On to the Super Bowl...
No matter who was going to be playing in this game I would probably have got on here and went on and on about how this is time to become a champion, etc. That is the attitude that all the Packers & Steelers have at this moment. But before I get into some analysis or insight into this coming game I wanted to do a quick post about some things said in the offseason.
This summer a lot of people were picking the Packers to go to the Super Bowl. A lot of the Packer players were very confident in their chances to make it as well. Take Nick Barnett, our starting middle linebacker. As the clip shows, he stated on July 2nd that this season was "Super Bowl XLV or Die," obviously a strong statement. Then, in August after the Packers first scrimmage of the year, Jermichael Finely, the outspoken budding star of a TE declared his goal for the season in a classic line in the post game interview "One Word... Dallas Texas Super Bowl Baby".
The ironic thing is that our two boldest players in the offseason turned out to be right, but unfortunately both got injured within the first 5 weeks of the season. Both were unable to participate in the Super Bowl run that they saw coming. Barnett's injury paved the way for Desmond Bishop to step up into the role that he always knew he could fill. Jermichael's absence has definitely been much harder to fill, but the Packers offense has found its way through using 4, 5 WR sets, rookie TEs Quarless & Crabtree, and veteran TE Lee.
One way or the other it has turned out to be the Green Bay Packers in Dallas Texas Baby, and lets hope no one dies after Super Bowl XLV...
Showing posts with label Bears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bears. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Bears v. Packers
The NFL, and more specifically, the Super Bowl, is the biggest sports spectacle in the United States. People in the USA love football. People throughout the country are indoctrinated every weekend, starting with high school on Friday nights, college on Saturdays, and the NFL on Sundays/Monday Night. Despite its immense popularity and history going back about 90 years you see things every week you have not seen before. That is what makes it great. A ho hum game can turn into a classic battle that everyone is talking about. More specifically, franchises that were left for dead can turn into powerhouses in short periods of time. To me the 2000s have symbolized that. The Patriots & Colts elevated themselves to perennial contenders and yearly rivals with the game's two best QBs. The Baltimore Ravens (the former Browns, playing in the Colts old city) have been one of the unlikely powerhouses, winning a championship in 2000 due to their outstanding defense. The Rams came from out from obscurity with a former grocery store bagger as a QB and won a Super Bowl in '99 followed by another appearance in '01 and a few good playoff years in between. The Seahawks and Cardinals made the Super Bowl out of the NFC West which is generally a forgotten division. Pittsburgh restored glory to the famed franchise, and Tampa Bay built a defensive power along the lines of Baltimore and won a Super Bowl against the historic Raiders.
I say all of this because in the NFC this year you have a game that, in my mind, and it appears most of the country's as well, blows all of this away. It is Bears-Packers. Two teams that have played 180 regular season matchups before. That is twice a year for 90 years. This is not Jets-Dolphins or Patriots-Colts. This is two teams that have won a combined 21 NFL championships (including 4 Super Bowls). Even Packers-Vikings, which in my lifetime has been the more intense rivalry, doesn't even compare. This is like a college rivalry; Nebraska-Oklahoma, Michigan-Ohio St, Alabama-Auburn. They are about 215 miles apart along Lake Michigan. It is the midwest. It is hard working, blue collar, men (and women) bleeding their teams colors. Families are torn between the teams. The unfortunate thing is that in their long histories both teams have not been good at the same time very often. In fact, this is only the 4th season that both have made the playoffs. That makes this game even more meaningful to the fans, knowing that this might not happen again in their lifetimes.
For me, it is just about winning. I don't care if we are playing the Bears or Panthers or whatever. I just want them to win. But if Green Bay beats Chicago for the right to play in the Super Bowl, you can believe that I will never forget this season, and the players involved will go down as legends. This is the time. Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, Donald Driver. You are the leaders of this team. You cannot let this slip by. Clay Matthews, Tramon Williams, Desmond Bishop. You are the young/inexperienced core that has brought this team to the next level down the stretch run. This will probaby never happen again. It is time to "carpe diem" as they say. Sieze the day, and become legends.
