It is really hard to believe that the Brewers are hosting the first two games of the World Series tonight and tomorrow.
And Game 1 is in the books, a 3-2 victory for the True Blue Brew Crew!
Rockin' Robin makes a Ueckeresque appearance
And while the Packers got lucky with being on the off days, many cheeseheads who ordinarily would be paying attention to the Badgers game against USC might be focused a bit on baseball.
I will be.
Obviously. The Old Dude is happy but in a flop sweat following that first game I'm glad they won, because he's been waiting for a long time for this moment.
I was a sophomore in college, sitting in the television lounge in Whitney Hall, mostly watching the game and partially trying to chat up a cute girl from Janesville. That didn't go anywhere and neither did the Brewers. But that's a story for another day.
So Gorman Thomas struck out, and so did you?
Well, yeah.
I suppose I'm happy about that, because it meant you got to meet Mom and the world now gets my brilliant football insights instead.
Yes, the world rejoices.
As we transition into football.....why did I hear a whistle?
Personal Foul, Roughing the Blog Post. 15 yard penalty, automatic first down.
Seriously? The refs from the Cowboys Packers game are here? I didn't do anything wrong. This much I know -- I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Iowa Hawkeyes (-7.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat The good news is that the Gophers have made sure that the restrooms are ready for the Iowa fans this time. Now, as a Badgers fan, I can't root for either of these teams given that both are obviously the arch rivals. The Gophers a couple of weeks ago got run over by Purdue Pete, and I know that it was really bad for the Gopher fans and there was a lot of criticism directed towards PJ and his crew. Iowa does look good this year, and the thing is that they like to play bully ball, the same as the Gophers like to do. Also, PJ hasn't beaten Iowa at home yet, which is the one criticism I can lay at him that is factual and can't be refuted. Sadly, someone has to win. Hawkeyes 31, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 17.
Definitely the Iran/Iraq War of the Big Ten season. Peej hasn't figured Iowa out too much and unless the Gophers figure out how to run the football against the stout Hawkeye defense, the Pig goes back to Iowa City. Iowa 24, Minnesota 20.
U$C Trojans (-3) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Last week was a frustrating game for the Badgers. The thing is that the offense did struggle, and the defense was on the field too long and couldn't get off the field against a surprisingly good UCLA team. There is no reason to do a Very Special Comment because losing on the road to a ranked team isn't worthy of that. While a lot of attention is going to be on the Brewers and Rays and rightfully so, this is going to be an interesting game. USC is making their first visit to Camp Randall as a member of the Big Ten conference, and I personally feel that the Badgers are starting to return to where they want to be. The thing is, USC is also looking ahead to a big game next weekend against the Buckeyes, and this feels like there is going to be enough Badgers fans to get a signature home win, which is something that Fickell doesn't have yet. I look for the team to bounce back, because this team seems to be tough and motivated. Badgers 23, Trojans 21.
Did you say Trap Game? Because it sure sets up as one. USC is more talented, but I could absolutely see the Badgers getting it done. Will they? USC 23, Wisconsin 19.
Indianapolis Colts (+6.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings So the last time that the Colts were here, they blew a 33 point lead. Obviously Mrs. D aka Mom and I were there to witness it and Vikings fans had a lot of fun that day at the game. I'll be honest, the Vikings still have issues. They are relying a lot on defense and special teams, and frankly Kyler is someone I doubt is a franchise quarterback. I do think the Vikings can win a lot of games, but they are not as complete a team as the KFAN types are telling you (Hi Brad!). That being said, the Vikings shouldn't lose this game. I am not sold on the Colts at all and think that they are going to blow it up. While it won't happen, maybe it is time for the Packers to bring JT back home. Not that I am biased or anything because of where he went to college. Vikings 46, Colts 0.
Well now. I think the Vikings are an exceptional defensive team, but I wonder too about their offense. Murray needs to get better and while he has the weapons to be successful, it's possible he's just not good enough to overcome his physical, ahem, shortcomings. Cheap joke, I know, but he looks like Kevin Hart out there sometimes. Minnesota 23, Indianapolis 13.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (+3) vs. Detroit LOLions All of a sudden, things are looking a lot better in Packerland. No, I am still not sold on LaFleur and want to see more from him. However, I love how aggressive he has been the past couple of games, and beating the Bears and the Cowboys back to back is always enjoyable given that I despise both of those teams. The LOLions are in an interesting place. They struggle defensively, and I am starting to wonder if Dan Campbell's act is wearing thin. While he is certainly not William Hull level of bad leadership in the Detroit area, he might be going down that list. For reference, William Hull was the American general who meekly surrendered Fort Detroit during the War of 1812. When you can sneak in a historical reference, you have to do it. My biggest concern is that the offensive line needs to protect Jordan a lot better and not get him injured. While I like Tyrod Taylor, I don't want to see him unless it is a blowout. Given that the Packers look a lot better, I think they can win in a game where Jared Goff once again turns into Jared Goof. Packers 35, LOLions Gonna LOLions 17.
We'll find out a lot this week. One of these teams is a fraud. I'm not sure which. But I think it's possible the Lions are running out of bullets. Green Bay 31, Detroit 27.
Best of luck to the Brewers tomorrow night and the rest of the way in the World Series. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.
Well, there is a nonzero chance that the Brewers game on Sunday might be more anticipated in Wisconsin than Packers-Bears. The Brewers ended up getting a good win over the Padres and breaking the hearts of the Fox pregame guys.
Oh, how will Jeter and his roided up buddies ever regain their credibility?
I know that a lot of Brewers fans are happy.
Yes. Yes we are.
Meanwhile, Fox has to be angry at the NFL for what was a horrible decision in regards to flexing the Packers and Bears out of the late window. The Packers-Bears game doesn't look so bad on paper now, and like a lot of Packers fans I will have to make alternate plans to watch a game that was worthy of staying in the late afternoon window. I hope that whomever made that call at either the NFL office or Fox gets a letter of reprimand. You should be ashamed of yourself for treating a high floor viewership game like that.
The NFL has no shame. They have The Shield, but no shame.
There shouldn't even be flex games until Week 10, but that is a subject for another day. At least here locally, a Sunday afternoon slate of Vikings-Saints followed by Denver at the Chargers and San Francisco-Seattle isn't serving the NFL and the local fans at all. And in Wisconsin, Packers-Bears going into Game 1 of the NLCS would have done incredible ratings and helped Fox get higher ratings nationally.
I assume they flexed it because Alex Rodriguez and Big Papi assured them the Padres were winning the series. They told me that until they no longer were able to do so.
But because the NFL was short sighted and hasty, they deserve low ratings and if I am Fox, I would be frustrated.
If the Packers ever truly go into the tank, their games will be on public access in Wisconsin Rapids.
And before you give me the usual excuse, the NFL was under no obligation to flex that game.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (-2.5) vs. Purdue Spoilermakers The Gophers did a great job beating an overrated and overhyped Michigan team, and even didn't have to deal with Dave Portnoy being in town. Now, you might expect me to be salty about that because I certainly am no fan of the Gophers and I have been highly critical of Fleck. But here is the thing, the Gophers should be ranked. How they only got 11 points in the AP poll was a joke and a disgrace. Yeah, they lost badly at home to Clanga, but the thing is, the Gophers have been a very good team this year, and I have been pounding the pavement that this team has a chance to be better than the 2019 Empire Class team. Remember, the 2019 team has one flaw, which is that they lost the two games that the Gophers fans can't stand them losing, which was to Iowa and Wisconsin. Purdue is a terrible team this year, and the good news is that I think the Gophers aren't going to be Purdue Pete's blood sacrifice. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 50, Spoilermakers 10.
