Old Problems Resurface for the 4-4 Packers

Yes, you read it right 4-4. This record bothers me because having lost as many games as you’ve won means that this Packer team is average. After this Sundays loss to the then 0-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, some may even argue this team is….mediocre. I definitely disagree but something’s got to change.

The Packers were coming into this game after the devasting second loss of the season to Brett Favre and the Vikings putting us 2 games behind them as #2 in the NFC North. Favre has humiliated us twice, once at Lambeau, and now we stand to lose to the Buccaneers, a team who HASN’T WON ONE SINGLE GAME!!

The O-Line problems were monumental. We had two of our major Tackles returning from injury and Coach McCarthy tried to make adjustments the best he could. Still, there was no excuse for the beating they allowed Aaron Rodgers to take. And as Coach McCarthy mentioned on Packers.com, "You look at Tampa Bay's quotes all week, that's all they talked about was sacking the quarterback, and it happened again today." Of course!! That’s going to be every teams game plan after seeing how easy it was for the Vikings and an 0-7 team to abuse our quarterback and quickly regain possession. Rodgers seemed rattled and unsure due to the lack of protection leading to him throwing a pick in the 4th quarter which sealed the deal for the Buccs. The adjustments that were made earlier in the season had the Pack O-Line looking great against the Lions and Browns just two games ago. However, some argue that the O-Line didn’t tighten up, but that the Lions and Browns are just weaker teams. I may have to agree.
Our running game is usually the ace-in-the whole and it was shut down by the Buccs. Remember in last week’s blog I said if Ryan Grant has a good game we win? It proved true with Grant only rushing 55 yards, we lose. =(
Defense was pretty solid but they spent too much time on the field and most times when they hit the field the Buccs were already 30 or less yards from the end zone. AJ Hawk even had an awesome pick which could’ve saved the game but was called back because of illegal contact.

I’d like to end with a little positivity. WR James Jones (allow him to reintroduce himself) came up with a spectacular 74 yard catch for a touchdown. That’s the longest pass of Rodgers career and the 2nd longest in Green Bay history (the longest is 80 yards by my #1 Packer love Antonio Freeman).

I’d also like to welcome back RB Ahman Green.

Next week we better beat the pants off of the Dallas Cowgirls or I will be flying to Wisconsin to pass out beatings myself!!

Sunset Brown