Packers vs. Vikings – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 26 MIN 26, OT

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Marshall Newhouse
Packers, Vikings Tie 26-26

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings:  2013 Game 11

Unfiltered game day blog post of comments, observations and first impressions.

GAME NOTES:

A big problem is how many healthy cornerbacks the Packers have today? One they won’t have is Casey Hayward, whose season is over. Placed on IR for what has to bee the most persistent pulled hamstring in the history of he Packers, who have had some experience in that department. Sam Shields is also out.

This is a game the Packers MUST have. If they trip up here, I’ll be ready to start looking forward to the draft and next season.

 

Tonight’s captains for the Packers: – Eddie Lacy, Mike Daniels, Tim Masthay

 

Inactives for today’s game:

Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
12 QB Aaron Rodgers
13 WR Chris Harper
37 CB Sam Shields
51 LB Nate Palmer
53 LB Nick Perry
67 T/G Don Barclay
97 DE Johnny Jolly

Starting lineup changes: 16 QB Scott Tolzien starts for Rodgers, 31 CB Davon House for Shields, 74 T Marshall Newhouse for Barclay, 96 LB Mike Neal for Perry and 76 DE Mike Daniels for Jolly.

Minnesota Vikings
12 QB Josh Freeman
21 CB Josh Robinson
50 LB Erin Henderson
60 G Jeff Baca
82 TE Kyle Rudolph
83 WR Rodney Smith
91 DT Chris Baker

Starting lineup changes: 29 CB Xavier Rhodes starts for Robinson, 57 LB Audie Cole for Henderson and 89 TE John Carlson for Rudolph.

 

 

 

Mike McCarthy Pregame Show on 620 WTMJ:

urgency  of game:  No question. For everything that’s going on with our football team., this is a win we need and a win we’re going to go out and get.

Wayne reads injury list: That was exhausting Wayne… It’s pro football. Injuries is the unfortunate part of our game. it’s really about the opportuniteis given to the other individuals. We need to take a one game focus – nail this thing down.

Group effort: There’s 46 guys that line up every week. They’re representing the team on that day and all have to be accountable. Likewise, the decision makers have a responsibility to be giving them everything they need, in terms of information, motivation, keeping the adrenilin flowing, etc.  Just trying to get everybody to exceed expectations.

Peterson: Great player. What he brings to the football field in terms of  pure talent, determination, etc. is outstanding.

Jennings: Greg had a great run here. Was part of some great teams here, a real pro.

Special teams: Depends on how you want to look at it, we’ll get our shots.

Worthy & Richardson back: Two guys who have not played football yet this year. They’ve been given a role and need to go out and perform to that role.

Tolzein: At the end of the day, everybody understand the responsibility to care of the football. But, we line up every week and focus on giving our team best chance. I’m excited about this young man. I think he’s going to do some good things and specifically, have a good game today.

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Packers vs. Vikings – First Impressions – First Half:

Packers with the ball first.

Packers try to surprise on first play of game – Tolozein looking to go deep, but he’s sacked by an unblocked Audi Cole.

Clay Matthews blows past Matt Kalil like he’s standing still.Good start.

No room for Lacy to run yet. Vikings packing the box, of course.

As he’s about to get hit, Tolzein hangs in to rifle a pass to Nelson on a shake and go. Impressive.

Lacy with a spin move and a somersault on the same play.

And then Tolzein with a spin move on a TD run. Wow!

Matthews looking a lot more like himself today. Two sacks already. Second sack came because he didn’t over-commit and give Ponder a running lane.

Bunch of people making the Marshawn Lynch comparisons for Lacy now. I claim first dibs on that – said it in preseason.

 

Score at end of 1st quarter:    GB 7 Min 3

“Newhouse.” We can now say that name with the same disdain Seinfeld would use with “Newman.” Gives up a sack…

Oh Davon House… Right in your hands…  Another Packers blown INT…

Packers get lucky as Hawk forces a fumble after grabbing Peterson’s facemask. Gets away with it and Packers get the ball.