Pete is a scary dude:
Viewer discretion advised
The Boilermakers are a mess, though. Yeah, I agree. Goldy smash. Minnesota 35, Purdue 3
Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. New Orleans Saints So in the interest of full disclosure, I was watching Jackson Chourio deliver an incredibly clutch and awesome walkoff, and didn't see the Vikings game last week. Frankly, the Vikings got a lot of yards, but once again failed to score an offensive touchdown and relied on Will Reichard and Brian Flores's blitzing addiction to get out of trouble. I personally am not sold on the Vikings this year, because they are relying on an elite defense and very good special teams to win games. Even allowing for the offensive injuries, the Vikings offense is too talented at the skill positions to go 18 straight possessions without a touchdown. In fact, isn't KOC supposed to be an offensive genius? Honestly, the Vikings have had one good quarter of offensive football in 4 games, and that needs to change. The Saints aren't super great defensively, and I expect Aaron Jones to feast on the ground. Thankfully, this isn't going to be a Vikings letdown game. Vikings 10, Saints 7.
The Saints aren't awful, but they aren't good. Kyler needs to get better in a hurry. If Justin Jefferson goes, they should be okay. Otherwise, Will Reichard will continue his SuperToe imitation. Vikings 18, Saints 14.
Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (-1.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Well, we got the very sad news that Mike Ditka passed away.
Raise a glass to Iron Mike
He was an outstanding player and coach for the Bears, and was a noble and worthy opponent who is an iconic figure in the rivalry. So the Packers won in Tampa, but having Edgerrin Cooper tear his Achilles was a bad thing. Obviously, this game is also a revenge thing for the Packers after what happened in January, but isn't the real chance for revenge given that this isn't in Chicago and that Caleb isn't playing. I also wasn't happy with how sloppy the offense was in the fourth quarter against Tampa. Kaleb Johnson can't fumble inside the red zone, and I thought that Jordan's pick was sloppy. Thankfully, the defense bailed them out in the end. With the Packers having a compromised offensive line and basically no running back depth, this is a tough one. Thankfully, a win here would really start the rebuild. Packers 38, Bears Still Suck 17.
Lotsa injuries on both sides. No Caleb and no Kyle Monangai, so the Bears come in short-handed. This could be a sneaky high-scoring game, but it's equally likely to be a Westminster Kennel Club of a game, which also might be why the NFL moved it. Packers 24, Bears 17.
Enjoy your football, and hopefully the Brewers can win against the Dodgers. Ben out.
Old dude, I went from incredibly furious and angry at the Packers performance on Thursday to incredibly thrilled and happy with the Badgers pulling off a stunning and improbably miracle finish against Penn State in about 48 hours.
It's like that. It is designed to break your heart and then pull you back.
That is the dynamic. No question. Have I changed my mind on Fickell? Eh, I don't know.
It's gonna take more than that, Seabiscuit.
Yes. Yes it will. Also, while I am a Twins fan, I think I speak for both of us when I say Go Brewers this weekend and into next weekend. I like their chances against the Padres.
Always a seat on the Brewers bandwagon for you, good sir.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Michigan Hail To the Victors (-5.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat This line is ridiculous, and whomever set this doesn't know ball. I will say this right now, Michigan is the second biggest fraud team in America. They were lucky to beat Western Michigan, they beat the biggest fraud team in America in Chokelahoma, they struggled with UTEP, and they lost to Iowa at the gun. I like Kyle Whittingham, but facts are facts. The Gophers played very well in Seattle, and honestly PJ might have his best team since 2019. I am dead serious that this team might be better than the 2019 Gophers. While the Gophers haven't won a home game against Michigan since Tony Dungy was at the U, this Michigan team is very ripe to lose, and lose by a lot. Do not be be surprised if the Gophers win comfortably. Row Row Your Boat Elitely 42, Michigan Clock Operators 0 and 1 second.
Do you remember the old game show Beat the Clock?
That explains a lot about your childhood, Old Dude.
Well, it was a collection of weird contrived games. And that is the specialty of the house in this one. I do tend to agree with your assessment of Michigan being essentially fraudulent, but it's always worth remembering that the Gophers have a carnival barker of the first order in ol' Peej. It's about time for the jug to spend some time in Minneapolis, though. Minnesota 24, Michigan 21.
Michigan State Sparty the Spartan (+9.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers That was the best win the Badgers have had since the 2019 Axe game, bar none. By all rights, the Badgers should have lost that game. When you turn the ball over more times, get outgained, struggle for large stretches, and are down 17-0 to a top 15 team on the road in Happy Valley, it should have been curtains. But for as much as I have been critical of Luke Fickell, he finally got a signature win. I still think he needs to win 8-9 games and win at least one of our rivalry games, but I'd be a fool to not acknowledge that there is some optimism. The problem is that the Badgers are facing Pat Fitzgerald. You may remember when he was with Northwestern, Fitzgerald gave the Badgers fits for years by turing the game into a rock fight and pulling out wins. It is the reason why I consider Ryan Field to be cursed ground, and this is why the Purple Nerds frustrate me to this day. The danger the Badgers have is that this Sparty team isn't great, but they have a great coach. This game will be stressful and anyone who says anything differently is ignoring that history. Badgers 16, Sparty 15.
I don't think Sparty is that good right now, but Fitzgerald will turn it around. This game is a good measuring stick for two programs that should be better than they've been in recent years. Home field and a better defense carries the day in Madison. Wisconsin 20, Michigan State 16.
Minnesota Vikings (-10.5) vs. Miami Tuna Net Victims Well, the Vikings approved homers on KFAN are already planning the Super Bowl parade and are thrilled at the 3-0 start. But there are some dangerous trends and things that a critical eye needs to be cast on, and thankfully I am the right skeptic to point them out. Yes, the Vikings are 3-0. But they have had to rely on 4th quarter Matt LaFleur, the Bears offense self destructing, and the Bucs not doing much on offense to be 3-0. As much as Flores is getting credit for the blitz, he is blitzing at 70 percent. That tells me that Flores might have to do it because he can't get pressure with 4. Also, the Vikings have been getting outgained and will be without Justin Jefferson. And keep in mind that the Dolphins have old friend Jeff Hafley, who knows the Vikings well. My challenge for the Vikings is to show that they can win without blitzing, because the NFL will adjust to that eventually. If Miami is smart, they will run screens, misdirections, and other stuff to force Flores to adjust. This is your classic Vikings Gonna Vikings game waiting to happen. But hey, my team has bigger problems. Dolphins 24, Vikings 10.
My guess - Flores won't stop blitzing until someone stops him from blitzing. The Dolphins aren't going to be that team. Even without JJ, Vikings roll. Minnesota 31, Miami 13.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. Tampa Bay Bucs First, we have an obvious theme song here.
No Jack Sparrow isn't playing. Packers, Packers, Packers. Had I not done a separate post last week for the Thursday night game, you would have seen me drop about a 10 paragraph rant that would have made the FCC blush. But thankfully for you, the Badgers put me in a good mood to spare you the Very Special Comment.
Well, isn't that special?
Ahem. I am still really disappointed in that effort, and the boos at Lambeau were deserved. Packers fans rarely boo, but that pathetic effort led me to quit watching and rage post on social media. As a peak behind the curtain, those are the signs of me being angry. The Packers did the right thing bringing in new offensive linemen, but those guys were available for a reason. The Bucs didn't impress me last week, and obviously Baker Mayfield hurting his thumb means that they have to rely on a rookie making his first start. This game is also dangerous because the Packers tend to struggle in games early in the season in Florida, and because of the NFL's odd scheduling I will have to make alternate plans to watch this game. I really hope the Packers can have a nice easy win, because if this is another bad loss, I hope that LaFleur gets left behind with Gutey and I will be bringing a Very Special Comment. Do not make me do that, Packers. Thankfully, I think that they will avoid that fate. Because I am a delusional homer. Packers 24, Port Royal 14.
