NFL FanHouse

The Case Against Mike McCarthy

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Coaching

Editor's Note: Bruce Ciskie, a lifelong Packers fan, opines about the state of his beloved team.

High expectations greeted the Green Bay Packers in August, as the team arrived at training camp. Practices -- held across the street from Lambeau Field -- were very physical, as the Packers tried to show they wouldn't be bullied around like they were far too often in 2008.

That 6-10 season, we all were told, was a memory. It was a fluke. It wasn't how things would be conducted in Green Bay. Bad tackling, soft defense, poor special teams play, and stupid penalties were going to be a thing of the past.

Or not.

As much as fans would like to warm up to fourth-year head coach Mike McCarthy, it's becoming difficult. The team he is leading couldn't possibly be more insanely inconsistent. They've shown time and time again that they have character, that they won't quit, and they play to the whistle.

Unfortunately for them, those traits aren't enough to win games.

General manager Ted Thompson has given McCarthy talented players to work with. Receiver Donald Driver is one of the top veterans in the game, and youngsters Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson are all high draft picks. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has done what so many before him have failed at, in that he has stepped in to a position once held by a future Hall of Famer, and he's played exceptionally well.

On defense, Al Harris and Charles Woodson are still top one-on-one cornerbacks who are useful in run support. Linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are former first-round picks, and lineman Aaron Kampman has been to multiple Pro Bowls.

The talent is there. What's gone wrong?

For starters, the Packers can't run the ball. McCarthy leans on Ryan Grant at times, but tends to give up on the run way too quickly, sometimes at the first sign of trouble. It allows defenses to tee off on Rodgers, which only makes his job all the more difficult.

McCarthy has preached the importance of running the ball better, but his words ring hollow, because for every game like the easy win over Cleveland in Week 7, where the Packers ran it 41 times for over 200 yards, there are multiple games like Sunday, where Grant spends more time on the sideline or on pass routes than he does carrying the rock.

The Packers used screen passes with great efficiency in the earlier game against Minnesota. Against the same team Sunday, the Packers didn't run any, outside of an attempted screen pass on a two-point play that was batted down.

In the end, however, the biggest issue with McCarthy -- and one that could cost him his job come January if he's not careful -- is discipline.

The Packers have become a penalty-plagued team during his time. In 2005, the final year under Mike Sherman, Green Bay was in the middle of the pack in penalties assessed. McCarthy's first year actually saw them improve, as they were near the upper third of the league in fewest penalties. However, the 2007 team -- one that finished 13-3 -- was fourth in the NFL in penalties, finishing second in penalty yards. The Packers were second in penalties and first in yards marked off in 2008. 2009 isn't looking too much better. So far, they're second in total penalties and third in yards.

Virtually every Monday when he addresses the media, McCarthy talks about how they're going to fix the penalty problem, and the special teams problem. Then, almost on cue, the same issues plague this team every Sunday.

Yes, it can be pinned on the players. Surely, McCarthy isn't telling them to commit dumb penalties, and he and his special teams coaches aren't telling guys to forget about their lanes and blow even the simplest kick coverages. The players aren't doing what they're told.

However, there comes a point where the problem comes back to the coach. When the head man talks a good game about improvement in certain areas, and nothing improves, it has to fall back at his feet. Why can't this team avoid taking dumb penalties, like the one on defensive lineman Johnny Jolly that prolonged a Vikings drive Sunday and turned a likely field goal into a touchdown?

How is it that even players good enough to start on defense can't practice the simple concept of lane discipline when covering a kickoff? Virtually any decent kick returner just has to make one cut against the grain against the Packers, and he's got 35 yards easily.

While the Vikings are clearly better than Green Bay, the most stunning difference between the two teams is the quality of their coaching. The Vikings make mistakes (everyone does), but they rarely make the same error twice in a game. They don't beat themselves with bad penalties, and they are able to make big plays in every phase of the game.

When the 2007 season ended, there wasn't a Packer fan alive who would have traded McCarthy for Brad Childress, and there wasn't a Viking fan around who would turn that same trade down. Childress was about as popular in Minnesota as Favre was. Oh, how things change over time.

Now Childress has to be close to getting his coveted contract extension with the Vikings, and Packer fans are asking serious (and valid) questions about the coach they have in McCarthy.

Blame Thompson for the Brett Favre fiasco all you want, but it wasn't all his fault. Not only that, but no team worth anything is going to fire a general manager who hasn't had a chance to make at least one coaching change. Even Matt Millen got to make coaching changes before being shown the door. Thompson might be the problem, but there should be more fingers pointing at McCarthy at this point. There is still a lot of football to be played.

McCarthy has talked before about constant improvement. While you can't argue that his 4-3 team is much better than they were at the start of the year, there are still nine games left. If this team improves and becomes a true playoff contender, much of this will be forgiven and/or forgotten.

The Case Against Mike McCarthy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packers in Pain After Another Loss to Favre, Vikings

Thomas George — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It was mesmerizing, tantalizing for the fans, the 71,213 of them who filled Lambeau Field -- the most ever in this 52-year-old building. Maybe that was why, late in the fourth quarter, camera bulbs were flashing high and low as if it were the kickoff. Or why Packers fans were still on edge at that point, even though their team was cooked.

Yes, Brett Favre rolled them twice -- once in his new dome in Minnesota, and now here on Sunday on hallowed football ground. The Packers half expected him to show up and play the game in flip-flops to match his mental trickery. You know, this Packers legend, this turncoat in purple -- he had punched them in the gut before.

And after Minnesota's 38-26 win, after Favre had thrown four touchdown passes to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' three, and after the Vikings swept the season series between these long-time rivals, Favre had earned the bragging rights.

Rodgers had to slip away into the night.

Actually, it was more like he had to limp into the night after the pounding he took. Rodgers endured six more sacks on Sunday, which came on top of the eight he absorbed in Minnesota's Week 4 win over Green Bay.

Favre was not sacked -- in either game.

What does it mean for Rodgers, for the Packers?

"It hurts,'' Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said.

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What exactly hurts, Woodson was asked. "Losing,'' he answered.

Losing to the Vikings hurts. Losing to Favre doubles the pain.

Rodgers tried to explain that without bashing Favre or being swallowed by the big picture. That picture reveals that the Packers ditched Favre for Rodgers.

"You always want to win the home division games,'' Rodgers said. "It's tough to take that many shots, for sure, but you've got to give them credit. I hate losing to the Vikings, especially. They are division rivals and we don't like those losses at home.

"It doesn't matter who you play, though, it's tough to lose."

So was ditching Favre for Rodgers a smart move and who is the better quarterback?

Well, let's see: Rodgers is 10-13 as a starter since Green Bay moved him in, and Favre is 16-8 as an NFL starter since Green Bay moved him out.

Favre is 2-0 vs. Rodgers and the Packers. Minnesota (7-1) is in first place in the NFC North division. Green Bay (4-3) trails.

It could eventually prove a good move for the Packers. But right now, Favre is the better quarterback.

And here is the hammer: The Vikings have a better team than the Packers.

Three different Vikings defensive linemen (Ray Edwards, Jared Allen and Pat Williams) chased down Rodgers in the backfield for first-half sacks that crushed the Packers. Seldom do you see NFL quarterbacks caught from behind like that, simply run down and snuffed out.

This is an explosive Vikings defense.

Rodgers was working with a line that protected from average to poor. He finally began to complement its strengths by massaging the pocket, by creating new passing lanes, by scooting when required. Those types of moves and decisions took a game that Green Bay trailed 24-3 at one point, and turned it into a 24-20 scrap heading to the fourth quarter.

But Favre had more in store. He had two scoring passes left. He kept topping Rodgers by making quicker and stronger choices.

That is a discernible difference between the quarterbacks -- Favre gets the ball out of the pocket quicker.

"He gets the ball out of there with something on it, quick, right now,'' Woodson said of Favre. "That makes him tough to play for any defense.''

Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said he saw fans who wore Favre's old Green Bay jersey upside down and others who wore it backward. He said he felt the electric crowd and the playoff atmosphere. He saw Favre enjoying it, too, and said that Favre and his teammates "approached it like a late playoff game.''

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson loved the atmosphere, too, loved coming "with Brett to the place that Brett built.'' Peterson was in awe of his quarterback's "leadership and confidence'' all week long, and especially in this game.

