So as the nightmare scenario for Packer fans draws nearer, I thought I’d go over this game in detail. Going to examine three parts to this game, what the Vikings need to do to win, the Saints, and 3 ex-packers who could determine the outcome of this game.
What do the Vikings need to do to win?
Essentially play the exact same game they did last week against the Boys. It starts with their D….if they can control the line of scrimmage with their front four, I believe the Saints have no chance. Jared Allen again will match up with a backup left tackle. The only difference is this guy, Bushrod, has already played a few weeks. Really though, if the Vikings can protect Favre while get constant pressure on Brees, they should win this game. But its not that simple, this game is on the road….Here are their road games this year..
W – 34-20 @ Cleveland
W – 27-13 @ Detroit
W – 38-10 @ STL
L – 27-17 @ PITT
W – 38-26 @ GB
L – 30-17 @ AZ
L – 26-6 @ CAR
L – 36-30 @ CHI
The only team they beat this year on the road with a winning record was Green Bay. Now its not the Vikings fault that they had a cake schedule but Sunday they face one of the best offenses since Kurt Warner’s Rams, on the road, in a dome.
How do the Saints win this game?
Strike first and often. The Saints need to score first and fast. Like a quick 80 yard punt return or long pass. This will put a sting into the heads of them Vikings. And it might bring the gunslinger back on the other side of the ball. They also have to bring some heat to Favre, disguising their blitzes…do something they haven’t done all year maybe. I also think for the Saints to win Reggie Bush has to have an impact in more ways than one.
Ex-Packers to watch
- Brett Favre – I think how the first quarter goes will determine how his game goes. If the Vikings don’t fall behind early he will stay with what the Saints give him and not take many chances. And if he has another game with not being touched then look out, he can control this game. Last week, the Saints were able to get in the face of another old, veteran QB, can they do it again?
- Darren Sharper – He’s always talking a big game, this is the time for him to back it up. He needs a pick in this game…
- Ryan Longwell – After hearing him on KFAN the other night, I’m thinking he’s the best bet for potential goat. If the Vikings need him at the end, for like a 45 yeard FG…I’m thinking he’ll miss it.
Prediction
I see the Vikings coming out thinking they are the better team, which they are mostly. Most analysts are going with the Vikings, the same dumbasses who picked the Cowboys. The Saints will come out early, get up by 14. Favre leads the Vikes to a furious comeback in the 3rd quarter…then Reggie Bush drops a bomb…then Longwell chokes.
Saints 38 Vikings 37
Published on January 22, 2010 10:53 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, NFC Championship, NFC North, Predictions, playoffs Tags: Favre, longwell, NFC Championship, reggie bush, saints, sharper
Favre knows how to relax...so much more to add to this photo but..
So this game isn’t going to unfold like everyone expects…all the analysts are crazy over how good the Cowboys are, but I bet the Vikings will show up this week for these reasons…
- They are 8-0 at home
- Favre has had two weeks of rest (he is 40 and has never missed a game for 18 years, time off benefits him more than any player)
- The Vikings are the 2 seed and by all accounts, they are the underdog
- Adrian Peterson is so due
The Cowboys are a talented team and they finally got the monkey off their backs but I can’t see them winning Sunday.
Key Matchup
Cowboys OLBs Spencer and D. Ware versus Vikings OTs McKinnie and Loadholt – I see Favre neutralizing this matchup by doing screens to Taylor and AP while mixing up little dump offs to Shiancoe and P Harvin. And then at some point this will slow them down thus opening up the deep pass to Berrian and/or Sydney Rice.
Prediction – Vikings 34-17
This is the perfect setup game for Viking fans, big win and then big diss next week. Favre has been good in the divisional playoff games at home, and poopy in other games. But what do I know, I was 0 for 4 last week.
Other picks: Cardinals 38 Saints 24, Colts 23 Ravens 17, Chargers 27 Jets 6.
Published on January 15, 2010 1:33 pm.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Predictions, playoffs Tags: adrian peterson, cowboys, Favre, peterson, playoffs, vikings
Until next season starts, Aaron Rodgers will be reliving this play….First play of overtime in a game tied 45-45… reminiscent of an infamous Favre TD throw to Jennings in 2007. Man, if AR completes this pass it would’ve capped off one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history. Down 31-10 in the 3rd Quarter, AR and the offense stormed back into this game. Neil Rackers would’ve been the biggest choke artist in Arizona, missing a 33 yard field goal at the end of regulation that would have won the game. Rodgers would’ve finished the game with 504 or so passing yards and 6 TDs (one rushing).