Sometimes I enjoy your rants, but I'll admit I'd rather not have the Packers give you reason for ranting. Old dudes like me remember a sportswriter named Pete Axthelm, who used to refer to the Green Bay/Tampa Bay game as the "Bay of Pigs." That used to offend me back in the day, but he wasn't wrong. And I think this game is going to be ugly. It was an absolute admission of failure and a definite panic move to bring in Messrs. Zeitler, Becton and Tomlinson, but what choice did the Packers have? The offensive line is the worst I've ever seen in Green Bay and the current guys were going to get Jordan Love killed. I would not be surprised if Zeitler sees the field on Sunday and if the other guys get some snaps as well. There's no reason to believe Tampa's quarterback will reach a level more competent than, say, Max Brosmer, so that means a low-scoring, sloppy game. Green Bay 9, Tampa Bay 6.
Enjoy your football this weekend, and go Brewers. Ben out.
At about 2:00 on Sunday, I thought that I was going to be frustrated. Thankfully, the Packers and Aaron Glenn's questionable coaching decisions came through.
J-E-T-S Dumb Dumb Dumb!
You could set your watch on it, old dude! The regularly scheduled stupidity doesn't eliminate the criticisms I have of Matt LaFleur, but it was good to see that they didn't quit in the 4th quarter and took advantage of the breaks.
Know your opportunities, Seabiscuit!
As for the Badgers, the first quarter of the season wasn't great, but 2-1 is what I expected the record to be heading into Happy Valley.
Managing expectations is a big part of life.
So are cliches, apparently. What'd you do, swallow a self-help book instead your usual dose of Geritol? I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (+9) vs. Washington Huskies First of all, why in the world is Fox starting this game at 10 Central time? I get that the Huskies and Ducks had to agree to some odd start times to get their life raft during the Pac 12 collapse, but this start time screws over Gopher fans. Also, Husky fans are going to be getting out of Husky Stadium between 11 and midnight Pacific time, which screws them over. The Gophers ended up winning a pretty comfortable MACrifice game against the Zips, and this should be interesting. A lot of folks think that the Gophers are a dark horse team in the Big Ten this year, but going to Husky Stadium is a tough place to visit, as traditional Big Ten schools are starting to figure out. As much as Washington is an equal opponent, teams traveling cross country in the Big Ten in football don't do well. Though I do love that Washington has a good boy as the mascot. Huskies 28, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 17.
I don't know that I agree with the premise. The Gophers got their doors blown off by a middling SEC team in their own building and the Huskies are better than middling. Peej and company may keep it close, but the Good Boy has the dog in him. Washington 31, Minnesota 20.
Must have been the dog in me
Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (+10) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions It wasn't pretty in the first quarter, but thankfully the Badgers were able to get their MACrifice win. Going to Happy Valley is going to be a much tougher matchup. Penn State made a good hire in Matt Campbell, though he will be judged on if he can win those marquee games better than Big Game James Franklin did to satisfy the high expectations fanbase they have. The Badgers haven't beaten Penn State since Russell Wilson was the quarterback, and haven't won in Happy Valley since 2003. Should the Badgers pull off the upset, that would be a good sign for Fickell and give him some benefit of the doubt. However, this isn't going to be easy. That being said, I am a delusional homer. Badgers 32, Sad Valley 31.
Uh, no. Not gonna happen. The Badgers are showing signs of being a good defense, but, nah. Penn State 34, Wisconsin 19.
Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mrs D. aka Mom believes that the Vikings being 2-0 and having 2 divisional wins gives them a lot of momentum going down to Tampa. And I am agreeing with her because trusting Mom is always smart, and she is right. While the Vikings win was overshadowed by Caleb Williams's injury, the Vikings made a lot of plays in the red zone and took advantage of the conditions at Soldier Field. The problem is that playing down in Florida early in the year means some heat. Also, Baker Freaking Mayfield is someone who thrives when he flies under the radar. I think the Vikings are going to win, but this is going to be a tougher game than people might be thinking. Vikings 34, Bucs 31.
Baker won't flinch against the blitz package, but Tampa just seems, well, off so far this season. Not sure what is going on, but Mayfield has been pedestrian and the the defense is vulnerable. Kyler Murray returns, but is he really ready? Minnesota 27, Tampa 20.
Hotlanta Dirty Birds (+4.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers That was a narrow escape by the Packers, but props to Skyy Moore for that huge punt return. I also think that Evan Williams getting that huge pass breakup in the 4th quarter was the sneaky important play that helped get the game to overtime, where the defense took over and helped set Love up to get out of dodge with a win. The problem is that the offensive line depth is dangerously low, especially because ZBB is done for the year, and Banks can't go. I'm seriously worried that Love can't get any protection.
The Falcons are also not in a good spot, as they have had an offense that is very offensive. Michael Penix is going to come back, and what I would do if I was Jonathan Gannon is to sell out on stopping Bijan Robinson at all costs and make the passing game win the game. Also, the Packers somehow drew 2 Thursday Night games in around a month, combined with the dreaded Thanksgiving eve game that nobody asked for, and the Christmas Netflix game against the Bears that is going to turn a nice Christmas for me into a stressful Christmas. The NFL needs to understand that putting teams on short rest all of the time is bad for business, but they can't resist Bezos giving them sacks of money. This game is going to most likely be bad, and when a gigantic Packers fan like myself is saying that about my team you should be paying attention. Packers 17, Falcons 11.
I agree on the schedule - the NFL's greed is getting seriously out of hand and because the Packers have a national following, they are getting a bad dose of off-schedule football, which is particularly unhelpful for a team that's already suffered some season ending injuries. Atlanta is dismal so far and while Penix has a good arm, he's skittish in the pocket and the Packers seem to have a revitalized pass rush under Gannon. It'll be a long day for both quarterbacks, but the Packers are finally at home and are the more talented team. Packers 24, Falcons 10.
At 5:30 on Sunday, I was thinking that the Packers were looking good, and that any criticism I had was going to be nit picky. But then 4th quarter Matt LaFleur struck again, and this can't keep happening.
And yet it does.
We will talk about that later. Also, some of my fellow Packers fans need to admit that those 3 calls that gave the Vikings first downs on that drive were not the reason that the Vikings won. That unfairly diminishes the Vikings coaching staff for making adjustments and the Vikings players for executing better.
Surprisingly fair-minded of you!
I also have to give props to Ben Leber for going on KFAN and being willing to explain why Packers fans were upset about those 3 calls. Once again, Packers fans can't blame the officials for those 3 calls because the Packers have to stop putting themselves in a position where a judgement call can cost them the game.
If the moment calls for a boot on the throat, LaFleur needs to stop wearing sensible shoes.
Old Dude is selling Florsheims again! Well, I don't have time for that, because I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Akron Zips (-23.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat It was obvious that the Gophers didn't come out of the gates strong against the Mississippi State Bulldogs last week, and the Gopher fans quite rightly were upset at what they saw. Contrary to what you may think, I can and have given Fleck praise despite being a huge Badger fan. But it is obvious that once the Gophers had to hurry up and pass the ball more, Fleck's style isn't built for that. I still think the Gophers will win 8-9 games and likely win a bowl game, but they need to play better. The good news is that Akron isn't a good MAC team, and this should go as a classic MACrifice game that we all know and love. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 41, Zips 17.