Tolzein with a few passes blocked/tipped already.  Vikings looking for it.

Tolzein badly underthrows Boykin on a go route, a pass he’s thrown very well in previous games. A good pass there is a TD.

Brad Jones and one other Packer (couldn’t tell who) get sucked inside and Peterson bounces it out for a big gain. Gotta maintain that discipline.

So today it’s Jerome Simpson the Packers are making look like Jerry Rice.

Packers using the usual formula of keeping bad teams in the game. Difference now is there’s no Aaron Rodgers to bail them out.

 

Score at end of 1st half:  Min 13 GB 7

 

Packers vs. Vikings – First Impressions – Second Half:

Packers go three and out on their first possession. Dear Mike McCarthy, I challenge you to show me something new – something we don’t see every game. How about it?

Three defensive backs in Greg Jennings’ vicinity and not one can get close enough to make a play. And that’s no credit to Jennings.

The savior (Matt Flynn) is in the game.

First thing Flynn did was audible on first down with the Vikings showing 8 in the box. Good start, but alas, still no better.

Can the Packers defense step up and get a stop?

third and four:  Packers blitz – quick out to Jennings gets the first.

Toby Gerhart showing It’s not just Adrian Peterson. Plowing through the defense -making the Packers look pretty bad right now.

 

Score at end of 3rd quarter:   Min 20 GB 7

Packers finally stop the Vikes on 3rd down, but it’s inside the 20, so FG for Minnesota. 16 point deficit with 14 minutes left.

While losing to the Vikings is not unfathomable to me, the Packers looking this bad doing it, is.

Packers drive to a TD, helped by some very well-timed penalties by the Vikings (which will be overlooked by Matt Flynn fans). Two point conversion try is picked off.

Packers down by 10 with eleven minutes left.

Cordarelle Patterson drops what would have been a very long gain, and the Packers stop a screen attempt on 3rd down.  They have life…

Now 8:40 left, Packers with the ball.

Packers on the move. Combination of Lacy and short passing game. Love that Lacy is already thinking about getting out of bounds when possible…

Flynn throwing some floaters, but his timing is precise. Resulting in completions…

Packers waste a big timeout, thinking about going for it on fourth and one. They do go for it and Lacy makes it on his own.

Packers finally throw to Lacy, something I’ve wanted to see more of. Use your weapons in multiple ways, Mike.

Packers within 3 with 3:24 left.

Third and eleven as Ponder almost fumbles the snap.  Matthews runs Ponder out of the Pocket and Mike Neal gets the sack.

2:37 left, ball on their own 30. No timeouts left.

Flynn with the dump-off to Lacy again – gets out of bounds again after a nice gain. Almost in field goal position again.

Boykin mugged on third down – no call.

Fourth and six at the 40 yard line.  Offsides Vikings, free play – Flynn throws it up for grabs and Jones comes down with it.

PLEASE don’t play for the field goal here…

Oh jeez – fourth down…  Here comes Crosby..

TIE GAME.  46 seconds left, Minny with one timeout.

Get 10 yds on first down, then incomplete pass, then Ponder runs for 3 yards.

3rd and 7, 14 seconds left, no timeouts. Incomplete pass.  Vikings punt…

 

Score at end of 4th quarter:    GB 23 Min 23

 

Packers vs. Vikings – First Impressions – Overtime:

Flynn sacked on third down, but defensive holding called against the Vikings. Flynn has the luck of the Irish with him today.

Jordy Nelson – what a gamer…

Jarrett Boykin: No longer just glad to be out there…

Three tries at the goal line, Packers can’t get the TD.  Crosby hits the field goal, Minny gets a shot.

I used to like that rule change, until now…

Third and nine, and you hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson. And he gets 15 yards…

Packers could really use Johnny Jolly here…

Vikings gashing the Packers runD again. Deep in Packers territory already.  Finally stop Gerhart; 2nd and 9 on the Packers 12.

Packers hold. Walsh hits the FG, tied again…

Starks in at RB – Lacy just walking back in now from the locker room. Supposedly got the wind knocked out of him, but could be more.

