September 2008 - Posts

  • Packers-Bucs: The Sad In-Game Blog

    Aaron Rodgers. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel4th Quarter

    3:10 p.m,.  :46  Packers' 4th Drive
    Ball goes on downs to Tampa Bay after Flynn can't get it done on a four-and-out.

    3:05 p.m.  1:58  Bucs' 3rd Drive
    Buccaneers 30, Packers 21
    Graham goes to the GB 1 yard line and pretty much ends it.  Adding injury to insult: Collins looked like he got hurt.

    Graham finishes off the Packers

    2:59 p.m.  2:12  Packers' 2nd Drive
    The pooch directional kick goes out of bounds and Rodgers comes in with the ball at the GB 40.

    Rodgers INT'd by Gaines Adams as he got destroyed by a rushing lineman.  Nothing he could do. 

    2:56 p.m.  2:26  Bucs' 2nd Drive
    Buccaneers 23, Packers 21
    Bryant 24 yd FG
    The drive starts at the GB 36 thanks to a bad punt, and the D-tackles are doing nothing as Graham goes seven yards on 1st down. 

    Rodgers is out of the game thanks to the shoulder injury which he suffered while trying to scramble for a 1st down.

    Graham ran for a first and ANOTHER DB injury - Aaron Rouse, knee injury.   Griese scrambles for a first down at the 13 yard line, and Griese proves he's a non-athletic statue who can scramble for key yards.

    As time continues to drain in the game, under five minutes, 3rd-5 at the 7 - stuffed short of the 1st down.  Not only was Bishop's hit big, but it means a score comes earlier and gives Flynn/Rodgers/whoever more time with 2 time outs left.

    2:47 p.m.  8:30  Packers' 2nd Drive
    The Matt Flynn era begins with Rodgers on the sidelines and Flynn doing NOTHING. 

    2:43 p.m.  9:40  Buccaneers' 2nd Drive
    They're running a lot of Earnest Graham to try to milk the clock.  Cool.  Rest Rodgers' arm more, please? 

    There has got to be a serious butterfingers problem on a big 20 yard completion where Griese avoids Jenkins...and Jenkins looks hurt.  That is not what we want, either.  He's hurt.

    Pass interference on Clayton - but he really didn't do much.  We got away with one.

    2:29 p.m.  14:33  Buccaneers' 1st Drive
    Packers 21, Buccaneers 20
    Woodson 58 INT return TD
    Shoulder injury on Rodgers - "questionable" - but Wayne seemed to think Rodgers said "I'm OK" on the sidelines.

    Why is Michael Clayton matched up on A.J. Hawk?  A crossing pattern to get into GB territory. 

    CHARLES WOODSON!   THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SAVING OUR HIDES!  He took the ball right from Warrick Dunn on an INT and went to the house.

    That helps Rodgers rest his shoulder.

    3rd Quarter

    2:25 p.m.  0:00  Buccaneers' 3rd Drive
    Rodgers got hurt on the TD pass - Matt Flynn coming in?  PLEASE, no!  A right-arm issue, but he warms up and is OK.

    Bryant was double covered on a deep pass...Larry: "Say what?"  Called on Aaron Rouse. 

    2:21 p.m.  1:46  Packers' 3rd Drive
    Buccaneers 20, Packers 14
    Rodgers-Jennings 48 TD pass
    Ryan Grant has GOT to get better blocking, because Chris Hovan just pushed Ryan Grant back like a blocking sled on 2nd and 10.  3rd-16?  Jennings on the slant!!!!  HUGE TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!  That changes games, people.  He's "just fast enough" to be the slowest game-breaker in the NFL!

    2:18 p.m.  4:02  Bucs' 3rd Drive
    Nick Collins must come from the Julius "The Doctor" Erving and Michael Jordan school of hops, because he showed about a 900' vertical to INT Griese.

    2:15 p.m.  4:36  Packers' 3rd Drive
    Thanks for the late hit to, at last, give Green Bay good field position when they need it, BIG TIME.  GB 40 for first down.  3rd and 8...Rodgers has to scramble, but Elbert Mack stops him two yards short of the yellow line.