GO PACK GO
I say all of this because in the NFC this year you have a game that, in my mind, and it appears most of the country's as well, blows all of this away. It is Bears-Packers. Two teams that have played 180 regular season matchups before. That is twice a year for 90 years. This is not Jets-Dolphins or Patriots-Colts. This is two teams that have won a combined 21 NFL championships (including 4 Super Bowls). Even Packers-Vikings, which in my lifetime has been the more intense rivalry, doesn't even compare. This is like a college rivalry; Nebraska-Oklahoma, Michigan-Ohio St, Alabama-Auburn. They are about 215 miles apart along Lake Michigan. It is the midwest. It is hard working, blue collar, men (and women) bleeding their teams colors. Families are torn between the teams. The unfortunate thing is that in their long histories both teams have not been good at the same time very often. In fact, this is only the 4th season that both have made the playoffs. That makes this game even more meaningful to the fans, knowing that this might not happen again in their lifetimes.
For me, it is just about winning. I don't care if we are playing the Bears or Panthers or whatever. I just want them to win. But if Green Bay beats Chicago for the right to play in the Super Bowl, you can believe that I will never forget this season, and the players involved will go down as legends. This is the time. Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, Donald Driver. You are the leaders of this team. You cannot let this slip by. Clay Matthews, Tramon Williams, Desmond Bishop. You are the young/inexperienced core that has brought this team to the next level down the stretch run. This will probaby never happen again. It is time to "carpe diem" as they say. Sieze the day, and become legends.
GO PACK GO
Monday, January 17, 2011
Deja vu?
I just wanted to make a few quick comparisons between this Packers team and the 1996 team that won it all. I do not in any way believe that the Packers are a lock for the Super Bowl or the best team in the NFL hands down. I was just thinking about a few things and thought I'd bring a little perspective to the situation. Later this week I will probably wax poetic about the epic game that is to come between the Chicago Bears & the Green Bay Packers.
People say hindsight is 20/20. That is a true statement in a lot of ways, however in some ways people look back at the past with rose colored glasses. You know, how people always think things were better "back in the day." Back when there were only 3 TV channels, back when hockey players didn't wear helmets... "those were the days" as the All in the Family theme song goes... Generally when I remember the Packers Super Bowl run of 1996 I think of a team that cruised through the season with Favre's brilliance, the defense's dominance, and Desmond Howard's epic season. But when you look back at it there were a lot of obstacles to overcome. Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman, Don Beebe, & Mark Chumura were all hurt during the season. Players like Derrick Mayes & Jeff Thomason had to contribute. Andre Rison was picked up off the scrap heap. 10 year starting left tackle Ken Ruettgers was injured a few games into the season and rookie John Michels had to step up. Guys that no other teams really wanted any more like Eugene Robinson, Santana Dotson, Sean Jones & the aforementioned Desmond Howard were integral in the team's run to a championship.
Winning a Super Bowl is not easy. It is not necessarily being the most talented - everyone in the NFL is talented. It isn't even necessarily being the toughest or most experienced. It is coming together at the right time to make a run as a cohesive unit that believes in itself and refuses to go down without a fight.
This is where my comparison of this Packer team to the 1996 team comes into play. Green Bay has lost a star TE (Finley), OT (Tauscher) and numerous LBs (Barnett, Chillar, Jones, Zombo). Special teams has not been as dynamic as in '96, and we are not the #1 seed, we're the #6. But you have a young QB coming into his own, a talented WR corps, and a MVP type pass rusher in Clay Matthews. This team has come together under coach Mike McCarthy after 5 years together (just like Mike Holmgren). They believe. They do not care when and where they must play. And when Sunday comes it is time to put all the work into practice. Line up, man on man, and make the plays necessary to win the game.
