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.
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.
Well, the Packers are going to have to find a new defensive coordinator as expected. I thank Jeff Hafley for his hard work the past two years, and totally understand him wanting to run his own ship. See you back at Lambeau next year, and Miami is getting a good one. As for the next defensive coordinator, I'll have a list of potential replacements after the games are picked.
It should be fun. I'm guessing he might find a quarterback from Green Bay, too, but I'm sure you'll have something about that anon.
If it happens, I will report! Meanwhile, we have games to address, so... I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
New England Patriots (-4.5) vs. Denver Broncos The Broncos were able to win last week to take the next step, though it must be mentioned that their interception in overtime probably shouldn't have counted. The Bills made enough mistakes to lose on their own merit and the Broncos deserve credit for winning, but that missed call should be acknowledged. As exciting as a Bo Nix duel with Drake Maye would have been, sadly the Broncos are going to have to start Jarrett Stidham. Obviously, Stidham does know New England from his time as a backup, though that was before Mike Vrabel took over. I don't see a Rick Dockery situation happening for the Broncos, but certainly there is going to be a dropoff. The thing is, I like the Broncos because this game is in Denver and the Patriots have relied on their defense to get by, and the Broncos defense is going to have to win this game by holding the Patriots in check. Broncos 27, Patriots 13.
I have no idea who Rick Dockery is, but I would have assumed the Broncos could have called this guy:
Lotsa mountains near Denver, so you want a guy who can throw the ball over them. But enough about fictional characters. The game is real enough. Not convinced the Patriots are that good, but they are well-coached and Drake Maye looks to have a bright future. It could be the future is now. Patriots 17, Broncos 14
Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+5) vs. Seattle Seachickens I can't believe that the Bears pulled some more BS magic out of their hats when Caleb hit that crazy 4th down pass to set up the Bears winning in overtime on Caleb hitting that deep pass. Soldier Field was rocking when the Bears pulled out the win. Hold on. I am being told that the Bears lost because Caleb was picked in overtime.
Kinda like this guy?
Misinformed? But that can't be. I was told that this was their year and that I was a salty sore loser Packer fan. Welcome to the playoffs, Bears fans. The story doesn't have a happy ending. Now you know how Packers fans have felt in the past. Thank you Rams, and now we can pick the actual NFC title game.
Los Angeles Rams (+2.5) vs. Seattle Seachickens The Rams were able to survive the Bears, and get a rubber match against the Seahawks. Sam Darnold didn't cough up a hairball last weekend, mostly because Seattle ran all over the Niners right from the jump. The Rams now have the only proven championship quarterback in Matthew Stafford, who is looking to potentially go out a champion like his buddy Clayton Kershaw did last October. But Seattle is a tough venue to play in, and if the Seahawks jump out early, then the crowd will be fully engaged. However, the Rams have enough of a mix of championship DNA and hungry guys who want a ring to block out the noise and get back to the Super Bowl. And you know that the Niners have to be frustrated that one of their hated rivals will be trying to win a Super Bowl in the Bay Area. Rams 19, Seachickens 0.
Sneaky important thing about this game - one of the reasons that Sam Darnold has been effective on offense is the two-headed running back attack of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Well, no Charbonnet, who suffered a season-ending injury last week. Can Walker handle the load, or does Darnold need to do more? His history suggests he could cough up that hairball this week, especially against a Rams defense that offers quality edge rushers and rather a lot of exotic looks. I think this is going to be a low scoring game. Ordinarily that means Seattle has the advantage, but not this time. Rams 17, Seahawks 14.
And now, it is time to talk about who I would like the Packers to hire as their next defensive coordinator. This list isn't in any particular order, and I would be pretty happy with anyone.
Jim Leonhard: He has NFL experience now, and I have a high degree of trust given the success he had developing NFL caliber defenders who I enjoyed watching at Wisconsin. Guys like TJ Edwards, Zack Baun, and Andy Van Ginkel can all thank him in part for how prepared they were to have success at the NFL level. He also has no ties to the current coaching staff, and would be coming back home to the state of Wisconsin.
Al Harris: Not only does he have a ton of credit in the bank given that he played for the Packers, but has really developed into a very good young coach. Would also weaken the Bears, and would bring some toughness and enthusiasm to the defense.
