Thompson Dives Further Into Free Agency, Signs Hargrove...

In an uncharacteristic move, Packers' GM Ted Thompson signed 5-time pro bowl Center Jeff Saturday last week...and in an even more uncharacteristic move, he signed another free agent yesterday!

Any real packer fan knows that Thompson is extremely cautious and slow moving when it comes to free agency. In fact, the Packers hadn't signed an unrestricted free agent since 2009. That's why it's such big news that the Pack have signed 2 solid free agents in the last 2 weeks.

The Packers have agreed to terms with former Seattle Seahawk and New Orleans Saint Anthony Hargrove. He's not a top tier guy, but will be solid and fill a big hole on the d-line. He will likely be the starter at DE, joining BJ Raji and Ryan Pickett on the defensive front.

This is a big move because it fills a need and is one less position to address via the draft. The only holes left now, in my opinion, are at Safety and OLB. We will have more clarification on the safety situation within the next week or so when Nick Collins meets with Packers' management and team doctors to determine his health and ability to return to football. OLB will almost certainly be addressed in the draft, but with the way this offseason is shaping up, who knows?

It's been an uncharacteristically exciting offseason for the Packers...GO PACK!

Packers Ink Jeff Saturday

This has been a really exciting offseason so far. If only the games were a little closer...

Peyton Manning is released by the Colts...He signs with the Denver Broncos...

Colts clean house...release Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, other household names...

Tim Tebow is traded to the Jets...wait...is he? Yes, he is...

And the biggest news of the week for the the Green and Gold...Jeff Saturday signs with the Pack!

This is huge news for the Green Bay faithful. With the departure of Scott Wells, there was a gaping hole in the middle of the offensive line. In my humble opinion, I think that the o-line is the most important part of our team. Rodgers can't throw if he doesn't have time, receivers can't catch if Rodgers can't throw, and we can't win if we can't throw and catch...

The signing of Saturday gives the Packers a stopgap to groom a young center. I will assume that Ted Thompson will make it a priority in this year's draft to get a center. Saturday allows for the ability to not have to trade up in the 1st round to try to get Konz out of UW. I don't have details on the contract yet, but it's exciting news and I feel much better now. GO PACK!

Packers' Free Agents Sign Elsewhere...

As is the norm, Ted Thompson and the Packers have been extremely quiet this offseason. It should come as no surprise to any real Packer fans that no free agents have even visited Green Bay. It should also come as no surprise that the ties between QB Matt Flynn and C Scott Wells are now cut.



Wells forewent the Packers' offer to stay in Green Bay and found more money in St. Louis. This is not surprising because Thompson does not like to sign aging free agents. Wells is 31. Will the Packers now pursue a veteran to fill the huge void in the middle of the offensive line, or will they trust their typical strategy and try to find a capable rookie via the draft? I, personally, am hoping for a mixture of the 2. I'd like to see us get middle dollar veteran to start the season, and groom a rookie for the future. I'm really nervous that this could become another Cullen Jenkins-Mike Neal situation (By the way, Neal is suspended for the 1st 4 games of the 2012 season for the use of PED's...he's turning into Justin Harrell...)




Now on to Matt Flynn...I had been saying for months that I thought Flynn would sign in Miami. When Philbin was hired as the head coach in January, I thought it was a done deal. But, much to my surprise, Flynn met with Miami last week and left without a contract. He then signed a 3-year $26 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It's eerie to think of the similarities between Flynn's and Matt Hasselbeck's paths...late round pick...career backup behind a Super Bowl winning QB...brought to Seattle by a former Packers' staffer...now we just need to hope that Flynn throws a game-losing INT in overtime to Al Harris to allow the Packers to advance in the playoffs...

The Flynn situation does little to affect the Packers. We all expected him to leave. Now we're hoping that we can get a 3rd round compensatory pick for him in 2013...Wells, however could prove to be more difficult to cope with. I wish them both the best. GO PACK!

Finley Signs 2-year Deal Worth $15 Million

That's right, JerMichael Finley, whom nearly everyone expected to be branded with a franchise tag this offseason has reached an agreement with the Packers that will keep him on the roster through the 2013 season. This is a smart deal for both the Packers and for Finley. It's not enough money to break the bank or the cap, but is enough to appease Finley to where he wouldn't have been able to find more money elsewhere. This gives the Packers 2 years to decide whether Finley is worth a big contract going into the 2014 season. It also gives them a 2 year buffer to determine whether he will develop into the elite Tight End that his potential has suggested. This does raise other questions now, however...

