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Packers 27 Seahawks 24

Watch highlights HERE.

Watch Martin’s ejection HERE.

Quick Hits

Nice to see us come out with a stop and a touchdown right away.

Not so much on the ensuing 55-yard kickoff return by the Seahawks. I am officially now hollering for Slocum to go.

Greg Jennings is a superstar.

I could watch Aaron Rodgers throw deep all day, every day.

Ryan Grant is doing a much better job of adjusting to a closed hole.

I don’t know what to say about Finley anymore. Just completely unstoppable.

The young corners looked terrible in the first half. Seriously, Bush is a lost cause. Why do I keep having to say that?

Desmond Bishop was fairly unimpressive.

We could have had Leon Washington, just sayin’.

I noticed Jordy was playing the fourth man.

Bulaga had a nice game, again.

Will Blackmon does make me feel a lot more comfortable. Nice to see him in there. On punts. He sucked on defense. Really sucked.

Wow, Derrick Martin got ejected? Ejected? Wow, just wow. It sounds like he threw a couple of punches. He could miss time for that.

Breno Giacomini really, really struggled. You have to think he’s gone now.

Mike Neal is already getting triple teams. Nice.

The jury is still out on Morgan Burnett through week two.

Who turned on Brandon Jackson? I like it.

Quinn Johnson WILL make this team. Mark it down. Right here. 8.20.10

Justin Harrell played. Guess his back is fine Vandermause.

Matt Flynn gets a reluctant pass from me in the suck department this week.

I have said Sam Shields would never make this team. I still say that.

Mason Crosby sucks huh? I also said he would be just fine.

MVP

Greg Jennings

Bottom line, half of the first team didn’t even get on the plane for the trip. If you want to sit and bitch about scrubs, we certainly can. But I’ve already moved on. Again, the only thing that is going to beat this team is mental mistakes. We made a bunch of them.

Bring on the Colts.

It was Monday, November 9th at 2:25PM. The ” Tragedy in Tampa” had occurred less than 24 hours ago. The Packers offense had just finished watching the film of that very ugly game.

More sacks. More penalties.  More of the poor and inconsistent play that had plagued them all season. Everyone was disgusted. Veteran players stood up individually and spoke to the entire team, including coaches.

Donald Driver, Aaron Rodgers, Mark Tauscher and others had their say. Donald Driver had some of the more powerful words; “If we don’t win – and I mean now – they are going to fire all of our (butts) at the end of the season,” Driver said. “I’m serious.”

Daryn Colledge called it a “Come to Jesus” meeting. Whatever it was called at the time, you can now call it the “Turning Point”.

As Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal wrote at the time, “If the foundering Green Bay Packers go on a long-shot run to the playoffs in the second half of the season, the record will show the resurrection started at approximately 2:25 p.m. Monday.”  How prescient those words were.

The Green Bay Packers have spoken to us through their play in the last few games. Against Pittsburgh, they showed us that they have enough talent to play with any team. Going into Pittsburgh in December to play a wounded and desperate Steelers team surely would not end well.

And while in one way it didn’t, I think the fact that Pittsburgh needed every last second and a moment of pass-completion perfection to pull out a win, actually empowered the Packers and improved their confidence as a team. Sure it was heart-breaking to lose like that, but knowing how hard the Super Bowl Champions had to fight to beat them, the Packers could only be impressed with their progress as a team. If I were a Packers player, that’s how I would have felt.

The Steelers loss also put the onus on the Packers to win the next game. If they were really serious about making the playoffs (I know that sounds silly, but look at the Giants yesterday), they would need to come out and beat an inferior opponent. The Packers spoke to us in this game with their relentlessness, avoiding the poor third quarter play they have exhibited in recent games.

More specifically, in their last seven games (starting with the Tampa debacle), the Packers had been shut out in six of those third quarters. Allowing teams to stay close is never a good idea, even though they prevailed in five of those games.

But against Seattle, the Packers did what they could have been expected to do. They dominated an inferior opponent from start to finish. The Packer offense scored at least 10 points in every quarter, quickly fixed a few rough spots at the beginning of the game, protected Rodgers and only committed 3 penalties.

The Packers defense did yield almost 300 yards to the Seahawks, but as I wrote in the pre-season, this is a defense that will live and die by the big play/turnover. Zero turnovers and a ton of yardage relinquished to the Steelers equated to a heart-breaking loss. Four turnovers and and inferior opponent like the Seahawks equated to a blowout, despite giving up almost 300 net yards.

From the rubble of that horrible loss in Tampa, the Packers rose up, dusted themselves off and found a new focus and new reason for being – a desperation drive to make the playoffs. I have talked with many people who feel that football players don’t need any external motivation, that because they are pros, they should be able to motivate themselves. I’ve never subscribed to that theory, especially in football.