Packers three and out.  Not good the way the defense is playing.

third and five – huge play:  Jennings drops it! Thanks, GREG!

Packers ball on their 10 yd line.

I’m going play action on first – safe route, though…

Packers up to their 35 despite two false starts…

And now there’s holding…

 

Final Score:   GB 26 Min 26, OT

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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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88 thoughts on “Packers vs. Vikings – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 26 MIN 26, OT

  1. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to face the horror *line from “Armageddon” lol

    The Packers can not afford to low even ONE MORE game! It’s not an issue of walking away with just enough wins any more, but how our opponents do now.

    There will be two playoff teams from the NFC South and another two from the NFC West. The Bears and Lions are ahead of us in the division. And lastly, someone over in that rancid NFC West division has to make the playoff automatically.

    It’s not over, but it is most certainly out of our hands now. Even if we win the rest of our games, we are no longer guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, and IMO one more loss officially puts away for good.

    One more loss and I say “I wonder what pick we’re gonna get in the draft”.

    1. Actually, we are only a half-game behind Chicago and Detroit, so we still control our own destiny if we win out.

      1. You’re correct sir, but we HAVE TO win against Detroit. It’s still pretty dog gone tight.

      2. That’s the key: the Packers control their own destiny from here on out. They just have to find a way to win a game…with or without AR.

        Having watched the Lions the last two weeks, they had the opportunity to run away from the division and hide, but they just can’t seem to get out of their own way. That said, I fully expect them to hang one on this Packer D on Thursday.

  2. Only got to see last 10 minutes of OT in my market. What a pick that might have been.

    In a word, uninspiring.

    Sister kissing lives, albeit with long blonde, fish-flavored hair in your mouth.

    1. Huh, come on Chad. The Packers have worse talent than one of the worst teams in the league, the Vikings. How are they to beat a good team like the Vikings. Its time to finally admit the Thompson’s talent acquisition stratitgies have really hurt the Packers.

      1. What does that have anything to do with my comment? All I meant was that Flynn beat the Lions two years ago in a shoot-out.

        Sheesh.

    1. Mark, how do you know if Capers is bad or good with the extreme lack of talent he has been provided with by Thompson. Rogers masks talent problems on offense and defense.

      1. Extreme lack of talent? Yes, they’re all watching from the sidelines. Show me another team with this many injuries including their first and second string quarterbacks and how well they’re doing?

        Extreme lack of talent? Jeez…

        1. Al I love your site, one of my favorite sites to come to for the Packers. But you and I and everybody else knows this team will only go as far as the defense can take them. The 2010 draft with Bulaga, Neal, Burnett, Quarless, Newhouse, and whoever else they took is terrible. Bulaga looked promising but when this season wraps up, he’ll have missed the last 23 games or so. Every name I mentioned on that list is a absolute joke. TT was so desperate for ANY safety he signed Burnett to a deal as ridicules as the one he gave Hawk before 2011 season started. Did you see Burnett play today? Just think, 4 years of that!!!! Shields was the best Player to come from 2010 and he wasn’t drafted and probably will be gone, especially if TT is there refusing to even look at FA.
          2011 was even worse. Sherrod, Cobb, Green, House, DJ Williams, DJ Smith, Ricky Elmore, Ryan Taylor, Lawrence Guy, and one pick I’m forgetting. With the exception of Cobb, that entire draft is a f’ing joke! Maybe Sherrod turns into a All-Pro. Maybe Cobb becomes the best slot receiver in the NFL. But the truth is! For drafting 10 players just 2 years ago and just Cobb to show for it?? Common man! More of the same from 2012 except I still think that draft produce. As long as Capers is fired and they perhaps go to a 4-3 defense. Perry, Daniels, Worthy would all be better fits in that defense. There’s no way anyone can say with a straight face that TT is the man! He has a QB FALL IN HIS LAP that covers up his horrendous drafts year in and year out!

