Though most had the Minnesota Vikings as the favorites to win the NFC North heading into the season, nearly everyone agreed that either the Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers -- or both -- would at least pose a challenge to the Vikes' second straight division crown. Instead, we're taking this division race off life support and putting it to rest after Week 9. The 2009 NFC North champions will be the Vikings. They can now focus on securing home-field advantage in the playoffs. The reason for the above sentiment is that both the Bears and Packers were abysmal, in different circumstances, Sunday afternoon. The Pack went into Tampa Bay and lost to the formerly winless Buccaneers, while the Bears were absolutely manhandled for the majority of the afternoon by a fickle Arizona squad.
With both Green Bay and Chicago falling to 4-4, the 7-1 Vikings, who were idle in Week 9, have a cushy three-game lead atop the division, but the gap is much larger than three games -- that much was evident Sunday.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions and completed less than half of his passes. The combination of his penchant for holding the ball too long and Green Bay's lackluster offensive line just proved to be too much, as the Bucs' six sacks were easily a season high (they only had 11 in their previous seven games). The Packers also allowed a punt to be blocked, while their defense gave up three touchdown passes to rookie Josh Freeman, who was making his first NFL start. The Bucs' 38 points were, by far, another season high for a team that came into the game averaging 13.7 points a game.
After a certain period of time, it's almost not even worth asking if Packers coach Mike McCarthy is in over his head anymore. He was out-prepared by a rookie head coach, Raheem Morris, who had never won an NFL game. I don't care about the extra week of preparation, either, because McCarthy's team is infinitely more talented than the crew Morris won with. Worst of all for the Pack, it just seemed like the Bucs -- who, again, were 0-7 before the game started -- wanted it more. The game's last interception was pretty indicative of the whole game.
The Bucs' defender who took it to the house, Tenard Jackson, definitely should have just fallen to the ground instead of chancing a fumble. Instead, he refused to be tackled and the Packers just played like bullfighters ushering him to the end zone. It was a good illustration of how the entire fourth quarter played out.
Speaking of a team wanting it more, I'm surprised the Bears even took the field for the second half. The first half was as miserable an attempt at playing football as I've seen in a long time from them. Oh, wait, they just did that two games ago in an embarrassing loss at Cincinnati. Apparently the Bears don't care, period. It's easy for the masses to pick on Jay Cutler -- after all, the quarterback is the only player who helps his team win or lose, right? -- but the story here was the sieve that was masquerading as a defense.
The Arizona Cardinals set a season-high in rushing yards before halftime. Steve Breaston took a second-man-through reverse 25 yards, and about half the Bears defense gave up on the play after less than five yards. Tim Hightower entered the game averaging 3.3 yards per carry, but the Bears made him look like a Pro Bowler every time he touched the ball -- Beanie Wells also had his way. Larry Fitzgerald is always a man among boys, but he looked like he was facing high school competition in his dominance over Charles Tillman -- before Tillman retreated with injury, and I wouldn't be surprised if the injury was a bruised ego. Kurt Warner appeared to be yawning through much of his five-touchdown effort, not missing injured Pro-Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin for one second. And, of course, you have Tommie Harris getting ejected for a disgraceful action -- blatantly punching an Arizona offensive lineman a mere two minutes into the game. I'm not sure what was more despicable: Harris' punch or the Bears' attempt at defense.
Of course, the defense wasn't supposed to be a concern this year, because Lovie Smith was taking over as the play-caller, and the Bears brought Rod Marinelli onto the staff. If this was Lovie's way of holding himself to a higher standard of accountability, he should be given his walking papers quite soon.
Also, the offensive play-calling was very suspect -- the Bears passed the ball 47 times compared to just 12 rushing plays. Obviously, once they fell behind by a large margin, they were forced to start chucking it, but they didn't run the ball until the eighth play from scrimmage. The entire first drive went without a rushing attempt. Sure, the Bears scored a touchdown in six plays, but there's something to be said for taking some time off the clock and keeping Warner and company off the field. I wonder if Smith will try to reiterate this week, again, that the Bears are a "running team?"
Chicago was provided a glimmer of hope when Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt inexplicably pulled Warner far too early in the fourth quarter. A Matt Leinart interception then set up the third Cutler-to-Greg Olsen touchdown of the game, and the Bears trailed 34-21 with more than nine minutes left. Of course, the next drive ended prematurely when Cutler tossed a pick -- it appeared Earl Bennett cut off his route early, but Cutler was still throwing into double coverage.