    2:10 p.m.  6:00  Packers' 2nd Drive
    Buccaneers 20, Packers 7
    Phelps 38 yd fumble return TD
    One play, Grant fumble, Jermaine Phelps returns the fumble for the score.  What is this, Ahman Green-itis?  Nope...Derrick Brooks just hit the ball with his helment.  BETTER PROTECTION, Grant!

    2:07 p.m.  6:29  Bucs' 2nd Drive
    1st and 20 - WILLIAMS!  If you just hold on to the ball on the near pick you dropped, it's a touchdown.  We are AGAIN PROVING we cannot tackle Warrick Dunn.  He has 84 combined yards already.  3rd down INT - penalty of a late hit on Aaron Kampman?  What are you thinking, ref?  Are you watching Brewers-Cubs or something?

    Johnny Jolly!  You must be hungry...on first down, eating Warrick Dunn for lunch.  Nick Collins on a nice 3rd down stop. 

    1:56 p.m. 9:43  Packers' 1st Drive
    1st down - uh, will you ever, Aaron, throw to another WR besides Jennings?  Nice play to Greg on 2nd down, but not enough for a first, and a stuffed run kills Green Bay again.  The ball bounces at the two on the punt but Patrick Lee can't bat it out of the end zone.

    1:51 p.m. 12:22  Buccaneers' 1st Drive
    Bucs start their first drive in a much worse position than the average - the GB 47 - in the first half.  Not for Green Bay - the TB 24.  Well, maybe not - Crosby gets him near the TB 45.  OK, special teams.  We don't like kickers making tackles.

    Graham is exploding off the line, thanks to a gaping hole.  20 yards, on 1st down, and Ryan Pickett again is doing NOTHING defensively on the line.  Repeat of last week.  Same thing on the Dunn run left side.

    Why the heck are they exploding cannons on runs into the red zone?  Annoying.

    Tramon Williams Johnny on the spot and he's got a caravan before going out of bounds - the pass through the hands of Clayton.  Explode a cannon for that!!!

    2nd Quarter

    1:23 p.m. 1:32  Packers' 3rd Drive
    After a Barrett Ruud sack...BRANDON JACKSON you are the lifesaver - 18 yard gain to produce a 3rd and short.  A third and short that Jennings butterfingers - HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?  They're going for it on 4th and 10 with :10 left??  It has to go to the sideline - out of bounds to Jennings - Tampa Bay gets the ball. 

    1:23 p.m. 1:07  Bucs' 3rd Drive
    Bryant 36 FG
    A heck of a stop by Cullen Jenkins on 1st down.  2nd Down - Collins, you HAVE to hold on to that overthrown pass!!  That's what makes great defensive backs instead of average ones.  But Earnest Graham gained a first down at the GB 21, which makes me sick - though it's eased when Jeremy Trueblood gets the false start to set up a 1st and 15.

    Can we stop Warrick Dunn?  Ryan Pickett and Aaron Kampman had them wrapped up and couldn't. 

    But thanks to another Packers stop, Bryant has to kick a 36 yard field goal.

    1:12 p.m. 5:27  Packers' 3rd Drive
    Great gain by Jennings on a pass from Rodgers across the field - the first BIG play this team has had and they needed it.  A sack by Wilkerson, though, partially negated the big play.

    Then, Rodgers made his first costly mistake of the season - an INT, overthrowing Driver, to Barrett Ruud.

    1:06 p.m. 6:47  Packers' 2nd Drive
    Matt Bryant 23 FG
    Well, the Bucs seem to be using Earnest Graham more to try and run down the clock and make the Packers' defenders tired.  And it seems like Nick Barnett is feeling the effects - if that's a proper excuse for Barnett's missed tackle on Warrick Dunn that extended his gain another 10 yards into the red zone.

    Love the end zone pass coverage by A.J. Hawk on Jerramy Stevens to force the 4th down and field goal.

    Pray for Matt Bryant.  He lost his child this week in what seemed to be a freak accident.  Regardless of whether he's in another uniform, it's a tragedy.

