angry.
And, as Bill Bixby used to say on the old 70s television show:
That's right - Benster smash!
You wouldn't like Benster when he's angry
I thought using that vintage cheese was better than another Paul Finebaum picture.
I agree. We've had too many of those lately. Anyway, back to the topic at hand - at least the Badgers have a bye week before the gauntlet starts. Thankfully I am prepared for the worst and since I already had to deal with the Twins deadline fire sale.
Are you done mocking me?
Yes, your Highness.
Well, I'll tell you what I'm selling, then. As always, you can trust this -- I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEEEEE! and am ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+7) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat So when we last saw the Gophers, they were losing at Cal. This game marks the return of Athan Kaliakmanis back to the Twin Cities. Rutgers hasn't impressed me from what I have seen, and the Gophers look like they are going to be a solid if unspectacular team. I would like to see PJ continue to trust Drake Lindsay to throw the ball a bit more instead of running the ball all of the time. Thankfully for the Gophers, I like them to bounce back at home with a solid if unspectacular win. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 25, Buttgers 10.
Fun fact - the headquarters of Campbell's Soup is in Camden, New Jersey. Where college football is concerned, the largest purveyor of chicken soup is in Piscataway, New Jersey. A game against Rutgers is usually good for what ails ya. Gophers 27, Rutgers 16.
Oregon Ducks (+3.5) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions This game is likely to be the Big Ten game of the year, and thankfully is going to be played as the Whiteout game. Both Penn State and Oregon have good reason to expect to win, and both programs need this game for different reasons. James Franklin has struggled in winning big games, and getting a top 10 win at home will go a long way to proving that this is the year that Penn State finally breaks through. As for Oregon, Dan Lanning hasn't won a big true road game in his time running the Ducks. Remember that his signature victory against the Buckeyes last October was at Autzen. A loss for either team isn't fatal because of the 12 team playoff and of course these two teams could meet again in Indy for the conference title game. Penn State seems like a team on a mission, and will use the fuel from the Whiteout crowd to prove their doubters wrong. Nittany Lions 31, Ducks 30.
Penn State is tough in Happy Valley and those 100,000+ fans are intimidating, especially at night. The Ducks are becoming a Big Ten team and I think they'll continue to compete well, but this one feels like a slugfest and Penn State has the muscle this year. Penn State 28, Oregon 24.
Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. Pittsburgh Days Of Our Steelers, in Dublin So in the interest of full disclosure, I was watching the Packers game and missed the entirety of the Vikings game against the Bengals. Considering the Vikings just mauled the Bengals, it seems like I didn't miss much. In fact, it would be hard for Vikings fans to find any faults with how their team performed. The Steelers are a team that has a lot of defensive talent, but they have struggled to break out of being good enough to make the playoffs but not win in the playoffs. A lot of that comes down to not having a clear plan to replace Big Ben and their brass not wanting to make too many changes. I don't want to talk too much about Aaron going there since I want to save some things for when the Packers play at the Yinzers, but the Steelers seem to be unsure about their long term solution at quarterback. The Vikings should win, but something tells me that Aaron might want to have one last great performance against the Vikings. Vikings 42, Yinzers 34.
This one could be many things, but I don't think high-scoring is one of them. I was traveling on Sunday and didn't see the Vikings, either, but it seemed like the defense was on point. That's going to be a recurring theme this year and is going to be the key to whether the Purple break through. Based on talent, I think you have to pick the Vikings. Vikings 27, Steelers 21.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-7) vs. Dallas How Bout Them Cowboys? So apparently Micah Parsons is coming back to Dallas. It isn't like that storyline has been played to death over the past couple of days. Once again, thanks so much Jerry for giving him away. You would think that he would remember how Charles Haley was the final piece to their dynasty in the 1990s, but I don't know. The concern I have for the Packers is that the offensive line is going to be shorthanded again. I get the sense that the Packers have something to prove after the meltdown in Cleveland. If the coaches can actually do the right things and Jordan can avoid being dumb with the football, then I like their chances. Packers 48, Cowboys 32.
So far, my conclusion on the Packers is that the defense is legit and the offense is a work in progress. They need the offensive line to get healthy. The Cowboys will likely make it tough on Josh Jacobs, but I think Jordan will be able to get the ball to his receivers. The Cowboys will struggle without CeeDee Lamb. And oh, by the way, the Packers have never lost in Jerry World. I think that trendline continues. Packers 31, Cowboys 14.
And now, it's time for a Very Special Comment.
Benster smash!
What happened on Sunday made me the angriest I have been at the Packers since the playoff meltdown against the Niners in 2021. The defense and defensive coaches are excused from any criticism because they did their job and only allowed 13 points. 10 of those points were sudden change situations in which they had to defend short fields, and the blame lies elsewhere. How much you blame the following culprits is up to you, but all deserve blame.
Matt LaFleur had some atrocious playcalling on Sunday. The Browns do have a very good defense, but running the ball consistently up the middle when it hadn't been working all day was the wrong call when the Packers offensive line struggled all day. But what really annoyed me was the play call when Jordan threw the interception. At that point, the Browns had just one timeout remaining and had shown no evidence that they could score a touchdown in a sustained drive. I realize that calling a run play would have been predictable, but forcing the Browns to use their last timeout to stop the clock on defense and have to get a touchdown with just the 2 minute warning to stop the clock would put your players in the best position to win. I knew that throwing was bad, and the worst happened. Even if the pass had been incomplete and the Browns had scored quickly to tie the game, the Packers could have at least taken it to overtime without the chance for the Browns to win at the gun as they did. You have to coach better and make better game management decisions. Matt LaFleur is not a young head coach anymore. It's been a recurring problem and one that puts this team in trouble.
Jordan Love, that throw was dumb and terrible. Throwing over the middle and into trouble can't happen. I would have preferred that you had taken the sack or at least try and pick up the first down with your legs if the throw wasn't there. Or better yet, audible into a run knowing the situation. You have to make these decisions. You are getting paid superstar money, and have to elevate your team. You didn't on Sunday. I like you, but I can't defend that decision.
Jordan Morgan didn't help the team by coming in. He had a number of penalties, was unable to keep the Browns from being in the backfield a lot, and failed to make a block on the guy that blocked the field goal in the 4th. For whatever reason, he isn't capable of being an NFL caliber lineman and seems like a bad pick. I hoped I was wrong, but the Packers need to realize that he isn't helping the team and that he shouldn't be out there in situations like this.
I can see why you were angry. It's dumb stuff and you have to hope it doesn't bite them down the line.
