Green Bay Packers Lose to Jacksonville Jaguars; Playoff Hopes Dead

Well I guess that I was wrong, yet again. Green Bay lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars by 4 points on Sunday, their 6^th loss by 4 points or less this season, ending all hopes of a playoff appearance. Green Bay needed to win out, which means they had to win their last 3 games, and Minnesota had to lose out their last 3. We needed a lot of help for the playoffs, but ultimately we screwed ourselves over.

Jacksonville started strong. They scored on their opening drive with a 30 yard touchdown pass to Dennis Northcut. Maurice Jones-Drew ran well on the dive and David Garrard, the Jags’ quarterback, looked comfortable in the pocket and was virtually under no pressure from the Green Bay defense.

The Packers’ first possession got off to a dismal start. However, Ryan Grant ran the ball well and James Jones had a huge reception, the first of the game for the Packers. In spite of Green Bay’s impressive red zone statistics, they were stopped and had to settle for a field goal attempt by Mason Crosby, which was good from 22 yards out.

Mike McCarthy, a coach who doesn’t use the challenge flag all that often, challenged a completed pass made by Jacksonville in the second quarter. The call was overturned, which set up a Jacksonville field goal attempt. The ball was 51 yards out, but hit the left upright and bounced back into the center of the field. Jacksonville was still on top, 7-3.

Because of the missed field goal, Green Bay took over on downs. A personal foul (roughing the passer) against Clint Ingram of Jacksonville and good running by Grant put Green Bay in good field position. On this drive Ryan Grant had his first 1,000 yard rushing season. Aaron Rodgers connected with James Jones to put the Pack on top, 10-7.

Green Bay went into the locker room after the first half with a 13-7 lead.

The third quarter of the game was virtually defunct. Both teams handled the ball poorly and as a result, neither side scored. There was a positive for Green Bay, however. Their defensive line had not been doing so hot for most of the season, but during the third quarter, they were able to put pressure on Garrard.

The fourth quarter is where the Green Bay collapse finally happened. The Jags started out the quarter by stopping the Packers’ fourth down attempt. On Jacksonville’s subsequent drive, after taking over with good field position, Jones-Drew scored a touchdown, putting them on top of Green Bay, 14-13. The score was set up by a fourth down conversion by Garrard.

Green Bay answered by putting up 3 points late in the fourth. The Packers were unable march down the field with as much authority as they had earlier in the game. A few dropped passes and a sack of Rodgers made a try for 7 impossible for Green Bay. Crosby’s kick put the Packers up, 16-14.

Jones-Drew scored his third touchdown of the season just inside the two-minute warning. This fortuitous event was set up by a 40 yard pass to Northcut and aggressive running by Jones-Drew. The Jacksonville offense came alive in the fourth quarter and the Green Bay defense seemed to take a nap.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Aaron Rodgers has no two-minute drill poise. Sure, this loss was not entirely his fault, but he didn’t help. Driver and Jones both made good catches to keep the drive alive. However, Rodgers put a pass too high, and it was intercepted with only 40 seconds left in the game. The booth reviewed the call, but anyone with eyes could see that it was a spectacular interception of a poorly-thrown ball.

Jacksonville took their victory knee, sealing the Packers’ fate. There will be no appearance in the playoffs for the Packers. This game was as much of a disappointment as many others had been this season. However, some good things happened. It was the first time in a while that I had seen the entire team come together. The offense played with passion even though they could not translate that energy into points and the defense even found it in themselves to stop the run some of the time and put pressure on Garrard.

But I can’t help but die a little inside after watching so much promise vanish in the final 15 minutes. Even though Green Bay is first in the NFL in scoring fourth quarter points, past success could not inspire victory. Maybe I should ask Santa to give the Packers some fourth quarter courage. With the outcome of Sunday’s game, it really looks like they need it.

Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars Preview and Prediction

What can I say about the Packers’ upcoming visit to Jacksonville? Neither team is doing so hot this season, so it’s not really going to be that big of a nail-biter. Personally, I’m hoping that we can come out of this game with bits and pieces of our pride still intact. The Pack are sitting (not so) pretty at 5-8, third in the NFC North and Jacksonville is 4-9 and dead last in the AFC South.

So what’s a girl to write about when her beloved team is playing a game that matters very little in the race toward the playoffs? Last season this game probably would have been stellar, considering both the Pack and the Jags were in playoff contention. Then again, last season both teams were good. But now, not so much.