Jonathan Gannon: We saw firshand back in October how he was able to have the Cardinals play above their talent. He had a lot of success with the Eagles a couple of years ago, and would have a point to prove.
Raheem Morris: Has experience working with LaFleur, and I thought he got Aaron Donald playing arguably the best football of his career. That would bode well for Micah, and he would be someone who I think would be a very solid pick.
Daronte Jones: If you couldn't get Brian Flores, why not get Jones? He has been a key figure in the Vikings defensive success, and would also weaken the Vikings.
Glenn Schumann: He is the defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs. Considering that the Packers defense is basically becoming a UGA alumni chapter, getting someone who is considered one of the key reasons why Georgia went from very good to championship level would be an intriguing option. He is very young, but would be someone who could see this as a chance to get to be a head coach given that Kirby Smart has shown no signs of leaving Athens.
Enjoy your football this weekend. Also, if you are bored and looking for something to do on Saturday the 7th of Feburary, go to Hamline University and watch the Border Battle. It is an event matching high school basketball teams from Minnesota against Wisconsin. You will be glad that you did, and will get to see some really good matchups and good players. Ben out.
No, I'm not bitter at all about what happened last week.
Well, I am But it's a bitter resignation. Being a Packers fan is a guarantee of life lessons
And yes, I am still here. It's time to have a discussion about the Packers in the wake of the meltdown at Solider Field last weekend.
Discussion, you say? Or a Very Special Comment?
Read on and find out. But first, we have business to attend to.
I am still feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Buffalo Bills (+1) vs. Denver Broncos I've certainly been critical of Josh Allen in the past, but last week he showed me how tough he is. Jacksonville is a very good football team, and Allen took matters into his own hands in the fourth quarter to win, with his teammates making a big play on defense. This Bills team is the most experienced team left in the AFC, and you get the sense that they are like a college basketball team that is senior heavy and experienced in March Madness. Denver is a very tough minded team that looks like the Mike Shanahan teams I grew up watching. In particular, I consider RJ Harvey to be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. The thing is, the Broncos still have a pretty young core, and this Bills team feels like they are on a mission. Mile High is a tough environment, but I like the Bills to pull off a win that sets them up nicely to finally break through to the Super Bowl. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 24, Broncos 17.
This weekend will have a theme, I think - this is the weekend the nice stories come to an end. With all the injuries the Bills have faced, Josh Allen may have too much to overcome. Denver is not a great team, but they have home field and a nasty defense. As great a magician as Josh Allen can be, he's run out of ladies to saw in half. Denver 27, Buffalo 23.
San Francisco 49ers (+7) vs. Seattle Seachickens As it turns out, Sam Darnold has really made the Vikings front office look questionable for letting him walk. I asked Mrs. D aka Mom if she would have kept Darnold knowing what we know now. She agreed that having an experienced backup would have helped, and that Darnold certainly has a point to prove to the Vikings. The thing is, he has turned up on the injury report and his health is going to be watched closely all night. The Niners certainly have experience and are proven threats, but the problem is that they are running out of bodies. As we saw last week with the Packers, even good coaching can't save you when practice squad guys have to play in positions that they likely weren't going to be in. I don't think Darnold is going to cough up a hairball again, as happened against the Rams last year. Seahawks 35, Niners 14.
I have to admit - I am very surprised the Niners are still standing at this point. They have had an incredible run of bad injuries to key players. The latest guy to go down in George Kittle, their outstanding tight end and spirit animal. Darnold is likely to cough up a hairball at some point, but I agree, it won't be this week. Seattle 28, San Francisco 24.
Houston Texans (+3) vs. New England Patriots Both teams relied on very good defensive performances and got enough points thanks to their emerging star quarterbacks to get a good win last weekend. As someone who pays little attention to the Titans, it seems clear that Mike Vrabel wasn't the issue in Nashville, and because the Titans aren't good outside of their social media team, New England had an opportunity and wisely hired him and allowed him to build another good team; Vrabel obviously learned how to win in New England and his success as a player for the Patriots has spread to his coaching in Foxborough. The Texans have a great defense that travels very well, and are looking to break through to play in their first ever conference title game. I think that this game is going to be a lot of fun to watch. I feel like this is Houston's time and I've always liked CJ Stroud, even though I am no Buckeye fan. Texans 21, Patriots 20.