    1:00 p.m. 11:13  Packers' 2nd Drive
    Desmond Bishop gets nailed for a personal foul call, and...oh no...Will Blackmon is injured?  Do I need to get in training to play d-back for the Packers???  This is getting insane!

    That penalty and a horrific 1st down run forces a three-and-out that puts the Bucs in prime field position - and as a matter of fact, they BARELY avoided a punt block for a safety. 

    12:52 p.m. 12:09  Bucs' 1st Drive
    Packers 7, Buccaneers 7
    Griese-Alex Smith 9 yd TD pass
    A flag later than the service we often get when we go get fast food near Radio City...Charles Woodson for illegal contact.  I think those fast food restaurants trained the refs.

    2nd down and 7 - see what happens when blockers get tied up by Pickett and Jolly?  Linebackers like "Badabinga" Poppinga come to the runing back!

    3rd down - Bryant beat Blackmon this time on the slant for a first down. 

    1st-goal, Michael Montgomory had a chance to tackle Alex Smith and, as Wayne put it - whiffed. 

    12:44 p.m.  14:51   Packers' 1st Drive
    A pass through the hands of Brandon Jackson leads to Derrick Brooks INT'ing Rodgers.  Not his fault, but the stat sheet doesn't care.

    1st Quarter

    12:41 p.m.  0:00   Packers' 3rd Drive
    3rd-down - Hey!  Donald Lee can catch when the ball is thrown at his numbers!  Nice first down catch in traffic.

    We don't love 1st down holding penalties...but Ryan Grant got good yardage to save a 9 yard loss before a 2 yard gain - and Colledge and Phillips go fighting.

    12:35 p.m.  2:42   Bucs' 2nd Drive
    1st-10 to start the drive: the theme continues.  Rodgers hit Donald Lee in the head.  This time, Brian Griese hits a ref in the head.  The ref has a little less advantage - no helmet to bounce off of.  But a 3rd down holding penalty on Charles Woodson keeps the drive alive.

    Antonio Bryant turned Nick Collins and Tramon Williams into Tampa Bay toast, but Griese overcooked the throw and missed him.  It could have been curtains.

    Warrick Dunn still has moves, still is quick in the hole despite being older than 99% of biblical characters, as he proved on a 2nd down play near midfield.  But on the next play, Charles Woods made another awesome play one-on-one against Maurice Stovall.  Woodson is such a tough stud besides being an awesome athlete.

    12:26 p.m.  6:00   Packers' 2nd Drive
    Another 3rd and 1 - and Ryan Grant made another great first down.  We like these third and ones, so as to not allow to allow Rodgers to get his head cut off by Tampa Bay's great speed rush.

    Another 3rd, this time 5, and for the second time, Rodgers had to simply throw a football away or avoid a sack because Tampa Bay's secondary is playing spectacular.

    12:19 p.m.  8:58   Bucs' 1st Drive
    Tramon Williams and Johnny Jolly were the heroes on this defensive three-and-out.  Jolly stuffed a 2nd down run, and Williams showed he was up to the task on 3rd down with blanket coverage.

    12:13 p.m.  10:42   Packers' 1st Drive
    Green Bay 7, Tampa Bay 0
    Rodgers-Jennings 25 yd TD pass
    A great Blackmon return got them into Tampa territory, but a Ryan Grant run got them just short.  Even if it doesn't work on 4th...good to go for it...uh, did Rodgers get the sneak for the first?  (That's his 39,288th sneak this season, seemingly.)  By half a football!!!!  Phew.

    (2nd down at TB 49) Let's see, Donald Lee, when you see a pass coming for you right at your head, you might want to put your hands up a little faster than you did, so it doesn't hit you in la cabeza.  (Spanish teachers, feel free to help me with how I spell mi espanol.)

    Jordy Nelson, you apparaently know how to catch better than Lee did.  Thank you.

    Ronde Barber, you apparently don't have the panache of your brother Tiki , nor his ability to avoid slipping when Greg Jennings burns you for a TD!