Peej has his limitations as a coach. Kamario Taylor was very impressive, but he's not coming back to Minneapolis this weekend. Zip ties all around. Minnesota 34, Akron 10.
Eastern Michigan Eagles (+23.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers In the interest of full disclosure, I only saw part of the first quarter and the last two minutes of the Badger game because of a family engagement. That being said, the Badgers did look good but still have some things to work on. One thing that I do like is that the Badgers are starting to look better running the football, and the defense let the Leathernecks move the ball but did stiffen up in the red zone. Eastern Michigan is historically not a great school in the MAC, and this should be another game where the Badgers can build some confidence going into Big Ten play. Once again, Fickell is going to need to get to 8-9 wins and likely win at least one of the Hawkeyes and Gophers games to keep his job. Badgers 40, Eagles 10.
The Badgers are still very much a work in progress. They should have destroyed Western Illinois but they didn't. I'm looking to see better execution overall this time. Wisconsin 38, EMU 17.
LSU Bayou Bengals (-3.5) vs. Ole Miss Rebels So my initial plan for this week was to do A Very Special Comment dunking on Lane Kiffin for the slimy way he left Ole Miss and how LSU has assembled a really nice threesome of coaches that are easy to dislike between Lane, Kim Mulkey, and Wiretap Will Wade.
Lotta slime in the ol' Bayou, that's for sure.
But now Kiffin has to go back and face the music and a fanbase who rightfully should be mad at how he nearly derailed the Ole Miss team he built, while napalming every bridge in Oxford. By the way, I am not a fan of Ole Miss and hate the SEC, and yet even I would have been okay with the Rebels winning the national title as a rebuke to Kiffin. LSU is going to be good, but something tells me that Kiffin will come up short this weekend and Ole Miss will get the vengeance they want. I just hope that the Ole Miss fans don't do something stupid or hurt anyone. Rebels 62, Bayou Bengals 41.
Ole Miss fans are actually somewhat genteel, but if they add a little extra hooch to their elegant tailgate highballs, it could get interesting. LSU has better talent and on a neutral field they'd win, but this won't be neutral. Ole Miss 34, LSU 31.
Minnesota Vikings (+4.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck Well, the Vikings are feeling a lot better. Thanks to a great fourth quarter, they are in a good spot. As Mrs. D aka Mom points out, being 1-1 at worst for the Vikings is still a pretty solid place to be given that the Lions looked really bad on Thursday. The interesting question for me that the Vikings are going to face is what happens if Carson Wentz goes into Chicago and outplays Caleb Williams. Do you think that some Vikings fans would argue that Wentz should get the nod over Kyler Murray, assuming that Murray is healthy enough for next week? As for the Bears, they lit up the scoreboard like a pinball machine, though my fantasy team would like Colston Loveland to get the ball some. Obviously this will be a tight one, but I like the Vikings to keep up the momentum. Vikings 27, Bears 24.
The Vikings defense is built on speed. Soldier Field is the worst grass field in the league. The weather forecast is calling for rain and I expect it to be a slow track. If ol' Caleb has more than a half-second to throw, he'll beat the all-out blitzes. This could be a shootout, but on a slow track I think da Bearz wear the Vikings down. Bears 28, Vikings 23.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. New York J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS The bottom line is that the Packers need to figure out how to close games, and it is obvious that they need to protect Jordan Love better. The fact that Love was able to play as well as he did given that he had Vikings in his face every time he dropped back was impressive. The Jets are still an NFL team.
Are you sure about that?
Yes, I am sure of it. Don't you have some pills to take? Ahem. This game isn't going to be as easy as people think, especially because the Packers have struggled going out to the Meadowlands and seem to play tough games there. What would really help is that if the Packers get a double digit lead in the 4th quarter that they close it out and I don't have to come back here and question if this team can close out games. Also, I hope that that horrible turf at MetLife doesn't cause a major injury. Packers 24, Jets 10.
That turf is a concern. So are the Jets. They do have talent and the Packers have to be seeing ghosts after what happened last week. That mean old Flores will not be in the building on Sunday, but the Packers had better be ready. I do think they bounce back. Packers 28, Jets 20.
And now, it is time for A Very Special Comment. That title certainly is very strong, but by this point Matt LaFleur has demonstrated that he is in a space where he isn't measuring up to the standards that the Packers have. He isn't the only one to blame, but at this point the case against him isn't criticism, it is just facts that everyone is seeing. The Packers since the 2021 season haven't hosted a playoff game, which is hard to believe, but they are certainly in danger of being the longest gap between home playoff games in my lifetime.
You know what? You should really watch this:
You're spoiled, right?
I know, old dude. You remember lots of bad things in the past. The 70s Packers, Three Mile Island, Skylab falling from the sky, Brezhnev's monolithic eyebrows. I get it. But back to the matter at hand. The Packers haven't won a division title since 2021, and have seen their playoff seeding go from being the 1 and 2 seeds early in LaFleur's tenure to being 7 seeds. Going into that horrible playoff game against the 49ers, LaFleur was 2-2 in the playoffs. Since then has now gone 1-4, with late leads not being taken care of in 2021, 2023, and 2025. The Bears and Lions have started to win more consistently against the Packers in the past couple of years. The Packers are also on a 6 game losing streak, which is the longest losing streak since the Lindy Infante era.
Oh, I remember Lindy Infante.
That's right, not even Ray Rhodes or Mike Sherman ever had that bad of a losing streak and those are the two weakest head coaches the Packers have had since Mike Holmgren was hired. LaFleur's losses have started to follow a trend, where there have been a rash of penalties, a team that is unable to close out leads, and seeing at least one unit be inconsistent and the team being unable to respond to adjustments that the opposition has made after halftime. And if you are mad at me, I am just stating facts.
Yes. Yes you are.
And Sunday featured all of those things. The Packers struggled on offense, they committed a bunch of penalties, and failed to respond when Flores and KOC made adjustments, blew the lead, and then melted down when facing adversity. Once again, everything I said is factual.
What makes it frustrating is that LaFleur once again made a coaching mistake with his decision in regards to the 4th and 1 call. I personally don't mind the idea of being aggressive in wanting to go pick up one yard, and don't even mind running a sneak. But what really frustrated me was that he and Stenavich weren't on the same page regarding the call. I would have either had someone to push Love across or have had Kraft take the snap given that he played quarterback in high school and was also a bigger body. As great an offensive line coach as Stenavich is, he isn't the right fit as an offensive coordinator, and I question that he would be able to call plays should LaFleur give that duty up.
Which is why LaFleur hasn't delegated the duty.
What should have happened in the offseason would be for LaFleur to move on from Stenavich and get an offensive coordinator who was capable of calling plays and who would have been willing to challenge LeFleur to get better. I get you can't blame the coaches when players make mistakes, but at the end of the day LaFleur keeps putting the players in a position to fail, and he isn't a young head coach anymore. In fact, he is the most senior NFC North head coach.
However, Gutey deserves some of the blame for Sunday. It has become obvious that his like for getting athletes with high RAS scores has made the offensive line worse. During the peak of the Aaron Rodgers era, a lot of people forgot the the Packers had an experienced and good offensive line that by and large protected Aaron and allowed him time and gave the running backs holes to run through.
The Packers haven't been good at evaluating offensive linemen in the past couple of years, and Gutey should have invested more resources into the offensive line.
Ed Policy has already made the first mistake of his tenure as president. January would have been the right time to let LaFleur go. After all, LaFleur was the right head coach when he was first hired, and did a great job in navigating the transition from Rodgers to Love. Most Packers fans would have understood that LaFleur had taken a few steps back, and a fresh voice would have been warranted.