This is the one game that doesn't involve a cute story - these are merciless teams with talent and resolve. The Texans are offensively challenged, but their defense is top-notch and they are not without weapons. I think the Patriots are actually a year ahead of schedule; they have the look of another multi-year contender, but while Drake Maye looks the part, I'm not sure he's seen a defense like the Texans yet. This one is tough to pick. I actually like the Texans more, but to keep it interesting... New England 21, Houston 20.
Los Angeles Rams (-4) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck As much as it pains me to say it given my obvious biases, the Bears did what they had to do last weekend, and the Bears fans who dealt with all of the jokes over the past decade or so do get to serve us some tasty crow. Here is the thing though -- the Bears remind me a lot of the 2014 Florida State football team. If you remember, the Noles went undefeated in the regular season and had won a bunch of games under improbable circumstances via second half comebacks and magic plays by Jameis Winston. I remember distinctly, while attending the Rose Bowl between Florida State and Oregon in 2015 (we had the good fortune to be there) thinking that the Noles were very much alive despite being down at the half in what had been a pretty solid game. But then Oregon came out and laid the hammer down brutally that afternoon in Pasadena. It is a fair question how much magic the Bears have, because eventually you can't come back every week from a subpar first half. The weather is going to be cold and snowy on Sunday night in Chicago, but Matthew Stafford has played in cold weather before and the Rams are a team that seems like they want to spoil the party in Chicago. And to quote Mark Dantonio, pride comes before the fall Bears. Rams House 31, Bears Still Suck 0.
The Bears are vampires. Sean McVay is Van Helsing. It's become clear that Caleb Williams is a magician of the first rank - some of the throws he made to beat the Packers were nothing less than astonishing. Even though I hate 'em, the Bears are a cute, nice story. The problem they have this week is they don't have an answer for Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. They had trouble dealing with the Packers receivers and the challenge this week is far greater. On offense, Williams will have more trouble with the Rams, who have a better assortment of pass rushers than the Packers could muster without Micah Parsons on the field. The formula for a Bears win would be to run the ball down the throat of the Rams and to keep Matthew Stafford and his crew off the field. I don't think they'll be able to do that. And the league is already getting tired of Ben Johnson's shtick. Los Angeles 34, Chicago 20.
Miami Hurricanes (+8) vs. Indiana Hoosiers, in Miami. If you would have told me that Indiana football would play for a national title sooner than Indiana basketball, I would have called you insane. The Hoosiers have steamrolled both of their playoff opponents, and are getting ready to play a Miami team that has all of the bandwagon fans who were nowhere to be seen 5 years ago coming out of the woodwork. Miami is currently high on my list because of the Xavier Lucas affair where Miami induced him to transfer despite having signed a contract with the Badgers and not entering the transfer portal. As of this writing, the lawsuit is still pending. The good news is that this game is SEC free yet again, which I appreciate so much. As it turns out, the most important position in the SEC is the bagman. With NIL, the bagman doesn't exist in that form anymore. Even though the U gets to play in their own building, this Indiana team is ready to be the third different Big Ten school to win a title in a row, and the first one that isn't a traditional power. Google Them, They Win 24, 7th Floor Crew In Shambles 17.
Arms akimbo and kicking butt
Miami has been impressive in their run to the finals, but Indiana has been otherworldly. The emerging formula for college athletics in the NIL era seems to be if you want to be fun, you hire 5 star high school players, but if you want to contend for championships, you bring in battle-tested transfers. That's how Indiana has been doing this - their players are not as athletically gifted as their opponents, but they are grown-ass men and they cuff around the talented kids. Miami has some of both - I think their quarterback Carson Beck is closer to 30 than 20. While the Hoosiers have been nothing short of astonishing all season, they are not a nice story. They are on a mission, though, and I fully expect them to complete the mission.. Indiana 34, Miami 16.
And now, it is time for A Very Special Comment.
The Packers really have to do some soul searching. When I consider what happened on Saturday to be as bad as the Seattle meltdown of 2014, that is when you should know that you done messed up. We just gave the Bears hope and momentum, and lost control of the rivalry.
Not what you want.