    11:53 a.m.
    Injury report:
    Packers: S Atari Bigby (hamstring), FB Korey Hall (knee), CB Al Harris (spleen), WR James Jones (knee), RB Kregg Lumpkin(hamstring)
    Buccaneers: FB B.J. Askey (hamstring), WR Joey Galloway (foot), G Devin Joseph (foot) 

  • Packers vs. Buccaneers: What To Watch For

    Ryan Grant. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal SentinelHow about a recovery?  The Packers need a big recovery, not just a bounce back after the debacle against Dallas.

    Here's how they can do it:

    When the Packers have the ball: Healthy back, healthy O-line, healthy time of possession. 

    At last, the Packers have their full arsenal back on both the offensive line and the running back slot with Ryan Grant.  Turn him loose, especially with draws and screens to make the Bucs' defensive speed work against them.  That, and keep the ball in your hands to make the Bucs' defense tired and frustrated in the fourth quarter while the Packers offense is tired but successful.

    When the Buccaneers have the ball: Front four domination. 

    The Packers' defensive backs belong in Bellin Hospital, not a football field.  No Al Harris, probably no Atari Bigby, and Charles Woodson and Aaron Rouse not 100%.  Coverage sacks won't happen.  Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly must tie O-linemen up on 1st and 2nd down and let the Packers' top-flight linebackers fly to the football and create 3rd and longs.  Then Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins and company MUST own those downs to take the pressure off the secondary.

    Who wins and why? Packers 24, Buccaneers 21. 

    Tampa Bay came back on Chicago last week because the Bears can't score points.  The Packers can, and even against a great defense, they'll do enough to steal the win in the Gulf heat and humidity.  Look for a buzzer-beating "dagger" from Mason Crosby.

      

  • A Hole That Dallas Can Drive A Truck to the Super Bowl Through

    Marion  Barber. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal SentinelOn January 12, 1997 in the NFC Championship Game against Carolina, Edgar Bennett ran the football into the end zone with, as Jim Irwin described, "A hole on the right side that you could drive a truck to the Super Bowl through."

    About 34 times, the Packers became victims of the Cowboys' offensive line that produced the same result.

    28 rushes, 6.6 yards per carry, 217 yards on the ground.

    Only three teams have beaten the Packers since Dec. 3, 2006: the Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

    Each of them, including Dallas (twice), did it the same way - owning the offensive line of scrimmage.

    Including Jason Witten, the Cowboys are 115 pound short of a ton, and they produced a ton of yardage between Packers defenders.

    You can bet Marion Barber and Felix Jones took advantage.

    Barber: 28 carries, 142 yards. Felix Jones - 76 yards and a slip to the outside that turned into a 60 yard early backbreaker.

    This isn't good for those who want to place the Packers as a potential Super Bowl team.

    It's proven that teams who can control the point of attack with their lines win.

    The Cowboys did, all night long.

    Proof? Consider the Packers' defensive line had just 10 tackles.

    Two starting safeties had 15 combined.

    That's five more safeties by two less players.

    That's how you lose football games, by letting the running back get to the third level of defense.

    I guess the Packers got too caught up by the pass-happy nature of last week and forgot the Cowboys can run the ball.

    Additionally, I think the Cowboys respected the Packers' passing game too much for Green Bay's own good, and decided to run the ball, making sure to keep the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hands.

    When it finally got into his hands in the second half, the Packers basically had to throw from behind, and when they did, the offensive line didn't have a chance, all despite the face that the world-class pass rush of DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis didn't have anything more than three tackles all night.

    The rest of the Boys' defense did the dominating.

    What does all this prove?

    You can talk about the Packers' great skill position players on offense, and the mobile linebackers like Barnett and Hawk, and a growing and better secondary.

    None of it matters if the line wearing Green and Gold can't do a darn thing on either side.

    Or if the other line is opening up holes big enough for...ah, you get the point.

    The scary thing is, Dallas got that point...and they may be driving that truck to the Super Bowl this year, at this pace.