            1. Al from just that last 3 drafts the Packers have drafted 18 players on defense. This should be a really good defense with that much invested on defense from the draft on a draft and develop only team. Especially with TT doing the drafting. Except it’s not and he is. What it definitely is for sure is one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Toby Gerhardt made them look like fools! What was his average per carry? 12 yards or so?????

              1. Add Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Nick Perry and Johnny Jolly to today’s lineup, and I’ll wager the outcome is different. All you “talent level sucks” guys can’t just ignore that. Where were you earlier in the season when the defense was healthy and playing well? And don’t try to tell me they weren’t – only stuff they were giving up were in garbage time of comfortable wins. The NFL has gotten what they’ve wanted – parity. The Packers have been better drafters than most, but any team decimated like this will perform like this. I actually have more of an issue with the coaching than the players.

              1. I’m with you, Al. I think the coaching has jumped the shark. Offense, defense, and special teams. And the strength & conditioning staff is weak.

              2. Al injuries are a huge part of it, I get that. But I look at the players from those 3 drafts I mentioned and you can’t continue to ignore how bad they are. The draft is a crap shoot but the one team that drafts around us the same time is New England. Actually their very similar to the Packers except they add a FA here and there. Nothing bank braking, just football players. For example, how would you like Brandon Spikes at LB for the Packers over Mike Neal? Could have happened. New England pick Spikes a few picks after Neal. Injuries aside Neal has played like a 5th round pick while Spikes is a monster defending the run. Neal was rated in the 4th or 5th round at best. Same with his 3rd round pick that year, Alex Green, which by the way was the pick we give for Lynch if TT has the sack to make the he trade his QB wanted. It’s those picks, those decisions that I begin to question TT. Keeping Capers after last year was insanity. I hope I’m proved to be a wrong. House all of a sudden can catch a INT in his hands. Burnett can patrol the back end and stop trying to tackle Adrian Peterson around his head and gets thrown off him like rag doll. Maybe we do have the talent and the coaches are all wrong. Raji hasn’t done squat since Jenkins was forced to leave. I don’t care what he did elsewhere, I care what he did in the Packers defense.
                Last but not least why in gods world did the ever start Tolzien over Flynn? Tolzien may be a good backup one day but not anytime soon. I wouldn’t be surprised to see MM still start Tolzien over Flynn on Thanksgiving, nothing he does anymore surprises me. Just my opinion Al, thanks for you points of view, we just differ on this one! I for one hope your 100% right.

              3. Thanks for the link. Nothing like cold hard data to calm down fire sale talk. Things are never as bad or as good as they seem. When I saw that the Vikings had the 2nd least starter games lost to injury, I thought, “so what’s their excuse”. But I digress.

                I did a look see last week at TT’s draft record. Since arriving, he’s held court over 9 drafts and has selected 85 players. Of those 85, 27 have become impact players – defined as starter/situational starter/or high snap count subs, and 24 are still with the Packers. Essentially the core group that comprises who you go into battle with.

                That represents a 28% hit rate. Not bad in itself I suppose and when you add the UDFA gems he’s uncovered it gets better.

                But the reality is that when that is THE ONLY means he chooses to use as GM to acquire the talent needed to win in the NFL, it represents a ‘fill rate’ of only 3 players per year. Combine that with the churn rate on this team, and that statistic might be an indicator of why when the injury bug hits, and admittedly it has hit the Packers hard, there is such a dropoff in quality of play.

            1. Like me they love the Packers. It sucks to be honest with yourself and look at what this team really is. The 2011 Colts when they lost Manning. That aside I think TT hit this past draft out of the park, that I’ll give him. The first 5 players selected are going to be huge in the packers success next year. As long as Capers, Slocum, and the whole strength and conditioning staff are gone.

              1. I’m curious Savage57 who are you calling impact players? I admit, some of his first 4 drafts were excellent, especially after at WR. He also drafted Sitton and Lang. I’m talking about all those picks from 2010 – 2012. Look at those 3 drafts and tell me who’s a impact player other than Cobb and Hayward. They picked 25 players in those drafts. I’ll be right here waiting for your response from those drafts.