All around him, Favre enjoys a variety of playmakers and difference-makers -- none more than rookie receiver/returner Percy Harvin (84 receiving yards, a 51-yard scoring catch, 175 kickoff return yards).

This is an explosive Vikings offense.

But Rodgers and the Packers offense showed it can produce a pop as well. The Packers defense produced moments similar to the ones Minnesota's defense came up with.

In neither game between the two teams were those things enough to win against Favre.

"Our quarterback has the will to change things and he takes the position that he is not going to let his teammates down,'' Packers receiver Greg Jennings said. "He is not going to lay flat from adversity or because of a stumble. This is a 'We' situation. It is our team, our ownership, our loss.''

You heard the Packers afterward grumbling about how the defensive schemes do not fit the defensive personnel and how the offensive line too frequently folds. But more of them spoke like middle linebacker Nick Barnett, who said his team started slowly in this game, made a strong run, got close, but "could never get home.''

The Packers put so much into this game -- divisional battle, a huge rival. A victory meant evening things in the loss column with the Vikings. It meant ruining a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker that Minnesota could earn.

Now what?

It hurts, losing. The Packers have the ingredients -- a streaky team of great highs and miserable lows -- to duplicate that nasty, late, five-game losing streak that earned them a lousy 6-10 record a year ago.

They were very clear on what a victory would have meant. They seemed uncertain about what their loss would do.

"I'll tell you exactly what I told them,'' Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I told them at halftime that the second half was going to be a turning point in our season. It was important for us to go out there and turn this game around and make a run and win this game.''

A curious thing about Lambeau Field is that there is only one entrance from the locker rooms onto the field. It also serves as the only exit. Brett Favre, kicked aside here, strolled back in through the out door.

One tunnel, two teams -- two quarterbacks going different places.

"It's kind of odd how you mingle going through that tunnel,'' Peterson said. "I say hello to the guys over there I'm friendly with. The ones I'm not, I give that look. That in-game, serious, I'm-out-to-win, get-out-of-my-way look that turns into something back on the field.''

The one Brett Favre put on the Packers.

The one Aaron Rodgers, like his team, is still crafting.

Packers in Pain After Another Loss to Favre, Vikings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brett Favre Brilliant in Return to Lambeau

Chris Burke — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings

Most of the Packers fans tried their hardest to make Brett Favre feel unwelcome in his return to Lambeau Field on Sunday -- booing him from the moment he emerged from the tunnel in pregame warmups until the final snap. All Favre did in response was play exactly like he always has at Lambeau.

The 40-year-old was spectacular in his first game back in Green Bay, leading the Vikings to a 38-26 win that puts Minnesota in complete control of the NFC North.

"It was emotional," a slightly choked-up Favre said to Fox's Pam Oliver once the game ended. "I had a lot of years here, a lot of great years. It was pretty special."

Favre completed 17-of-28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns -- including two in the fourth quarter as Green Bay feverishly attempted to rally from a 21-point deficit.

"We played a great game, they played a great game," Favre said. "Obviously I'm glad we won the game. I know what I did here and what I left behind."

Favre's successor in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, put on a show of his own. Rodgers completed 26-of-41 passes for 287 yards. He also had three second-half touchdowns to pull Green Bay out of a 24-3 hole and bring the Packers as close as four points.

After Rodgers hit Spencer Havner to cut the Minnesota lead to 24-20, though, Favre countered with a 2-yard TD pass to Jeff Dugan to reopen an 11-point cushion. A Rodgers-to-Greg Jennings connection cut that deficit down to 31-26, but Favre again responded and found Bernard Berrian for a 16-yard score with just 3:48 left to bury the Packers.

"I hate losing to whoever's the quarterback for them," Rodgers said.

Any questions about how the Green Bay fans would receive Favre were answered vociferously. Favre received a chorus of boos when he ran onto the field in the pregame, and the fans kept those boos going -- almost non-stop -- through Minnesota's first two offensive possessions.

The fans unrest no doubt grew as Favre picked their Packers apart -- and hampered Green Bay's own postseason hopes.

"Packer fans cheer for the Packers first," Favre said. "I know that. But I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, 'I sure hate those jokers on the other side, but he does play the way he's always played.'"

Brett Favre Brilliant in Return to Lambeau originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday NFL Live Chat: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers

Adam Gretz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFL Live Blogging

Since there's no Sunday night game on the schedule this week, we're bumping our weekly live chat up to the afternoon to discuss THE GREATEST GAME EVER.

Yes, that's right, it's Favre Bowl II as Brett Favre makes his first appearance in Green Bay as a visiting starting quarterback. We'll be there for all of the action, so please, join us at 4:00 PM ET for all of the fun.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=8fc8556975&amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;gt;Sunday NFL Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Sunday NFL Live Chat: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom Cable, Brett Favre, Giants vs. Eagles: NFL Live Tweet

Michael David Smith — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Raiders, Vikings

Tom Cable appears to have a history of physically abusing people he has power over, whether a woman he's in a relationship with or a coach who works for him.

I think about 80% of Green Bay fans will boo Brett Favre today. What do you think? Higher? Lower?

Those are among the observations I've made on Twitter today, and I'll be making plenty more as I follow the early games, highlighted by Giants vs. Eagles, and the late games, highlighted by Vikings vs. Packers. To stay updated on everything happening in the NFL Sunday, follow along below or follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Twitter Updates on NFL Week 8

NFL on Twitter

Tom Cable, Brett Favre, Giants vs. Eagles: NFL Live Tweet originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Favre's Return to Lambeau Highlights Mistakes Made in Packer Divorce

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Quarterbacks

Outside of Sunday being a day many Packer fans have dreaded for months, it's just another football Sunday in Green Bay.

The hype surrounding this regular-season battle of NFC North rivals surpasses anything most fans will see in their lifetimes. The reality is that football fans in Wisconsin are stuck in the middle of the tension that developed between Brett Favre and the Packers. It was this way in August of 2008, when the whole thing blew up, and it isn't going to change for some time.

Both sides talk about respect. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said this week he felt the organization did well in not disrespecting Favre in that summer drama last year. Of course, the trade to the New York Jets simply put off the inevitable.

Was that a mistake? Should general manager Ted Thompson have traded Favre to the Vikings all along?

Absolutely not.

Thompson might have been criticized -- and rightfully so, for the most part -- for his handling of the Favre saga, but he would have been digging his own grave as an executive by trading Favre to a division rival. You're bound to read comments from alleged Packer fans on message boards, blogs, and newspaper sites that say Thompson is ruining the Packers. However, the team has only had one bad season since Thompson began overhauling the organization after the firing of head coach Mike Sherman.

Through all the hoopla surrounding Favre's presence in Minnesota, it's easy to forget that Green Bay is 4-2, and they're coming off back-to-back dominating wins. Yes, those wins came over bad teams, but you can only beat the teams the league puts in front of you, and the Packers have shown throughout the first part of the 2009 season that they're far from a bad team.

As pointed out in the Green Bay Press Gazette, Thompson's biggest mistake may have been reacting to Favre's push to return with virtually no action at all.

In an ideal world, Thompson wouldn't have to treat Favre like anything more than another player on the team. However, he gave 16 wonderful years to the Packers, and he was revered by fans and players alike. Covert attempts to paint Favre as a bad teammate or a disingenuous fellow were simply not going to work. Fans knew he was not a great decision-maker when it came to his retirement, but they weren't going to hold it against him.

While Thompson was right not to "beg" Favre to return, and the organization was right not to hold Favre's job open for him until he had fully made up his mind, Thompson's mechanical reactions and overall lack of outgoing compassion made him an easy target for Favre faithful.

Meanwhile, Favre likely overestimated his value to the Packer organization at the age of 38. While he may act now like he didn't have a problem with the Packers moving on to Aaron Rodgers, that was not the case in 2008. He felt like that job was his, and he was angry the Packers would be willing to move on without him. Of course, when you retire in March, and wait until June to inform the team that maybe you don't want to be retired anymore, it's hard to reasonably expect that the team is going to open their arms and welcome you back unconditionally.

The Packers were upset, as Andrew Brandt wrote on National Football Post, when the NFL cleared the Vikings of tampering charges last year. Favre claimed he was just chatting with his friends, who happened to be Minnesota head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. It was clear Minnesota was his desired destination, and it turns out his desire to play there was so great that he was willing to play a full season with the unfamiliar New York Jets just to make it happen.

