Packers - Bears open thread

So far the Pack looks sharp! Good drive for the touchdown to get the game started right. It doesn't look like the Bears can cover Jennings so far and he is tearing their defense up left and right. It's also good to see Finley get a score early, he was due.

Cutler Cry!

I found this picture on BrentFavre.com and I just couldn't resist posting it. I love the hate for Cutler and in the words of the Black Eyed Peas, I'm addicted and I just can't get enough!

'85 Bears to visit White House?

Well, I am scratching my head right now in amazement. The '85 Champion Chicago Bears are going to be visiting the White House, which they were unable to do after winning the Super Bowl 26 YEARS AGO!!!


I shouldn't be surprised. I have been around Bears fans for a long time now and have lived in Chicago for the last 3 years. Bears fans will never forget 1985 and they won't let anyone else forget it either. They need to get over it already, 26 years of celebrating has got to be exhausting! The other thing I have to say is that Obama should really spend his time more wisely. I think he has more important things to do than be a Bears fan. We already know you love Chicago sports, but you're reaching with this one. Enough said...Go Packers! The Bears still suck!

Black and Blue Division about to get all Black and Blue!

This weekend begins the inter divisional play for the NFC North. The Packers travel to Soldier Field to face off against against their hated rivals in a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game, while the Queens play host to the Detroit Lions.

Lions @ Vikings

The Detroit Lions seem to be everyone's Underdog this season. The hype meter is all the way up on the Lions and for good reason. Having Matt Stafford back is step #1. Step #2 was to surround him with the necessary weapons on offense, and right now Jahvid Best is looking really tough out of the backfield and Stafford has one of the top receivers to throw to in Calvin Johnson. If you add a scary defense to the mix, you're looking at a Lions team that should compete for the division in 2011.

I don't like Donavan Mcnabb, I've never liked the Vikings, and I really don't like their chances this week against the Lions. There has been too much turmoil in Minny over the past year to expect much from them. Lets backtrack... Two seasons ago Brett Favre comes out of the tunnel at the Metrodome wearing Purple. They had a great season and were one of the top teams in the league and expected to do great things. 2010 rolls around and Brett gets hit left and right, gets battered and bruised and struggles throughout the season. Brad Childress brings in Randy Moss...Moss does nothing and leaves after a couple games...Childress gets fired. Then the Metrodome roof collapses in the middle of winter, which seemed fitting for the season that they were having. Brett is now gone. Tavaris Jackson is gone too. So the Queens decide that their best option is Donavan McNabb (I'm giggling to myself right now). McNabb is 0-2 as the starter for the Vikings and his only real weapon is Adrian Peterson, but when you only have 1 weapon, its much easier to stop. That being said, I'm picking the Lions to leave Minnesota with an easy victory.

Packers @ Bears

Being a HUGE Packer fan and living in enemy territory is always scary for me when the Packers play the Bears. Its very nerve racking and for some reason, I always am nervous about the way we match up against Chicago.

The Packers defense has been terrible to this point. We have let up over 400 yards passing both games this season and its hard to imagine it getting too much better with Nick Collins out for the season. However, Jay Cutler has been sacked 11 times in two games and the Bears' offensive line is brutal. Combine that with Gabe Carimi being injured and you just begin to see the holes open up. Although the Packers gave a lot up through the air against the Panthers, the defense was still forced key turnovers in the game against the Panthers, and guess what...Cutler likes to throw the ball to the other team. Lets just not forget that our friend Jay has a lot to prove after the way he finished the last game he played against the Pack.

The Bears defense is another story. As much as I hate the Bears, they have a good defense. Brian Urlacher is simply a beast and runs the show for the defensive unit. They run the Tampa 2 very well and every person on that defense is constantly looking to strip the ball (see 2010 Packers @ Bears fumble by James Jones below). Aaron Rodgers is arguably in the Top 2 or 3 at QB in the NFL and has all the weapons in the world to be successful. The only question is whether or not he gets time to throw, and whether or not we can keep from turning the ball over. I think that the Packers Offense against the Bears Defense is the battle to watch during this game. I'm sticking with the Super Bowl Champions in this one, but I have a feeling its going to be too close for comfort.

Injuries

Just a quick update on this week's injuries. Tramon Williams (shoulder) returned to practice yesterday and apparently looked good. It is likely that he will play this Sunday vs the Bears. Huge!