              2. Nick, you can’t just point out a few misses without pointing out some big hits. TT has had him both, as does every GM. Pinning this on him is nonsensical. Players have not been developed properly and game day coaching has always been suspect in my eyes. I’ve never been a McCarthy fan, and one magical (and lucky) ride to the Super Bowl didn’t change that.

      2. I HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION:

        The Packers need to hire some guy named Truckload O. Injuries. His presence on the staff will enable less discerning Packer fans to satisfy their bloodlust for firing someone, without doing any lasting damage to the team.

        You see? Everyone is happy.

        You’re welcome.

  3. Well ladies and germs, the Pack are only one half game out, with games against both the Lions and Bears coming up. Incredibly, they can still win this division. That said, I don’t know what we’d do in the PO’s with this D though.

  4. People its more than just the D, its coaching too.We have had a chance in this losing streak and yes today’s game was a loss to win these games, but due to such lame and predictable play calling we are all but out. My only concern is that AR comes back to soon and really gets hurt bad. Many changes need to happen during this offseason. I keep saying if MM is to stay as coach someone else needs to call plays. Capers has got to go and if MM and TT are not going to do it then.Then one or both of them need to go. I know the draft is a way of getting young talent but free agency is a necessary evil, and if we do not start seeking talent we will just be a decent team with a great QB. By the way MM great decision to go for 2 on the TD. I believe we would have won the game in regulation.

        1. Evidently not. Seems that Thompson has done a “horrible job with this team.”

          he’s only considered one of the top GMs (by other GMs), but what do they know?

        1. Thompson yes, McCarthy not quite as much. Recall that MM passed on AR when he was with SF in favor of Alex Smith in the draft, but he has had some success coaching him up.

          Not sure either had much to do with the Cray supercomputer that Rodgers carries around on his shoulders though.

  5. Winning today would have gave us room for a loss next week, now its a MUST win and I doubt they will play Rodgers. A win would have Givin the Packers a better opportunity to rest Rodgers 2 more weeks, because I feel the Lions and Bears will lose another game or 2. The good news is Flynn moved the ball better than Tolzien and now he will get the reps in practice. It seemed like the whole team rallied around Flynn more then Tolzien. I hope we get some player’s back for the lions game. We will need Barclay, Shields and Jolly.

  6. I am officially sick of the 2013 football season.

    Fire Capers. Force TT to get a safety in the draft that can contribute. Let Raji walk. Fire Newhouse.

    Ugh all around.

  7. Keep Lacey, he is one Packer who plays with a fire in his gut, what a stud. The Lambeau crowd deserve some props today, they made some noise down the stretch today.

  8. I have been saying for sometime now that the packers do not have the talent to compete for anything without Rogers. He masks all the the less than average talent everywhere on the Packers. Thompson has done a horrendous disservice to Rogers and Packer fans everywhere. The talent is so bad, excepting Rogers, that it is hard to know if McCarthy is a bad coach or not. I have stated all week on these sites that the Vikings have more talent than the Packers except at the most important position in football. I hope today’s game wakes up all the Packer Lemmings.

    1. “I have stated all week on these sites that the Vikings have more talent than the Packers except at the most important position in football.”

      I think we have the point by now. Care to discuss something else?

    2. Again.. This team isn’t playing with all the talent it has. The Packers are without question the most injury-ravaged team in football in 2013.

      1. Come on, Oppy… How hard is it to replace guys like Nick Perry, Sam Shields, DuJuan Harris, Bryan Bulaga, Randall Cobb, and Jermichael Finley?

    3. John forget it. I get hammered every time I criticize TT. Part of it is injuries, and part is Capers. What no one will ever admit is a lot of it is poor drafting by Thompson. He’s a god for drafting a QB that fell in his lap. Besides if he really drafts best player available, then Rodgers was the natural pick anyways.

      1. It is surprising. I subscribed to PFF to analyze the stats before Rogers and after Rogers. I believe it will show how much Rogers masks the incredibly less than average talent supplied by Thompson. I do wonder if it is fair to criticize McCarthy and Capers until we know what kind of talent they are dealing with.