The Packers still have a franchise tag to use. The two marquee free agents left on the checklist are Center Scott Wells and backup QB Matt Flynn. While Wells was a pro bowler this year, it appears unlikely that the Packers will be willing to shell out $10 million to keep him around for another season. It's more likely that Thompson will be able to strike a deal with him prior to free agency in 3 weeks.

Flynn is a more intriguing option. The franchise tag for quarterbacks is estimated to be $14 million for 2012. That's a high price for a backup QB...especially when your starter and league MVP is due $8 million. So, the only reason to tag Flynn would be if Ted Thompson is confident that he can find a team willing to trade for him and restructure his contract. It all sounds well and good, but there are risks.

I've said for months now that I thought Flynn would land in Miami, and with Philbin as their new coach, it sure seems like I knew what I was talking about. I wouldn't be surprised if the dolphins would be willing to part with a 2nd round draft pick for a potential franchise QB, but the wrench in the cogs of this idea is that Peyton Manning is likely going to be a free agent by March 8th and Miami has expressed interest in him. I find it highly unlikely that they would be willing to trade for Flynn and sign Manning. So I believe it will be either/or. Obviously, I'd like to see the Packers get more than a compensatory pick in the 2013 draft for Flynn. But I'd rather see him walk than end up with him on the payroll in 2012 and be hamstrung by it. Stay tuned for updates...GO PACK!

Driver Hints at Future...

Donald Driver has been a long time favorite in Green Bay. He went from an unknown 7th round draft pick out of Alcorn State to the Packers' all-time leading receiver in yards and receptions. But as much as he has meant to Packer fans on the field, I feel that he has meant even more off of it. He's the kind of guy you want to root for, the kind of guy you want your kids to look up to, and the kind of guy you wish you were friends with (check out his website here: www.donalddriver80.com).

There has been speculation that 2011 was Driver's last season in Green Bay due to his worst statistical season since his rookie year and the emergence of younger receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Donald himself even seemed to be thinking that way the week after the Packers' disappointing loss in January. But comments he made recently lead me to believe that my thoughts about him are true. Driver is a Packer to the core...

“The organization knows what I’ve done on and off the field, and they want to keep me around as long as possible,” said Driver, WISN-TV reported. “If that means sitting down and taking pay cuts to stay around, then you take pay cuts to stay around. I’ve always said it’s not about the money for me anymore.

“What I’m pushing for is for my legacy to stay around in the state of Wisconsin and around the world forever. So the money’s not a big issue.”

Easily one of the classiest guys in the league, I personally hope that he is able to continue to wear #80 at Lambeau Field, win another Super Bowl, and be inducted into the Hall of Fame having worn the Green and Gold throughout his entire career.

GO PACK!

Rodgers MVP, Cobb Play of the Year

During a somewhat uneventful weekend for Packer fans, there was one bright spot. The 2011 NFL season awards given out on Saturday evening. The Packers brought home some impressive hardware. The most coveted award in football (outside of the Lombardi Trophy) was given to the most impressive QB in the game. That's right, it's no big surprise that Aaron Rodgers is the MVP. Drew Brees made things interesting at the end of the season with his video-game-like statistics, but it did not sway voters. Rodgers finished with 48 out of the 50 votes for the award. Brees took home the Offensive Player of the Year award. So, in an otherwise disappointing season, it's at least a little bit comforting to see the leader of the Pack named the NFL's best player.



A-Rod was not the only Packer to be honored in Indianapolis this weekend however. The 2011 Play of the Year went to Rookie WR/Return Specialist Randall Cobb for his 108 yard kickoff return during the 1st game of the season. It's remarkable to me that there were not any better plays this year. I personally thought that Jerome Simpson's front flip into the end zone would have won it, but it was cool to see Cobb get recognition for his own acrobatic performance.



GO PACK!

Philbin Hired by Dolphins

Is that your final answer or would you like to phone a friend? I know it's a lame joke, but I laughed when I saw that picture.

Anywho, I'm sure you've heard by now that the Miami Dolphins hired Packers' Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin as their Head Coach. You have to be happy for the guy considering all that he's gone through lately. I think that the change of scenery and new responsibilities will give him and his family a good avenue to move on from the recent tragedy and start their next phase of life. Now on to the more important question:

What does this mean for the Packers?