Seems to me that a little “Come to Jesus” kick in the ass was just what the Packers needed.

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You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco’s articles on several sports websites: Jersey Al’s Blog, Packers Lounge, NFL Touchdown and Bleacher Report.

Jersey Al is the Green Bay Packers Draft Correspondent for Drafttek.com.

You can also follow Jersey Al on facebook and twitter.

Some lessons from the 2009 season.

It’s been an eventful season, to say the least, but now that the Packers have earned a wild card berth and are destined for either an 11-5 or a 10-6 record, we can safely draw some conclusions:

1. Maybe the preseason means something after all.

When the Packers fell to 4-4, a lot of people, myself included, were feeling like chumps for having been excited about the team’s dominant performance in the preseason. But it is now apparent that the raw talent that was on display in the preseason was no mirage. Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson have been every bit as impressive as they looked in the preseason, and although it took the rest of the team awhile to get going, during the past seven games they have looked very much like the team that played so well in August. It was mostly a matter of the offensive line getting back in synch after a rough start and the defensive players improving their ability to run Dom Capers’ schemes.

2. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are not idiots.

There is still plenty of room for various opinions on the abilities of our GM and coach, but the contention that they are a couple of bumbling fools, which never made much sense to begin with, has now been put to rest. They are at least competent, and considering that they are still relatively new to their jobs, they might still prove to be excellent. Thompson has stocked the roster with playmakers in nearly every position group, and McCarthy is one of the more creative offensive coaches in the league. When the team struggled, a few players made bitter comments to the press, but the situation never got out of hand. Just as the team held together during last year’s 6-10 debacle, it held together through tough times again this year. That’s a sign that the players believe in their coach.

3. Penalties are overrated.

It seems as if the first thing that football announcers learn in broadcasting school is that one should never miss an opportunity to treat your viewers to a lengthy lecture about the devastating effect of penalties. We heard more than our share of these lectures this season, as the Packers have led the league in penalties most of the way. And what do they have to show for it? A 10-5 record, that’s what. It’s almost like your parents lectured you on the evils of going out drinking, but you went out drinking anyway and had yourself a fine time and were none the worse for wear afterwards. Here is what penalties are: They are mistakes. Just like missed blocks, missed tackles, poor throws, poor routes, poor coverage, you name it. A penalty is a bad play. But as annoying as they are, penalties do not have a magical quality that makes them any worse than other kinds of mistakes. Our team is proof of that.

4. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Several teams that looked great out of the gates this season fell on hard times right around the same time the Packers were beginning to gel. The Broncos, Giants, and Jets were the best examples, while teams like the Steelers and Texans also went downhill. The 49ers’ strong start was already a distant memory by the time they showed up at Lambeau Field for their week 11 thrashing. Even the Saints and Vikings, although still among the best teams in the league, have lost their sparkle. We are lucky that our team is on the right side of this equation.

5. It’s all about counterpunching.

A lot of fans expect nothing less than total domination from their team. But that’s not the way the NFL works. Chances are good that your team is going to look stupid and incompetent on many occasions during the season. Goodness knows, our team sure has. There is a constant ebb and flow in the NFL, not only from week to week, but even within the same game. When a team embarrasses its opponent in some way, it better be careful, or it will be embarrassed right back. Brett Favre was an exception. He embarrassed us twice. But the book has not necessarily closed on that one just yet. Let the playoffs begin!

The Packers Lounge is excited to host our first video call in show “Around The Lounge.” Got a webcam? Want to talk Packers? The next generation is here now. Today’s guest? None other than Dale Z.

It’s pretty simple. If you would like to call the show, simply enter your name. If your webcam is on, and we feel like talking to you, we’ll get you on. No webcam? You can still call in and voice your opinion. If you feel like just kicking back and watching, you can do too below.

 Showtime: 2 p.m. Lambeau Time

Best of luck, this could get interesting.

If you missed the show, you can watch on-demand by clicking the player below.

[podcast]http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/26190/week.7.podcast.mp3[/podcast]

Here is the week seven podcast. Talkin’ Hawks, talkin’ Colts, and talkin’ hotties.

Problems? Click here.

I think this is one of the coolest things the Press-Gazette has ever put out there. Great job, you guys should keep these things coming.

I have no idea what I am going to write. Seriously, I am just going to pen this post as it comes and whatever ends up here is going to have to work.

Every other blog seems to have something to say today. Of course, ten of them say the same exact thing as usual, but I have been enjoying the blog wars between PackerGeeks and CheeseheadTV today.