        1. In fairness, how many more games has Rodgers started over the backup QB’s who’ve played this year? He’s played in 93 regular season games alone. And he was only so-so in the beginning.

          One of the biggest advantages ARod has is his experience. He sees things the others don’t. He has the authority the others don’t to change the plays at the line. He has a chemistry with his receivers the others haven’t developed.

          Flynn has been around a little longer than Tolzien and you could see the difference. This team had enough talent to compete with a competent backup QB(but that was before the incredible loss of talent from injuries).

  9. And Nelson, Boykin , Mathews and Daniels…they all have heart, Honorable mention goes to Sitton, Barclay, Hyde..these guys want to win

  10. PS….was that the first non-loss ‘meaningful’ game by a Packer team not QB’d by Favre or Rodgers since Favre became the starter? Yes it was, Flynns win was during a non meaningful game against the Lions in 2011. We still haven’t won a meaningful game without Favre or Arod

  11. as far as the standings are concerned, there is no difference between a tie and a loss today, assuming CHI and DET finish the season w/o any ties.

    MM’s play calling continued to be uninspired if not downright sucky.

    This game was on a silver platter for us to win in OT.

    Must assume Flynn starts on THUR. He was dreadful on last non-drive. The man with a pop-gun arm. They should have brought Tolzein back in for the final drive. At least he can throw the ball down the field.

    Pack defense remains a hot mess.

    I’d like to see a house cleaning top to bottom i.e., TT, MM and all defensive and offensive coaches. Mark Murphy does not have the balls to do it. To be eliminated on Turkey Day really sucks.

    1. Be careful there. There are obviously some holes, no, more accurately chasms. But a fire sale? Everyone must go?

      Here’s my pink slip list.

      Capers
      Perry
      Whitt(less)
      Slocum
      Campen
      Whoever the drunk is that’s the strength and conditioning coach.

      1. You are wrong Dobber. Whether we finish 10-6 or 10-5-1 makes no difference. We would finish 1st either way. Hence, today’s tie is the same as a loss.

        1. You’re right. I was looking at WC possibilities thinking 10-5-1 gives them an up on any 10=6 teams…without realizing what we’ve all been saying: 10-5-1 wins the division. *bows sheepishly*

  12. It’s really very simple. If the packers win out, they win the division regardless of what else the Bears or Lions do. If we win out we go 10-5-1 and the Bears and Lions would both be 10-6 at best. The Bears will lose 2-3 more games, check their schedule. As for the Lions, we need to beat them, period. To me the overtime period was a microcosm for this Packers team. Poor O-line, at the goal line. Then the defense can’t get off the field to hold the lead and win the game. The D came up big in the 4th quarter but couldn’t do it in OT. Get ready for the Bird. Thanks, Since’61

    1. The way the NFC Norski teams are playing, one of them will win the division with 8-8 or 8-7-1.

      I could see the Lions losing to Philly at Philly. They also could choke vs. the Ravens at home & at Minnesota. Not that you would want to count on that sequence of events, but it could happen.

      The Bears have a tougher schedule than the Packers or the Lions. I don’t see them winning out.

  13. Lots of highs and lows today, great performances by flynn, lacy, and the receiving corps. At least there were some big positives today. Big thumbs down to the d, don’t know who to blame, they looked good at times, but dreadful for long stretches. Good defenses don’t do that game after game – my conclusion is they are truly bad. Love Eddy Lacy, wish there were one Eddie lacy at each position.

    1. Blame not having Jolly and Shields available. Last several high draft picks on D have not showed up. Datone Jones, Perry, Worthy. Well if we don’t make the playoffs at least we can get high enough to really get real talent at each round. We keep needing talent in the draft because we can’t avoid getting half the D injured every year. Don’t know who to blame but the injury gods.

  14. You’re right savage. Something absolutely has to be done from a system or coaching standpoint to the defense and o-line. They’ve been a shambles for too long despite lots of players acquired. Its more than lack of talent. The defense coaching staff has to be changed.