I’m always rooting for my Packers to win, but I think we have a decent shot at victory on Sunday. Then again, I thought we had a decent shot at victory for a number of the games this season that we lost, so we’ll see how things pan out.

The Jags lost 30-17 in a Monday night game against the Texans two weeks ago, who walked all over our defense last week. However, we only lost that game by a field goal and stuck with things reasonably well. Jacksonville, on the other hand, lost by 13 points. If we’re looking only at the numbers in this trio of teams, Green Bay is more likely to come out on top in this game.

I’ll be watching the game with bated breath, as always. My fingers will be crossed that our defensive line can get some penetration and put pressure on David Garrard, the Jags quarterback. I will be hoping for some beautiful passes from Aaron Rodgers and some spectacular receptions from Donald Driver and Greg Jennings (and maybe an interception from Charles Woodson?). Most of all I will be hoping that the moment of collapse that has happened in nearly every game this season doesn’t happen Sunday.

My prediction is a Green Bay victory. But just remember, if you are a gambling man (or gambling woman—we don’t discriminate here at Midwest Sports Fans), that I am merely a college student and not a professional psychic, much as I would like to be sometimes.

Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers Sit at 5-8 after Loss to Houston Texans

I have finally recovered enough after Sunday’s loss to write about the Packers again. I needed a few days to get over it.

In a game where turnovers should have led to a Packer win, the Texans’ offense came out on top instead. Way to go defensive line. I love you, but you really need to man up against the run.

So what does all of this mean for the rest of the season — because I’m pretty sure that this is the end of the season for the Pack and we’re just working toward next season. Sure we have 3 games left, but I’m not delusional. I know that we’re not going to win our division. Although after the Vikings almost lost to the Detroit Lions, who knows what can happen? But I’m not expecting any miracles, and neither should any of you.

For those of you who missed the game, let me provide a brief summery.

Things started out badly. The Texans managed to score on their opening drive. Well I shouldn’t say managed. Our defense let them. It was more of a gift. “Here you go Houston. Here’s a touchdown.” Sure, we put some pressure on Schaub, but he still made the throw, and two of our guys got tangled up on the coverage.

On our first drive, we punted. This was the first time Jeremy Kapinos, the guy we signed on Wednesday to replace Derrick Frost, would be able to prove himself. His punt went 25 yards. That did not bode well for the Packers. However, his subsequent punts throughout the game were 40 yards or more, with one of them pinning the Texans inside the 5. So kudos to you Mike McCarthy for making the right choice. At least every single Packer fan is hoping that you made the right choice. I know I’m still crossing my fingers.

Turnovers should have been the big difference-maker for the Packers. They ultimately kept the team in the game. During the second quarter, Houston fumbled the ball at the goal line as they were trying for a score. We didn’t capitalize on the fumble and Mark Tauscher was eventually hurt on the drive. Reports from today’s team report indicate the Tauscher is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Because of the long recovery time, Tauscher probably won’t be ready until training camp next summer, and because he’s a free agent, he might not even come back to Green Bay.

Tramon Williams intercepted a pass made by Schaub in the second quarter. Donald Lee made the touchdown catch thrown by Rodgers, and things were tried up 7-7.

Houston reclaimed their lead near the end of the first half when Kris Brown knocked in a field goal to bring the score to 10-7.

Will Blackmon had a stellar punt return for a touchdown, what would have been his third this season, but unfortunately it was called back because someone on the punt return team got to cozy with a Texan and decided to hold him for a while. I was jumping up and down in my apartment, so excited that we were finally on top, until I saw the flag. What an unfortunate turn of events.

Rodgers threw his first interception of the game on that drive with 33 seconds left in the half. Houston started at the 40 with 3 timeouts left. There was plenty of time for them to get into field goal range to attempt to secure a 6-point lead. Brown was lined up for a 41-yard field goal attempt but pushed it just to the right. At least the turnover didn’t cost the Packers anything at the end of the first half.

The second half for me is pretty much a blur. Sure, somehow we ended up tied at 21-21, but I can barely remember how. I’m still amazed that it even happened. Houston raked in over 500 yards. That’s not something our defense should be proud of. We capitalized off of turnovers and tied the game.

Just when I was starting to feel like we might miraculously win, time just sort of ran out. The drive that should have ended in point for Green Bay was destroyed by penalties and even a sack of Aaron Rodgers, pushing the Packers out of field goal range.

The Texans marched down the field. Schaub made some good throws and the rookie Steve Slaton was definitely utilized by their offense. The Packers’ defensive line just couldn’t hold things together, and Houston found themselves in field goal range with one second left.