In fact, Policy could have tried to trade LaFleur for a draft pick or two or let him go to the TV studio or booth for a year. But instead he doubled down. That has been a trend for the last two head coaches. Mike Sherman didn't help himself as a coach with his work as a GM, but he stuck around a year too long after stalling out in the playoffs. Mike McCarthy also probably stuck around a year too long, but Ted Thompson didn't want to fire him after the Run the Table team covered up flaws and Aaron's collarbone injury derailed the 2017 season and McCarthy had a Super Bowl title that earned him some grace even if it might have been misplaced. LaFleur doesn't have a Super Bowl title or have coached the Packers in a Super Bowl.
The biggest problem I have with the Packers leadership is that they tend to hold the standard of rather let someone go a year early than a year late to the players and players alone. It is the same problem that the Steelers had where they let Mike Tomlin stay around too long despite a downturn in his playoff record. The difference is that Tomlin had earned that grace with a Super Bowl and his streak of winning seasons. The point is that the Packers are in a win now window because they traded for Micah Parsons. Matt LaFleur is in danger of wasting that window, but Policy ultimately made it clear that he thinks the downturn LaFleur has had is okay. It isn't okay, and Sunday proved that the same things happen over and over again.
Welcome back, and while what happened to the Badgers last week was a hard watch in the 2nd half, a Very Special Comment would be unfair considering that the Domers look like a team on a mission.
Catholics are fond of mission trips, even to exotic Lambeau.
As for the Vikings, they have made a lot of changes and decisions that I ended up talking to someone I trust who can answer those questions for us.
I suspect I know the fount of wisdom in this case.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Mississippi State Clanga (+1) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat I have to give the Gophers credit for scheduling a sneaky good non conference home and home with the Bulldogs, and will give the Bulldogs credit for being willing to travel up north. College football can benefit from teams deciding to do at least one interesting non conference game a year besides the cupcake games, and this will give some direct SEC vs. Big Ten comparisons on the field to start the season off. I also have been critical of the SEC not playing 9 league games in the past, so I will give the SEC credit for going to 9 conference games. As for the game, I think that the Gophers looked good last week, and Drake Lindsey looks like he is going to be the best quarterback that PJ has had in his time with the Gophers. The Bulldogs look like they are going to be a middle of the pack SEC outfit, and think that the Gophers are going to play well and get a good non conference win. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 27, More Cowbell 21.
It pains me to say it, because ol' Peej drives me nuts, but the guy can coach and he's done a good job of establishing a consistently competent and often very good program here. The Gophs have talent on both sides of the ball this year and a number of guys with NFL ability. If Lindsey turns out to be one of those guys, the Gophers could make some noise in the conference. Gophers 24, Mississippi State 21.
Western Illinois Leathernecks (+39.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers I will give the Badgers credit for hanging in there until Colton Joseph threw the pick 6 last week, but obviously we all knew that beating the Irish would be difficult. I will say that I did see something that looked like Wisconsin football. The bottom line is that for Luke Fickell to keep his job, he needs to win 8-9 games and beat at least one if not both of Iowa and Minnesota. I will say that Shawn Eichorst being AD makes me nervous given what he did with Nebraska, and hope that I am wrong. Western Illinois is your typical tuneup game, and I think that the Badgers should have a get right game. Hopefully it is a low stress game. Badgers 49, Leathernecks 0.
If the Badgers don't breeze in this one, the voices will be getting louder. For now, all quiet on State Street except for faint rumbling. Wisconsin 42, Western Illinois 7.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (+1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings So the Vikings ended up deciding to give Kyler Murray the keys to the quarterback position and put JJ McCarthy in the third string role. Given that the Vikings had a busy offseason full of questions about how they would line up against the Packers, I decided to bring in an expert who follows the Vikings.
Mrs. D, a/k/a Mom, is a Vikings fan as longtime readers know. When I asked her about what she thought about the Vikings offseason, she mentioned she thought that it was a good idea to have McCarthy be the third string quarterback and get to learn the position better. She is also hoping for a successful season which she says is winning a playoff game.
You should listen to your mother.
Well, I do, but I've learned to tune out the Geritol Fan when necessary.
I'll allow it.
My take on the Vikings is that they need to win a playoff game, because it is hard to believe that KOC has yet to win a playoff game. I get the sense that his seat is slightly hotter than people around here want to admit. As for the Packers, I think LaFleur is going to need to really improve on some things. I personally think that LaFleur has taken a step backwards, and the same mistakes keep piling up. Call me arrogant, but the Packers are an organization that expects to win Super Bowls. The nature of the Josh Jacobs suspension isn't known at this time, but I assume he will be suspended and he deserves to be suspended because of the choices he made back in May. I'm worried about the Packers being banged up along the offensive line against Brian Flores, but on the flip side I think that Jonathan Gannon knows exactly what to expect from Kyler Murray, given their history together in Arizona. Packers 25, Vikings 22.
It's a good test for both teams. Kyler Murray has never had a better supporting cast than now and he will certainly have his moments. The danger the Vikings face is they have three quarterbacks on the roster and they all have significant injury histories. I thought the team picture they took was particularly interesting:
Kyler, Carson and 9 on the march, wobbling a bit
I also wonder if the running game will have enough juice to keep the Packers from going all out on the pass rush. Without Josh Jacobs, the Packers have a similar issue, so this could be a game with a lot of balls in the air. Jordan Love has seen plenty of the Vikings and he's smart enough to anticipate the tricks that Brian Flores will have. Will it be enough? Vikings 27, Packers 24.
Sam Darnold has proved that last season was no fluke. As it turns out, letting Sam Darnold walk is the worst decision a team has made with a quarterback since the 49ers discarded Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick.
At the time, picking Kaepernick didn't seem that bad, grasshopper.
But it was, Old Dude! And it's become clear that the Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in large part because he gave the money that Darnold deserved on multiple bad defensive contracts and gave Justin Jefferson quarterback money and saddled him with JJ McCarthy to throw him the ball.
I sense a local radio host warming up in the background. Meanwhile, a photo of our protagonist.
That Darnold Cat
So you went with the obscure 60s Disney movie reference and didn't even explain what the heck you're talking about?
Of course I didn't!
Actually, I preferred the Ugly Dachshund
Stop interrupting my victory lap! I wrote in October 2024 that Sam Darnold should have gotten the chance to continue as the starting quarterback, and his success with the Seahawks not only makes me look smart, but should lead to serious questions about how the Vikings develop quarterbacks and also be a damning indictment about Kevin O'Connell and his ability as a quarterback whisperer. In fact, KOC shouldn't be getting any benefit of the doubt from Vikings fans or the Vikings/NFL media who have given him a pass for this debacle.
So our host is Nostradamus, and the rest of us are Nostra dumbass?
Well, maybe not that, but I am taking a W for this one. By the way, for the record, I would be saying the same thing had Jordan Love been a bust about Gutey and LaFleur.
Meanwhile, I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Seattle Seachickens (-4.5) vs. New England Patriots, in the Bay Area Well, this is a Super Bowl that offers something different similar to the Rams-Bengals tilt. I'm sure that Malcolm Butler's interception will be played a bunch on Sunday, as of course that was the defining play of their previous matchup. The Patriots are a different team from their cheating dynasty past for the most part, and should Sam Darnold get his ring, it would be a deserved ring. The key to the game in my eyes is going to be how well the Patriots are able to shut down the potent Seahawks running game. Both of those things were key deciders two weeks ago, and the Seahawks running game allows Darnold to flourish off play action. In what I think is going to be a fairly low scoring game, should the Seahawks get out to a 10 point lead by the half, I don't think that Drake Maye can get out of that hole. He is a very good quarterback, but he ain't Tom Brady. Seahawks 17, Patriots 14.