First and foremost, it means that Mike McCarthy needs a new OC. McCarthy (and the Packer organization) has a history of promoting from within. Therefore, it seems the most likely candidate for the job is Quarterbacks Coach Tom Clements. He is familiar with the offense and has good rapport with Aaron Rodgers. It also helps that Rodgers himself said that Clements is the best candidate for the job. Rodgers also said that if Clements is promoted, Billy Joe Tolliver is a likely candidate to fill the QB Coach position. Those are the things I heard through the grapevine anyway.

On a side note...Not that this affects the Packers at all, but I believe that this hire makes Miami the most likely place for Matt Flynn to land (as I predicted in December). Flynn is comfortable with Philbin and it is likely that Philbin's offense will be similar to that of McCarthy's. It's what I would do if I were Philbin or Flynn...unfortunately, it is extremely unlikely that the Packers will receieve anything in exchange for Flynn other than a decent (3rdish round) compensatory pick in the 2013 draft. Better than nothing I suppose.

In Other News:

The Oakland Raiders passed on all Packers' assistants and hired the Defensive Coordinator from Denver. This shocked everyone as it seemed all but a given that Reggie McKenzie was going to hire either Winston Moss or Dom Capers. But I'm happy that he didn't. Let's all hope that Moss and Capers can get their acts together this offseason and Ted Thompson can provide them with some talent to revive the defense for 2012. More news to come as it is available. GO PACK!

Recovering...

It's been a rough few days. You all saw the game, and there really isn't much I want to say about it. I think Aaron Rodgers said it best. "We didn't play like ourselves..."

We all expected the defense to be bad. And they actually came up with a few stops, so I don't blame them. But the offense, which set several records in the Packers' history books looked awful. 8 drops, 3 fumbles, bad passes, poor blocking...yeah, pretty much everything.

I have no interest in watching the Conference Championship games this weekend. I'm hoping the 49ers win because I have come to dislike the Giants pretty intensely and have deemed them our biggest rival outside of the NFC North.

Anywho, I'm going to try to be a little bit positive here. We will try to keep you up to date with the potential coaching moves this offseason as well as draft prospects and coverage for our 28th pick in April. In the meantime, try not to get too depressed that football season as we know it is over for the next 8 months...wow, now I am depressed! GO PACK!

Giants @ Packers: Final Thoughts

The Playoffs are almost here for the Green Bay Packers, and all I can say is its about time!

I've spent all week listening to analysis and opinions about the upcoming game against the New York Giants, and I've been surprised by the amount of people that have jumped on the G-Men bandwagon throughout the week and not only think that the Giants will compete, but that they may upset the Packers!

Now being a Packer fan, I found myself upset and confused by all of the people that were hyping the Giants. I had to force myself to step back a little bit and take a less biased look at the upcoming game. Here are my thoughts:

#1: The media is comparing the upcoming game with the 2007 NFC Championship game, in which the Giants had gotten hot at the end of the season, squeaked into the playoffs and won 3 road games, including a game at Lambeau, to go on to beat the undefeated, 19-0 Patriots in the Super Bowl.

My first thought on this comparison is that none of it matters and there is no reason to give any weight to it. The teams are completely different. Rodgers > Favre.

#2:  The Giants are the "Hot" team right now in the NFC.

Herm Edwards called the Giants and the Saints the two hottest teams right now in the playoffs. I'm just not sure what his definition of hot is. The giants were inconsistent all season but were able to make it into the playoffs by winning a mediocre division. Following the Week 13 matchup against the Packers, the giants beat the Cowboys, Lost in Washington to the Redskins, beat the Jets in what was a home game for both teams, and then they again beat the Cowboys to seal the playoff bid. Then they went on to beat the Falcons, who didn't look like they belonged in the playoffs in the Wild Card round. To put it into perspective...

The Giants have won 4 out of the last 5 games. The Packers have won 21 out of the last 22 games.

Enough said. Moving on.

#3:  Two Good Offenses. The Packers Defense is Bad. The Giants Defense is Good.