This all brings us to a day Packer fans probably thought they'd never see. Brett Favre dresses in the visitors' locker room at Lambeau Field, and he will face a hostile crowd in his former home for the first time. People have been asking about the potential reception at Lambeau for a long time, but there's really only one answer that makes sense.

During the summer of 2009, former Steelers safety Rod Woodson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his speech, Woodson referenced Pittsburgh fans, who booed him mercilessly when he returned to Pittsburgh as a rival Baltimore Raven.

I want to say thank you for giving me ten wonderful years there. To the Steeler nation thank you for accepting me. For cheering me on. And after I left, for booing me. No, I'm serious for booing me. Because you know, if you cheered me when I put on a Raiders uniform or a Ravens uniform, I think I would have lost a little respect for the Steeler nation. So I'm glad you booed me, because you should.

This is what Favre should expect today. It's not about blaming Favre for his departure, or absolving Thompson and McCarthy of their responsibility for what happened.

Favre is the enemy now. There would be no greater respect Packer fans could show than to boo him. Respect for the game and the traditions created by rivalries is greater than respect for individual players, and this fanbase is one that understands and respects history. There is a time and a place to cheer Brett Favre. Sunday afternoon is not it.

Favre's Return to Lambeau Highlights Mistakes Made in Packer Divorce originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Circle Route Brings Favre Back 'Home'

Thomas George — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFL Quarterbacks

Everyone forgets that Brett Favre wanted to play football. He wanted to play football in Green Bay. They did not want him. In life, you go on. I don't think you get mad at the man for still wanting to play football. He was told no on numerous occasions -- 'You are not playing here.'
-- Bus Cook, Brett Favre's agent

The truth on how and why Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers split their 16-year union remains strictly in the eye of the storyteller. Favre and his agent Bus Cook say they were simply kicked aside. The Packers insist that Favre waffled too much about his return that they simply decided to move forward with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and create clarity.

I find this much crystal clear -- from the moment Favre realized he was not going be a Packer, he began angling his way for a return to Lambeau Field.

His last pass in the stadium was not going to be that awful pick by Giants cornerback Corey Webster in overtime that led to the Giants' winning field goal in the 2008 NFC championship game. The pick that induced a fallout and helped turn a longstanding romance into a ruckus.

"It's different from anything in sports in America. ... Any quarterback today could go away and come back and not have as much impact as this does in Green Bay. I am sure it will be odd for him. But once the whistle blows, he will be fine."
-- Bus Cook on Brett Favre's Return to LambeauIt was a circuitous route back to Lambeau for Favre, with a pit-stop at the Jets last season before landing with the Minnesota Vikings this season. The Packers traded him to the Jets a year ago with the idea that Favre would never play in Lambeau for a rival NFC North team. They hoped the 40-year-old Favre would be one more NFL season and done. One more NFL shot -- far away -- and please, be done.

There is little accidental about Favre's return to Lambeau on Sunday when the Vikings (6-1) battle the Packers (4-2).

Favre knows it.

He has already beaten Green Bay in Minnesota this season. This is different. Just the chance to return to Lambeau and beat the Packers on that soil, well, Favre has had this itch to scratch since he was spurned.

In one breath, he said earlier this week that he has "no idea how it will unfold." In another he said he is "well aware of all the stuff that goes with it" and he won't let that "affect me or creep into the team."

OK, if not anger, then certainly payback. If not all raw, then certainly personal.

This is a dream game for Brett Favre.

This is real.

"It's a unique situation for him," Cook said. "It's different from anything in sports in America. There is no quarterback who goes and plays for any other team and former fans feel the way it is with Green Bay and Favre. Any quarterback today could go away and come back and not have as much impact as this does in Green Bay. I am sure it will be odd for him. But once the whistle blows, he will be fine."

In Vikings purple.

"He wanted to play," Cook said. "And find a home. No other team called him."

But one in the Packers' division did. The perfect storm.

We have seen Favre in Super Bowls and as a TV pitchman and marveled over his kid-like approach to the complex NFL game. More often than not, this iconic player has pulled the right strings to land in spots he desired over his 19 NFL seasons.

He called a lot of his shots with the Jets and he is doing that with the Vikings. There is only so much coaching that goes on with this player. It is one of his best traits and one of his worst. It is, in part, why the Packers had enough of him.

Here is one thing you always have to give Brett Favre: he understands entertainment.

He has done his part in giving the NFL a storyline, a scenario that is better than fiction.

The Vikings are all in.

"He works, like all great players, I mean really works," a Vikings management source said of their experience with Favre. "He is here watching tape, taking care of his body. Behind the smiles, he knows he's good and gifted. It happens anywhere from two to five times a game where you say, 'OK, now I see why he is what he is.' Not every play. Just those rare instances where he does rare things. He's been a caring person here. He deals with people in the cafeteria and that clean the building in the same way he does the owner. Everyone here notices that."

Favre is ready to make a new, testy Lambeau leap.

There is nothing accidental about it.

He found a way to get back on Lambeau Field after he was booted from it.

For Favre, that alone is victory.

For the fans who have jumped ship on him (just like he eventually jumped ship to the Vikings), Favre asks "What can I do?"

He already knows the answer. Beat the Packers, trounce them all, in the NFL's version of a Homecoming bloodfest. This quarterback will tell you he knows what it is like to get kicked in the stomach. He will also remind you he has not forgotten how to do the kicking.

Circle Route Brings Favre Back 'Home' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat Recap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Lions, Giants, Packers, Rams, Vikings, NFL Live Blogging

He's back, and it's stealing all of the headlines. It's going to be a highly emotional Sunday for many NFL fans, as former Detroit Lions defensive lineman James Hall makes his return to the Motor City as a member of the St. Louis Rams.

Oh, and Brett Favre is back in Green Bay. Not sure if you've heard about that one.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=8769b3a7a6" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat Recap originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Which Tackles Are Starring and Which Are Struggling?

JJ Cooper — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Packers, Panthers, Steelers, NFL Analysis

As we have done since the FanHouse began, I'll be taking a look every week at some aspect of line play. You can read more features in the series here. Check back every Thursday for a new Between The Lines.

If you're a reasonably diligent football fan, it's pretty easy to follow which running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers are living up to their reputations -- you just check the stats. It's not as easy, but you can also get a pretty good sense of which pass rushers are having big years, by checking out the sacks.

But when it comes to evaluating offensive linemen, it's a lot tougher to know which blockers are starring and which ones are living off reputation.

After logging 401 sacks this season, it's time to start diving into the numbers to try to get a better sense of who has stood out this year.

Thanks the Sunday Ticket Shortcuts and the NFL's easily available gamebooks, I've watched and re-watched all but two of the 401 sacks that have taken place this season in the NFL (thanks to CBS' technical screw-up five minutes of last week's Redskins game was lost forever).

I've logged how many rushers were sent on the play, who gave up the sack, the down and distance, how long the quarterback held the ball before the sack and who was responsible for the sack. Thankfully on most sacks the culprit is pretty clear. Usually it's a sacker simply lining up and beating the man trying to block him. On other plays it can get more difficult, as a blitzer will come free or a stunt will lead to a missed hand-off from one offensive lineman to another. In those cases, I've assigned the block to the blocker most likely to have been responsible for the rusher. If two blockers were both responsible, I assigned them each half a sack. And if the quarterback ran his way into a sack or a play call left no blocker with a chance to block the sacker, that sack was logged as the responsibility of the quarterback or play call (roughly 80 of the 401 sacks fall into that category).

