Aaron Rodgers Is The Next Puff Daddy

(I wonder if Aaron Rodgers has seen this picture)
When Aaron Rodgers isn't getting bummed by Bob and Smack he is keeping himself busy this strike ridden off-season by creating a record label called Suspended Sunrise Recordings.

He's working with a band called The Make that has roots in Chico. They shot their first-ever video Sunday at a bowling alley in Paradise.

I tried to find a youtube song for them, but couldn't so I don't know if they are any good. However, I really hope this work, because I would love to see a Superbowl winning qb (and a white guy), be awesome at something off the field too. Especially since it always seems like every athlete who tried to make a transition into music fail.

Some Super Bowl perspective on Super Bowl XLV

The way the Packers won the Super Bowl XLV is how you draw it up, right? Pretty much every important player on the Packers except Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett was drafted or acquired as an undrafted free agent. You really need to give Ted Thompson credit for shrewd drafting both in terms of starters and backups. Not since the 2003-2004 Patriots has there been such a deep team that is so good at filling in for injured starters. Oh yeah, and he saw that he hit the goldmine in Aaron Rodgers (the same guy who completed 23 consecutive passes at one point in 2004 and yet was drafted 24th overall in 2005) and stood up to Mr. Wrangler.

In addition to being happy for a good team that stuck to their guns in the face of what’s-his-name, hopefully the Super Bowl gave me some perspective to some Patriots fans who were devastated by the Jets loss. I’m painfully aware that the Pats blew a golden chance to win a fourth Super Bowl with home field, but the playoffs are a crap shoot. All you can do is put yourself in the best position possible to win. In a quarterback league, the Pats had the MVP who had 36 touchdown passes and a defense that was playing better by the week in the second half of the season. It all meant nothing because the Jets were better than the Pats that day. Same thing goes for the Steelers, who were supposedly built for the playoffs and a championship.

It is REALLY hard to win Super Bowls in this era and after watching the events of last night, I appreciate the Pats winning three of four to an even greater degree. The year-to-year differences between teams so stark that winning consecutive titles seems less possible by the day.

This Packers defense, which held together despite losing its leader, isn’t much difference personnel-wise than the unit that gave up 51 points to the Cardinals in last year’s playoff game. Many fans compared these Steelers to the 2008 version that won the Super Bowl in dramatic fashion but are leaving out the fact that they went 9-7 last year. My point? While it’s a natural reaction to be disappointed when your team doesn’t win the big one, it’s damn-near impossible to cruise to a Super Bowl title anymore. So much luck is involved that you need to appreciate when your team succeeds and understand that parity is what drives the NFL. As I said yesterday, even when you’re NFL royalty like the Steelers, nothing is guaranteed.

A few other things:

* I would like to talk to those analysts who tried to make the point that if Ben Roethlisberger won, his 3-0 Super Bowl record would be more impressive than Tom Brady’s 3-1 mark. Just as I questioned why Joe Montana’s 4-0 record is so hallowed, I don’t understand this logic at all. Are they trying to say it’s better to lose in conference championship game than the Super Bowl? Isn’t the point to give your team a chance at the title? Someone please help me here.

* Does anyone else find it disturbing that there is such a disparity between the respective NFL and MLB Halls of Fame? How is it that Cooperstown has become the Hall of Very Good by allowing Phil Rizzuto and Bert Blyleven into its doors while Chris Carter and Curtis Martin can’t make it to Canton? Look, I understand that baseball has been around much longer and there’s a different voting system because of different value placed on players. But there is still something wrong with both voting processes. Let’s use Bill Simmons’ pantheon levels for all sports and be done with it.

* You proved me right in one sense, Rashard Mendenhall. Your fumble helped seal the game for the Packers and made it clear that he can’t be counted on as an elite running back consistently in the playoffs.

Hey Aaron Rodgers Where You Headin'?

Pat O's Super Bowl XLV preview

OK. I admit it. I flip-flopped about this Packers-Steelers Super Bowl in a way that would make Glenn Ordway proud this week.

Up until Wednesday, I thought there was no way the Steelers lose Super Bowl XLV. Perhaps it’s their recent legacy that led me to that conclusion. Similar to how many people had visions of Tom Brady’s previous February heroics going into the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl in 2007 (beyond the 18-0 record), I just kept thinking about how the Steelers are the team with the hardware of late.

The problem with that logic, as I’ve learned as a Pats fan who’s been punched in face repeatedly since 2005, is that the Steelers winning two Super Bowls since 2005 has nothing to do with what happens tonight. After giving it more thought, I like the Packers more and more in this game for a few, somewhat obvious, reasons:

* Even with Maurkice Pouncey in there, the Steelers were going to have problems with Cullen Jenkins and B.J. Raji. Pouncey’s injury makes things even tougher for the Steelers’ line.