  • Cowboys 27, Packers 16 - The In-Game Blog

    4th Quarter

    10:35 p.m. 0:10  Packers' 3rd Drive
    Driver tried the Cal-Stanford miracle play - Driver nailed for a second forward pass. 

    Later on, Brandon Jackson rushes out of bounds five yards short of the first down.  Final nail in the proverbial coffin.

    10:23 p.m.  2:11  Cowboys' 3rd Drive
    A miss on the onside kick with a recovery one yard short of the 10 yard requirement...and you can put it to bed.

    Going for it on fourth down and 8?  Isn't that rubbing it in?  Finally, they stop the Romo to Witten Machine.

    10:19 p.m.  2:11  Packers' 3rd Drive
    Dallas 27, Green Bay 16
    Three TD's in 5:34?

    Well, nice two-minute offense - four straight completions by Rodgers...five straight with Jennings' catch. 

    Jordy Nelson with a couple nice catches, as the Packers kept moving the chains on a pride-or-let's-make-a-miracle-drive.

    Rodgers does the QB sneak for the score.

    10:07 p.m. 5:34  Cowboys' 2nd Drive
    Colin Cole was held during Bennett's 37-yard completion - not called.  Hmm.  Wonder.  Barber blasting past the line of scrimmage again.  Hmm, wonder.  Cowboys destroying on time of possesion.  Hmm, wonder.

    Barber must own the record for 5-10 yard runs in one game ever.  This is pathetic.

    Barber, though, with Will Blackmon producing a takeaway.  A rare moment of brilliance against a briiliant Cowboys offense.  First down at the GB 13.

    10:00 p.m. 8:44  Packers' 2nd Drive
    Well, we can tell so far the Packers are out of their league right now.  On a 3rd and 10, with the Packers having to throw the whole time, it's a three-and-out after a Nelson tip incompletion.

    9:54 p.m. 9:09  Cowboys' 1st Drive
    Dallas 27, Green Bay 9
    Romo-Austin 52 TD pass

    Now the Cowboys are trying to drip, drip the clock.  Felix Jones, 7 yards, first down.  When did we ever become this weak run-stopping team?  I guess when the Cowboys are involved.

    Third down?  Another completion to Witten, another first down.  What is this, four of these?  Romo had his eyes on him all the time and the Packers couldn't stop it.  Just makes me sick.

    So does a 12 yard Marion Barber run for another first down.  This is getting ugly.

    Owens' 2nd drop tonight!  Haha...Romo hitting him in the hands.  Worst spot for the obliterator.  Then a very nice intentional grounding penalty, his 2nd.  No Cowboys receiver in the 920 area code when he threw it.

    Third and 20 at the Dallas 48: Caught by Miles Austin.  Game, set, match...thanks to Romo's spectacular throw and Miles Austin pushing on Tramon Williams.  What can we say?  Ugh.

    9:43 p.m. 13:06  Packers' 1st Drive
    An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty forces the Packers to the 13...not smart...so the Packers have SERIOUS work to do.

    Another 3rd down failure - Driver slant pattern tipped by Newman.  Time's running out, boys.

    3rd Quarter

    9:25 p.m.  2:43  Packers' 2nd Drive
    Great returns aoften get blown by late flags when it's on a change of direction...holding on Allen Barbre.

    Now, Rodgers may have to force things at a time he doesn't want to, but the running game isn't going.

    Then, Donald Lee goes early on the line, and on a 3rd and 12, Rodgers gets sacked by a great Dallas line - Ratliff against Moll.  Folks, too many three and outs and it's death for the Packers.

    9:16 p.m.  2:53  Cowboys' 2nd Drive
    Cowboys 20, Packers 9
    Time for a stop...but there's no stopping Witten, seemingly today, on a six-yard gain. 

    Romo wide open to Miles Austin to the 3 yard line and Collins slow to get up. 

    The Packers will be VERY slow to get up after Barber blasts up the middle for a 3 yard touchdown.  This hurts, big time.