I'll be honest with you - this game does nothing for me. Darnold is the most interesting player in this game and that's what we call damning with faint praise. The Seahawks have surprised me this season and they certainly play defense. The Patriots are a solid operation again, but they don't really have anything that makes you think this is a great team - they merely outlasted a lot of teams that seemed to have bad things happen to them. I tend to believe had Bo Nix been available, the Broncos would have been in this game, but he wasn't. Seahawks are a better team, so they should win. Seattle 27, New England 16.
A quick reminder, if you are reading this post either tonight or on Saturday of this weekend, I highly recommend going to the Border Battle on February 7th at Hamline University. You will get to see multiple very good high school basketball games between Minnesota and Wisconsin schools. You will be very glad you did. Also, thanks for reading this feature this year, and I'll see you in the fall. For the final time this season, Ben out.
So as a quick disclaimer, I saw very little of both the Packers and Vikings because we were out of town last weekend.
Yep, and we saw stuff like this:
Shoot your shot in Fort Smith, Arkansas
And in the case of the Packers, that probably was for the best as Derrick Henry is probably still running through the defense.
As for the question in the title, because a trip to Chicago or a trip to Philadelphia would both would give the Packers a chance for revenge. Winning a potential round 3 against the Bears would mean that the Packers would once again win a huge game in the context of the rivalry, in da Bearz house. Also going into Philly would get the taste of last year out of their mouths.
The taste of a cheesesteak marinated in bile.
Not good eatin', to be sure Either result would be fine with me.
I would prefer a trip to Chicago, because historically we don't get to break out the Happy Schnapps Combo when the Packers beat the Eagles, but your mileage may vary.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and am ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (+9.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings Quite honestly, I have no issues with resting the starters against the Vikings. They have nothing to gain by winning, and given how this team resembles a walking hospital unit at this point, I have no problem turning things over to Clayton Tune with a week of prep and having Desmond Ridder serve as the backup. My issue with the Packers last week was that knowing that Lamar Jackson was going to be out, I would have thrown everything into stopping the run game and forcing the Ravens to win by passing down the field. To not do it was a bad coaching decision. The Vikings aren't playing for jobs, but this offseason is going to have a lot of interesting questions. I think that KOC is pretty safe, but it wouldn't surprise me if the front office gets a shakeup and the Vikings might move a couple of big pieces because they have locked themselves into a team that is near the top of the cap and could see Flores get a second shot at a head coaching gig. As for the Packers, if they can find a pass rush like they did back in November, they can beat JJ McCarthy and go into either Philadelphia or Chicago with some momentum. Packers 18, Vikings 17.
That 9.5 line is a sucker bet. Do we assume the Vikings can score 10 points? They've had trouble scoring no matter who plays quarterback. I think McCarthy will want to prove a point, but I'm not convinced he can. This could be a really bad football game. Packers 16, Vikings 9.
Detroit LOLions (+3) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck So the Bears got a huge assist from the Eagles, who will likely resting players, and are likely going to want to get the chance of a home game in the divisional round. The thing is, Dan Campbell is the type of coach who is going to want to make things tough on the Bears and his old understudy, Ben Johnson. I figure that the Bears are going to play their starters for a good chunk of the game, and are hoping that they can get through this game healthy. Jared Goff had an epic meltdown last week with his decision to hand out a bunch of gifts at US Bank Stadium. Thankfully, his performance didn't cost my fantasy team in our bid to win a second title in three years and also make the title game for a third straight year. You love to see it. LOLions 26, Bears Still Suck 15.
This game has bad karma written all over it for the Bears. The Lions played terribly last week and they will not want to end their season in last place, which would be the result of a loss. The Bears need to be careful here. Lions 28, Bears 24.
Enjoy your football this weekend. It's almost certain you probably will enjoy it more than the SEC and their enablers Paul Finebaum and Clay Travis. Ben out.
And just when you thought that events in Denver were bad, the Packers find another way to suffer a brutal loss. What in the actual heck happened at Soldier Field? Because this is a family blog post, I can't say what I wanted to say here without turning this into an R rated post.
Da Bears wear blue and the Packers have you working blue.
Benster would prefer to avoid the Lenny Bruce treatment
Lenny Bruce is not afraid, but I am trying to maintain a level of decorum here. That's what comes with maturity. Or so I've been told.
Ach, maturity is overrated.
I realize it's been a lifelong struggle for you, Geritol Fan! But fear not, there is hope on the horizon. This is going up early because we are going to be on assignment, just so you know.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
New Mexico Lobos (+1.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat, in Phoenix The Gophers had another solid season and as a reward get to spend Christmas in Arizona playing against New Mexico in a bowl game sponsored by a company that has money to burn on sponsoring a bowl game. New Mexico is more of a hoops school, but Badger alum Jason Eck has done a very good job down there in getting his team to just miss out on a Mountain West title game appearance due to tiebreakers. With the top of the Mountain West leaving to reboot the Pac 12, New Mexico should fare better in a weakened Mountain West. The Gophers are going to have plenty of fans because it's an easy flight down to Arizona and they should be very confident. I'm certainly not a PJ fan as longtime readers know, but to his credit the guy has won every single bowl game he has played in as the Gopher coach. I like the Gophers to win because Big Ten teams should beat Mountain West teams. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 31, Lobos 0.
Not a fan of Peej, but give the devil his due. He's good at this. Gophers 24, Lobos 13.
Detroit LOLions (-7.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Lions came up short last week against the Steelers because they got caught pushing off in front of an official, but of course that didn't stop Lions fans from blaming the refs. If the Lions lose, they are out of the playoffs and the Packers will get in. The Vikings had a nice win against the Giants out in Jersey but will not have JJ McCarthy because he hit his hand hard against a helmet. Max Bromser looked fine in relief, and he should perform better at home against a Lions team that is banged up and is very short at the back end defensively. While the Lions are going to be game, something tells me that Brosmer is going to play a lot better and get a nice win to give Vikings fans some holiday cheer. Vikings 24, LOLions Gonna LOLions 10.
Lions gotta have this, so they'll come out hot. Max Brosmer hasn't shown much to this point, so I have to pick the desperate team on the road in this instance. Lions 34, Vikings 17.
Baltimore Ravens (+3) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Well, this game could look radically different depending on quarterback injuries. As much as my fellow Packers fans want to blame Romeo Doubs for muffing the onside kick or Jordan Love getting concussed, the bottom line is that the Packers left points in the red zone too much, and it came back to bite them in the butt once again. It looks like Love and/or Malik Willis could play, and Lamar Jackson is fighting a back injury that has him in danger of not playing as of this writing. Again, I don't know how healthy each team is going to be at the QB spot as of right now. The Ravens need to win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, and the Packers just need to win either Saturday night or next week assuming the Lions do win on Christmas. Also, what was John Harbaugh thinking not leaving Derrick Henry on the sidelines last week against the Patriots? That was as dumb as the Colts taking JT out of the game and screwing over a lot of fantasy football owners. The Packers should win and get in so that way they can get a badly needed rest week. Packers 28, Ravens 21.
I'd heard about the fantasy owner issue. I have no idea what to think about the Ravens at this point. They are a talented team, but they have been mostly rudderless all season and while Tyler Huntley is a competent backup, I don't see them being able to score much, as Jeff Hafley will have something planned for Derrick Henry. I do agree the Packers left too many points off the board last week and it absolutely bit them in the end, but hey, it's made a lot of moronic Bears fans happy, and goodness knows they need a little enjoyment after 40 years of futility. Packers 31, Ravens 16.