I will be the first one to say that the Packers defense has been a disappointment all season. But let me follow that up by saying that who cares? The Packers defense has done exactly what it has needed to do all season to help the Packers win games. The Packers offense continues to get early leads and continue to score throughout almost every game, and sure, the defense has given up a lot of yards and points, but when it comes down to it, it doesn't matter. The defense for the Packers knows the score of the game. They know that the offense is going to move the ball and score points, so there is no reason for them to worry and they haven't. All the Packers defense does is play along and wait for the other team to make a mistake. The Packers are leading the NFL in interceptions for a reason. If the game ever comes down to the defense making a stop, our defense has done it without fail.

The Giants defense has one of the best set of lineman in the league and they are a force to be reckoned with. The G-Men are going to bring 4 man pressure the majority of the game because they have the talent on their line to create pressure without blitzing, and if they can manage to do that, the rest of their defense can work in coverage. I am nervous about the Giants defense and defensive line going into this game, but I also have faith in Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offensive line. For the first time since Week 3, all of the Packers' starting lineman are back together and healthy. In the last meeting during Week 13, the Giants came away with 2 sacks on Rodgers and he threw for 369 Yards, 4 TDS and 1 INT. Rodgers is one of the best in the NFL when it comes to dealing with pressure. He is also one of the best at tearing apart a defense when he is moving outside the pocket, so if I were the Giants, I would be concerned with how to pressure Rodgers while not getting eluded and torched.

#4:  Eli Manning is an elite QB.

Eli has had a great year. He threw for almost 5,000 yards and has an amazing amount of 4th Quarter Touchdowns. One stat that the Packers like from him is that he has thrown 16 interceptions this year. I dont expect the Packers to shut down the Giants passing attack all game. The Giants receivers are very good and are going to give the Packers secondary all they can handle on Sunday. But since Eli entered the NFL in 2004, he has thrown more interceptions than any other quarterback, and this year, the Packers are leading the NFL in Interceptions.

#5:  The Giants are finally Healthy. Oh wait, So are the Packers!

Key players that will be healthy for the Giants include Ahmad Bradshaw, who had just two carries for 9 yards in the first matchup, and Osi Uminyora.

Key players that are now healthy for Packers are Greg Jennings, Chad Clifton, James Starks and AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop (both absent for first meeting).

Last season the Packers entered the playoffs with 15 players on Injured Reserve. This season they will begin the playoffs suiting 21 out of the 22 starters that began the season, only missing Safety Nick Collins.



In conclusion, the New York Giants were not my first choice for teams to play this week and they will surely give the Packers a very good game. However, the Packers are 15-1 and have won 21 out of the last 22 games for a reason. They are a very good team I don't think there is anyone who can argue against that.

I see the Giants attempting to drop as many players into coverage on defense by using just their front 4 to put pressure on Rodgers. If they can be effective in getting to Rodgers and can throw him off of his game, then they will put their team in good shape. However, I think that Rodgers will continue to do a great job at getting away from the pressure and either making plays with his feet or taking advantage by making throws out of the pocket.

I don't expect the Packers to rush the ball that effectively in this game, but any success that they have moving the ball on the ground is just going to make them that much harder to stop and it will give Rodgers the ability to play action on the Giants.

I think this game can be won by the Packers defense, or lost by the Giants offense. Everyone expects the Packers defense to be the weakness of the Packers, and they certainly have been, but if they decide to come out of their shell and can make some big plays, this game could get out of hand quickly. The Giants will most likely have to keep up with the Packers offense, and if they have any trouble moving the ball or the Packers defense can force punts out of them, its going to be over for the Giants.

So my final prediction for the game...

The Packers will once again start the game out quickly and get on the board early and often. The Giants offense will move the ball on the Packers defense both on the ground and through the air, but the Packers will continue to cause turnovers and put the ball back into Aaron Rodgers hands.

Final Score:    Packers Win, 34 - 17.

Prayers for the Philbin Family

You have probably heard by now about the death of Packers' Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin's son Michael. The full details have yet to be released. I'm not going to report on what I've heard or what has been speculated. Instead, it seems appropriate to put things into perspective.

I grew up in a Packer family. Both my mom's and my dad's sides are from Wisconsin, and I am convinced that the blood pumping through my veins has actually become green and gold. Last year when the Pack won the Super Bowl, it was the highest of highs. But, when you really think about it, it's only football. It's only a game. And it's sad to think that people will bring up questions about how this week's events will affect the Packers game plan and motivation for Sunday afternoon's game against the Giants.

