Ugh.

Chris, Dave, I need some Packer Therapy soon! Let me be the first to help get the healing started....

First the good. Yes, there was some good in this game.
- Rodgers looks like a legit NFL QB.
- The Pack hung with a really good Dallas team in their place, even though GB was missing: Woodson, KGB, Favre, and to a lesser extent Hall, and Rouse.
- The running game looked solid once again. I think it will be something we can count on at least more than anyone would have anticipated in the beginning of the season.
- The coaching staff had a bad game plan coming in... but they certainly are good at making adjustments. After falling behind 10-27, led by Rodgers, GB ends up finishing 17 - 10 by playing the offense they've been having success with all year.
- We got boned on a couple big calls. Harris ripped the ball out of TOs hands for sure. The pass interference call that lead to Dallas' only O of the second half. Even with those bad calls, we were in the game.

Now, the bad.
- Special teams. What the heck! Its been so good all year. More than the interceptions, this phase cost us the game. Dallas had such good field position all game.
- Defense. This defense is lost without Woodson. Dave (I think it was you that said this), he is really, really important to the D.
- Defense. No pressure on Romo most of the night.
- Mental mistakes. A lot of penalties, a lot! Bigby!
- The Gambler returns... Was it McCarthy's fault, or Brett's. The deep stuff wasn't working, it took too long to go back to what had worked all year.
- Brett hurt. I never like seeing that... but it was good to see that Rodgers looks ready.


During the game, I was hurting. All in all though, I don't feel that bad. I feel that if we are 100% healthy, and we just go in with the offense we've been doing all year, we can beat this team. We weren't blown out. They couldn't put us away, and GB fought 'til the end. We are 10-2 now, with 10 days to heal up. This far exceeds my expectations. Better yet, we are 10-2 with the next closest team being Seattle (I think) at 7-4, maybe 8-4 be weeks end. That means we have a very good shot at a first round bye still. Who would have though that!

Looking forward to this weeks podcast guys!

-chuck

Sorry to disappoint you, Chuck, but we are not going to be able to post the next podcast until late Monday afternoon. (I just got done posting a new thread in this regard, so you can check that out if you like.)

Thanks for your thoughts on the game. I have posted a few of my own here. I hope that holds you until we can record the next program early next week.

Hey, in the next podcast, can we talk about how we NEVER seem to play Dallas in GB? When was the last time that happened? The ice bowl?

GB has played them--and beaten them--twice at Lambeau over the past ten years. A blowout in '97 (or so) and a closer win during he Sherman years (2004?).

Been awhile since I posted last. What a great season so far!

First thanks again for doing this delightful podcast. I'm going to get an iTunes review up for ya real soon. This Game doesn't really bother me. Honestly. This is gravy. That we can even be in a position to complain about not having home field advantage throughout the playoffs is way beyond what we expected. If the version of myself that existed in August heard someone complaining about that, he would do that famous Jim Mora bit. Playoffs?!?!

What I really want to talk about is Rodgers.
I think it was back in September when i declared myself the most steadfast Rodgers believer in your audience. Remember when you guys made fun of me on the podcast for predicting that Rodgers would be really good? Huh? No hard feelings, really, but c'mon. Let's hear a little praise for ARodge in the next edition of Packers Therapy. How about that Cal product? Nearly 70% completions, no picks, three touchdown drives in one half, nice arm strength, good mobility. That sound you are hearing is the 49er's kicking themselves for drafting Alex Smith instead. Here's hoping Thompson has the good sense to hang on to this kid and not be tempted by the inevitable trade offers. The Pack may have the two best quarterbacks in the NFC North.

Go Pack!

hey chris and dave,
i love your podcasts and listen every week. did you see mike pereira tonight on the nfl channel talking about the play where harris stripped T.O. of the ball? he said that the ref right in front of the play got the call right. foward progress was not stopped. i'm sure you will mention this in the monday podcast. i can't believe how many bad calls we've had this year. pereira said that the P.I. call was correct because at the moment where both players' legs got tangled, williams was not playing the ball (he was looking in front of him). looking foward to the podcast! GO PACK!!!

If Favre would have stayed in and not gotten hurt, we would have been killed. Rodgers was great. Favre was having "one of those days." It was great to finally see Rodgers in a game that counts. He sure made the most of it. If he could have pulled out the win, it would have been one for the record books.