Charles Woodson (foot) and Clay Matthews (quad) were held out of practice yesterday, we are assuming it is only precautionary as neither seems to have a significant enough injury to keep them from playing the division rival on Sunday.

On a side note - Mike and Mike in the Morning will be broadcast live from Chicago tomorrow (Friday, Sept 23) at the House of Blues. Look for one of the contributors to this blog on TV (ESPN2).

GO PACK!

Nick Collins Out for the Season

We've been here before...It's the same story, just a different year and different players. Mike Neal, Tramon Williams, and Nick Collins are all injured. Hopefully Williams will be back for the Bears game. Hopefully Neal can be back before the end of the season. But our hope for Collins is that he can have a successful recovery and be back to pro bowl form in 2012. As of now, Collins is consulting doctors for surgical and rehabilitative options. He is in our thoughts and prayers. Charlie Peprah will start in his place in week 3 and going forward. I hope this is the last post we have to make about injuries this season. Go Pack!

Packers Do Enough Again...2-0!

It wasn't pretty, but it counts. The Packers join the Lions and Redskins as the only undefeated teams in the NFC. That's right, I said Lions and Redskins...crazy stuff! Anyway, let's get right down to it; here are my thoughts on yesterday's game:

THINGS I LIKED

Poise - Being down 13-0 could have caused reason for panic, forcing poor decision making. But the Packers stayed the course and chipped away at the lead and eventually took control of the game in the 2nd half.

Charles Woodson - The Packers' defense has not been suffocating by any means in these first 2 weeks, but the big plays have been made when we needed them the most. Woodson made 3 of them against the Panthers with 2 INTs and a fumble recovery. Looked like the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year.

Spreading the Ball Around - While this is frustrating for anyone who has a Green Bay receiver on their fantasy team, it is even moreso for opposing defenses. There is no way that any defense in the NFL can cover the Packers' 5 receiver set (or the Tight Ends).

THINGS I DID NOT LIKE

Pass Defense - Some of this was caused by playing a ridiculously elusive QB who could make time with his feet and another part could be the fact that Tramon Williams did not play, but it's inexcusible to give up 400+ passing yards in 2 consecutive games.

Running Game - Not to say that the Packers didn't run the ball well, but I don't think that the effective running game was used enough. James Starks is poised for a breakout year if he gets the touches.

Nick Collins Injury - This was scary as Collins injured his neck while attempting to tackle Jonathan Stewart. He was carted off the field on a stretcher. Apparently he is doing better, but his status is still in question and will not be good to have him and possibly Tramon out against the Bears as Collins is Jay Cutler's favorite target.

Cam Newton - This is unrelated to the Packers, but Newton has proved his worth as the #1 overall pick by posting 400+ yards in 2 consecutive games as a Rookie...impressive.

There you have it. My thoughts. Next week will be the bears...hopefully some of our injured guys can make a quick recovery before Sunday. GO PACK!

There..is..your..DAGGER!!!

This is the first edition of The Weekly Dagger here on The Malnarn. For those of you not familiar with the Packer's Radio Network and commentator Wayne Larrivee, every time that the Pack has a play that seals victory, he refers to that play as "The Dagger" because it kills the other team's chances. Yesterday against the Carolina Panthers the Pack let the Panthers keep the game way too close for comfort, but the long pass to Jordie Nelson late in the 4th Quarter was the play that sealed victory in Week 2. And there is your dagger!

Tramon sits out Friday's Practice

News from the Packers facilities is that CB Tramon Williams is sitting out of practice again today. Williams is yet to practice this week following a bruised shoulder against the Saints over a week ago. The Packers have not given much information as to when we can expect Tramon back, but his status for Sunday is still up in the air.

Urlacher's Mother Passes, Expects to Play Sunday

Brian Urlacher's mother passed away on Wednesday, and we here at The Malnarn are sorry for his loss. There has been a great deal of discussion following this topic as well as the question on whether Urlacher would play following his loss.

Urlacher has already returned to Chicago and is reportedly back with the Bears today and is expected to play Sunday. ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" was discussing how professional athletes deal with these situations, such as death of a family member, or birth of a child. The current situation for Brian Urlacher was compared to Brett Favre's historical performance after the death of his Father on Monday Night Football back in 2003, a night that was inspirational and will be remembered by not only Packer fans, but NFL fans for years to come as one of the greatest moment's of Brett Favre's career.

Our condolences go out to Brian Urlacher this weekend, and although we do not wish for the Bears to be successful, we have great respect for Urlacher and hope him the best this weekend.