Brown had missed a 41 yard field goal right before the close of the first half. The commentators for the game said something that made sense to me, for once. Kickers rarely miss more than one in a game. This one was marked as a 40 yarder. As much tense as I was, and as much as I wanted him to miss, in the bottom of my heart, I knew that it was going to be a solid kick. Of course he made it, right down the middle.

This game ended in much the same way as other games this season. The Packers’ defense couldn’t find a way to stop the run and the offense only had brief moments of brilliance. After the Houston Texan’s first visit to Lambeau, they left with a victory. Once again the Packers brought less than their best and lost by three points.

Alright, so here it is. I’m pretty sure that Aaron Rodgers is a keeper for us. I know there are many Packers fans out there that are ready to place the blame for this season’s less than satisfactory progression squarely on his shoulders. But look at the guy. He has a 92.1 quarterback rating. Now let’s wander over to the Jets and look at Brett Favre’s stat—88.2. Now I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with the way Favre is playing this season. I’m just saying, Rodgers is doing a heck of a job.

I think he can do some good things for next season, because I’m pretty sure that’s where we should put our focus. Sure, we need to go out and try to win the last three games, but we need to be realistic.

The Green Bay Packers are sitting at 5-8 right now, still solidly at third in the NFC North. We need to fix whatever is ailing our defensive line, because there’s something going on there that’s not meshing with the rest of the team. Our offense is playing reasonably well and special teams stepped it up. The last piece of this little trio is the defense, and they’re acting like the clichéd square peg in the round hole.

Somehow we need to get our shapes to match up. It’s time to get back to basics, everyone. Remember those good old kindergarten days?

Green Bay Packers – Houston Texans Preview

The Green Bay Packers will play host to the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. This will only be the second meeting between these two teams. The first took place in Houston back in 2004.

Green Bay will sport an altered lineup on Sunday. The Packers signed former New York Jet Jeremy Kapinos on Wednesday to replace punter Derrick Frost. This lefty has shown exceptional promise in practice. His first punt sailed 50 yards, which is longer than any of Frost’s punts this season. Frost was let go from the Packer organization Monday after the atrocious game against the Carolina Panthers.

Scott Wells, who suffered from a concussion, is expected to start at center against Houston. After Wells was knocked out of the game against the Panthers, the offensive line was shaken up a bit, with right guard Jason Spitz moving the center and rookie Josh Sitton filling the spot at right guard.

The Packers aren’t the only ones switching things up for Sunday’s game. The Houston Texans will welcome Matt Schaub back as starting quarterback. Schaub hasn’t started a game since the second of November when he injured his left knee against the Vikings. Schaub felt well enough during Monday night’s win against the Jacksonville Jaguars to backup his replacement, Sage Rosenfels.

Long-time Texans long snapper (since 2003!) Bryan Pittman was suspended on Tuesday after violating the league’s steroid policy. Pittman was one of six players suspended by the NFL on Tuesday. He will be suspended for 4 games. He will be reinstated on December 29, which happens to be the day after the regular season comes to a close. His replacement is Clark Harris, a former Rutgers player drafted by the Pack back in 2007, who will suit up for the first time against his former team.

The Texans are expected to favor the run, especially with Matt Schaub making his first start in what feels like an eternity. The Packers’ defense has struggled this season, especially against the run, giving up an average of 140 yards per game. Texans running back Steve Slaton, who ran for 130 yards and made 2 touchdowns on Monday night, will feature heavily in the Texans’ offense attack.

Both teams are 5-7 and third in their respective divisions. Sunday’s game will be a test for both the Packers and the Texans. The Packers need to find some way to heal the wounds inflicted on their special teams and solidify their defensive line. The Texans need to realize the potential limitations of starting with Schaub, especially in unfavorable weather conditions.

Bench Leads Milwaukee Bucks to Win Over Chicago Bulls

The Milwaukee Bucks have struggled so far this season. In Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls, however, the team managed to find the perfect balance of defense and offense in their 97-90 win at home.

The starting lineup for Wednesday included both Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut, players who had suffered injuries in previous games. According to the Bucks’ team report from Wednesday afternoon, Bogut’s return was questionable but he showed up and played roughly 27 minutes. Though at times he was noticeably limping, Bogut played a solid game. He was sent to the locker room early in the fourth quarter and reports indicate he suffered from an injury to the face.