Not at all, old dude! The bottom line for me is that there are 3 simple things that the Packers need to do right now to show that they understand what is going on.
Special teams needs an overhaul. I can't believe that I am saying this again, but it is time for a rethink. Rich Bisaccia is getting paid a ton of money, but he left at least 7 points on the board and almost had another disaster on the kickoff that Jacobs almost fumbled. Brandon McManus looks past his prime, and he cost the team at least 4 games. He didn't convert kicks that were key in the losses to the Bears, Panthers, Browns, and Eagles. I realize that I was spoiled by having Mason Crosby around for years to be clutch, but at some point this organization needs to take a serious look at getting guys in for special teams. Even being above league average would be much better. I expect this to be a key decision.
Matt Lafleur's fate is unknown as of this time in regards to being a lame duck coach, but he lost me. You knew well after the first meltdown at Solider Field that playing not to lose and letting your foot off the gas was a mistake. Well, the first few drives in the second half were plodding and playing to lose. The Packers let the crowd back into the game, and it's been the same themes for the past couple of years. After the game, it was yet more of "I need to be better" and the usual excuses. Matt, you aren't a young first time head coach anymore.
It is time for some serious changes in the coaching staff. With Jeff Hafley likely being gone to take a head coaching job, it wouldn't surprise me if Lafleur is being told that getting some coordinators who aren't intternal hires. There needs to be some serious questions asked about if Lafleur is growing too stale. Considering that Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh ended up moving on after accusations of being stale by Steelers and Ravens fans, it is a fair question.
Ed Policy has shown himself to be more aggressive as the team president. I get the sense that he does want to be stable but also gets that the fanbase expects to win. Call it arrogance and being demanding, but Packers fans my age expect to win, and it has been 15 years since the Lombardi trophy has been back home. I don't think that the Micah Parsons trade would have happened under Murphy, and Policy is going to try very hard to get this team to be more bold in pursuit of championships. The thing is, the Packer way of getting rid of players a year too early needs to apply to coaches and executives as well. It wouldn't surprise me if Policy wants to bring in someone that he wants as a coach. How Lafleur's contract discussions are going will provide a huge sign of how aggressive the Packers are going to be.
So the Packers get the chance to go back to Solider Field and get the rubber match.
Bring it on.
Meanwhile, the SEC is going to be out of the national title game again for the third straight year. You really do hate to see it. By the time this post goes up, will Miami get to play Oregon or Indiana?
Here's a hint:
So, at least Dan Lanning can't go back there.
He may need to Google that Sadly, I was not able to regain my crown in fantasy football because despite having another good week, my opponent decided to drop 140 points. I know that nobody cares about my fantasy team, but this is the second year in a row I have lost the title game.
No, that's okay, I care. I care deeply. Really, I do.
Sarcasm does not become you, Geritol Fan! I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Los Angeles Rams (-10.5) vs. Carolina Panthers I'll be honest when I say that the Panthers have been one of the biggest surprises of the year. They have had a lot of turmoil, but all of a sudden they were able to win the bad NFC South and get the reward of playing a Rams team that lost that epic Thursday nighter in Seattle. The Rams have rebounded nicely after paying the price for their all in title win, and probably don't appreciate going across the country on a short week. If you remember, the Panthers won their earlier matchup. I believe that the Panthers are going to play their usual tough game to get the Rams into the mosh pit. But while Carolina is going to be determined, I believe that the Rams will gut out a tough win. Rams 21, Panthers 19.
Carolina is sneaky good, but I suspect the Rams might be the best team in the NFC and they will handle business tomorrow afternoon. Rams 34, Panthers 17.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck So we all know what happened a couple of weeks ago at Soldier Field, and how both games between these two have been arguably been the game of the year. I was in favor of the Packers resting players because they have been too banged up in a similar fashion to 2016 where they had to chuck fringe NFL/UFL type guys to guard Julio Jones straight up. For Jordan Love and Caleb Williams, this is the game that they are going to be judged on. If you remember the 2010 NFC title game between these two teams, Jay Cutler's reputation never recovered from the unfair criticism he got that day. A Bears win won't fully erase that playoff loss, but this is a game that both Love and Williams can't lose. This Packer core that will play for the most part is the same as the one that made history two years ago against Dallas, and I like history repeating itself. Also, the Packers should have Jordan Love healthy for the entire game this time and the Bears can't keep relying on 4th quarter magic to bail them out of trouble again. Packers 21, Bears Still Suck 14.
