So much for making any progress in the NFC North standings this week. While the Packers finally started to look like themselves after the first few series against the Rams, and were closing in on their victory yesterday, I was also watching the 49ers and Vikings on another TV. Wouldn’t you know it, the old Favre magic against the 49ers was in evidence, with the old man connecting on a last second touchdown pass to beat the 49ers. Sort of a mirror-image of the old Terrell Owens game so many years ago in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, although I was paying no attention to it at the time, the Lions were in the process of wrapping up their first win in over a year. And in the afternoon, the Bears managed to win a back and forth battle against the Seahawks. Which, unfortunately, leaves the Packers exactly where they started the day. Tied with the Bears for second place, a game behind the Vikings, a game ahead of the Lions.
So the week 4 visit to Minnesota should be interesting. We will be seeing a lot of Favre highlights on the sports shows this week. The local papers here on the west coast are full of the thought that "Yes, Brett Favre did it once more to the 49ers." While I have been and remain highly critical of Favre for his retirement/non-retirement dramas the last two years, I have to admit that his mastery of the 49ers was always one of the best things about him, at least for me, living in the SF Bay Area. Of course in yesterday's game, it was a little different. I always root for the Vikings to lose, for obvious reasons. And I always root for the 49ers to lose, just because a 49er loss brings me pleasure. In this case, I had to root for the 49ers, for NFC North divisional reasons.
In light of the Vikings' come-from behind victory, the pressure is on the Packers. Yes, it is early in the season. Sure, they get another crack at the Vikings in another month. But the Packers can ill afford to fall two games behind the Vikings this early. The fact that they gave up so many rushing yards to the Rams is not a good sign, since the Vikings have an even better running back in their lineup. But given that the Packers' offense started to come alive yesterday, there is some reason to hope for a good result.
The most Favre-like play Favre made was not the last second TD pass. It was the downfield block.
ReplyDeleteQuestion ... if Favre ties the game in the closing seconds of the game and they go into OT, will the Childress take two consectutive time-outs before the Vikings offensive squad takes to the field so that Brett's nap isn't interrupted? What are your thoughts on this? There is lots of discussion that he is struggling to play four quarters now and that he isn't strong enough anymore to play into overtime. Counter that with the fact that he gets an extra day and a half rest because its a night game. Dick in Grafton (WI)
ReplyDeleteRegCheck - you are right. I did not think of that play when I put up the post. Dick - he certainly looked like he was out of gas at the end of that game, so fatigue could be an issue. At the same time, I would think adrenalin might have something to do with it.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteYou might like the fantasy posted by my old radio compadre, Tim Morrissey, at his blog:
http://timmorrissey.blogspot.com/2009/10/dreaming-of-packers-win.html
Steve Erbach
Neenah, WI
Another commentary by a local guy:
ReplyDeletehttp://jonathankrause.blogspot.com/2009/10/let-it-go.html
Steve Erbach
Neenah, WI