So lets take a look at which offensive tackles have given up the most sacks. Eventually we'll list every offensive linemen, but considering how many centers and guards are still without a sack allowed, that can wait a couple of weeks. But if you're an offensive tackle who has played every week without giving up a sack, you're putting together a pretty impressive season.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES SACKS ALLOWED
Allen Barbre	Green Bay	6
Levi Brown	Arizona	5
Jordan Gross	Carolina	5
Daryn Colledge	Green Bay	5
Jeff Backus	Detroit	4
Erik Pears	Oakland	4
Duane Brown	Houston	4
Demetrius Bell	Buffalo	4
Winston Justice	Philadelphia	3.5
Stephen Heyer	Washington	3.5
Jeromey Clary	San Diego	3.5
Max Starks	Pittsburgh	3.5
John St. Clair	Cleveland	3.5
Ray Willis	Seattle	3
Phil Loadholt	Minnesota	3
Michael Roos	Tennessee	3
Marcus McNeill	San Diego	3
Mike Gandy	Arizona	3
Kyle Williams	Seattle	3
Jake Long	Miami	3
Flozell Adams	Dallas	3
Eben Britton	Jacksonville	3
Donald Penn	Tampa Bay	3
Andrew Whitworth	Cincinnati	3
Anthony Collins	Cincinnati	3
Ryan Harris	Denver	2.5
Michael Oher	Baltimore	2.5
Chris Samuel	Washington	2.5
Brandon Albert	Kansas City	2.5
Vernon Carey	Miami	2
Ryan Clady	Denver	2
Jeremy Trueblood	Tampa Bay	2
Joe Thomas	Cleveland	2
Jeff Otah	Carolina	2
Jermon Bushrod	New Orleans	2
Chris Williams	Chicago	2
Chad Clifton	Green Bay	2
Bryant McKinnie	Minnesota	2
Brandon Frye	Seattle	2
Mario Henderson	Oakland	1.5
D'Brickshaw Ferguson	N.Y. Jets	1.5
Tra Thomas	Jacksonville	1
Sam Baker	Atlanta	1
Ryan O'Callaghan	Kansas City	1
Nick Kaczur	New England	1
Kareem McKenzie	N.Y. Giants	1
Jason Peters	Philadelphia	1
Jon Jansen	Detroit	1
Jared Gaither	Baltimore	1
Eric Winston	Houston	1
Damien Woody	N.Y. Jets	1
David Diehl	N.Y. Giants	1
Cornell Green	Oakland	1
Brad Butler	Buffalo	1
Adam Goldberg	St. Louis	1
Alex Barron	St. Louis	1
Orlando Pace	Chicago	0.5
Jonathan Scott	Buffalo	0.5
Willie Colon	Pittsburgh	0
Tyson Clabo	Atlanta	0
Sean Locklear	Seattle	0
Ryan Diem	Indianapolis	0
Matt Light	New England	0
Mark Colombo	Dallas	0
Jonathan Stinchcomb	New Orleans	0
Ichekuku Ndukwe	Kansas City	0
David Stewart	Tennessee	0
Charlie Johnson	Indianapolis	0

If you're a Packers fan, it probably won't surprise you to see a pair of Green Bay offensive linemen near the top of the list for sacks allowed by tackles.

But no one expected Packers right tackle Allen Barbre or fill-in tackle Daryn Colledge to be anything more than adequate. Barbre is truly the Packers' weakest link now that Chad Clifton is back at left tackle. And as we documented last year, Cardinals right tackle Levi Brown struggles with pass blocking, so seeing him near the top of the list is almost to be expected.

But seeing Panthers' franchise player Jordan Gross among the list of shame is pretty shocking. It seems Julius Peppers isn't the only Panthers star who has struggled at times this year. Gross had a disastrous three-sacks-allowed game against the Redskins as Andre Carter beat him a couple of times on simple speed rushes around the outside. One of those five sacks came when he appeared to miss his assignment on an overload blitz by the Eagles, but he's also been beaten multiple times one-on-one.

At the other end of the spectrum, Indianapolis has allowed only two sacks all season and neither has been allowed by an offensive tackle. The Falcons have also allowed only two sacks -- both in the season opener against the Dolphins. Part of that can be credited to Matt Ryan's quick release, but Tyson Clabo (0 sacks) and Sam Baker (1 sack) also deserve lots of praise.

It's also impressive to see Steelers right tackle Willie Colon among the unblemished. Colon has had pass protection problems in the past (6.5 sacks last year), but he's shown significant improvement this season.

Here are some other notes from watching the lines for Week Six.

-- There is a lot of legitimate criticism of Andy Reid's decision to forget the running game in the Eagles' shocking upset loss to the Raiders. But it's nearly as surprising that the Raiders' leaky offensive line was able to handle the Eagles' pass rush. Oakland's line has had lots of turnovers this year -- three diferent players have started at left guard, there have been two different centers and two different right tackles. Erik Pears, the fill-in left guard and right tackle, has been a weak link with four sacks and the Raiders need to work on their backs blitz pick-up -- the running backs are responsible for four sacks -- but left tackle Mario Henderson (1.5 sacks allowed) is giving the Raiders their first solid play at left tackle in years.

-- The Kansas City Chiefs may need to rethink some of their blocking schemes. Tight end Sean Ryan gave up his fifth sack of the season on Sunday against the Redskins. No other tight end in the league has given up more than two sacks this year.

It's hard to blame Ryan too much for this. He's given up sacks to Osi Umenyiora, Brian Orakpo and Juqua Parker. It's hard to ask a tight end to adequately block three of the better pass rushers in the NFC East. Ryan bounced round to three different teams last year, so he's fortunate to have a starting job, but the Chiefs are asking him to do things that he's not really capable of doing when they ask him to handle defensive ends one-on-one.

-- There's been a lot of explanations given for the Broncos' amazing defensive turnaround. And there are a lot of good reasons to explain why the Broncos have gone from 29th last year in yards allowed to second this year.

You can credit new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan first of all for giving the defense an identity. Last year the Broncos switched back and forth between the 3-4 and the 4-3 like they were changing socks. And even when they did go with the 3-4, they did it with undersized linebackers like Boss Bailey while asking undersized defensive ends like Elvis Dumervill to play up on the line.

This year Nolan has made them a 3-4 team with an identity, and he's done an excellent job of getting pass rushers like Dumervill into situations to create havoc.

But what stood out against the Chargers was Nolan's clever use of delayed blitzes. You don't often see delayed blitzes because they usually take too long to develop pressure against the fast-paced NFL offenses. You have to time it perfectly -- rush too soon and the offense can adjust to pick up the second blitzer, rush too late and it doesn't even matter.

But Nolan pulled out the delayed blitz in perfect situations against the Chargers. San Diego likes to throw deep to Vincent Jackson and the rest of their crew of tall receivers, so the delayed blitz has a little more time to reach Phillip Rivers.

It worked three different times against the Chargers. On the first sack, defensive back Andre Goodman waited until a linebacker had fully occupied the Chargers tailback serving as the quarterback's last line of defense. By delaying his rush, Goodman got a free rush at Rivers for an easy sack. The same approach worked later for a sack by linebacker D.J. Williams. It also worked to a degree on the Broncos' last sack of the night, although defensive linemen Darrell Reid simply beat Louis Vasquez for the sack.

Between the Lines: Which Tackles Are Starring and Which Are Struggling? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rodgers Still Believes in Line

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:50:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Quarterbacks

In the end, it's pretty obvious who mentored Aaron Rodgers on his way to becoming an NFL starting quarterback. Green Bay Packer fans might want to curse the name of Brett Favre these days, but between Rodgers' effort in the loss to Minnesota Oct. 5, and his recent comments about the Packers' offensive line and his own play, it has become abundantly clear that Favre had quite the impact on Rodgers.

During that loss to Minnesota, Rodgers couldn't have played more stubbornly. He held the ball too long, took sacks he didn't need to take, forced a throw into a coverage he shouldn't have been throwing into, got hit way too many times, and managed to keep getting up. No matter what they threw at him, he refused to quit or give anything to the Vikings.

Throw in some gray stubble, shorter hair, and a bit stockier body, and you have the epitome of Favre's career in Green Bay.

Frankly, this has to be considered a good thing. Rodgers has played the game with much more control than Favre ever did as a Packer, and that's the one facet of Favre's game that anyone could possibly claim the right to complain about. However, while eschewing Favre's wild style for a more controlled game, Rodgers also appears to have picked up some of Favre's better traits.

Since that game, Green Bay has been largely silent, since the team had a bye week. As they get ready to host Detroit Sunday at Lambeau Field, Rodgers has made two things very clear. For starters, he's not changing the way he plays the game.

"I watched last year's film at Minnesota, and I felt like I had gotten out too early. I passed over a guy in my progression. So I was telling myself all week, be patient, play fast but play under control. They got to me a few times, that's what happened."

Also, you're not going to goad him into throwing his offensive linemen to the wolves.

"It really doesn't do any good," Rodgers said Wednesday. "I trust those guys. I love those guys. They take care of me, I take care of them. That's the way it goes. We have a tight-knit relationship. Nothing gets done when you do something like that publicly."

Rodgers reiterated Wednesday that he has confidence in his linemen, adding that everyone on the team wants and needs to play better for the Packers (2-2) to hit the high expectations they carried into the season.

