Vikings Game

by Gbpackrant

If any of you were like me after the Packer game yesterday then you stayed tuned to Fox for the Dallas game.  Let me just say that you better hope we don’t get that officiating crew when we play the Cowboys.  They cost the Giants 11 points which was the difference in the game with two holding calls that were terrible.  The first was on the kickoff return to the Dallas 8 yard line, and the second took away a touchdown run where the flag appeared to be thrown after the Giants runner scored.  So, not only was it a bullshit holding call, but the supposed hold came after the guy scored.  You certainly can see why some fans come up with their various conspiracy theories when crap like this happens.  Don’t get me wrong because Dallas was definitely the better team, but the better team doesn’t always win.  Our game against the Bears was evidence of that, and Packer fans would have been wild if it had happened to them.  The reason I bring this up is that when we play the Cowboys in Dallas, what kind of calls can they expect if they get this kind of help on the road and in New York of all places.

I will not disagree with the general thought that this was the Packers best game of the season yet, but it should not have been 34-0.  It should have been much worse.  The Pack will not get out of Dallas and maybe Detroit with the two drops Jennings had (he made up for it later) and the one Driver had in the red zone.  In addition, Favre will not be able to overcome the overthrow in the end zone to Koren Robinson, because Dallas can put up points and Green Bay will need to match them.  You can get away with it when the other team has a castoff of yours in Ferguson, a journeyman in Bobby Wade, and I don’t know who as a 3 rd receiver, who are being thrown to by a 3 rd string QB.  The bottom line is they should have soundly beat the Vikes and they did.  My only complaint is they left a lot of points out on the field.  Yes, it is nitpicking, but it is a fact.

Folks, I have never liked that shuttle pass until the way they ran it yesterday.  They actually used it as a way to slow the pass rush, but in the olden days, especially the first one by Favre, would’ve been called a forward lateral.  Its one thing to shot put the ball forward, but Favre actually appeared to lateral it to the running back.  I guess if you’re behind the line of scrimmage it is okay, but what if you were running the option and pitched it forward like Favre did?  Anyway, I just thought that I would mention it and see if anyone else was ever thinking the same thing.

A couple of tidbits to mull over:  Boy, Favre sure had all the time in the world to throw the ball.  I don’t know what the difference was in time of possession, but it had to be huge.  Did anyone else think the roughing on Bollinger by Corey Williams was bullshit?  I mean you need to protect the QB’s, but pretty soon they will all need a dress.  Has anyone been complaining about Jarrett Bush as the nickel back?  Me neither, at least not since the last Vikings game which means he must be getting better.  Did anyone hear Dick Stockton call Atari Bigby “Atari Rigby”?  They must have drilled his hairplugs in a little too far, or maybe he used a little too much hair dye.  Lastly, early on did anyone see Aaron Rouse the rookie safety come up to tackle Adrian Peterson early in the game and just bounce off him like he hadn’t even hit the guy, and Rouse is not a small safety.

Well it was a great game.  It is looking more and more like the deciding game for home field advantage will come down to the last Thursday in November in Dallas.  If you look at both team’s schedules then that game looks to be it, unless either team slips up against a lesser team.  Both teams have to play in Detroit and the Lions usually play well there especially on Thanksgiving.  I just pray that the game in Dallas isn’t decided by the referees.  It needs to be decided on the field of play and not by a striped shirts whistle.  Because we all know how well Green Bay has played in Dallas over the years and you wouldn’t want the NFC Championship game played in Dallas when it should have been in Lambeau.  Plus, just think of all the buildup and the flashbacks to the Ice Bowl 40 years ago.  I know there is a long way to go, but it is exciting to think about it.

One last thing to remember is you really only need to be able to run the ball up until the Super Bowl because that game is usually played in ideal conditions.  The Packers are now showing that you can set up the run with a good passing game.  It doesn’t always have to be the other way around.  Of course, you would like to have balance, but as the Packers have shown many times this season that it isn’t always necessary.  Plus, once you make it to the Super Bowl it’s a one game thing and not a best of seven or whatever.  The Patriots appear to be a shoo-in to win the game, but who would have thought the Patriots had a chance against the Rams a few years back or even the Broncos when they played the Pack in Super Bowl XXXII.  You just never know in a one game scenario, and when you see the tipped pass caught by Ruvell Martin you say maybe its just their year.  You can always dream can’t you?