The Bears themselves have been pretty quiet this week, but man, their fans have been insufferable. Perhaps the Packers have too many injuries, but I think they'll do well. The key guy is going to be Christian Watson. If he goes off, and I'm guessing he does, the Packers will move on. Packers 28, Bears 20.
Buffalo Bills (-1) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars While I personally think that Dave Canales should get Coach of the Year, Liam Cohen has also done a fantastic job. The Jaguars really have looked impressive, and in an AFC that is wide open given that the boogeyman of the AFC is at home they have a great chance. The problem is that Buffalo is experienced and is a team that is ready to take the next step. Josh Allen is at a point similar to Peyton Manning was in 2006. Allen has been brilliant and has revived the Bills, but hasn't been able to win the big one to this point in his career. With the Chiefs not being in the playoffs, this is a great chance for Allen to finally break through and win the ring that will silence all of the narratives forever. So while Jacksonville is a team that I like, Buffalo will use their experience to get this done. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like the Buffalo Bills 45, Jags 23.
I think Jacksonville is, top to bottom, a better team. Buffalo has to go on the road and that will complicate matters further. While, I agree, nobody circles the wagons and all that, I'm thinking this one is where the Jags are overduuuuuuuuuuuuval. See, I can extend words, too! Jaguars 28, Bills 24.
San Francisco 49ers (+6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles Long time readers know that I am not a huge fan of Kyle Shanahan. I consider him a coach that while talented, is a coach who has not gotten it done for the Niners, despite having a loaded roster with Purdy on a cheap deal. This clearly has nothing to do with the Niners knocking out the Packers in the playoffs multiple times in the recent past, don't let that get in the way of this narrative. As for the Eagles, they somehow seem incapable of going a week without getting questioned despite being proven champions. This game is going to be a tough one, as the Niners lost their easy path to staying home all playoffs long after losing to the Seahawks last week. I like the Eagles to figure things out and finally let Jalen Hurts and their wideouts take them home. Eagles 35, Whiners 23.
To be fair...
the 49ers have had some awful injuries, in some ways similar to what the Packers have gone through this season, and maybe worse. Philly is not the same team as last year, but they did not collapse down the stretch the way they did a few years back after winning a Super Bowl. I do believe they could return this year. To do that, they need to win this weekend And I believe they will. Eagles 27, Niners 19.
Los Angeles Chargers (+3.5) vs. New England Patriots The Patriots did the proper thing when Mike Vrabel was stupidly let go by the Titans and brought him back to New England to rekindle some of that old school vibes. These Patriots aren't as hated as the Cheatriots of old, and the only strike against Drake Maye in my book is helping Phil Longo get enough credibility to get a job with the Badgers. The Chargers are stuck in the cycle of good enough to make the playoffs but not do anything. With the AFC being wide open, New England should like their chances, but I like the Chargers to break through. Even though Jim Harbaugh can't win on a level playing field. Chargers 11, Patriots 8.
Vrabel vs. Harbaugh is a fair fight. The Chargers are pretty good. The Patriots are better. Patriots 24, Chargers 16.
Houston Texans (-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Somehow, the Texans are not playing in the Saturday afternoon playoff game? Is nothing sacred in this world? The Steelers won their division last weekend on a crazy end of game sequence and I firmly believe that had the Ravens made that kick that Mike Tomlin would have been looking for work like John Harbaugh. It is nice to see Aaron back in the playoffs for the first time since he melted down in 2021 against the Niners. The Steelers haven't advanced in the playoffs since 2016 and that has been a big issue that the Yinzers have had with Tomlin. If Aaron can summon some of his old magic and the Steelers get enough splash plays from their highly paid defense, then I like the Steelers to win. Steelers 37, Texans 20.
I hope this isn't the end for Aaron Rodgers, but I fear it will be. The Texans are a nasty group and while Rodgers is wily and will have DK Metcalf back, I think it's going to be too high a hill to climb. Texans 24, Steelers 13.
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.
Old dude, I'll say this much. The Packers are very lucky that I can't do Very Special Comments every single weekend.