"We're all pros," Rodgers said. "We all hold ourselves to a standard of play, and I'd say myself and those guys included would probably all agree that personally, we haven't played up to our potential at all times. We all want to play better. We're going to play better."

In the end, the Packers will benefit from this. Rodgers has shown time and time again that he will continue to be a good teammate, and he won't publicly criticize people, even if their failures mean he ends up flat on his back. He's accountable and willing to improve.

And he seems to have developed some of that good ol' southern stubbornness. He may never admit it, but at least some of that has to have come from the legend he followed.

Rodgers Still Believes in Line originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Rodgers Partly to Blame for Sack Debacle

JJ Cooper — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC South, NFL Analysis

Every Thursday we're taking a look at the battle at the line of scrimmage. Click here for previous Between The Lines features.

If you're a Packers fan, it's fair to wonder if the season went downhill the minute that Chad Clifton sprained his ankle against the Bengals. Since then, the Packers have been shuffling linemen and Aaron Rodgers has been running for his life. The season hit bottom this past Monday when Jared Allen and his friends sacked Rodgers eight times in the Vikings 30-23 win.

But if you watch the Vikings game a little more closely, you may notice that not all of the Packers' protection problems were the offensive line's fault. It's hard to point fingers at a quarterback who threw for 384 yards, but Aaron Rodgers was as much to do with the Vikings eight sacks as his injury-plagued offensive line. Of the eight sacks against the Vikings as many as five of them can be blamed at least in part on Rodgers or the play call.

When Clifton went down, the Packers shuffled three players to fill his spot. Starting left guard Daryn Colledge has proven that he's much better as a guard than as a fill-in left tackle. Center Jason Spitz has moved over to Colledge's old guard spot while Scott Wells has stepped into the starting lineup at center.

And when Colledge left the Vikings game with a sprained knee, Green Bay was down to playing third-string left tackle T.J. Lang as defensive end Jared Allen finished off a four-and-a-half sack day. Right tackle Allen Barbre isn't exactly having a Pro Bowl season either.

That kind of shakeup would affect any offensive line, and it clearly has hurt the Packers, especially at tackle. Babre has allowed five sacks, Colledge has allowed four, Lang has allowed two and Clifton has allowed one. Those 12 sacks are more than all but six teams have given up this season. The Packers' interior linemen have allowed only two sacks, so when it comes to pass rushing, the problem is limited to the edges.

But Rodgers deserves some of the blame as well, as he showed on Monday. On four of the Vikings eight sacks, Rodgers held the ball for more than three seconds (as much as 5.7 seconds on one sack) and another turned into a sack because of a busted play. In an attempt to make plays downfield, Rodgers would hold the ball, even as Allen was ravaging the Packers' offensive tackles. The Packers offensive line was overmatched by the Vikings front four, but instead of getting rid of the ball more quickly because of that, Rodgers would wait and try to make the perfect pass. It worked a lot--he threw for 384 yards--but it also helped set up the Vikings pass rush's big day.

After timing each and every one of the 268 sacks that have been recorded in the first four weeks of the season it's becoming pretty apparent that the average sack occurs somewhere between 2.7 and 2.8 seconds after the snap of the ball. When announcers talk about a quarterback having an internal alarm clock to know when to get rid of the ball, that alarm clock generally should be going off around 2.7 seconds after the snap. Considering the injuries on the Packers' offensive line, Rodgers may want to move that alarm clock up to 2.5 seconds or so on an average snap. Instead, he's hit the snooze button.

The worst came on a pass play with the Packers backed up at their only goal line. Colledge had just left the game with a knee injury (after Allen had picked up 2 1/2 sacks in the first three quarters). The Packers tried to give third-string left tackle Lang some help by using tailback Ryan Grant to help double-team Allen. If Rodgers had gotten rid of the ball on time, it would have worked. But he ended up pump faking, pulling the ball down, stepping up into the pocket and looking for another option. The double team for Allen prevented him from getting free around the outside, but when Rodgers stepped up, it gave Allen a open lane to reverse his momentum and pull Rodgers down from behind for the sack and a safety 3.3 seconds after the snap.

On another sack, Rodgers held the ball for an amazing 5.7 seconds before defensive end Brian Robison finally got free for the sack. Of the 268 sacks recorded this season, only seven have seen a quarterback hold the ball longer. Usually when a sack happens that long after the snap, it occurs because the quarterback has run around to the point where the play has completely broken down (Josh Johnson held the ball this week for 12 seconds on a play that would have made Fran Tarkenton proud). But Rodgers was just moving around looking for a receiver and struggling to find someone to throw to.

Rodgers was sacked on a rollout pass where linebacker Ben Leber (who had dropped into coverage) came up to make a big hit. Rodgers had 4.3 seconds to throw the ball, which is easily enough time to at least throw the ball away if no one was open. There also was a sack where Rodgers was driven down 3.4 seconds after the snap. And a fifth sack came on a blown play where Rodgers looked to throw a quick stop to a wide receiver, only to find the receiver streaking downfield instead. With the play falling apart, Rodgers simply ate the ball. That may not have been Rodgers' fault, but it wasn't the line's fault either.

Now that doesn't mean the offensive line is blameless, they're not anything close to blameless. Teams don't need to send blitzes to pressure Rodgers--on 75 percent of the Packers' sacks, teams have rushed only four men. For the entire NFL, four-man rushes have accounted for only 57 percent of sacks. That leads to a vicious cycle: since team's don't have to send extra pass rushers against the Packers, they can drop more men into coverage, which makes it harder for Rodgers to find an open receiver, which means Rodgers holds the ball longer which leads to more sacks.

With 20 sacks allowed this season, the Packers easily lead the league (the Bills are the only other team that has allowed more than 13 sacks) and the offensive line is a big part of that. But it's also true that Rodgers' approach of holding the ball to make big plays means Packers fans have to live with sacks as well as plenty of passing yards.

Between the Lines: Rodgers Partly to Blame for Sack Debacle originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Football Live Chat: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Adam Gretz — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFL Live Blogging

If we believe the hype, this is the greatest regular season game ever. Brett Favre. Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay Packers.

There's no in-between with this one, folks. You're either on the edge of your seat in anticipation of this once improbable meeting (Brett Favre, as a Viking, playing against the Packers?) or you're already tired of hearing about it.

Either way, please stop on by the FanHouse live chat and give us your thoughts on No. 4 in purple, or the other 89 players that will be in uniform. Fun starts at 8:15 PM ET.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=5e4951c1c7&amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;gt;Monday Night Football Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Monday Night Football Live Chat: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Packers at Vikings

Chris Burke — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, FanHouse Previews

We have to talk about Brett Favre -- I'm sorry, that's just the way it's got to be. To ignore Favre's involvement in the season's first Green Bay-Minnesota clash would be like discussing the Cold War and leaving out Gorbachev.

Monday's key NFC North matchup will mark the first time Favre has played against the Packers, with whom he starred for 16 seasons, and he'll do so while wearing the jersey of one of Green Bay's most hated rivals. It probably doesn't help Packers fans' waning allegiances to Favre that Minnesota's off to a 3-0 start and sits in first in the division. Green Bay, on the other hand, is just two weeks removed from a stunning home loss to Cincinnati and trying to keep pace.

All Favre aside, there's a lot on the line in the Metrodome Monday, and who comes away with a victory will depend on a lot more than just Minnesota's new quarterback.

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers rise to the challenge and keep pace with his quarterback counterpart?

2. How well will the Packers be able to contain Adrian Peterson?

3. Will the television broadcast actually show the game, or just keep every camera on Favre all night?

Player in the Spotlight: Rodgers. Favre's too easy of an answer here -- obviously, everyone wants to see what the frequently retired signal-caller does against his old club. But Rodgers' performance will likely have more of an impact on Monday's result. If Favre falters, Minnesota can turn to Peterson and its defense to hang around. Rodgers doesn't really have that luxury -- Green Bay's in the middle of the pack (No. 16) in rushing yards per game and the defense has been pushed around by Cincinnati and St. Louis in the past two weeks. Rodgers has to play well and test the Vikings defense often to try and free running back Ryan Grant. Green Bay needs to keep its defense on the sidelines as much as possible, but the Packers' offense can only be as effective as Rodgers allows.