Well maybe he’ll get over it this quicker than most fans do but here it is….What if he lays a little air under this throw? Or if, how Troy Aikman points out, what if Jennings flattens his route out a tad? Or if Rodgers realizes he has a little more time to get this out? Was a valiant effort to get back in this game though. The Packers know they have a lot of promise for years to come.
Published on January 11, 2010 9:24 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Game Summary, Videos, playoffs Tags: Favre, jennings, overtime, rackers, rodgers
Can anyone stop Finley in the red zone?
While they played an uncaring Giants team, the Vikings looked sharp. They will be really tough to beat at home. And Green Bay rolled over Arizona as they sat most of their starters. I think it was a good move by both teams, the Cardinals have playoff experience on their roster while the Packers are young and have virtually none. Whoever emerges from next week’s rematch will be the dark horse to make a run to Miami. They are both solid on offense and defense and have gifted, mistake-free quarterbacks.
Week 17 Winners
- Aaron Rodgers
- Ryan Grant – He’s been playing solid last 5 weeks now.
- Packer D – Woodson (another TD), Matthews (constant pressure)
- Favre – Since the 2nd half of last week’s loss to the Bears, he’s been smooth. Question is, does this signifiy that he is calling the plays now or?
Week 17 Losers
- Giants team – They started 5-0, and finished 8-8. Last two games they were outscored 44-7 and 41-9. Ouch.
Published on January 4, 2010 9:25 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Dark Horse, Favre, Game Summary, NFC North Tags: Favre, giants, grant, matthews, rodgers, ryan grant, woodson
Seahawks @ Packers – This will be one of those semi-sloppy type blowout games, Lambeau will be rockin no matter what. Packers 31 Seattle 13
Vikings @ Bears – Since its a meaningless game for the Bears, this is the game ESPN has built up the Favre/Childress story as much as possible….so who knows how accurate/significant it is…Slightly bad weather and this will be a serious spin game for the Vikings. Otherwise the Bears just roll over. Bears 22 Vikings 16 (or if weather is fine and Bears don’t show up Vikings 28 Bears 3)
Lions? Why bother.
Published on December 27, 2009 7:49 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Lambeau Field, NFC North, Predictions Tags: Bears, espn, Favre, seattle
So while the Packers suffered the same outcome as the Cardinals in last year’s Super Bowl, the Vikings fell utterly flat last night, getting trounced by the Panthers. The result of both teams’ losing? Vikings win the NFC North. This will really suck now if the Packers win out and the Vikings lose out. But the one story that might really take off this week is this whole thing where Chilli wanted to remove Favre from the game last night. It was in the 3rd Quarter with the Vikings leading 7-6. Was Chilli trying to protect Favre? Or did he honestly believe his team had a better chance with T Jack? This quote made me think of what would have happened if Chilli REALLY tried to sit him. Would Favre behave like a little kid sitting on the floor at Target crying for his mom to get him that Star Wars toy?
“Yeah, there was a heated discussion, I guess you would call it,” said Favre, who finished 17-for-27 for 224 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. “We were up 7-6 at the time. No secret, I was getting hit a little bit. I felt the pressure on a lot of plays. We had seven points. So I think everyone in the building was like, ‘They’re not moving the ball. They’re not getting points.’ Brad wanted to go in a different direction and I wanted to stay in the game.
“We were up 7-6. Yeah, it’s not 70-6, but we’re up 7-6. So I said, ‘I’m staying in the game, I’m playing.’ I don’t know if it was exactly to protect me, or we had seven points, I’m not sure. That’s his call. But we talked it out. We didn’t have time, I didn’t have time to sit there and say why or what. My response was, we’ve got to win this ballgame and I want to stay in and do whatever I can. Now, unfortunately, I didn’t do that, but that was my intention.”
As a side note, this attempt to bench Favre proves that Chilli will never bring home a Super Bowl for Minneapolis. Although T Jack would have provided some mobility which the Vikings sorely needed last night.
For the last few years the Vikings have been importing Green Bay players with the penultimate pick up being Favre. Now why don’t the Vikings say fuck it, and go all out. Fire Chilli and sign Holmgren as GM. Then he could hire like Gruden or Mariucci as coach.
Published on December 21, 2009 7:56 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Game Summary, NFC North Tags: chilli, controversy, Favre, panthers, steelers, whiner
Packers @ Bears
This seems to be an easy pick here…Packers are rolling, Bears are reeling. Its the a must win for Green Bay and a who cares game for the Bears. But there’s one thing in favor for the Bears…Soldier Field and recent history. Lovie Smith has a good history against Green Bay and was embarrassed Week 1. And if its frigid conditions with the normal December blistery wind its anybody’s game.