* This has been said over and over, but the Packers’ ability to spread opponents out like the Patriots did to the Steelers this year bodes well for them. I’m not saying it translates to Aaron Rodgers throwing for 400 yards, but it will certainly make their unimpressive running game less of a factor.

* As great as Ben Roethlisberger is when outside of the pocket, he does have the propensity to fumble with 28 over the past three years. I’d be shocked if the Packers don’t send Charles Woodson (7 sacks the past three years) on a corner blitz at least once or twice. If you’re wondering why I said earlier that past performance has no bearing on today’s game, yet I’m referencing stats from three years ago, it’s because individual trends are the ones to keep an eye on.

Key to the game: Rashard Mendenhall. If he runs hard between tackles like he did against the Jets, I don't see the Steelers losing this game. The problem is that he hasn't shown great consistency against the top defenses. How he plays will help determine how long Rodgers is on the field for and how the Packer secondary approaches coverage for Mike Wallace.

The Packers and Steelers are evenly matched in terms of coaching and key injuries. The Steelers are missing Pouncey and Aaron Smith while the Packers are missing (among others) Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant. Warren Sapp made the point on Inside the NFL yesterday that we haven’t seen a bad Super Bowl in a long time. For once, I agreed with that overrated dumpster. That trend will continue this year and it’ll be a great game.

Even though I suck at predictions, I’m going with Green Bay 31-28. Rodgers pulls a Roethlisberger and drives down the field for a game-winning touchdown late. I look forward to Pearce losing something for once.

Superbowl Preview

Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

After two long weeks (and one awful pro bowl) Superbowl weekend has finally arrived. The Pittsburgh Steelers, representing the AFC will take on the Green Bay Packers out of the NFC. The big game will be hosted by Jerry Jones at his vivacious new(ish) stadium, “The Palace in Dallas” (even though it’s in Arlington, still sounds flashy). Nobody needs a history lesson here, but it should be noted that these two franchises are rich with prestige and Superbowl fortitude. Outside of that, nobody really cares how good the Packers were in the 60’s or how dominant the Steelers were in the 70’s… It’s irrelevant.

What is relevant, the two Superbowls won by Pittsburgh in 2005 and 2008. Whether or not you like Pittsburgh, they are on the verge of another dynasty. Say what you will about Ben Roethlisberger, but if he wins this one, that makes three… before he turns 30. He certainly isn’t the pretty boy with rooms filled with indvidual accolades, but there’s no debate that he knows how to win in the post season. Roethlisberger’s 10-2 playoff record is second percentage wise only to the great Bart Starr, who ironically played for the Packers. The last thing Green Bay wants is to have that percentage broken against them. Unfortunately, Ben is at his best when the other person doesn’t want him to succeed (zing). Only guys named, Aikman, Bradshaw, Brady, and Montana have three and there’s little argument that each one of those guys will be enshrined in Canton (if they haven’t been already). The majority of Pittsburgh’s roster carried over from their last title run, giving them a certain familiarity with the whole process. An advantage they hold over their Green Bay counterpart. But hey, if Henry Rowengartner can lead the Cubs to a pennant as an 11-year old, anything can happen.

Speaking of laser-rocket arms, Green Bay quarterback, Aaron Rodgers has quickly gone from Brett Favre’s understudy to an elite NFL passer. No need to bring up his statistics for the third time in this playoff run, but you should know, this guy can put the ball anywhere. That includes the hands of opposing players. We’re all aware that Green Bay’s A-rod is a heck of a player and has brought his game to another level this winter. However, he is not perfect. Against the stout Bears defense, Rodgers was picked twice and did not record a passing touchdown. In fact, the best play he made all day was tripping up linebacker, Brian Urlacher, after a disastrous red zone interception. Had Urlacher not stumbled like Peter Griffin leaving the Drunken Clam, I would most likely be writing a Bears vs. Steelers preview. While Big Ben is trying to build upon his legacy, Rodgers is still trying to carve out his on niche amongst the Green Bay legends.

For the first time since the early 80’s the two defenses that allow the fewest points will be squaring off on Super Sunday. I’ve watched Merril Hoge spit and stutter his way through debating which team has the better defense for 10 days, and frankly he’s starting to sound like farmer Fran from the Waterboy. Why ESPN continues to put him and Lou Holtz on TV will forever baffle me. Anyways, the Defenses… Four out of the top seven defensive players in the league will be active on Sunday and their names are sure to be called by Joe Buck, Al Michaels, Bob Costas, or whatever blow hard is broadcasting the game.

The four I’m referring to are, Troy Polamalu (2010 Defensive Player of the Year), James Harrison (2008 Defensive POY), Charles Woodson (2009 Defensive POY), and Clay Matthews (robbed of 2010 Defensive POY).