The bench contributed in a big way to the Bucks’ victory. Charlie Villanueva and Dan Gadzuric scored 23 and 11 points respectively. The bench as a whole put up 40 points in comparison to Chicago’s 25 bench points.

The Bucks played well in the first half, heading into the locker room with a 12 point lead after the second quarter. Richard Jefferson was a big play-maker for the Bucks during the first half, battling back from Deng’s domination in the first quarter. At halftime the Bucks had a 53% field goal completion.

The third quarter began and the Bulls began to whittle away at the Bucks’ lead. Early on Deng dominated for the Bulls with Gordon taking over and scoring 16 points to tighten the gap to 72-74 with Bucks still on top.

Jefferson and Villanueva were solid scorers in the fourth and Mbah a Moute played very good defense. Gadzuric made the final shot with 14 seconds left, sealing the score at 97-90.

While the Milwaukee Bucks pulled out a win against the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night, there is still work to be done with this team. Even though they went out at halftime having made 53% of their field goals, they ended the game only making 47%. The Bucks are the only team in the NBA to not break 50% in a win. This game has showed that Milwaukee has the talent and the teamwork to balance scoring with defense. Now they have to figure out a way to incorporate it into the rest of the season.

Packers Will Miss Playoffs in 2008 Without Favre, But In Good Hands With Aaron Rodgers

I will be the first to admit that my heart broke that early March morning as I was eating my Frosted Flakes.

I was sitting in the cafeteria just like any other morning when I heard the news that my beloved quarterback, Mr. Brett Favre, was finally handing in his papers and retiring from good ol’ Green Bay. We’ve heard it before, of course. It seems like he teased us every offseason with his inability to make a decision. To stay or to go? Of course to stay. Always to stay.

With a miraculous 13-3 season (with, miraculously, two of the losses coming to Chicago), an NFC North win, and an appearance in the NFC Championship game, there was no doubt in my mind that he would be coming back. Sure, he’s been in the league for 17 years. Sure, splitting up his family between the Midwest and Mississippi was killing him slowly in ways we could never understand. Sure, his last pass of the season happened to be a gut-wrenching interception. But with all those negatives, I honestly thought the positives made the situations worth fighting through.

Many said he was washed up, took too many risks, and couldn’t lead such a young team anywhere except to the playground. He proved many of those nay-sayers wrong, with the exception of the risk thing. My breathing always stopped and my heart constricted when he lofted the ball toward the endzone, fearing the interception that came all too often. But he drove through the season, managed a spectacular core of WRs and TEs, and reminded fans of the reasons why we love our team so much.

Without Favre returning for the next season, the hopes of the Green Bay fans for another playoff run rested on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. I, for one, did not think he was up the challenge. I didn’t think he had the leadership skills or the talent to lead my Packers in their battle for victory. Of course I was a bit biased. Brett Favre came to Green Bay from Atlanta in 1992. I was only 3 years old at the time, so he was really the only Green Bay quarterback that I’d ever known. I was very reluctant to let Aaron Rodgers prove me wrong.

He did prove me wrong, however. I’ve never been more happy to be wrong. Despite some inconsistency with regards to 2-minute drives in crucial situations, he has been what Green Bay needs to help keep our team glued together.

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Aaron Rodgers is a decisive quarterback in the pocket with good instincts. My heart doesn’t leap into my throat quite as often as it used to when he drops back to throw deep to Driver or Jennings. I am beginning to trust him to make the right decisions and to make smart plays with the ball. Sure, it can’t be like that all of the time, and it certainly hasn’t, but I no longer cringe when I see him under center. I no longer think the words “glass bones” when someone mentions his name. I am astonished that he played through his shoulder injury and admire him even more for dealing with not only that, but also all of the criticism he has received for taking over for a legend.

With our disappointing loss to Carolina yesterday, the playoffs will be a goal for next season. As saddened as I am about that fact, I have hope. His name is Aaron Rodgers. He has shown that he is capable of handling this team and can lead it in a positive direction.

I knew that we wouldn’t have another 13-3 season with a first year quarterback who rarely saw playing time during his 3 years since being drafted. We all hoped that a miracle would happen, but realistically we knew it wasn’t meant to be. Aaron Rodgers may not be the type of quarterback that Brett Favre continues to be with the Jets (so much for retiring), but Rodgers has his own style that works for him, and more importantly, works for the team.

Green Bay will never forget what Brett Favre has done for us, but now we have an opportunity to appreciate what Aaron Rodgers will give us to remember.