Enjoy your football this weekend, and have a merry Christmas. Ben out.
Now this is a family blog post, so I can't really say what I want to say about the third quarter in Denver last week, but all of a sudden the Packers went from looking like they were going to have one of their most impressive road wins to losing Micah Parsons and seeing their Super Bowl chances go from a strong favorite to a flawed borderline contender in the span of about half an hour.
Life comes at you fast.
I can't remember a more terrible quarter the Packers have had in my lifetime, and that might have been worse then the Seattle NFC title game meltdown. It was that bad.
Life goes on, and the Packers just need to get in the playoffs.
They have multiple ways of doing it, but it starts on Saturday in Chicago.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (+1.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck In Gary So the Packers are going into Chicago to face off against a Bears team that has a chance at revenge and saw their rivals suffer through a nightmare game, traveling cross country on a short week. The Bears and Packers are going to be banged up, but Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs are much bigger losses than what the Bears have. The good news for the Packers is that Brenton Cox looks like he is coming back. Micah he is not, but at least would add some beef on the interior. What the Packers need to do now is get someone on defense to decide that they are going to get after Caleb and force him into a mistake. The hardest thing the Packers have is that they beat the Bears once, and it was pretty close. But the good news is that I sense this team is mentally tough and LaFleur is going to bust out something early to win. Just get into the playoffs and see what happens, guys. Packers 33, Bears Still Suck 28.
I recognize that score. That would be a good score. The Bears are banged up and will be going into the game without two deep threats on offense. The Bears had good success last time by using play action, which bought enough time for Caleb Williams to see the field better and allow his receivers to get open. I don't know if that same scenario will take place this time. If I were to guess, I think the Bears will try to run the ball down the throat of the Packers. If they can do that, they will win. If the Packers can be stout at the point of attack, it will be an easier thing. I also believe Jordan Love will play well - the Bears have some talent on defense, but the Packers have a lot of weapons and it does appear that Christian Watson will play. So if the game is a shootout, advantage Green Bay. Packers 35, Bears 31.
Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. New York Giants The Vikings were able to get a nice win over the Cowboys and their awful defense last week down in Texas, and that should give them some positivity in what has been frankly a tough season for the Purple. With the Vikings eliminated from the playoffs, I asked Mrs. D aka Mom what she is going to be watching down the stretch. She indicated that she wants to see that JJ McCarthy makes it through the rest of the year healthy. I think that the Vikings have a lot to play for because guys are going to be playing for jobs and I do think that there is going to be a lot of deserved criticism towards the Vikings front office, especially because it looks like Sam Darnold has the Seahawks getting home field in the NFC after the epic Thursday Night Football victory yesterday evening. The Giants aren't great, but they play hard and are a team that makes everything difficult. The Vikings could use a nice and comfortable win, and I think they will get it by pulling away in the second half. Vikings 34, Giants 17.
The Vikings have one big problem that I see, which is that their pass rushers are depleted. Losing Jonathan Greenard is huge, as the other edge rushers really relied on Greenard drawing additional attention. The Giants do play tough, but they are a mess and while the Vikings haven't proved much this season, I can see the outlines of a more successful year next year if they stay the course. Vikings 27, Giants 20.
Enjoy your football this weekend and hope you have a Merry Christmas! Ben out.
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 if the Packers want to get back their NFC North crown, it turns out that they are going to have to take care of their own jobs given that the Bears are not going to go away.
It's for the same reason you had to have a bear box at Scout Camp - if you give bears any encouragement, they come around and pester you. And they aren't pleasant about it.
Did you expect something like this?
I never know what to expect. But that does bear (no pun intended) a resemblance their season thus far.
But the good thing is that the Packers are getting healthier even with the Devonte Wyatt injury.
Although that doesn't help.
No, it doesn't. By the way, I am not going to do a Very Special Comment about the Axe game. That wasn't close enough to warrant one anyway, and it's hard for me to complain about losing on the road to the Gophers.
I do have to say that's the first time I've ever seen a fanbase storm the field after beating a 4-8 team. Maybe expectations could be a little higher in Dinkytown?
At least Badger men's hoops is still doing well and I am in a better mood because the US got a very good World Cup draw and Everton played very well to win at Bournemouth this week.
Your mood is like a circus wheel. It changes all the time.
That sounds like another one of your ancient song lyrics.
It is. Apparently it went right over your head.
It did. And it sure feels nice. Well, good on you, Wolfman Jack! Meanwhile, the Vikings are getting a ton of heat. As it turns out, Max Brosmer isn't going to turn into Brock Purdy and my calling for JJ McCarthy to be traded is looking a lot better.
Well, a certain weekend radio host might still beg to differ.
In fact, I am going to say this right now. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's decision to run Sam Darnold out of town to waste salary cap space on questionable contracts to defensive players and draft JJ McCarthy too high is a worse decision than the Vikings trading for Herschel Walker. There, I said it.
Well, at least I get to use the "uh, no" trope early in this one.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Indiana Hoosiers (+4) vs. A School In Columbus, in Indy So this game is not an elimination game by any means as both teams are safely in the playoff. That being said, winning the Big Ten still matters as well as making sure that a bye and top seed is going to be yours. I personally think that Indiana should be ranked number 1 because their top win was on the road against Oregon when compared to the Buckeyes beating Texas at home. That being said, I get why Ohio State is still ranked at the top of the class because you shouldn't move a team down for winning. I also think that Mendoza and Sayin are going to decide the Heisman in the only way that really matters. I feel like this is Indiana's time because they feel ready to take the next step and being the first school since Sparty to break the brand name stranglehold on the Big Ten title would be fitting. This will be a good and competitive game, but it would be hard to root against Indiana given that this game is in Indy. Google Them, They Win 42, Buckeyes 35.
I don't know what to expect, frankly. I've seen both teams play. OSU has more upside but IU is a talented and ruthless group. Could go either way, but just to be a contrarian.... Buckeyes 42, Hoosiers 35.
Washington Commanders (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings are a flat out mess right now, and even though the Wilfs are very patient there have been a lot of calls to clean house. I asked Mrs. D aka Mom for her view as a Vikings fan. She indicated that she thinks the Wilfs are going to stay the course. The good news for the Vikings is that they are at home playing a Commanders team that hasn't impressed me. Even though Jayden Daniels is going to give it a go, this is a good chance for the Vikings. I feel like the Vikings are going to have a good performance at home to get some confidence back. Vikings 24, Commies 0.
I really wonder if the Vikings are capable of scoring 24 points in a game. They are such a mess right now that I'm not sure they can. Washington is not good, though. Vikings 17, Commanders 14.
Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+6.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers I was really happy with how the Packers looked on Thanksgiving. Micah Parsons looked outstanding, and Jordan Love made a lot of great throws. I wasn't a huge fan of LaFleur going for it on the 4th down late, but Wicks fittingly capped out an outstanding day by getting the catch to get out of Detroit with a huge win. There has been a lot of chatter in Chicago about how the Bears are back and that Caleb Williams is going to take back the NFC North. Now, I will admit that the Bears have won a lot, and that this game is going to go a long way to determine the NFC North given that there is a rematch in 13 days. The thing is, the Packers are 3-0 in the NFC North and historically have been very good in December under LaFleur. This will be a close game because of the nature of the rivalry, but order will be restored at Lambeau. Packers 27, Bears Still Suck 20.