    9:13 p.m.  5:58  Packers' 1st Drive
    Cowboys 13, Packers 9
    Mason Crosby 33 FG
    Hmmm...is Brandon Jackson our answer to Marion the Barbarian?  Action Jackson going nine yards, seven yards, but then Grant comes in and gets a couple attitude runs.  I think they're stealing the Dallas playbook. 

    So is the bomb to Driver to 50 yards!  Pac-Man, you've just been blown up!

    But on 3rd down, traces of last year with an Anthony Henry blitz for a sack - forcing another field goal.  Where's this world class offense?

    9:04 p.m.  12:43  Cowboys' 1st Drive
    Marion the Barbarian continues to blast through the line and gain big yards.  Sadly, the more he gets rolling, the frothier he gets, the more he gets rolling.  The Packers have to get Ryan Pickett moving to tie up blockers.

    As of 13:40 in the game, we're trailling 165-35 in rushing yards.

    Whoa...a three and out?  Thanks, D, for stopping Barber and Romo throwing wide.  Momentum shift?

    2nd Quarter

    8:44 p.m.  0:11  Cowboys' 3rd Drive
    Dallas 13, Green Bay 6
    Nick Folk 39 FG
    I think the Packers are using Hawk now as a mirror on Barber, at least the first two plays of the drive. 

    3rd down: Jiminy Christmas, can you stop Witten?  1st down, 22 yard gain, and he split the safeties for that one.

    Another third down and short?  13 yard line.  Barber is simply unstoppable.

    Second inside the four yard line?  ROMO FUMBLE?  Jenkins forced it...but who got it?  Colin Cole had the football, but after Flozell Adams sat on him, the ball must have squirted loose and Adams got it.

    Forces a field goal near the end of the half, a half which Dallas has absolutely dominated:

    8:30 p.m.  4:29  Packers' 3rd Drive
    Interesting pop-fly kick by Dallas that forces the Packers in back of their own 15 yard line.  87 yard drive, anyone?

    Another punt, and thankfully - Rodgers nearly pulled a Favre and threw an ill-advised pass into desparation double coverage.

    8:25 p.m.  6:04  Cowboys' 2nd Drive
    Felix Jones 60 yd TD run
    Can Dallas reach the end zone first, to the chagrin of Packers fans?  Yes...after three plays, Felix Jones switches on the afterburners and says goodbye.  Jason Witten with a great block on a linebacker.

    8:19 p.m.  8:08  Packers' 2nd Drive
    1st Down:, DAL 29 Another proof of Rodgers sometimes being smarter than Favre...unloading an uncompletable pass into the Dallas bench area. 

    Good pass coverage deep twice forces short throws, along with a nice holding penalty.  Punting time.  Oh well.

    Punt return: a field "littered" with flags on Dallas.

    8:13 p.m. 10:06  Cowboys' 1st Drive
    Tramon Williams is now in corner as Al Harris is recovering from cramping.  T.O. might give Williams a cramp or worse.  Watch Dallas try to exploit that.

    2nd down, DAL 24: Barber with the fumble after a catch - Tony Curtis spot on with the recovery after the hit by Chillar, but it's a first down.  Some like it hot, I guess.  (You non-classic movie fans should look up that title.  Jack Lemmon in drag - funny.  But I digress.)

    Marion Barber already has 50 yards rushing.  Not what we were expecting.

    3rd down at the 50: Kampman and Cullen Jenkins scooping up the goodies on a coverage sack!  I guess it helps when Woodson doesn't get called for defensive holding for snagging Owens' jersey in his fingers.

    8:07 p.m. 12:38  Packers' 1st Drive
    Packers 6, Cowboys 3
    Crosby 37 FG
    Well, we'd like it more if Rodgers can hold on to the ball, but he at least gets a bad snap back to end the first quarter. 

    An insane play by Rodgers for 14  yards and a first down to Driver in a Favre-like manner - but again, one that wasn't in danger of being intercepted.  He must have learned a thing or two from the legend of Kiln.

    3rd and 4 at the Dallas 20: Jones upends Jones - Pac-Man froggers James to deflect and force an incompletion.  Oh well, we'll at least have the lead in this surprising field-goal game.