Green Bay's Path to Victory: This can go one of two ways -- either the Pack can decide to try and grind it out, keep Favre and Peterson off the field, and try to win with ball control; or Green Bay can throw caution to the wind and simply attempt to outgun the Vikings. The Packers have the weapons to pull off option two, but the first scenario is more conducive to this rivalry. It also makes more sense on the road. No one knows what Favre is capable of better than Green Bay, which is both good and bad. The Packers have seen Favre's heroics plenty of times -- but they're also aware that he can make mistakes when under pressure. Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco all went toe-to-toe with the Vikings and hung around for the majority of the game. Green Bay's better than all three of those teams.

Minnesota's Path to Victory: Just stick to the script. The Vikings have been a little slow starting out games -- especially on the ground, as they've tried to lean on Peterson early and keep Favre from having to do too much. They've been able to crank it up in the second half, though, and figure to finish strong again, given the ravenous home crowd that will be present Monday night. Cincinnati won in Lambeau by controlling the game at the line of scrimmage and relentlessly attacking Rodgers. Minnesota's defensive line is stout, both against the run and the pass, so the goal will be to make Rodgers' life as miserable as possible. If the Vikings can get on top early, they'll be able to ride Peterson late -- and limit the number of opportunites for Favre to make a mistake.

Prediction: A lot of people are anticipating a bit of a shootout in this one, with both offenses finding plenty of room. That may be the case, but there's just as good a chance that this winds up being a game won methodically in the trenches. Should that occur, it'd be hard to pick against Minnesota. Either way, this should be a fun one -- unless you're a Packers fan, in which case, it might be your worst nightmare. Minnesota 24, Green Bay 21

FanHouse Preview: Packers at Vikings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packers Say They Want Monday's Game For Their Quarterback

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFC North

We all know about the drama leading into Monday night's Green Bay-Minnesota game. Yes, much of it is media-driven, but you can't write a storyline like this for Hollywood.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Brett Favre wants to beat the Packers. He might say it's "just another game" or whatever, but you should know better. Similarly, the Packers might say it's just another game, but you know they'd like to get a few shots in and pick Favre off a couple times. For Monday's visitors, however, there is another motivating factor at work.

For a large contingent of Packer players, the hype is a mystery to them. That's because 21 players on this year's Green Bay roster have never played with Favre. They don't know him, but they know Aaron Rodgers.

Not only that, but the Packers had a good chunk of rookies on their 2007 team, the last one that Favre quarterbacked in Green Bay. It's not hard to figure out why these guys didn't get to know Favre that well. After all, Favre turned 38 during the season, making him nearly old enough to be a father to the rookies.

Offensive lineman Daryn College, who is expected to start at left tackle in place of the injured Chad Clifton Monday, doesn't sound like he really blames Favre for any distance that might have existed.

"I only played with him for a couple of years," offensive lineman Daryn Colledge said. "Me and Brett's relationship wasn't exactly the tightest. He was an older guy, I was a younger guy and we hung in our own circles. For me, I've got a (Vikings) defense that I need to worry about, I've got a ton of Pro Bowlers I've got to face this weekend and might be playing a new position. So for me, I've got a lot more things to worry about than Brett."

For wide receiver Greg Jennings, the feeling is that winning for Rodgers is more important than beating Favre.

"Aaron, in my eyes, he wasn't treated the best," Packers receiver Greg Jennings said. "And it wasn't his fault. It wasn't like he kicked Brett out of here. He was just the guy who was taking his spot. Unfortunately he didn't (get) welcomed by some. For some, he did. But there's definitely that drive to want to win it for him."

Favre said this week that he still speaks occasionally to longtime Packers like Donald Driver and Al Harris. While Monday night might be awkward for them, and other Green Bay veterans that Favre had gotten close to, it might actually be "just another game" for a lot of them.

Meanwhile, Favre shouldn't be the only Viking motivated to play well Monday night. Not only is there a natural hatred for the Packers that comes along with playing for Minnesota, but guys like Adrian Peterson have already talked about wanting to win this game for Favre.

"Favre is the type of guy you just feed off his energy and just the passion he plays with and the way he plays the game."

No matter what angle you look at, there is plenty of motivation heading into Monday's game.

Packers Say They Want Monday's Game For Their Quarterback originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Live Chat: Week 4 Preview

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Bengals, Browns, Buccaneers, Chargers, Jets, Lions, Packers, Redskins, Saints, Steelers, Vikings, NFL Fans, NFL Live Blogging

It's a week headlined by some old guy facing his former team, but there are other storylines in Week 4. The Browns and Buccaneers start new quarterbacks, the Lions try for their second straight win, unbeatens clash in New Orleans, and the defending Super Bowl champions arguably face a must-win Sunday night. We'll talk about all these topics and more in our weekly get-together. Read the recap.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=3c3fc41f2f&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;a class="injectedLink" href="http://nfl.fanhouse.com/"&amp;amp;gt;NFL&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt; Week 4 Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

FanHouse Live Chat: Week 4 Preview originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Favre Denies He Ever Wanted Revenge, Calls Aaron Rodgers a Liar

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFC North

In February of this year, upon his second retirement from the NFL, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was very clear about his initial return to the league. He reneged on his first retirement as the Packers opened training camp in 2008, and was traded to the Jets for a draft pick.

Favre told Peter King of Sports Illustrated that he, at least in part, wanted to "stick it to Ted," a reference to current Packers general manager Ted Thompson. On a conference call with Wisconsin reporters Thursday, though, in advance of his first-ever game against the Packers Monday night, Favre denied ever saying that.

Asked about getting revenge against Thompson, Favre made it clear.

"Never was motivated for that reason, so no. That has nothing to do with it."

... "it wasnt about revenge to begin with. ... I felt like I could play. I think I proved that last year. Being released by New York and talking to Minnesota, I still had to have the surgery to play at a high enough level. I eventually decided to have it, so here I am."

Of course, this is the opposite of what he told King. Later, speaking to media in the Twin Cities, Favre tried to throw a cover over his earlier remarks.

He also said he would never play for revenge and that his comments to Peter King in February -- "Part of me coming back last year, yeah, was to stick it to Ted Thompson" -- were ..."about six months, maybe." And that's the only difference.

In late January, Favre's Green Bay successor, Aaron Rodgers, stopped by Super Bowl festivities in Tampa, and he did an interview where he was asked about Favre. Rodgers stated that he had tried to reach out to Favre, but the veteran and future Hall of Famer didn't return his calls.

Favre's version of events is a little different. Again, we go back to the conference call with Packers media.

Why haven't you reached out to Aaron Rodgers: "For what? No one's called me. I talked to Driver every once in a while, and some of the older guys."

If Favre is to be believed, King conveniently misquoted him on the most important part of the story, and Rodgers is apparently a flat-out liar.

It's obvious that Favre is trying to downplay Monday's game as much as possible. Only time will tell if the high emotions still present in this divorce are too much to ignore once the lights go on.

Favre Denies He Ever Wanted Revenge, Calls Aaron Rodgers a Liar originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suicide Pool Solution: Week 3

Brett Pollakoff — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Giants, Packers, Panthers, Ravens, Texans, NFL Gambling

Each week, FanHouse takes a deeper look at the obvious -- and not so obvious -- options for your NFL suicide pool. Standard rules apply: pick one team to win straight up (no point spreads), and each team may only be used once.

If you were fortunate enough to stay away from the Packers and Titans last week, the good news is that you're still alive. The bad news is that you were probably forced to suffer through a shaky first half with the Vikings, or an entire game of misery while rooting in the Redskins.

Thankfully, things look to be a lot easier in Week 3.

With teams like the Ravens, Giants, and Packers all playing against the league's bottom feeders, most should be able to get by unscathed this week. But which of these seemingly lopsided matchups will give you the best chance to win in the weeks to come? Let's take a closer look.

The Ravens will undoubtedly be the majority play this week, and it's tough to find a reason not to take them. After two games, Baltimore has looked like one of the top teams in the league, showing flashes of dominance on both sides of the ball. They're hosting a Cleveland Browns team that has managed just one offensive touchdown over the first two games of the season, and it came two weeks ago.

The Browns managed just six points during their 27-6 shellacking in Denver, while allowing their quarterback to get sacked four times in the second half by the same player -- the Broncos' Elvis Dumervil. Ever heard of the word adjustment, Mr. Mangenius?

When you combine Baltimore's more complete attack with Cleveland's ineptitude, the Ravens are as close as you get to a sure thing in these contests.

But does that mean you take them this week?