We, here at the Malnarn will not talk about things like that. I thought that Mike McCarthy handled his press conference very well during questioning about it. "We [the Packers] are a family-first organization."

I still hope that the Packers win this weekend. I will still watch the game, and I will still yell at my TV when something good or bad happens. But I will try to watch it from the perspective of it just being a game. And I will be praying this week, during, and after the game for the Philbin family. I believe that God has a purpose for this.

Packers-Giants Divisional Playoff Preview

If any of you don't know, whether it's because you stumbled upon this by mistake or because you are one of our Chinese followers and don't get American football news, the Giants defeated the Falcons 24-2 on Sunday and advanced to the NFC Divisional Playoff round. They will go to Green Bay to face the Packers at 4:30 EST (3:30 CST) on Sunday, January 15th.

The Giants have the look of that team that gets hot at the end of the year and nobody wants to play. Much like the Packers were last season. We here at the Malnarn agree that we would have rather played the Falcons, but I am confident that the Packers have what it takes to win this game. Here are some things to watch for.

1. Packers O-line vs Giants' Pass Rush - Rodgers is one of the best QBs in the league against the blitz. The problem here is that the Giants have possibly the best defensive line in the NFL and do not need to blitz much. This allows them to focus more on coverage. The Packers offensive line will be as healthy as they have been all season with the return of Bryan Bulaga and Chad Clifton. If they can keep Aaron clean, the game will be lopsided in the Packers' favor.

2. Giants Receivers vs Packers' Secondary - We really miss Nick Collins. To me it's the biggest reason for the Packers' last place passing defense. The Giants have very good WRs as well (not as good as the Packers, but that's beside the point). Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz have been lighting it up the past 4 weeks. Tramon Williams and Sam Shields will need to pick their game up and become lock down corners.

3. The Return of Greg Jennings - Jennings missed the final 3 games of the season with a torn MCL in his left knee. He has since returned to practice and is expected to be close to full strength against the Giants. The Packers proved that the offense can function without him, but the margin of improvement from James Jones to Greg Jennings is significant. Every Packer fan will be happy to see #85 back on the field.

4. Clay Matthews and Dom Capers - The Packers have thrived on forcing turnovers this season. It's been the one redeeming factor in an otherwise loose defense. Turnovers almost always start with pressure on the opposing QB, especially in Capers' 3-4 scheme. Will Dom bring back the psycho defense and add some new wrinkles to get Clay more opportunities? I hope so. We all know that Eli is prone to mistakes when he's under duress.

5. Running Game - This is something to watch for on both sides of the ball. James Starks' status is still in question for the game and the Packers have been neglecting the run ever since he went down with an ankle injury several weeks ago. Can he return and give the Packers' run game a boost like he did in 2010? If we can run the ball and control the clock, it will help the defense to rest and be absolutely huge for the offense. On the flip side, the Giants' RBs have been phenomenal as of late. The return of Ahmad Bradshaw gave them a new look on offense and that honestly scares me a little. We will need Raji and Pickett to be dominant up front to close any holes that the Giants' o-line opens up.

6. Special Teams - On a cold day at Lambeau, special teams could be the difference. I don't anticipate either team punting too often, but when they do they will be trying to flip the field. I also don't anticipate many field goals being attempted, but at the end of the 1st half and at the end of the game last second field goals could be the difference...much like the meeting in the regular season between these 2 teams.

The Packers are favored in this game, but I think that the Giants match up really well with us. I think if the offense can execute and the defense can come up with a handful of stops that the Packers will win by 10+. But if the offense struggles and the defense shows no improvement then it's going to come down to a last second field goal. We'll all hope for the former! GO PACK!

Discount Double Check

I really hope to see both Rodgers and Raji doing this on Sunday afternoon...

2011 Regular Season Re-cap

In August, I blogged about my predictions for the 2011 season. And I don't want to sound too proud of myself, but I was pretty darn good! Here's a re-cap of the NFC North:

Packers

My Pre-season Prediction: 11-5, 1st in the division
Actual: 15-1, 1st in the division

The Packers surprised a lot of people by remaining undefeated into December, myself included. I knew the offense was good, but I didn't know they were THIS good. I think that they surprised even more people with the lack of defense. This team had had a top 5 defense 2 years in a row (2009-10), but fizzled in 2011 with the injury to Nick Collins and the loss of Cullen Jenkins. The pass rush has been pathetic and the secondary coverage has been almost as bad. The redeeming factor has been the turnover margin. The Packers have dominated the league with over 30 interceptions. Will the dependence on turnovers make or break the team in the playoffs? We'll start to find out in 2 weeks!