At any rate, these four guys are labeled as game changers. What makes the defensive backs (Woodson and Polamalu) so dangerous is their ability to wreak havoc in both the pass and run game. Some argue that Woodson is at his best when he get in the backfield and disrupt screen passes and runs to the outside, on top of that, he’s a shutdown corner. Polamalu is without a question at his best when he is rushing the quarterback or blowing up plays before they even start, but he’s also a ball hawk and usually finds a way to jump a passing lane. Not to mention Polamalu looks like something out of Genghis Khan’s Mongol empire. It doesn’t matter which time period this guy lived in, he would have been born a fierce warrior. Instead of a spear and a shield he’s given pads and a helmet, fair trade. Clay Matthews is arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL. His innate ability to get to the quarterback has gotten him serious notoriety amongst NFL players and coaches. The challenge for Matthews will be bringing down the toughest quarterback in the league in Big Ben. James Harrison is the last person in the world I would want to owe money to. After watching his rigorous workout on ESPN this week, I am convinced he could beat up Brock Lesnar after going 12 rounds with Ivan Drago. His 100-yard pick-6 in Superbowl XLIII was the biggest play of the game, up until Santonio Holmes bailed out Roethlisberger to seal the deal. With two evenly matched defensive units, it will boil down to whoever can get the big stop or the big turnover when their respective offense has gone stagnant.

The Steelers may have an advantage in running back, Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall isn’t quite underrated… but he’s certainly undervalued. What could hinder Mendenhall’s success is the status of rookie center, Maurkice Pouncey. If Pouncey can suit and play, how effective can he be three days out of a hard cast? And If he doesn’t that leaves the Steelers awfully thin on lineman (no pun intended). In their two most recent Superbowl victories, Pittsburgh has always been aided by an excellent running back. In 2005 they had Jerome Bettis, and in 2008 they had Willie Parker. Pittsburgh has to establish Mendenhall early, if the Steelers rely on Roethlisberger’s arm to win them a title they will be in worse shape Joaquin Phoenix’s acting career.

The key for the Packers will be spreading out the Pittsburgh defense. In order to neutralize pressure brought on by Lamarr Woodley and company, Rodgers will have to make quick decisions and spot the mismatch before somebody like Polamalu or Harrison does. The best way counter Pittsburgh’s rush is to put as many receiving options on the field as possible. Opening up the offense and putting four wide receivers and forcing linebackers to cover slot receivers is the best way for Green Bay to move the ball. When the Packers use their spread formation Rodgers has more weapons at his disposal than James Bond. Receivers Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Donald Driver are going to get plenty of looks considering Green Bay’s rush offense is not worth mentioning.

This game is going to come down to two things. Quarterback play and defense. Essentially the quarterback that plays better will win. I know that this sounds simple and is not always the case, but when Rodgers gets hot, it is curtains for the opposing team. The same can be said for Big Ben, if he is going to shed defenders, extend the play, and find guys open down the field the Steelers will win. Defensively, as I’ve said in each breakdown for these two teams, whichever team can force the crucial turnover is going to end up on top. Green Bay has done it all post season long. But Pittsburgh has been known to do it on the championship level.

This promises to be nothing short of a classic between two great franchises. Hopefully I don’t miss any of the second half because of my refusal to watch the Black Eyed Peas perform for a second. The only way to ruin a good Superbowl is listening to Fergie’s voice. Anyways, both teams are very resilient and capable of coming back from deficits, and I see this one being close from start to finish.

Green Bay 28 Pittsbrugh 24

Ben and Aaron

I hate phrases like "changing of the guard" to talk about the evolving environments of a sport. Although Tom Brady and Peyton Manning took early exits from the postseason, and neither has won a title since George W. Bush was President, it's hard to eliminate them from the elite, uppermost echelon of quarterbacks in the NFL.

However, I think it's time we allow more names to populate that short list. It's no longer just Brady and Manning, then everyone else. I think it's Brady, Manning, Roethlisberger, and maybe even Rodgers.

What are the arguments against Roethlisberger's inclusion? His lack of eye-popping numbers? The help of a good running game and an excellent defense? But weren't those the precise arguments used against Tom Brady about 10 years ago? And since when has a QB won a Super Bowl by themselves? Ask John Elway and Terrell Davis, or Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. Better yet, ask Dan Marino and nobody else.

In this pass-happy NFL, Roethlisberger's numbers don't dazzle. Even if you extrapolated his 12 game performance into 16 games, he'd have thrown 23 TDs (tied for 13th with Garrard, Cutler, and Fitzpatrick), although with only 7 INTs. He would have been among League leaders for yards thrown, and his QB Rating was 5th at 97.0. So the numbers don't fizzle, either.