If you're just into playing this game week-to-week, then yes, going with Baltimore should take you safely into Week 4. But if you're in it for the long haul, you need to look at the other reasonable options -- along with the rest of the Ravens' schedule -- before making that all-important selection.

The Giants are in Tampa Bay, and the Packers are in St. Louis, and both road favorites should take care of business against two of the worst teams in the league. A good rule to follow in these things, however, is to stay away from picking road teams unless it's absolutely necessary. Let's face it, if a huge underdog is going to rise up and take down a heavy favorite, it's more likely to happen at home than on the road.

The Rams were feisty in Washington last week, and the Bucs showed some fight in Buffalo, after falling behind 17-0 early. With much stronger options on the board, going with a road team this week is an unnecessary risk, with the only upside being the fact that you would get to save the Ravens to use down the road.

But a quick look at Baltimore's schedule shows that they really don't have any easy games at home until Week 14, when they'll host the Detroit Lions. And who knows if you'll even still be around by then, if you choose to go with road favorites when there's an easy pick on the board like the Ravens?

A couple of other options worth mentioning if you're hell-bent on not taking Baltimore include the Cowboys hosting the Panthers, and the Texans hosting the Jaguars.

Jake Delhomme only threw one pick last week -- you know, as opposed to the nine he threw in his previous two games -- and Carolina remained a single score away from Atlanta for most of the game. The Panthers might be slowly righting the ship.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys lead the league in team rushing, but they also gave up 33 points and over 300 yards passing in their loss to the Giants, without getting even a single sack on Eli Manning.

Dallas might win, but all I'm saying is, there are red flags if you're considering this one.

Houston looked great in Tennessee last week, winning a physical shootout and sending the Titans to an 0-2 start. They host a Jaguars team that kept it close against the Colts in Week 1, before they got crushed by the Cardinals in Week 2.

If you must shy away from the Ravens, the Texans appear to be a solid choice. Jacksonville had no answer for Kurt Warner's passing attack. so just imagine what Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are going to be able to do. And the last time these two teams met in Houston (in December of last year), the Texans won by double digits. And if you need one more stat to convince you, chew on this: Houston is 7-2 when wearing their all red uniforms, which they'll be doing this Sunday.

So, yeah. After all of this analysis, I'm afraid that the Ravens are probably the best selection in Week 3. But hey, when you're in the early stages of what you hope will be a season-long contest, it never hurts to take a closer look at all of your available options.

Good luck this week.

Suicide Pool Solution: Week 3 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Bengals Best Packers

JJ Cooper — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Packers, NFL Analysis

As we have done since the FanHouse began, I'll be taking a look every week at some aspect of line play. You can read more features in the series here. Check back every Thursday for a new Between The Lines.

When Marvin Lewis came to Cincinnati he arrived with a reputation as a defensive genius. But Lewis' brilliance quickly seemed to fade once he became a Bengal, much like his former boss Brian Billick's offensive genius in Baltimore. In six seasons in Cincinnati Lewis' Bengals have never finished in the top half of the league in scoring defense.

But thanks to Antwan Odom, Domata Peko, Tank Johnson and Keith Rivers, Lewis is suddenly smart again. They're 1-1 with a win over the Packers and would be 2-0 if not for a flukish tipped pass to Brandon Stokely. Odom not only leads the league in sacks; he's coming off of one of the best days a pass rusher has ever had with five sacks against the Packers.

Defensive ends Robert Geathers (missed five games) and Odom (missed four games) and linebacker Keith Rivers (missed nine games) all missed significant time last year. The Bengals also added linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive end Michael Johnson in the draft and brought in Tank Johnson through free agency. The result is the deepest and most talented front seven that Cincinnati has had in years.

They were matched up last Sunday against a Green Bay offensive line that has some issues. Against the Bears in week one, right tackle Allen Babre was beaten for a pair of sacks, left tackle Chad Clifton was beaten for one sack and the Packers gave up a fourth sack when Rodgers tried to dodge safety Daneal Manning instead of getting rid of the ball.

Green Bay's line difficulties got much worse in the second half of Sunday's game. On the Packers first play from scrimmage in the second half, Clifton sprained an ankle on a running play. No team is well equipped to lose their left tackle, and the Packers are no different. In a situation like that, the two choices are either to plug a new left tackle in or shuffle around the line to get your best five remaining linemen on the field. Green Bay chose to shuffle the line. Left guard Daryn Colledge moved to left tackle, center Jake Spitz moved to left guard and backup center Scott Wells entered the game.

This wasn't a new experience for Colledge--he had moved over from guard to start a game at left tackle and one at right tackle last year as an injury fill-in. But on Sunday, Odom seemed to get into his head.

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Green Bay Packers Photos

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Aaron Rogers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is sacked by defensive end Antwan Odem #98 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Bengals defeated the Packers 31-24. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Rogers;Antwan Odem

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Green Bay Packers Photos

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 20: Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals jumps in the stands to celebrate a touchdown as he does the Lambeau Leap against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Bengals defeated the Packers 31-24.

Scott Boehm, Getty Images

Green Bay Packers Aaron Kampman tries to stop Cincinnati Bengals Andre Caldwell during the second half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers Ryan Grant scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers Aaron Rogers gets off a pass in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers is sacked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers Chad Clifton is injured during the second half against Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers Cullen Jenkins tries to block a pass by Cincinnati Bengals Carson Palmer at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers Jermichael Finley pulls in a pass during the second half against Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers Cullen Jenkins walks off the field after the Packers 31-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco is brought down by Green Bay Packers Aaron Rouse (37) and Jarrett Bush in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, September 20, 2009. (John Klein/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

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The Packers problems actually began while Clifton was still in the game. In the second quarter, Cincinnati brought a five-man pass rush on first and 10 at the Packers 30. As far as play calling, Green Bay would seem to be extremely well set up for the extra rusher, as the Packers went max protect, keeping in two running backs and a tight end to help out the pass blocking.

With eight to block five, the Packers would seem to have the advantage. But the Bengals rush showed some of the disadvantages of going max protect--you often end up with blockers standing around doing nothing.

The Bengals sent an overload blitz from the Packers' left side. Left defensive end Robert Geathers dropped into a short zone which left tight end Donald Lee and right tackle Allen Babre looking for someone to block. Defensive tackle Pat Sims was picked up by right guard Josh Sitton, center Jason Spitz locked up defensive tackle Tank Johnson and left guard Colledge tried to slow down defensive end Jonathan Fanene, who had looped inside to help set up the outside blitz.

Fanene got around Colledge's inside shoulder to get some pressure up the middle. Safety Roy Williams tried to blitz through the left tackle/left guard gap left vacated by Fanene's twist, but he was picked up by both Clifton and running back Ryan Grant.

All of that got the Bengals what they wanted -- Maualuga coming off the edge with only a fullback to beat. Despite having three more blockers than the Bengals had rushers, Cincinnati had managed to get one of its best athletes lined up against fullback Corey Hall. That happened because the max protect left two Packers blockers blocking no one, while the only double team was a waste--two Packers blocking a safety.

Maualuga stutter stepped as he neared Hall, caught Hall lunging forward trying to make the block, did a quick side step and was by him to nail Rodgers from the backside for a sack and a forced fumble.

That sack showed how the Bengals can now create some mismatches with blitzes. The rest of the five sacks were much more straightforward. On four of Odom's five sacks, Cincinnati sent only four rushers. Odom lined up inside at defensive tackle on his first sack and sorted his way through traffic to make a sack that had to be blamed on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers -- he held the ball for 3.6 seconds before Odom got to him.

Heading into the half, Green Bay had given up two sacks, but they were tied 21-21 and seemed to be in good shape. Clifton's injury is where it all started to fall apart, and the blame can be shared between the offensive line and Rodgers.

Rodgers has excellent mobility for a quarterback and unlike many QBs he's comfortable throwing on the run. On multiple plays against the Bengals, Rodgers showed that he could throw accurately without ever setting his feet. But that also leads Rodgers to hold the ball longer than most quarterbacks in hopes that he can make a big play. On the first two sacks of the second half, Rodgers held the ball for 3.92 and 4.18 seconds. When you're playing with a resorted offensive line, that's asking too much.