Personally, I think Ryan Grant blows the big one this year. I also am sick of watching our new favorite play the first and one yard carry. One thing is for sure, I hesitate to believe a whole lot about what I here on the podium in the off-season. If you ask me, Brandon Jackson is even a bigger bust than Grant if you follow the Mike McCarthy talk. I listened to the off-season chatter about how fantastic Jackson was looking. The minions were singing Brandon this and bigger and “badder” that. All I frickin’ see is “badder.” Yes, I know he was out this week, so don’t bash my knowledge on your websites.

As far as the Hawks game goes I really don’t have an opinion. We should have won the game and we did. We also should have blown them out too and we didn’t. That in mind, the only thing I truly take from that game is the luxury of not having to listen about how much we suck for at least a week. Outside of the pass to Jennings, the most exciting thing about that game was seeing “The Glove” in the press-box.

Moving on, why don’t we ever make a move like the Cowboys did today with Roy Williams? Don’t give me any of this building from within and through the draft twaddle either. Joe Johnson bent this organization over and plugged them from behind with the longest torn pectoral you have ever seen. Get some nuts and make a move once in awhile. Yes, I know we got Woodson and so does the entire universe, so I won’t press the argument. Let’s get more guys like Charles.

Oh, the trade deadline is over? Nevermind.

I’m totally happy with the news about Harris. But, how do go from out for the season to back in four weeks like that. Who the hell is reporting this stuff? Hopefully he comes back hungry, as hungry as Tramon has been.

I need a podcast guy and I’m pissed. The other guy up and decides to quit and I can’t find a single person in the whole Packer universe with a head-set microphone. Luckily I had an awesome fill-in for week four, but if I don’t have one by tomorrow I’m going to go solo until I do. Good thing the competition is pretty light.

I like Culver’s, they make a good burger.

I am excited to have something unique to offer this week. I get so sick of reading and writing the same crap over and over again that it is nice to have a diversion for a little while. This week, we will follow perhaps one the most avid Packer and forum fan on his trip to Lambeau Field to see the Pack play the Colts. We will follow him from his home in Missouri as he travels from airport to airport and restaurant to restaurant. We will post pictures as he travels and try to live his experience, literally. So, please watch with us as we follow this faithful fan from home to heaven and back again.

That pretty much finishes my rant for the day. I don’t feel like breaking it down, I don’t feel like arguing about Ryan Grant or the offensive line or the injury situation. I want to relish in a mediocre win for a moment. I’m not convinced quite yet that the opportunity will present itself as much as I would like it to.

As a final addition, Tony Kornheiser is a total douche. I’ll guarantee you’ll hear something about his comment on PTI today. Generalizing people with handicaps as freaks is cool Tony, real cool.

Highlights Week Six

The Packers finally break their three game skid and reward us with a victory. It wasn’t pretty, we should have won, and we did. We will break it down tomorrow, but right now 27-17 works for me.

Gameday: Qwest Field

Since it’s almost Friday that means it’s time to start talking Seahawks. It is eerily peculiar how both these teams find themselves in similar positions. Here are five things to watch for.

1. Can the offensive line get it done?

Seattle can definitely put the pressure on Rodgers. Patrick Kerney already has four sacks, and Julian Peterson can take over a game if you let him. The defense can put pressure off the edge, and most certainly will be trying to do so.

2. Can frickin’ Grant be frickin’ Grant again?

We used to have a stud running back named Ryan grant. This year we have a guy who has yet to rush for 100 yards.

There were some brighter spots last game, but Grant really needs to make a statement. Brandon Jacobs crushed them last week, if Ryan Grant is worth the money, he will do the same.

Please Ryan, give the defense a rest.

3. Will Julius Jones kill us?

Giving up almost 200 yards a game, it’s pretty clear we don’t have a run defense. Julius Jones has the potential for a monster day.

With quarterback concerns, expect the Hawks to hand to Jones early and often. The guy already averages 4.8 a carry, and stands to increase that mark if the defense hasn’t been shored up this week.

4. Will Matt Hasselbeck torch our secondary?

Luckily for us, Hasselbeck has a bum knee and a severely depleted core of receivers. Basically, he has sucked the big one all season long.

This however, is his chance to right the ship. Watch for the depth in the secondary, against the depth in the Seahawks receiving corp. Koren Robinson might also be inspired to make some plays as well.

5. Can we not kill ourselves with penalties and stupid mistakes?

Penalties and simple fundamentals have killed the Packers this season. How can you win when you keep beating yourself every time you have a chance. Mike McCarthy promised he would once again address these issues again this week. Did he actually send the memo this time?

Even as banged up as we are, this is a loaded football team.

Let’s go out and play a complete four quarters… for once.

Packers vs. Hawks

Lester thinks we’ll win. C’mon Lester.