NFC North "competition"

It's the Packers division to lose until further AR gives final notice.

The Packers suffered an unforseen major injury to Rodgers last year and still won the division. 

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A lot of writers and Minny fans already are wanting to crown Bridgewater as well.

He is who we thought he was.  Crown his ass.

IF Bridgewater is the real deal, the Vikings could push for the division. They won't win it, but they could be in the thick of . The Packers still look like the best team, but they are hardly the juggernaut I thought they would be at the beginning of the year. This could be a close race.

Agree Goalline. Barring catastrophe, the Pack should win the division but I think it will be a lot closer than many think.

 

The Packers aren't anywhere NEAR as good as I thought they'd be.

Why does it feel like the season's over?

That's a 1994 quarter. Worth about 6.5 cents 

The Packers may be better than you think Boris. 

 

We know the offense is good and will continue to get better as the OL gels more, Adams and Rodgers gain Rodgers trust, and Rodgers and Lacy figure out how to make each other better.

 

As for the defense... while they are ranked 22nd in total defense (371.8 yards per game) they are ranked 8th in yards per play allowed - the offensive efficiency has put the D on the field more - and 9th in points allowed per game. Also, Green Bay ranks second in the NFL in opponent passer rating at 70.1. They also have a +6 turnover ratio after 5 games.

 

This DEF is more like 2010 than 2011.

 

 

" Also, Green Bay ranks second in the NFL in opponent passer rating at 70.1."

 

Why pass when you can run for 200?  I like that we are trending up and the PPG stat is the one that matters most; however, the biggest problem still remains.   Our weakness is the the strength of the NFC elite. 

 

San Fran and Seattle can control the clock and run for 200 on us at will.    If we were playing in the AFC, it wouldn't be as much of a problem. 

 

 

 

Brad Jones getting hurt was also the best thing that could have happened at ILB as well. Yes, he's still learning but there's no questioning Lattimore is far superior in athleticism and speed vs Brad Jones. I highly doubt Jones makes the same INT pick that Lattimore did against Minny.

 

And Linsley is another who may have been the better C on this team but again due to injury wasn't able to prove it in TC.

 

It's just a shame with this staff it takes injuries to point out to coaches who the better player was all along.

If Detroit can get a kicker, they become formidable once again.

 

Chicago's defense may be worse than the Packers, and Jay Cutler is remembering that he is Jay Cutler.

 

Minnesota probably isn't as bad as they looked Thursday, but they are also at least a year or two away from competing.

" Also, Green Bay ranks second in the NFL in opponent passer rating at 70.1."

 

We've played 40% of our games against Christian Ponder and Geno Smith.

QB rating vs. Packers

 

Wilson 110.9

Cutler 82.5

Smith 64.1

Stafford 61.6

Ponder 45.8

 

One A-/B+ QB (Wilson); a couple of second tier guys (Stafford and Cutler); and two of the worst QBs in the league.

 

Let's see how we do later in the year against Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Matt Ryan.

 

 

That's the truth.  Starting to see the dline get a little more action here and there but ultimately the middle is a highway.  Injuries?  Might be an improvement but relying on scrubs in the playoffs is likely not going to be very successful.  

 

I can see a scenario where it will take half a season for this dline to find a working momentum in a one gap scheme but injuries aren't going to help that.  MLB is what it is and I don't see that changing anytime soon, it's a scrub cesspool.  If there is going to be any kind hope in the playoffs it's going to have to come from the dline finding an identity. 

Lattimore improving through experience couldn't hurt.

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Let's see how we do later in the year against Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Matt Ryan.

The Packers host Matty Slush, who has been brutal outdoors on the road.  Who knows which Patriot team will show up at Lambeau?  And didn't Brees throw three INTs yesterday?

 

Not trying to be a pessimist, but big deal regarding division championships. Those were goals in the 70s and 80s and early in Favre's and Rodgers' tenures. But once both established themselves as elite, the team's yearly expectations rose. Great QBs and great teams are rarely judged on division championships. Those are consolation prizes for elite QBs. I'd rather have the Packers be a wild card team and make/win he Super Bowl than continuously win the division and bow out of the playoffs before the big game. 

The Packers, Lions, and Bears are the most talented teams in the division.

The Lions should have been winning the division these past 2-3 years when they were at their strongest, but they are the Lions, thank goodness.

The Bears should be killing people with their offense, and should be contending for the division title, but they have Jay at QB, and are getting away from their defense-dominant 'build'.