They did send this response:
So wait, the Packers hired Dana Carvey?
They've made worse hires.
True. I'd also mention and the Badgers put me in a really good mood.
Your mood is like a circus wheel, it changes all the time.
Is that one of your song lyrics again?
Yes. Source material:
If you keep interrupting me, you'll be looking at this one:
Good point - this is starting to turn into an old school Guilty Pleasures video with Fearless Maria. Maybe I should ask her if she wants to do one of those again sometime....
That's a good idea, but set that up on your own time, okay. Meanwhile, as a clarification to last weekend's post, I screwed up when mentioning Mike Shanahan, when I was discussing what LaFleur is trying to emulate in Packers history. I meant to say Mike Holmgren, who of course did coach the Packers to a championship. Mike Shanahan of course denied the Packers a championship. That should make a lot more sense with what I was trying to do. I had no problem being called out for a pretty bad mistake.
It's how we grow, grasshopper.
I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. I know that this is going up while the Gophers are playing, but by the time this goes up the fate of the Gophers out in Eugene should be clear. Watch me work.
Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (+29.5) vs. Indiana They Win, Google Them Last weekend was one of the most shocking Badger wins I have ever seen. How the Badgers won a game when their punter was the leading passer and played 4 quarterbacks makes no sense. You would do well to find a more shocking upset in college football this season. What really impressed me was that it looked like Badger football. The defense played tough, the offense was able to do enough, and beating a ranked Washington football team can hardly be called a fluke. The problem this week is that the Badgers have to go to Indiana. The Hoosiers have a great argument to be ranked first in my view because they beat Oregon on the road. I figure that Google Me Cignetti isn't going to fall into the same traps that Washington did. But you know what, the Badgers have nothing to lose at this point and are playing with confidence. I've been really critical of Luke Fickell, but he has already made me eat some of my words at least for one week. If he beats Indiana on the road, this will be the most shocking win in college football since the 2003 Big XII title game. For reference, that was when a very good Oklahoma team got manhandled by Kansas State. Call me delusional, but strange stuff happens in November in college football. Badgers 21, Google Them, They Win 14.
If that prediction happens, if you Google them they'll have lost. But it won't. Indiana has been on a mission to destroy their previous tormentors. They hung 60+ on a ranked Illinois team. Despite the encouraging win last week, the Badgers aren't ranked. They're just rank. Historically, the Badgers have crushed the Hoosiers. That was then, and this is now. Indiana 83, Wisconsin 20.
The Bronze Turkey Bowl: Knox College Prairie Fire, Baby! (NL) vs. Monmouth College Scots Longtime readers know exactly why this game shows up every single year. If you are new here, I am a proud graduate of Knox College, and Monmouth is the school a few miles away. Now, I will admit that Knox hasn't gotten the Bronze Turkey back since the current students were born at this point, but streaks are made to be broken. I made a salad one day at the Knox cafeteria, and Monmouth awarded me a degree in nutrition, with highest honors. If you expect me to pick against my alma mater, then you are sadly mistaken. Prairie Fire 500, Scots -100
Ah, the Turkey Shoot. Monmouth may be lacking in academic rigor (actually not true, it's a perfectly good school), but they have really good football players and have already clinched the conference championship. The Scots have been crushing every team in their path all season. And that's quite likely to happen again. Monmouth 52, Knox 7.
Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+2.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings ended up losing last week because they failed to finish their drives, and the Ravens are a good enough team to take advantage. I asked Mrs. D, aka Mom, who she thought was going to be the key player for the Vikings to win. She indicated that the key to her is going to be JJ McCarthy taking care of the ball and finishing those drives. The Bears are out for revenge after melting down against the Vikings back in September to start another round of Is Caleb The Guy. With the NFC North looking more scrambled thanks to recent events, the Vikings have to be thinking that keeping their head to head and divisional record tiebreakers intact is critical. This feels like a type of game that the Vikings can win. Vikings 31, Bears Still Suck 30.
They can, but will they? The Vikings are weird; they go into Detroit and look like world beaters, then get a toe tag in their own building against a middling Ravens team. So who shows up? Vikings 27, da Bearz 24.