But the Packers have too much on the line to lose this one…I think they don’t win without consequences though. I can see them getting a couple injuries that linger for a couple weeks. But please, JUST DON’T SCREW UP ON SPECIAL TEAMS!
Green Bay 22-13
Bengals @ Vikings
Last week, the Vikings found themselves behind by two scores and what happened? Collapse. Favre turns into the Gunslinger, Chilli does nothing, injuries happen, etc. So this week, even though the Bengals are mainly a running team, maybe they come out passing. If they can get a lead, watch out. (There could even be boo-birds at halftime) But I don’t know, AP is SOOO due. And Favre has had a great year, as much as I’d love for him to flop he’s not this soft.
Vikings 31 – Ravens 28
Lions @ Bengals
Prediction….Pain
Ravens 30-3
Published on December 12, 2009 11:26 pm.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Bears, Favre, NFC North, Predictions Tags: bengals, collapse, Favre, playoff, ravens, soldier field, wild card
It was about time for the real Brett Favre to stand up….he finally had some crazy, uncalled-for passes during last night’s 30-17 loss. The Vikings finally played a good all around team last night. And once the Cardinals were up by two scores everything changed. First there was a pass that Adrian Wilson should have return for a TD but dropped. Then another almost INT. Finally after two dropped INTs the Cardinals came through and Favre through picks on two consecutive drives.
The Vikings also came out of that game with a number of injuries. Including a tragic one to LB McDaniel. That didn’t look good. Next week they have to play against another good all-around team, the Bengals.
Sterling Sharpe had some great picks this week, wish I would’ve trusted them.
“I’m picking the Cardinals this week because I don’t think the Viking are that good. You don’t believe me now so obviously nobody is listening to me, even though you should.” Sterling Sharpe, 12/4 NFL Network NFC Roundup.
After yesterday’s games, tonight’s Ravens / Packers game is huge for both teams. The Packers can open up a 1.5 game cushion on the Wild Card spot with a win while the Ravens can get a slight edge for their Wild Card spot with an upset tonight in Lambeau. Hopefully Green Bay comes to play tonight because this is the biggest game of the year for them.
Published on December 7, 2009 9:08 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Favre, Game Summary, Old Packers Tags: cardinals, Favre, int, playoffs, sterling sharpe, wild card
Yes there’s still 5 games left, but if both teams continue to play at the same level the possibility of Green Bay coming to Minneapolis for a rematch gets bigger and bigger. Hopefully didn’t just jinx it cuz that game would be unthinkable. Totally agree with Simmons on this one…
Anyway, if this Pack-Vikes playoff game happens, it’s the toughest call for the Sports Gods in years. If Green Bay loses to Favre a third time, they would have to shut down the state for a week so everyone could regroup. If Minnesota blows a home playoff game to Favre’s old team Gary Anderson/Darrin Nelson-style, same thing. In other words, the stakes are too high. The last time we were here? 2003. A Red Sox-Cubs World Series looming. The Sports Gods freaked out. They couldn’t handle it. Bartman/Alou/Gonzalez and Grady/Pedro/Boone happened. I can see the same thing happening this time. Green Bay falls to the sixth seed (or misses the playoffs), the Saints keep the No. 1 seed, something — anything! — to prevent a third Favre-Packers game that would be bigger than all of us. And that’s why it can’t happen.
Published on December 4, 2009 4:59 pm.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Predictions Tags: bill simmons, Favre, metrodome, playoffs, rematch, simmons, vikings
TT's 2009 draft class is proving to be his best yet
Packers 34 Lions 12
What started as a potential let down game for the Pack, ended in a blowout. Man its strange how good their D is playing lately. They are just playing sound D, haven’t seen blown assignments for like 4-5 weeks. Even the Viking loss they played sound, just got zero for pass rush. Anyways, good to finally have a D that looks legitamately dominant.
Vikings 36 Bears 10
Well the Vikings have really rolled that past 3-4 weeks. They have everything poised to make a playoff run, just depends on if they do the usual Viking choke. Or maybe Favre’s post-season troubles cancel out the Vikings choke ridden history. Anyways Favre is WAY to comfortable in the pocket, starting to look eerily similar to the 95-97 years. And it kills me.
Week 12 Winners
- Rodgers
- Packer Rookies (Raji, Matthews, Jones)
- Woodson – NFC Defensive player of the month
- Favre – It pains me to put him here but have to
Week 12 Losers
- Cutler – What a waste, maybe Shanahan will come to the rescue in 2010? He’s such a loser lately I’m not going any further.
Published on December 4, 2009 1:00 pm.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Game Summary, NFC North Tags: cutler, Favre, raji, rodgers, ted thompson, turkey day, woodson
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