The biggest difference between these 2 teams and the Packers? Front office; from the President to the GM to the scouts, they are head-and-shoulders above these teams, and most of the league as well. That's why we're able to field solid teams year after year.

Oh, and that guy named Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, there's that.

Detroit needs to get Megatron healthy before they start winning games again.

 

I see 1-2 or 0-3 before their bye if Johnson isn't OK before then.

Amazing how painfully bad Stafford is without Calvin Johnson.

Per Schefter, looks like they will sit Megatron at least a week if not 2. Ankle is not getting any better.

Surprisingly the guy I am most afraid of in the NFCN is Mike Zimmer. I may eat my words, but I think he's going to be a really solid HC for the Vikings. Those Bengals D's under Zimmer gave Aaron Rodgers so many problems and if he can actually get some talented defenders then I think he's capable of causing GB some problems. Getting Anthony Barr appears to be a good decision and it seems Xavier Rhodes has improved so they have at least have a couple solid guys to start with. Zimmer may never be good with Minny because Spielman is a hack, but at a minimum he may be able to give GB problems the way Lovie Smith defenses always did.

I think Bridgewater will constantly be hurt. I thought that before the draft. He has all the makings of a good QB, but he's just small. He's not small in a Drew Brees or Senneca Wilson way, he has a smaller leaner frame like Robert Griffin or Michael Vick. He looks like a WR playing QB. And just like Griffin and Vick I think Teddy will be on the trainers table more often than he's on the field.

I feel the same way about Zimmer. The guy knows defense.

I fear the loin fans, they aint too bright.

 

Lions investigating laser pointing incident

 

 

I fear Dolphin Phans. I mean if your going to have something pointed at you...

 

She's still smoking hot though

 

Yea she aint too bright either but who cares, amirite?!

I am of the belief the best thing to happen was the Bears hiring Mark Trestman because it's obvious he does not care about running the ball or playing defense and more Jay Cutler means more Packers division titles. 

Lovie Smith teams seemed to give Rodgers and the Packers fits but alas we no longer need of worry about that. 

The best way to beat GB is and always has been playing great defense (straight up - preferably no blitzing) and playing "small ball" or running the ball and playing the field position game.   It's worked well with SF and Chicago in the past.

Lovie Smith's teams gave Bert fits, because Bert couldn't remain patient against the cover 2.  Bert also had some pretty lousy-to-mediocre tallant around him in 2004, 2005 especially and 2006.  Lovie was 6-2 against Bert.

 

Lovie did not give Rodgers fits.  Lovie was 2-9 against Rodgers.  One of those losses came in 2008 in OT when Crosby had a FG blocked at the end of regulation.  CHI won the toss and kicked a FG.

 

The other was that insane penalty fest in 2010 that included a James Jones fumble as GB was going in to score.  That was also 20-17.

 

Lovie did not in any way give Rodgers fits.

Jeenious

 

 

Rodgers gave Lovie fits & in the end cost him his job. The 1 thing Lovie could always count on was B. Favor to get impatient & throw them the ball. Rodgers?? Very patient & would rather take a sack than throw the ball to the defense. Rodgers >>>> Cover 2 >>>>>>>>>>>> Lovie

 

 

Can he be prosecuted in some way for that?

The best way to beat any elite QB is have a front four that can put pressure on the QB without having to blitz. Blitzing doesn't work that well against experience QBs because they can read it quickly and get it to the hot receiver. Sitting back in coverage without a good front 4 doesn't work either because eventually someone will get open.

 

The teams that have eliminated the Packers in the playoffs recently had tremendous pash rush from the front 4. The Giants and 49ers both fit that bill. That's my worry with Detroit. They have what is likely the most talented front 4 in football. The Jets have a good DL, but they're secondary is so bad it doesn't matter, but they did give the Packers problems in the first half of the game this year.

I certainly hope so.

 

Ian Rapoport        ✔ @RapSheet

The #Lions are signing former #Broncos K Matt Prater, source says. He wins the kick-off competition

Was suspended 4 games then released by the Donkeys.

Wow, busted for having a couple of beers at home, on vacation, while in the league program for a prior DUI.

I guess no really means NO in the NFL, at least with regard to alcohol.

 

Link.

Unfortunately, he's a pretty decent kicker (at least he was in Denver) and he's experienced. Many figured the Lions would be a prime landing spot for him.

I hope he's able to hold it together. Never want to see anyone fall to an addiction. 

 

My my gut tells me Denver didn't let the second highest scorer in the NFL last year walk over a couple vacation beers. I think they know it's a bigger problem than that. 

  "Lions will be Lions"  I guess applies to their fans as well.  How funny.