Glorious Green Bay Packers (-7) vs. New York Football Giants While it is true that Brandon McManus missed the game tying kick, he isn't super high on the blame list. The Packers are a team that confuses me offensively. There are games where they look really good, and there are games where the defense does incredibly well and the offense vanishes. If you had told me that the Packers would play well against an explosive Eagles offense, I would have assumed that things would have gone swimmingly. If LaFleur was really serious about changing things, then he should give up calling plays and let someone else do it. As for Love, I wanted him to throw more instead of trying to prove that they could outtough the Eagles. The Giants are a team that just fired Brian Daboll and have to go to Jameis Winston after Jaxson Dart got injured; meanwhile it's apparent that Russell Wilson is washed. I'm surprised that Joe Flacco wasn't signed to face the Packers once again. The Packers are facing a game that they got to have if they want the noise to go away. Thankfully, the Packers know this and should win if they avoid playing with their food. Packers 45, Giants 17.
The Giants aren't very good and they also have critical injuries on both sides of the ball. This is absolutely get-well week for the Packers. I think they figure it out. Prop bet - Jameis Winston throws a pick six to Xavier McKinney. Packers 31, Giants 14.
I'm not sure that's helpful, and besides, we'll get to him next week, I'm guessing.
Lotta things are getting to him, to be fair.
Good point, although if you wear that dirty Spurs cap no one will see it. Meanwhile, back to business. I can't believe that the Packers were able to get Micah Parsons. The Super Bowl window is wide open for the Packers. You love to see it, old dude.
It is a game-changer, potentially. It's also the sort of bold move the Packers rarely make. Makes things more interesting to be sure.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are about to enter the JJ McCarthy era. Lots of discussion around here about how they are going to do and about the big quarterback decision.
Presumably, you have an opinion, right?
Well, yeah. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.
Northwestern State Devils (+43) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat So in the interest of full disclosure, I saw part of the first quarter of the Gopher game last Thursday because the Wisconsin game ended up stating around an hour later. That being said, the Gophers had a pretty comfortable win after Buffalo gave them a battle for the first half. Northwestern State isn't a particulary good FCS team, and I think that the Gophers should be able to win this one pretty comfortably. Drake Lindsey seems like he could be good, but will have the growing pains that a lot of freshmen QBs have. Let's face it, if the Gophers struggle in this game then there should be some concerns. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 45, Devils 17.
I suppose ol' Peej could have scheduled the University of Northwestern, the pride of Roseville. That would have been worse. Al and Alma would be tougher competition, most likely, but a paycheck is a paycheck. Gophers 45, Northwestern Mutual Life 0.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (+28.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Last week was a strange one. I thought that Billy Edwards was looking good until he went down, but thankfully the Badgers were able to win because the defense made enough plays and Danny O'Neil settled in nicely in the second half after throwing a bad interception. O'Neil looks a lot better than Locke did, so that is a positive. Middle Tennessee didn't look good last week, and I feel confident that with O'Neil getting a full week to prepare as the starter that this should be a fairly routine game. Badgers 50, Blue Raiders 0.
Middle Tennessee lost to Austin Peay last week. For those keeping score, Austin Peay is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and is the alma mater of ABA legend Fly Williams. I also recall MTSU beat the Gophers in the NCAA basketball tournament back when Pitino Junior was coaching the squad. So that's amusing. More amusing than this game will be. Don't play with your food, Bucky. Wisconsin 31, MTSU 3.
Detroit LOLions (+2) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers took the leap from a team that was expected to be a possible contender to a team with serious Super Bowl ambitions thanks to Gutey swinging the Parsons deal. Job number 1 is for them to start winning division games, especially at home. Parsons is going to be a lot of fun, but it is going to take the coaches time to get him bedded into the system. The Lions are coming into this season in an interesting spot. Yes, they are healthier, but the problem is that Dan Campbell lost his elite coordinators to head coaching jobs. Also, the way that they melted down against the Commies last January felt like what happened to the Packers in 2021 against the Niners. I expect the Packers are going to need to protect Jordan Love and get Parsons to make a play or two against Jared Goff. This won't be easy, but the Packers have gotten a lot better in the offseason. Packers 27, LOLions Gonna LOLions 24.