People say hindsight is 20/20. That is a true statement in a lot of ways, however in some ways people look back at the past with rose colored glasses. You know, how people always think things were better "back in the day." Back when there were only 3 TV channels, back when hockey players didn't wear helmets... "those were the days" as the All in the Family theme song goes... Generally when I remember the Packers Super Bowl run of 1996 I think of a team that cruised through the season with Favre's brilliance, the defense's dominance, and Desmond Howard's epic season. But when you look back at it there were a lot of obstacles to overcome. Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman, Don Beebe, & Mark Chumura were all hurt during the season. Players like Derrick Mayes & Jeff Thomason had to contribute. Andre Rison was picked up off the scrap heap. 10 year starting left tackle Ken Ruettgers was injured a few games into the season and rookie John Michels had to step up. Guys that no other teams really wanted any more like Eugene Robinson, Santana Dotson, Sean Jones & the aforementioned Desmond Howard were integral in the team's run to a championship.
Winning a Super Bowl is not easy. It is not necessarily being the most talented - everyone in the NFL is talented. It isn't even necessarily being the toughest or most experienced. It is coming together at the right time to make a run as a cohesive unit that believes in itself and refuses to go down without a fight.
This is where my comparison of this Packer team to the 1996 team comes into play. Green Bay has lost a star TE (Finley), OT (Tauscher) and numerous LBs (Barnett, Chillar, Jones, Zombo). Special teams has not been as dynamic as in '96, and we are not the #1 seed, we're the #6. But you have a young QB coming into his own, a talented WR corps, and a MVP type pass rusher in Clay Matthews. This team has come together under coach Mike McCarthy after 5 years together (just like Mike Holmgren). They believe. They do not care when and where they must play. And when Sunday comes it is time to put all the work into practice. Line up, man on man, and make the plays necessary to win the game.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Prime Time
Two straight days, two straight big prime time games in the NFL between division leaders in heated rivalries. In both games the winner made a statement and gained the inside track to a division title and a first round by in the AFC playoffs.
While watching the Ravens/Steelers last night I could tell a big play had to be made somewhere. The Ravens managed a few deep balls from inside their own 10 yard line but weren't able to convert both in to points. The Steelers kept making mistakes around midfield but hung around and kicked a couple field goals. Terrell Suggs was a terror in a way I have rarely seen one player be in one game. Maybe Ray Lewis 10 years ago had games like that, I can't remember. When it came down to it the Steelers made 3 beastly plays in the span of a minute or two. Polamalu comes off the corner and destroys Flacco causing the fumble. Woodley picks it up and takes it to the 10. Down 4 they needed at TD and that is no easy task against the Ravens D inside their stadium in Prime Time on the road. On 1st down Roethlisburger came under heavy pressure by Suggs (who else). One thing Big Ben is known for is using his height and strength to hang in the pocket or escape defenders that might bring smaller QBs down. He escaped the pocket while Suggs was dragging him down and shoved the ball out of bounds for an incomplete pass instead of taking a 10 yard sack. No one scores TDs on 2nd and goal from the 20, and Ben wanted to avoid that all costs. With a injured ankle and broken nose he was not going to allow that to happen. Two plays later he found a 3rd string running back across the middle at the 5 yard line. With a defender on his back he shook a tackle and outran a couple more Ravens for the game winning. These are the kind of things that makes a team's season.
New England made a different kind of statement tonight. Both the Patriots & Jets played on Thanksgiving (against different teams obviously). Both won. Both had 10 days to prepare for this MNF showdown among the 2 best teams in the conference. The Patriots have a much maligned defense and the number 1 offense in the league. The Jets have at top 5 defense and an offense that struggles at times but generally makes enough plays to win (usually because the other team chokes big time, ie. Browns, Texans). Labeled as a rough and tough battle of Boston v. New York this turned ugly quickly. New England established their dominance offensively, defensively, and on special teams. They ran the ball effectively, Brady cut up the defense with his precision passing and improvisational ability, and racked up 17 points in the first quarter. The Jets moved the ball a little but couldn't get the ball in scoring position, and that was it. By then my DVR needed to record some things but at I didn't care; it was 38-3 (the game ended 45-3).
