As great as last week was horrible, the Packers yesterday looked like the team that whipped up on the Colts a little under a month ago. Everyone took turns making plays, and Lord, how the offensive line got redemption. You know a team is playing well when you see the #4 wide receiver (who’s a rookie, by the way) down field throwing a block and holding it forever against TWO GUYS and shoving them backward while the tailback is sweeping down the sideline in their direction. THAT was a great play by Jordy Nelson, and he was not alone in his ‘great-playness’ yesterday. Whether it was Tory Humphrey executing a perfect cut-block or Brandon Chillar diagnosing a swing pass before it was made, whether it was Charles Woodson not biting on a play-fake on his backside blitz or Chad Clifton using the defensive ends own momentum to simply glide him into a pile of blockers, creating a perfect throwing lane for Rodgers, almost every player had a hand in this dominate victory. It was an all around unbelievably great performance for a team that has had precious few of them so far in 2008. Let’s hope the team builds off this and can go on a big winning streak.

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• The Right Move

Earlier this year, ESPN assigned eight NFL reporters on their staff to ‘blog’ about each of the eight NFL divisions. Kevin Seifert, who used to cover the Minnesota Vikings, got the gig for the NFC North.

Noting that the North is one of two divisions without a single snap taken in the Wildcat formation, which was introduced earlier this year by the Dolphins and  is “taking the league by storm” - Seifert takes it upon himself to offer suggestions for each team in the Norse division to spruce up their offense. His suggestion for the Packers, however, is disappointing:

If nothing else, a direct snap to tailback Ryan Grant might jump-start the Packers’ stagnant running game. And if Kansas City’s Tyler Thigpen can run a deep touchdown route out of the Wildcat, so can the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. But to put the maximum pressure on a defense, Green Bay would probably need to put one of their starting receivers, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, in the backfield. Both are good open-field runners. I can envision Driver motoring around the edge of a surprised defense.

The last sentence is especially disappointing after remembering that Seifert was AT the Viking-Packer game this past Sunday - when the Packers opened with that very play. It went for -2 yards.

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• Thanks To Hashmarks

… check out the 3:15 mark of this video, the part where Peterson takes his helmet off after his touchdown.

In last night’s Monday Night Game, perennial underachieving 49er tight end Vernon Davis was flagged for a 15 yard penalty after removing his helmet following his first touchdown catch of the year.

Do you think the Packers could have used those 15 yards on Sunday?

Once again, it’s not an excuse - but it sure sucks.

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• web tools for Packer fans

Forget Monday Morning Quarterbacking. When, as a young man, I would get down after a Packer loss, I would turn to my record collection. (Ask your parents…)

So here is a Monday Morning Playlist of songs and albums that capture how I feel this morning for my fellow Packer Fans everywhere, to help deal with yesterday’s loss to the worst organization in professional sports.

• Driven To Tears - The Police
• Dead Souls - Joy Division
• Ruiner - Nine Inch Nails
• Shame - Nitzer Ebb
• No Protetcion - Massive Attack (dedicated to the offensive line)
• Disappointed - Morrissey
• Let Down - Radiohead
• Overcome - Tricky
• Sour Times - Portishead

There. That was cathartic. Now I’m ready for next week…

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• Perspective

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/titans-19-packers-16

Perspective:

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/perspective

Aaron Rodgers:

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/rodgers-and-jennings-need-a-sit-down

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/rodgers-watch-4

Pressure Package Problems:

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/sanders-blitzing-problem

Vikings Game:

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/allen-most-likely-wont-play

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• Transplants Episode #34 Topic Links

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

It’s time to bench Nick Barnett.

Desmond Bishop could not possibly be any worse than the pathetic display for what is passing as middle linebacker play in Green Bay this season. Maybe a benching will shake Barnett from whatever malaise has a grip on him this season. It is just painful watching him play football right now. And nothing could be more embarrassing than his jumping on Lendale White after the play is long over and proceed to push White into the ground for several seconds - even though the whistle had blown 30 seconds previous.

He is just not right and has become a liability. Give Bishop a shot. He could not possibly be any worse and may just be a better option at this point.

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• Nick Barnett Done For the Year

Now that I’ve made my one political post for the year - I’d like to draw everyone’s attention to the fact that we play the Vikings this week. And we all know that the Vikings suck and that Brad Childress is a socialist.

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• This Has Got To Be A Setup…

I’ve read and heard a lot of fan reaction to the loss yesterday. A lot of the usual mud-slinging by the anti-Thompson crowd of course, but also some measured reactions trying to affix blame for yesterday’s tough loss.

The truth is - that was a great football game. It’s just truly unfortunate the Packers had to lose.

People will blame McCarthy and Sanders for the failures of the offense and defense respectively. People will try to blame individuals for plays they think might have swayed the outcome. (Poppinga’s horrific personal foul penalty or Jason Spitz’ missed block on the screen play toward the end of regulation…) And of course, there’s the old standby, blaming the refs, the worst offense being the blatant mugging of Greg Jennings on the deep ball against Finnegan. (And don’t buy what Bedard is sellin’ - that was classic pass interference, unlike Chillar’s non-call in the end-zone - Finnegan wraps up Jennings’ arm just BEFORE the ball gets there. Pass. Interference.)

But in truth, the Packers just didn’t make the plays when they needed to make them and the Titans did. Sometimes, it’s as simple as that. It’s frustrating, not having something or someone to blame, but it’s the truth. When the Packers give the ball away twice and don’t take it away even once, more often than not they are going to lose. Even after that, all they had to do was get a first down on their last offensive drive and Crosby most likely kicks the game winner. You can go on and on. The Titans made the plays that needed to be made - the Packers didn’t and now they sit at 4-4 halfway through the season.

Now.

The next two games? Huge. Enormous. The importance can not be overstated. The Packers must find a way to win these next two games or it is all over for the 2008 Green Bay Packers. That may sound melodramatic, but it’s pretty much where they’ve put themselves. Facing the Vikings then the Bears, the Packers can’t falter either time, especially against the Bears who McCarthy has yet to figure out. (His lone victory against our hated rival came in a meaningless New Years Eve game two years ago…)

So - don’t focus on the sting of this Titans loss - it’s unfortunate, but not catastrophic. Instead - get ready for all out wars against our two most hated rivals back-to-back. It’s only the season on the line, after all.

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• Titans: 19 Packers: 16