    1st Quarter

    8:00 p.m. :01  Cowboys' 2nd Drive
    Stopping Felix Jones, Pac-Man Jones, Tom Jones, or any other Cowboys returner short of the 20 is ALWAYS an advantage with that spectacular offense.  (Is it unusual to be loved by anyone?)  The Packers did it this time - 18 yard line.

    On two consecutive plays, Nick Barnett became the defensive focal point.  When the Cowboys couldn't block him, he stuffed Barber,  When they did, Barber got the first down.  Watch that tonight.

    Cullen Jenkins?  Why did you tackle Barber after he already hit the deck at the 36 yard line?  You're claiming he wasn't down?  Oh, thank goodness the refs agreed with you. 

    Jason Witten makes a third down catch...but Larry makes a great point.  Give him the six-yard square out, as long as he doesn't split safeties.

    Crayton WR pass to Owens?  Beautiful double coverage, and Owens could have been called for offensive pass interference.  Way to stay at home, Woodson and Collins!

    ANOTHER 3rd down and 8 at the 21: another completion to Witten.  Maybe that six-yard square out that he turned to 10 yards isn't such a good idea to give up.

    Great sack on 1st down by Kampman as the Packers did a great job defending the key pass.

    3rd down and 13...INT!  Collins with a great job...nice run back....whoa...to the Cowboys 42!!!  That was a Favre-like forced pass that Romo threw there, and Collins took an easy pick.

    7:42 p.m.  8:02  Packers' 2nd Drive
    Packers 3, Cowboys 3
    Mason Crosby 36 yd FG
    Great play on the first snap to quickly respond and snag momentum with the completion to Jennings for 26 yards to the 48...that slant play should be there all night.  Six yard runs by Grant all night should make up for the fumble and give Rodgers the lack of pressure that he needs tonight. 

    3rd down in Dallas territory - Jennings again!  Running him in that slot on slants and hooks is REALLY there all night.

    1st down at the DAL 11: Wayne: "(Grant) was eaten up by Tank Johnson."  Most human beings would be eaten by that dude."  3rd down: I don't believe it!  The Cowboys actually produced a coverage sack!   The Cowboys can cover something on a rare occasion.  Cue Mason Crosby...big one.

    7:30 p.m.  13:14  Cowboys' 1st Drive
    Dallas 3, Green Bay 0
    Nick Folk 26 FG
    A T.O. drop helps on 2nd down...nice to know he'd dependable for that.  3rd down...Romo hits Owens for a non-first down.  Ain't that nice of the Cowboys to help us not get too hurt by Ryan Grant's miscue.  Let's hope their generosity bites them in the Cowboy boot.

    7:26 p.m.  14:39  Packers' 1st Drive
    Oh no....Ryan Grant had the same fumbleitis he had against Seattle, and Pac-Man Jones recovered and advanced it to the 15.  Dallas will take a LOT more advantage than Seattle did.

    Pregame

    7:04 p.m.
    Who's out tonight for Green Bay?
    S Atari Bigby (hamstring)
    FB Korey Hall (knee)
    WR Ruvell Martin (finger)
    G Josh Sitton (knee)

  • Lombardi To Roll Over in Grave over Impending Packers-Cowboys Shootout...Wait, He Coached One!

    Vince Lombardi in the 1966 NFL Championship Game. | Photo: APWe're four days away from what promises to be one of the great shootouts in recent NFL annals when Aaron Rodgers, the deepest receiving corps in the NFL and the first-place Packers host Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and the more-than-a-point-a-minute Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on a night where they may need to borrow the air traffic controller from Austin Straubel Airport.

    Cue the references to Lynn Dickey to Lofton and JJ back in the early '80s.

    Cue the comparisons to Marino to the Marks Brothers (Clayton and Duper).

    Cue the recollections of Dan Fouts and the SuperChargers of the 80's.

    Cue the days of Lombardi and Starr chucking it up and down the field....

    ....wait. Lombardi and Starr chucking it up and down the field?

    When did that happen?

    In one of the great NFL championship game against the Cowboys.