Lions

My Pre-season Prediction: 9-7, 2nd in the division
Actual: 10-6, 2nd in the division

I said all along that Stafford's health would determine the success of this team. And he has started all 16 games. The Lions came out of the gates strong, winning their first 5 games. But then they started to tail off down the stretch. The suspension of Ndamukong Suh seemed to be a big blow to this team. But they have since rebounded and earned a playoff spot for the first time in over 10 years. Granted, they are the 6 seed but it is still impressive. The Lions have a lot of young talent in Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford and on the defensive line. If they can find a RB that can stay healthy they will be tough in the years to come. The question at hand now is whether they can go to New Orleans and upset the Saints in the wildcard playoff game this weekend.

Bears

My Pre-season Prediction: 7-9, 3rd in the division
Actual: 8-8

This was the prediction I was most nervous about 10 games into the year. The bears were sitting at 7-3 and looked like a team that nobody wanted to play. But then the injuries started. First Jay Cutler went down with a hand injury after trying to make a tackle after an interception. Not the end of the world...but then the worst thing imaginable for the bears happened...Matt Forte who accounted for almost all of their offense went down with a knee injury and that ended pretty much all hope for the bears. They finished the season 1-5 and missed the playoffs. Mike Martz and their GM are gone and the Bears will go into a pseudo-rebuilding mode in 2012. It will be interesting to see what the future of Matt Forte holds. He is an unrestricted Free Agent. It's likely that the bears will use the franchise tag on him to keep him from signing elsewhere. We're all hoping they get an offensive coordinator that neglects Forte and trusts Cutler's arm. That always seems to benefit the Packers.

Vikings

My Pre-Season Prediction: 5-11, last in the division
Actual: 3-13, last in the division

Well, the Donovan McNabb experiment failed. And I predicted that by midseason Christian Ponder would be the starting QB. I think everyone figured out quickly that the queens would struggle this year. I just don't think anyone thought that they would struggle THIS much. McNabb was awful. They released him and he hasn't signed with another team. Ponder has looked like a rookie. He may develop into a good QB, he may not. And the biggest blow came in week 16. Adrian Peterson went down with a torn ACL and MCL in a meaningless game. His status for the beginning of the 2012 season is in question. I never like to see anyone get hurt. So we here at the Malnarn wish him the best in his recovery.

All in all, I am very pleased with the result of the regular season. The Packers own the best record in football and are the #1 seed in the playoffs, the bears and queens are done, and barring a huge upset Aaron Rodgers should be the MVP. Let's enjoy this weekend of stress-less football watching. GO PACK!

Flynn has Career Day, Packers tame Lions...15-1!

On a day where the outcome did not matter for the Packers, and Rodgers, Matthews, and Woodson could not be found on the back of any green jerseys on the field, Matt Flynn shone bright! I'll admit that circumstances beyond my control prevented me from being able to actually watch any of the game...but I wish that I had been able to. Here's the best i can do on my analysis:

Things I Liked

Matt Flynn - It's highly likely that the former 7th round draft pick earned himself a starting job in another town outside of Wisconsin on Sunday. Throwing for 480 yards and 6 TDs (both Packer franchise records) makes all Packer fans wish he still had some time left on his contract. My best guess is that he'll end up in Miami.

Jordy Nelson - Jordy has been extremely good this year. He tacked 3 TDs onto his already impressive total. Let's hope his momentum continues through the playoffs.

Chad Clifton - Clifton returned from his 10 week absence and played well. So well in fact that McCarthy did not waste any time naming him the starter at Left Tackle in 2 weeks. He played a total of 25 snaps.

Things I Didn't Like

Defense - The defense gave up 520 passing yards...520! I don't care how many turnovers you force, that's too many. I know that Woodson and Matthews weren't playing, but it's still not acceptable. If we end up playing the Saints in the playoffs, i have a bad feeling that the outcome will be different.

There you have it, the best I can do with the information available. The Pack play again in 2 weeks (1/15) at 4:30 EST. They will face the lowest seed remaining after this week's wild card games. More to come after next weekend...GO PACK!