Like I wrote last week, when December comes the big time teams cement themselves as true contenders.
In the NFC the Falcons also went on the road yesterday and pulled out a tough win against a division rival in Tampa Bay, and they are also 10-2. New Orleans squeaked one out against Cincinnati (that word is hard to spell for some reason... it is 2 Ns and 1 T...) who gives teams a lot of trouble but usually chokes. Green Bay pulled away from an inferior San Francisco team, and Chicago shook off a tough challenge in Detroit and stayed a game up on the Pack. Looks like Minnesota has figured some things out by playing bad Washington & Buffalo teams, but thank God they are in the rear view mirror now.
Thanks to NFL.com for the sweet highlights.
While watching the Ravens/Steelers last night I could tell a big play had to be made somewhere. The Ravens managed a few deep balls from inside their own 10 yard line but weren't able to convert both in to points. The Steelers kept making mistakes around midfield but hung around and kicked a couple field goals. Terrell Suggs was a terror in a way I have rarely seen one player be in one game. Maybe Ray Lewis 10 years ago had games like that, I can't remember. When it came down to it the Steelers made 3 beastly plays in the span of a minute or two. Polamalu comes off the corner and destroys Flacco causing the fumble. Woodley picks it up and takes it to the 10. Down 4 they needed at TD and that is no easy task against the Ravens D inside their stadium in Prime Time on the road. On 1st down Roethlisburger came under heavy pressure by Suggs (who else). One thing Big Ben is known for is using his height and strength to hang in the pocket or escape defenders that might bring smaller QBs down. He escaped the pocket while Suggs was dragging him down and shoved the ball out of bounds for an incomplete pass instead of taking a 10 yard sack. No one scores TDs on 2nd and goal from the 20, and Ben wanted to avoid that all costs. With a injured ankle and broken nose he was not going to allow that to happen. Two plays later he found a 3rd string running back across the middle at the 5 yard line. With a defender on his back he shook a tackle and outran a couple more Ravens for the game winning. These are the kind of things that makes a team's season.
New England made a different kind of statement tonight. Both the Patriots & Jets played on Thanksgiving (against different teams obviously). Both won. Both had 10 days to prepare for this MNF showdown among the 2 best teams in the conference. The Patriots have a much maligned defense and the number 1 offense in the league. The Jets have at top 5 defense and an offense that struggles at times but generally makes enough plays to win (usually because the other team chokes big time, ie. Browns, Texans). Labeled as a rough and tough battle of Boston v. New York this turned ugly quickly. New England established their dominance offensively, defensively, and on special teams. They ran the ball effectively, Brady cut up the defense with his precision passing and improvisational ability, and racked up 17 points in the first quarter. The Jets moved the ball a little but couldn't get the ball in scoring position, and that was it. By then my DVR needed to record some things but at I didn't care; it was 38-3 (the game ended 45-3).
Like I wrote last week, when December comes the big time teams cement themselves as true contenders.
In the NFC the Falcons also went on the road yesterday and pulled out a tough win against a division rival in Tampa Bay, and they are also 10-2. New Orleans squeaked one out against Cincinnati (that word is hard to spell for some reason... it is 2 Ns and 1 T...) who gives teams a lot of trouble but usually chokes. Green Bay pulled away from an inferior San Francisco team, and Chicago shook off a tough challenge in Detroit and stayed a game up on the Pack. Looks like Minnesota has figured some things out by playing bad Washington & Buffalo teams, but thank God they are in the rear view mirror now.
Thanks to NFL.com for the sweet highlights.
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