    You mean the Ice Bowl? The game with the interminably long, mainly boring defensive struggle with Bart Starr getting sacked eight times and an impotent Cowboys offense doing nothing except an option pass?

    Nope.

    The game played 364 days before, in bright sunshine and warmth at the Cotton Bowl, the home of the Texas State Fair.

    Bart Starr and the Tom Landry-designed Cowboys "offense of the future" dueled in a very un-Run-To-Daylight shootout to decide the NFL's representative in Super Bowl I.

    It's a game that gets lost in the frozen shuffle when compared to the Ice Bowl, but a game that might have been just as entertaining.

    It was actually a season where Starr's backfield arsenal wasn't as strong as the halcyon days of Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor. Both had the worst seasons of their careers under Lombardi.

    But Starr was spectacular that year. For every interception he threw, he delivered three touchdown passes of longer than 40 yards.

    (Very Aaron Rodgers-like, I must say.)

    With a team that had no Pro Bowl receivers, Starr absolutely deserved the league MVP.

    Still, he brought his best performance into that championship game, one where the 1st and 4th ranked defenses in the NFL didn't play anywhere near that caliber.

    Bart's Finest Day

    Starr threw for 304 yards and four touchdown passes, each to different receivers, a feat only accomplished once in league championship game or Super Bowl history.  (Super Bowl XXIX: Steve Young, six TD passes to four receivers.)

    The Packers never trailed in the game, but somewhat similar to the Cowboys' win over the Eagles Monday night, it was back-and-forth the whole way.

    Green Bay scored the first 14 points (on a Starr-to-Elijah Pitts touchdown pass and a Jim Grabowski fumble return on the ensuing kickoff) before the Cowboys' offense ever touched the football.

    But Dallas responded with 14 points of their own in the first quarter thanks to the running of Don Perkins and Dan Reeves, and they tied it it before the second quarter began.

    That's when wide receiver Carroll Dale burned a Cowboys defender for 51 yards on a Starr bomb to give the Packers back a lead they wouldn't relinquish, though the game was in doubt the whole way.

    The Cowboys produced two second quarter field goals before a Starr-to-Boyd Dowler touchdown pass in the third quarter gave Green Bay a 28-20 lead that, in the era before two-point conversions, seemed rather safe.

    It seemed insurmountable when Starr cranked another looping bomb in the fourth quarter, a 29-yard strike to Max McGee that should have ended the thing.

    It Got Real Scary

    Then Bob Lilly blocked Don Chandler's extra point, and what should have been a three-score lead remained a two-score advantage.

    The first score Dallas got back happened in the fourth quarter on a 68-yard bomb from Don Meredith to tight end Frank Clarke, who burned safety Tom Brown.

    Next drive, under two minutes left: same play, nearly the same result. Tom Brown burned, having to pull a pass interference penalty that put the ball on the Green Bay two yard line.

    Then, for the final two minutes, the Packers defense (and boneheaded performance by the young Cowboys) saved Green Bay's championship destiny.

    1st Down: Reeves gains one yard running right at the immovable Henry Jordan, Ron Kostelnik and Ray Nitschke.

    2nd Down: following a Cowboys procedure penalty: Reeves dropped a swing pass.

    3rd Down: Meredith chooses not to throw into the end zone, and finds receiver Pettis Norman for a completion at the two yard line.

    4th Down: Tom Landry chooses a run-pass option play with wide receiver (and world's fastest human Bob Hayes) moved to the tight end slot. Hayes had never run the play in practice, and had no clue what to do.

    The guy he was supposed to block, Packers linebacker Dave Robinson, came in undeterred toward Meredith.

    The future Monday Night Football star analyst only had one choice: chuck the ball into the end zone and hope.

    The ball fell into previous goat Tom Brown's hands with :28 left.

    Packers 34, Cowboys 27.

    Second consecutive championship won in a back-and-forth tussle for the ages.

    Can we expect a similar type of game Sunday night?

    Very possibly. The Packers will probably have to score in the mid-30's or more to win.

    Can we expect a similar result of a Packers' win?

    Just as possible. (More later this week on that thought.)

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