I'm a little nervous about the run game for the Bears. The Eagles have turned into a hot mess lately, but the Bears having two 100-yard rushers against the Eagles was impressive, to say the least. The strength of the Packers defense is lateral pursuit and that should help, but they need some big bodies in the middle to come through - Brinson and Stackhouse have to be stout. On offense, I think Jordan Love will make throws and if Jayden Reed can go, that will really open things up. The Bears have lived a charmed life so far, but as Branch Rickey memorably put it, luck is the residue of design. And for the first time in a very long time, I think the Bears have a good design. But in the end, I think the better team is wearing green. Packers 27, Bears 19.
The Vikings came into Lambeau with a lot of intentions, but as it turned out the Packers have pushed more questions on the Vikings and if made the right decision with the JJ McCarthy gamble.
I have it on good authority that Kwesi is getting a little queasy.
Meanwhile, the Packers don't have to play on Thanksgiving every single year.
The NFL seems to disagree. Maybe they could try the Jaguars, who have never appeared on Turkey Day.
What could be more traditional than teal-colored predator cats?
Blue and silver predator cats?
Yes. And the Lions are looking for revenge after what happened in September.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (+3) vs. Detroit LOLions Okay, Geritol Fan, let's get this out of the way. Do you have Grumpy Lions guy ready?
As you wish.
You know him, you love him, you can't live without him
Good job - have an extra Carter's Little Liver Pill on me. The Packers are banged up, but thanks to the special teams actually doing something and the pass rush making the Vikings offensive line rethink their life decisions, last week was an emphatic statement. Also, the Packer defenders doing the Skol chant was the funniest celebration I've seen from the Packers since Jaire did the Griddy in the face of the Griddy Man. The Lions struggled against the Giants, and in September looked very helpless against a motivated Packers team. The problem is that because the Bears won't stop winning, the Packers have to win out to win the division. This won't be easy, but the key difference is that this time Micah Parsons is fresher and will not be on a snap count. I like the Packers in this one. Packers 27, Lions 13.
The Lions are still (a) enormously talented and (b) boneheads. The Packers defense will have to win this game and the key is keeping the Lions running backs from going nuts. If Jared Goff has to think about Micah Parsons on a regular basis, you'll know it's gonna be a tough one for the Kitties. Packers 27, Lions 26.
Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat The Badgers being a road favorite in conference play seems strange to me. After what the Badgers did last week, it shows that the young guys want to win and turn this thing around. The Gophers have nobody to blame but themselves for what happened against the Purple Nerds, and I get the sense that they are going to be tight because winning the Axe is important. Fickell has earned back a little goodwill, but getting the Axe back would really give him some goodwill. If you remember, the Gophers winning the Axe in 2018 gave PJ some credit in the bank to kickstart their 2019 run. Just remember that and don't be surprised by this score. Badgers 37, Row Row Row Your Boat 15.
Before we proceed, a musical interlude:
Now there's a zoot suit for ya.
Old dude, you're not getting better, you're getting stranger.
No lies detected. Can I be honest with you? If the Badgers win on Saturday, I will be surprised. I do not dispute they are playing better than they had earlier in the season, and no one is going to confuse the Gophers with the Oregon Ducks or the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they have talent on both sides of the ball and a competent (if supremely irritating) coach. Would like to see the Axe leave town, but I don't think it will. Gophers 24, Badgers 17.
Minnesota Vikings (+11.5) vs. Seattle Seachickens In a twist of fate, the Vikings are going to be seeing their old buddy Sam Darnold for the first time as an opponent. Now, you can't judge the decision that the Vikings made to move on from Darnold based on what happens on Sunday. But that won't stop people from making that comparison. I asked Mrs. D aka Mom about who should be the QB next year, and she indicated that there is a 50/50 chance it is a QB on the roster or the Vikings could get someone else. The Vikings need this one badly, as they are in danger of being cut adrift in both the NFC North and playoff races given how good the Seachickens, Niners, and Rams are. The bottom line is that the Vikings better win and outplay Darnold with either Brosmer or McCarthy because then the heat on KOC and the front office will get lava hot. Thankfully, something tells me that Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are going to put the team on their back and get it done. Vikings 29, Seachickens 16.
I am not conviced the Seahawks are a great team, but right now the Vikings are a hot mess and asking a rookie quarterback to win in Seattle seems like a bit much. Maybe Max Brosmer is capable of being a junior grade Brock Purdy, but I think he could just as easily be Shaun Hill. And that's not the hill to die on. I bet Darnold coughs up a hairball or two, but in the end... Seahawks 20, Vikings 13.
Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy the football this weekend. Ben out.
So old dude, the Packers almost got bit by the Giants, but thankfully got enough plays to escape New Jersey with the win. The problem is that there are too many injuries.
Did they play the game at MetLife Stadium, or on the New Jersey Turnpike?
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all come to look for America.
I'll say this, old dude - you're no Art Garfunkel.
Thanks, I guess.
As for the Vikings, they lost a game that they needed because the special teams and defense couldn't help JJ McCarthy change the narrative, and are going to come into Lambeau with a lot of desperation.
Yeah, that was not good on multiple levels.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (+3.5) vs. Northwestern Purple Nerds. The Gophers already have bowl eligibility squared away, and are going to be playing at Wrigley against a Wildcat team that has been feisty against some good teams in the conference. The Gophers should win this one based on talent, but the Purple Nerds always save their voodoo for someone. With them having to face the Illini next week, they would love to not have to play for a bowl bid in a rivalry game. This game could get very scrappy, but the Gophers are going to win a game that is going to be close and pretty low scoring. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 24, Purple Nerds 23.
It might actually be beneficial for the Gophers to play at Wrigley. Northwestern doesn't have a football stadium right now and they've done the vagabond bit this season. I agree with your pick, but I don't have a great feeling about this game. Gophers 27, Northwestern 24.
Illinois Cheating Illini (-8.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Wisconsin at least fought Indiana for a half, but pulling off a second miracle was asking too much against the Hoosiers. Illinois probably isn't going to get in the playoffs because realistically there are only a couple of at larges that aren't seemingly set when you consider that the ACC and Group of 5 reps are going to be ranked lower than 10th. For the Badgers, the way to save this season would be either get the Axe back or beat Illinois. Either would be a fun result, and I'll take my chances on a night game at home. As a side note, the Big Ten needs to mandate that every conference team should have to play night games in November and play on Fridays at home. Badgers 35, Illini 20.
The Badgers are playing a little better down the stretch, but I don't think they've exactly turned the corner, either. Illinois is not a great team, but they are solid and while it pains me to say it, Bret Bielema can coach 'em up. Illinois 31, Badgers 17.
Minnesota Vikings (+6.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Vikings are in a really tough spot right now, and the knives really have come out for JJ McCarthy. I've certainly been critical of McCarthy, but Vikings fans should be questioning if the front office has set KOC and McCarthy to fail. You might remember that Mrs. D aka Mom mentioned that success for McCarthy would be beating the Packers twice and winning a playoff game. Now is the chance to do that. What is going to help the Vikings is that the Packers are banged up and the Vikings finally have an intact offensive line. I'm wondering if the Packers team that looked so dominant against the Lions, Steelers, and Commanders shows up. Or will the team that has struggled against divisional opponents show up? We are going to learn a lot about the Vikings on Sunday. Packers 27, Vikings 20.
You mentioned the key to the game - is the Vikings offensive line up to snuff? If they can get the Packers blocked, I think they have a decent chance to win on Sunday. If the Packers defense gets McCarthy off schedule, it will be a very long day for the Purple. The Packers have an injury list the size of the Mankato phone book, but I suspect most of their guys will play. The Vikings can cause havoc on defense, but Jordan Love has been getting better and he'll have chances for some big plays. Packers 27, Vikings 17.