On Odom's second sack, Colledge got a good initial punch on Odom, but he wasn't able to lock him up. Eventually Odom slipped off the block, but Rodgers had time to get rid of the ball. The next sack was a combination of poor play design and Rodgers tendency to hold onto the ball. Odom was initially blocked by tight end Lee, but Lee then released him to run a pass route. That left tailback Ryan Grant to try to block Odom -- a mismatch the Bengals will take every time. Odom slipped off of Grant's block quickly, but once again Rodgers had time to get rid of the ball.

Even though at this point Colledge had not really had any awful blown assignments at left tackle, it looks like Odom beat him mentally. Odom's final two sacks were completely Colledge's fault. In both cases, Colledge worried so much about Odom beating him to the outside that he was left vulnerable to a combination move. Odom would fire to the outside at the snap, and let Colledge hurry to try to keep up. As soon as Colledge had gotten a little off balance, Odom gave a little crossover step and beat Colledge to the inside. Both of these sacks were completely on Colledge -- Rodgers had less than 2.5 sacks from snap to sack in both cases.

Odom needs only one more sack to equal his career high in sacks. Obviously he won't keep up his current pace, but the Bengals now have enough pass rushers on the defensive line to keep teams from focusing on Odom. And Odom's success isn't a fluke -- he also had a pair of quarterback hurries against Green Bay as well. Fellow defensive end Robert Geathers also had a hurry and rookie defensive end Michael Johnson showed better football instincts than he showed at Georgia Tech.

The depth at defensive end has helped give Odom additional opportunities. Two of his seven sacks have come when Cincinnati has slid him inside to defensive tackle in pass rushing situations while Johnson and Geathers played defensive end.

Cincinnati may not end up leading the league in sacks like they do now, but they aren't the pushover they have been in past years. Green Bay won't have Clifton back for at least a week, which is a cause for concern. While Babre played better this past week, Green Bay goes into next week's game having to worry about how well Babre will play at right tackle and how well Colledge will play at left tackle.

Between the Lines: Bengals Best Packers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packers' Defense Asking for Trouble

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Coaching

There were massive changes made on the Green Bay Packers coaching staff after 2008 -- a season in which the team went 6-10, seemingly bottomed out on defense with a generally putrid season, and somehow couldn't score enough points with a highly-rated quarterback and potent offense to make up for all of it.

New coordinator Dom Capers brought promises of change with him, as he installed the 3-4 defense. However, an alarming performance Sunday at home against Cincinnati showed that Capers and his new staff still have a lot of work, as they try to pull the players out of a funk that threatens to ruin yet another football season in Wisconsin.

While the Chicago Bears were weighed down by an inaccurate quarterback and non-existent running game in a Week 1 loss to the Packers, the Bengals had no such problems in Week 2. Their 31-24 win was centered on a couple major factors.

For starters, the Packers were simply unable to provide adequate protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, no matter who was working up front. Starting left tackle Chad Clifton was injured, and his replacement was left guard Daryn Colledge. While Colledge has the ready-made excuse that he has prepared to work at left guard -- and that's quite a change to make during a game -- head coach Mike McCarthy was extremely displeased with the overall play of the line.

"Our pass protection is a negative right now," McCarthy said Sunday. "First of all, running the football will help that. I understand that, but when you set a plan, you put things into your plan, they are done with good reason and with the focus of putting players in the position to be successful. And we're not protecting the quarterback very well right now."

Rodgers has been sacked 13 times over the season's first two games, the most sacks allowed by Green Bay to start a season since 1992, Mike Holmgren's first year at the helm.

As McCarthy mentioned, the Packers' struggle running the ball plays a role. McCarthy's playcalling also has to be held accountable. Under McCarthy, the Packers have become known for abandoning the run far too easily, and far too often. Teams are fully aware that there is a good chance the Packers will flat-out quit giving the ball to Ryan Grant if they can slow him down early in the game. Once this happens, they can pin their ears back and go after Rodgers. Antwan Odom did just that Sunday, sacking Rodgers five times in the Bengals' 31-24 win.

A frustrated head coach addressed the protection issues further on Monday.

"The reality of it is we have fundamental breakdowns," McCarthy said. "As we talked about as a staff today, we could have had nine-man protections on a couple of those where we flat-out just get beat, one individual gets beat fundamentally, and it causes a sack and a quarterback hit that we need to eliminate from our play."

The Packers' other major problem comes on defense, where players spent much of Sunday repeating the same kind of mistakes that ruined their 2008 season.

While Cedric Benson deserves plenty of credit for his big afternoon, there were errors made all over the field to help him out. The Packers were very poor in gap control, allowing Benson to hit a hole and get his legs moving. The tackling was less than stellar, as guys tried to take Benson down with arm tackles while failing to string plays out to limit his running room.

Until the Packers' defense proves they can defend run plays that don't go right up the middle, teams will continue to attack them on the perimeter. Having a solid nose tackle and decent players at middle linebacker won't help this team if they can't be better at stringing the play out to the sideline.

The Bengals hit on nine of 14 third downs in the game, much of that being a product of a poor pass rush and even worse downfield coverage. While Al Harris and Charles Woodson both seemed to play as well as usual, the Bengals picked on nickel cornerback Tramon Williams, along with safeties Aaron Rouse and Nick Collins. Once Collins went down (McCarthy said Monday his injury doesn't appear to be serious), Jarrett Bush filled in, unable to make things much better.

While the coverage struggled, the front seven made it too easy for Carson Palmer. The only way they could generate pressure was to bring extra people, and all that did was give Palmer gaping holes in the secondary to attack.

Other problems have plagued Green Bay, including drops by normally-reliable receivers like Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Special teams coverage was a near-disaster on Sunday, but was generally decent against the Bears. However, the play by the offensive line and the defense are primary areas of concern for McCarthy and his staff. The team has to respond quickly, as they head to St. Louis Sunday for their first road test of the season.

Simply put, Green Bay must clean these areas up soon, or it's going to be a long season.

Packers' Defense Asking for Trouble originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sack-Happy Odom, Bengals Recover From Heartbreaking Loss

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Packers, AFC North, NFC North

Even though they won last week, the Green Bay Packers knew they had some things to clean up, especially on the offensive line.

Despite a gut-wrenching defeat to Denver, the Cincinnati Bengals had to like the effort they got out of their defense. After all, the Broncos were held in check virtually the entire day. Because of that, there was plenty of reason for the Bengals to be confident as they visited Green Bay Sunday afternoon.

The Bengals sure played confidently. They virtually dominated the Packers the entire game, riding five sacks by defensive end Antwan Odom and a superb running effort by Cedric Benson to a 31-24 win.

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The Packers are the team left to scratch their heads after this game. Outside of two first-half interceptions, and a frantic but futile rally in the final two minutes, the Packers were never truly in this game. The Bengals offensive line generated great push throughout the afternoon, blowing open gaping holes for Benson, while keeping quarterback Carson Palmer relatively clean.

Odom, however, was the star. The Packers tried two different players at left tackle, as Daryn Colledge took over for starter Chad Clifton after the latter suffered an injury. Neither could do nearly enough to protect Aaron Rodgers. Odom put Rodgers on his back five times, tying a club record for a single game. Rodgers may have put himself in some bad situations with poor reactions to the oncoming rush, but the line did a generally horrible job of protecting him.

For the Packers, it was an all-too-familiar kind of day. It probably reminded their fans of virtually every loss the team suffered in 2008. The defense was a sieve, allowing the Bengals to convert nine of 14 third downs, while only sacking Palmer twice. The offense didn't make enough plays, in large part because they couldn't run the football or consistently give Rodgers time to throw.

One of the more annoying traits of Mike McCarthy during his four-year tenure as Packers head coach has been his tendency to abandon the run long before he should. This was the case again Sunday. No, the run-blocking wasn't great at any point, and Ryan Grant definitely struggled. However, the unwillingness of McCarthy to even try through most of the second half only allowed the Bengals to focus more and more on battering Rodgers.

During the crazy final minutes, Rodgers drove the Packers in position for a Mason Crosby field goal. The 45-yard kick came on second down, because the Packers knew they still had to get the ball back on an onside kick if they were to have a chance. Crosby's onside kick was recovered by the Packers, but Rodgers ran out of time trying to lead the Packers to the end zone.

Both teams are 1-1, and the Packers need to resist the temptation to head back to the drawing board on defense. If there is belief in the players and coaching staff, then this must be looked at as a bad day at the office. With division rival Minnesota off to a 2-0 start on the road, it's a really bad time for a bad day. However, it's too late to change things now.

Sack-Happy Odom, Bengals Recover From Heartbreaking Loss originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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