A Deep Breath

As disheartening as last nights loss was, it's good to take a deep breath and remember that Mike McCarthy teams all share one trait: They all get better as the year goes on. We've seen it the last two seasons and we'll see it again this year. The Packers ran into  the "best team in football" last night. Fine. The Packers will only improve. The Cowboys? Who knows. Here's hoping the Packers run into them again in January.

 

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Comments (4)

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Andrew's picture

September 22, 2008 at 10:19 am

So you may think I'm ridiculous, but last night really wasn't that bad. Yes, our defense was gashed for 200 rushing yards. But that's the best offense in the league and we definitely out-performed Philly's defense.

If our offense could've converted in the Red Zone, the game would've been close late against what might be the best team in the league. It's hard to ask for more.

You know the offense will improve. Grant's healing and A-Rodg is still learning.

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PackerBelle's picture

September 22, 2008 at 10:50 am

We stopped T.O - that is an improvement over last year. Yes we got creamed in the running game and that is something that needs to get fixed. Aaron Rodgers wasn't spectacular but he ran for a TD and didn't throw any interceptions. And had James Jones not dropped a few passes things might have been different. The Cowboys have peaked and the Packers are still very raw. Had this game been played in November I think the outcome might have been very different.

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Rob's picture

September 22, 2008 at 11:42 am

I have to agree with the INT assessment. In years past, the outcome might have included a long INT return for a TD during an effort to get it all back at once. Though it appeared Rodgers hung on to the ball a little long, the "on-field" cameras seemed to show a lack of separation between receivers and defenders. And the loss of Jones made a difference in having to go with only 3 wide receiver sets.

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Keith's picture

September 22, 2008 at 11:55 am

I think you guys are looking at things through Green and Gold colored glasses. Were the Pack in it? For sure, but this game didn't come down to the skill positions, it came down to line play. And I hate to admit it, but the Cowboys' O/D-Lines were bigger, stronger, and nastier. IMO, when Ratliff (#90) came through, sacked Rodgers, and then let loose with that extended roar that was a microcosm of the lines for both teams. The Cowboys' lines took it to us, pure and simple.

To say our D put up a better fight than Philly is being happy with small victories. The Boys rolled up 453 yards of total offense, 217 on the ground. Not to sound like a broken record, but the net rushing yard disparity, 217-84, speaks volumes about the differences between the two teams. The Cowboys running game just kicked our butts. Oh, and Jason Witten, that dude was incredible last night... catching, blocking, what have you, he did it all.

Our offensive line really needs to man up and start controlling the line of scrimmage. And McCarthy needs to commit to establishing the run. Our Defense always fades in the second half because they are always on the damn field. There is something to the Parcells-Belicheck ball control philosophy. Not saying our team should become the Giants, but we have 3 very capable backs and we should be utilizing them more.

Oh, and Rodgers has got to get rid of the freaking ball quicker. There's a world of difference between playing the Cowboys and the Lions. Against good teams that window for throwing the ball is going to be smaller and close quicker.

So not to be all negative, I thought Rodgers looked promising. He still needs to get rid of it quicker, but he kept his composure and made some plays. Jennings looked great, but I still think they need to get Driver and Nelson involved more... Nelson is looking really good, love that kid's hands. Lee also played a solid game, imo, and as things slow down for Aaron, I expect him to hit Lee on checkdowns some more. The running game showed flashes, and I thought Brandon Jackson ran hard when he was in there. He even did an adequate job picking up an LB blitzing hard up the middle late. The backer trucked him, but hey, it prevented him from getting to Rodgers.

Sorry to sound so negative for most of my post, but after seeing the Cowboys win a shootout against Philly last week and then watch them run all over the Pack this week, I'm very impressed by their line play and ability to adapt to different styles of play. Say what you want about them fading in past seasons, but they really remind me of the GB Super Bowl teams. The ones who couldn't get over the hump, but once they did, they one a SB and went to another. Now, I don't think Phillips is as good a coach as Holmgren was, and I obviously don't think Romo is as good as vintage Brett, but they definitely have a better running game than that team did. And I think they're comparable on D and ST.

Anyway, that got long... just my two cents. But just to be clear, my post is less an indictment and more of a compliment to the Cowboys (who I hate more than any team in professional sports). I agree with everyone who says the Pack will improve, because they will.

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