Have the Packers gotten a lot better? I hope so, but I don't know if that's true. I do think the Lions take a step back, but there was more than a step separating these teams last year. The Lions come in with something to prove. Can they? Packers 31, Lions 27.
Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck The Vikings and the Bears both have a lot of questions at quarterback. The Bears have surrounded Caleb Williams with a lot of resources to succeed, but it seems to me like he is behind a couple of his peers already, and though I am biased the Bears need to show that they are deserving of all of the hype they are getting from the NFL media. As for the Vikings, I personally would have kept Sam Darnold. The problem I see is that KOC has had success with veteran quarterbacks in the past. Goff, Stafford, Kirko, and Darnold all were veterans. JJ McCarthy is young and frankly has only played a little bit in the preseason.
So what would success look like for him? I decided to ask Mrs. D, aka Mom. She indicated that success for her would be winning both games against the Packers and winning a playoff game. That is a good way to get the Vikings fans firmly on his side.
Always trust content from Mrs. D.
I personally think that McCarthy is in a tough position. He has a lot of offensive talent around him and a QB whisperer as a head coach. It isn't like Jordan Love where he had few veterans around him or Caleb Williams with a badly run organization who has set other hyped QB prospects up to fail. McCarthy is going to have to win against the Bears and Lions as well to continue with Mom's thoughts. Monday night should go well. Vikings 36, Bears Still Suck 35.
Until da Bearz prove it, I also have to pick the Vikings. I suspect it won't be a high-scoring game, though. The strength of the Vikings is on defense, as they kept their hotshot defensive coordinator, Brian Flores. And Da Bearz have been known to play defense. I am guessing they'll have something weird for J.J., but he has the weapons to beat those nasty ursine wretches. Vikings 24, Bears 16.
It is incredible to think that either the LOLions or the Vikings could win 14 games this year and having to be a wild card team.
There's never been anything like this in NFL history. And considering how often the NFC North has been suspect, it's amazing.
Meanwhile, the Packers are trying to determine if they are going to fly out to Los Angeles or Philadelphia. I would prefer to face the Rams, but will take my chances with the Eagles.
Neither is a picnic lunch, but what are you gonna do?
Well, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I am ready to pick some games and am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPPPEEEEE! Watch me work.
Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+10) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The bottom line for the Packers is that they lost last week because they once again dug themselves too big of a hole in the first half to overcome. Given that the NFC North race probably deserved to come down to a Vikings Lions showdown among themselves, I am not as mad as I could have been. Playing the starters is something that I agree with, especially because the Bears are going to be playing hard. Lest we forget, the Bears literally came within one hand of a dramatic comeback the last time. This won't be an easy game, but the Packers should win. Packers 32, Bears Still Suck 10.
The Bears will come hard, but there's a stench of death around that team that wasn't there when they played the Packers in Chicago earlier in the year. Packers are going to be motivated. Not sure some of the mercenaries on the Bears will be. Packers 28, Bears 16.
Minnesota Vikings (+3) vs. Detroit LOLions So it all comes down to this as it should be. The winner of this game gets the road to New Orleans coming through them, and the loser gets a tricky trip to the NFC South winner next week. The Lions won a back and forth game back in October, and rest assured they need the bye. Remember, the Lions got hit with an early bye, and have a bunch of injuries. I asked Mrs. D, aka Mom if she would feel confident beating Tampa if disaster strikes. She indicated that she would be fairly confident as a Vikings fan. This game is going to have a lot of hype to live up to, but I think it will. The magic of 1998, 2009, and 2017 seems to be coming back to the Twin Cities, and I think that the Vikings are going to take a gigantic step forward on Sunday. Vikings 39, LOLions Gonna LOLions 36.
The Lions are so nasty and the game is in Detroit. We'll find out a lot about the Vikings in this one. I think they are better situated to win in a lot of ways, but I don't know. I could see something weird happen to tip the balance to the home team here. So that's how I'm going to pick it. Lions 34, Vikings 31.
Yeah, sorry about not picking the Gopher road game. By the time this goes up, you will know if PJ is going to get mayo dumped on him.
He did get the mayo bath, and it was glorious.
Coulda been worse, coulda been Chipotle queso
In my defense, I was watching the Badger basketball team take Iowa out to the woodshed. You love to see it, and you especially really hate to see Frantrum take a giant L. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.