  15. There needs to be meaningful discussion of whether going for 2 was the right decision (would be interested in what Chad thinks). I’d say no, but I could be persuaded otherwise.

    The clearly bad decision was not using the last TO to prevent the 10 second runoff from 45 to 35 seconds on the false start. 10 seconds were much more crucial in that situation than saving the TO for a possible FG try.

    1. At the time it looked like a good decision but at the time is the operative clause. It is impossible to know whether a 2 point play should be taken until the last 8 or so mins of the game. This game was the perfect example of that. Once we got late in the game, it was clear the 2nd point had no value but the first one was the difference between winning and losing (tie).

      MM is incompetent. So are most of his coaches, especially SC. TT has found excellent talent on offense but he is hapless drafting defensive talent. Collins and CMIII are his only defensive hits of 9 years of drafting. That is piss-poor. You can’t get to the SB on offense alone.

      1. It was a head-scratcher. I can’t help but wonder if MM was figuring he had to play for two possessions. There was a lot of time left at that point…if you’ve got a D that consistently gets stops.

    2. There was little reason to think that the defense would hold the Vikings twice and get the ball back as it did. It was a shot to tie the game on two touchdowns. Ultimately, we did achieve that outcome via a different method. Either way, we were lucky to get this game to OT. I can’t blame MM for trying something to stay alive. Beating the guy in front of you might also help.

  16. What’s that? Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs!You kidding me? Playoffs!I just hope we can win a game! -Jim Mora

    Seriously though, when is MM going to stop feeding us his bulls*^t!Did you read or hear his press conference after today’s game? “The energy is good. We all need to step it up. I have great confidence in this group.I told them in the locker room that we need to flip the page.We have to go beat the Lions”. Stop it already McCarthy! If not for your play calling we may have already won some games these past few weeks. How predictable and boring can you get? Do you have any friggin imagination? We know DC has none!You reamed out the D after the Eagles game. See how they’ve responded since? You are pathetic, your D is pathetic, your defensive coach is pathetic. Step it up? Great confidence? Flip the page? This is what you need to tell men that get paid millions for playing a game? Can’t beat a 2 -8 team? Raji turned down an $8 million a year long term contract and he and Jennings,Williams and Newhouse, Burnett and House and Bush have to be told to “step it up”? Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs!

    1. “Step it up? Great confidence? Flip the page? This is what you need to tell men that get paid millions for playing a game? Can’t beat a 2 -8 team? ”

      I think Schwartz is saying the same things to his Lions right about now…

  17. Watching TT and MM fumble opportunities to replace Flynn was sickenig. Harrell, Coleman, Young, Wallace and Tolzien are the best you can do? Why do we have 2-3 deep talent at every position at QB except for QB when QB is the most important position on the team? Do they think Rodgers is IronMan? At least they stopped being stubborn and put Flynn in. Now we have a chance. Go Flynn. Throw 6 TD’s to help us beat Detroit.

  18. Unfortunately methinks we are stuck w MM/TT for a long time into the future. Thye both love their jobs and have no intention of retiring. And w a SB win in their pocket, who is going to throw them out? M Murphy? Don’t make me laugh.

    1. My hope is MM opens his eyes and sees how bad the defense is and how they need a coaching change.

      1. He did it once before.

        Just look at KC to see what some new blood can do.

        But don’t expect MM or TT to go anywhere.

    2. TT is sixty. How long does he want to keep doing this? I could see him leaving fairly soon.

  19. The Pack’s D has been poor since 2010. Today’s performance was just another example.

    And it is laughable for the apologists to whine about Shields and Hayward being absent given that the Pack was gashed in the running game and neither one of those CBs tackle worth a darn.

    No I saw 1st rounders Pickett, Raji, Matthews and Hawk and 2nd rounder Neal as well as TT’s big free agent signed Brad Jones all present today when AP and Toby Gerhart (yes Gerhart) ran through them like a hot knife through butter.

    If as the apologists insist it is not Dom who is at fault do we start asking if the man responsible for acquiring all the high-priced “talent” might be culpable for the D’s continuing poor play?

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