All in all, it was a dreadful day for the pair of teams who would be challengers to the Vikings in the North. Minnesota fans can start buying tickets for at least one home playoff game. The team can start playing for the right to host more, because this division "race" is, for all intents and purposes, over. In fact, the Bears and Packers are probably better suited to avoid falling behind the Lions. The gap between those two and the last-place Lions is much closer than it is between the struggling duo and the top.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-08-2009 @ 5:41PM
Tony said...
Hey Lovie how did you NOT prepare the team this week?
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11-08-2009 @ 6:14PM
Jon said...
"Of course, the next drive ended prematurely when Cutler tossed a pick -- it appeared Earl Bennett cut off his route early, but Cutler was still throwing into double coverage."
Matt:
You just can't help it.
I understand. I do.
I realize that you cannot bring yourself to blame Jay Cutler for anything, joining the legions of Broncos fans who did that for two years in Denver.
It can't be his failure to change cadence.
It isn't his inability to feel the pressure, walking right into a sack today when his OG blocked the DT properly.
It isn't his impatience with the dink and dunk. He has that big, strong arm so he SHOULD flex it every third play. So what if it's 3rd and 3. Look for somebody 25 yards in the deep middle. Makes the arm look great.
Reads? He takes some time to get through his rotations, but hey, we can easily blame his OL. Was watching NFL Red Zone today and saw all sorts of pressure on QBs, but the others somehow managed to read and throw DESPITE their OL frailties.
Of course, Jay is not held to such a standard. He needs 5.5 seconds, 5 yards of separation for each WR and a throw 30 yards deep.
Anything short of that isn't his fault.
As Bill Parcells says, only two numbers count. One is where the W goes and the other is where the L goes. Cutler is 4-4. Instead of elevating his team, instead of using clock, moving chains steadily and consistently, checking down, calling audibles from pre-snap reads (can Cutler even DO a pre-snap read?), ol' Jay just drops back and fires away- hard, high and deep.
When you have a limited offense, you manage it. Orten in Denver gets it. Ditto Hasselback and Sanchez and even Eli. No big play WRs- fine. Dink and dunk with an occasional deep ball.
Cutler dosn't manage. He hurls. No patience. Doesn't give his offense a rhythm and his defense a rest.
Bears would love to have used those 2 high '09 draft picks to boost the D or the O. They did neither. Cutler is largely to blame for 4-4. He failed to adjust HIS style to the team' talent.
Simple.
Aloha !!!! Jon
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11-08-2009 @ 7:24PM
hsiunnu said...
Hey, Thompson, McCarthy, remember what you said just over a year ago. "We have our quarterback of the future!" Damn right you did--and his name was BRETT FAVRE. Thanks from Minnesota for having your heads so far up your nether regions you're in violation of sodomy laws in at least twenty seven states.
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11-09-2009 @ 11:12AM
linda7p said...
I don't know who you are, but I LOVE YOU!
Beautifully said!
11-08-2009 @ 7:45PM
dawgfan006 said...
Well I don't know about the rest of Packernation but this was the last straw for TT and MM. They both gotta go. They don't do a good job with the draft, they let good players go and they don't prepare players properly for a game against a win less team. Get rid of these numb skulls!! Please, it's such an embarrassment to the Green and Gold tradition.
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11-08-2009 @ 7:51PM
ANTON said...
Well looks like the Vikes may have the NFC north wrapped up. They swept the packers, if they beat the lions next week that will be a sweep too. They still have to play da bears twice, even if they split those games they should still have enough to win the division. Their next three games are at home, the lions, seahawks and bears. All manageable games which should leave them at 10-1 or at least 9-2, with the bucs beating GB today and the bears losing they have a 4 game lead right now. You can pretty much concede the Vikings have won the division and are playoff bound. They are playing too good to lose out the rest of their games and A. Winfield will be back which only makes them better. As good as the Vikings are playing ball right now I just do not see them dropping 6 of the last 8 games, nor do I see the Bears or GB winning 6 of their next 8. The Vikes last 3 games were their toughest stretch, GB still has their tough games to come with the Ravens, 49ers, Dallas and at Pitt. and at the Cards. After these 3 homes games the Vikes play at the Cards and Cincy at home. Yep, wrap up the NFC north in PURPLE!!!!
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11-08-2009 @ 9:22PM
bdmdaniel said...
The Ted, Mike and Mike show in Green Bay should be over very soon..... Brett Favre wanted to play football and the Packers didn't give him a chance to compete for the starting job a year ago. Aaron Rogers is a good quarterback but Brett is a Hall of Fame quarterback. Top 5 in the NFL but not good enough for Green Bay. Again a bad personnel decision from Ted Thompson. Just one of a lot.
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11-09-2009 @ 12:43AM
uhlerrobertj said...
Vikes would be 8-0 if not for a bogus tripping call against Pittsburgh that led to a 14 point swing over two plays in a 10 point game. Brett Favre has 16 TDs vs. 3 picks and an O-line that gives him time, he has AP to had off to, and 3 stud WRs, plus a good TE that is probably feeling neglected. Aaron Rodgers has nothing to look foward to except 8 more servings of turf salad. Be careful what you wish for, Aaron old buddy. You're only the "quarterback of the future" as long as you can stay out of a body cast.
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11-09-2009 @ 9:56AM
Nick said...
The time is now to get a petition started to get Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson fired. The Packers Organization will not move forward until these guys are gone. This has nothing to do with Favre. They have done nothing to better this team. Packers fans unite and get these clowns out of town!
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11-09-2009 @ 12:09PM
John said...
I agree with you completely. However, we need more than just fans to advocate this. The sports media also needs to push for this. Almost all of the sports writers, whether it was Fanhouse, ESPN, SI, or NFL.com, proclaimed the ousting of Brett Favre was a good decision on Green Bay's part. They have all continued to defend those claims even up to last week. It is time for them to admit their mistake and call for a change. They are the ones that have the loud voice in these matters.
11-09-2009 @ 12:25PM
HAN said...
TT DRAFTED THIS OFFENSIVE LINE, HIRED MM, OVERHAULED A 13&3 TEAM TO A 6 & 10 TEAM. THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TEAM IF ROGERS DIDN'T HOLD THE BALL FOR 7 SECONDS, THE OFFENSIVE LINE COULD BLOCK FOR THE RUN OR PASS PROTECT AND IF OUR DEFENSE DIDN'T GIVE UP 30 POINT A GAME---AND OH YAH IF OUR SPECIAL TEAMS DIDN'T ALLOW 80 YARD RETURNS.... OTHER THAN THAN WE ARE SUPER BOWL BOUND...HA.
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11-09-2009 @ 12:26PM
Herb Nelson said...
TT DRAFTED THIS OFFENSIVE LINE, HIRED MM, OVERHAULED A 13&3 TEAM TO A 6 & 10 TEAM. THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TEAM IF ROGERS DIDN'T HOLD THE BALL FOR 7 SECONDS, THE OFFENSIVE LINE COULD BLOCK FOR THE RUN OR PASS PROTECT AND IF OUR DEFENSE DIDN'T GIVE UP 30 POINT A GAME---AND OH YAH IF OUR SPECIAL TEAMS DIDN'T ALLOW 80 YARD RETURNS.... OTHER THAN THAN WE ARE SUPER BOWL BOUND...HA.
Reply
11-09-2009 @ 1:24PM
packershorrible said...
WOW!!! Green and Gold getting beat by an 0 and 7 team, a cellar team at that... How horrible and embarassing..... The defense SUCKS, my old HS could score aginst them. The season is over boys, get used to it, Cowboys are going to kill you at Lambeau... I am a PACKER backer but totally in shock with their crap performance. Ted Thompson you have done well, NOT!!!!!! Old Brett has faired well hasn't he folks???? They just may have a bid for the Super Bowl if all the acrds line up.... I am sick, wouldn't spend the money for a ticket in Green Bay at this point, ought to reduce the prices for the performance you witness. Horrible, just Horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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11-09-2009 @ 1:48PM
rodevos1 said...
The Vikings are destined and have been on this road to destiny for many many years and its about time the fruits of their labor are recognized.
Another thing to note is; The Vikings are a team of true born leaders and gentlemen, they are not interested in destroying another team or embarress them, just defeat them and leave them intact with their dignity and respect. There are NO thugs nor are there any talking heads on this team, they put the term "team" on the top of its list. More importantly, there are no more lazy players here, Darren Sharper found that out last season when he was slacking on the job, now he can ressurect the rest of his career in New Orleans, but here we all know better. Theres no more money mongers and no more sluff offs, these players come to play and will give you a lesson in the game of Football, so get your notepads ready, because the bye week is almost over and its their second part of the season looking ahead to their destiny.
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11-10-2009 @ 5:57PM
Bret Favre said...
Why did they SCREW UP the defence???? MM MUST GO!!!
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