Those are good numbers. Even the TD number is good considering what sane coach would throw the ball on 3rd and goal at the 1 when Rashard Mendenhall is in the backfield? The whole "supporting cast" argument can go both ways.

Then there's his ability to win. He just does it. He makes plays when plays are needed. Apart from his experiences with the mid 2000s Patriots, he's beaten all comers in big games. He's won two Super Bowls, 3 AFC titles, and 10 playoff games. And he hasn't been a passenger along for the ride in those games, either.

So no matter what happens a week from Sunday, I think Roethlisberger has cemented a spot in that top tier of QB.

Then there's Rodgers. And unless he throws for 500 yards and 6 TDs, he might have to show us a bit more in years to come before being included in the Manning-Brady-Roethlisberger discussion. I don't get to see him often, being in the NFC. But I've yet to be thoroughly impressed with him as a player. So much so that even after a bad game, or a bad year, I'd be sure that he'd recover.

His numbers are gleaming, and his postseason performances have been admirable. A ring would go a long way to solidify himself at the top of the food chain. He certainly has the potential to reach such heights, but there needs to be more results over a slightly longer stretch of time.

So I'd say it's now a three horse race for the top spot among NFL QBs. They all have strengths, they all have slight weaknesses that can be used in an argument against them. Their biggest achievements have all come with assistance. And each of them plays the position in a different way, within different systems, that have all been successful.

But there's something about these three guys that transcends stats, and wins, and rings. There's an aura of strength around them. Opponents respect them, even fear them, in a way above and different from other QBs. I think that says a great deal more than passer ratings or playoff records.

-The Commodore

Conference Championship Preview: NFC

Packers at Bears

The first game on Sunday’s docket features divisional foes, the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. The game will be played at Soldiers Field in downtown Chicago kickoff is slated for 3pm.

Packers and Bears split their regular season series, each winning on their home field. While some question the climate of the second matchup, in which, Green Bay needed to win in order to clinch a playoff spot, unlike Chicago who had already clinched the number 2 seed in the NFC and essentially had nothing to play for. However, contrary to that idea, head coach Lovie Smith kept his starters in for the entire game and the Packers were able to edge the Bears 10-3. In their first matchup, special teams proved to be the deciding factor in a 20-17 Bears victory. Devin Hester was able to return a punt 62-yards for a touchdown, which supplemented Chicago’s stagnant offense. A pair of Robbie Gould field goals, the latter of which was drilled with :04 seconds left, sealed the win for the Bears.

So what did we learn from the first two games, these two teams are very even. This game is certainly going to come down to a lot more than Aaron Rodgers vs. Jay Cutler. Both teams are going to rely on their defense and/or special teams units to come up with points, or at the very least, a turnover.

While neither team was able to show a formidable running game in the regular season, they cannot abandon the ground game completely. In their first game in Chicago, Jay Cutler was the Bear’s leading rusher with 37 yards; the Bear’s cannot expect to win on Sunday if this is the case. Likewise, Rodgers led the Packers in rushing yards in their victory over the Bears in week 17.

It will be important for both teams to establish some form of a rushing attack. For the Packers, I think the answer is 6th round draft pick, James Starks. Starks has shown that he is more explosive than Brandon Jackson, incumbent to injured starter Ryan Grant, and he is more versatile. On wild card weekend, Starks torched Philadelphia for 123 yards on 23 carries. Even though he was slowed down against a tough front seven from Atlanta, Starks still carried the ball 25 times, providing balance to the Packers “pass happy” offense. However, the real challenge will be taking on the Bears second ranked rush defense.

For Chicago, the key to running the ball will have to be a healthy mixture of Matt Forte and off-season pick-up, Chester Taylor. Since it is quite evident that neither back is capable of managing the load, both must be used to keep the Packers guessing. Forte has good explosiveness and is an elite pass-catching back, while Taylor is a better blocker and more of a north-south type runner. If these backs together can total 100 yards, Chicago will be in good shape.

As far as passing is concerned, Aaron Rodgers is playing as well as you can play the position right now. After dissecting the Eagles defense for 3 touchdowns two weeks ago, Rodgers picked up right where he left off against Atlanta, tossing for 3 more scores in a decisive road victory. The Rodgers to Jennings connection appears to be unstoppable and the Bear’s 20th ranked pass defense could be in for a long afternoon if they do not disrupt the league's 5th best passing offense. If Jennings is curtailed by Charles Tlilman on Sunday, look for James Jones and slot receiver Jordy Nelson to create mismatches against a porous Bears’ secondary. As mentioned earlier, if the Packers offense can have the benefit of 30+ combined carries from Starks and Jackson, their play action calls are going to give Chicago nightmares.

On the other side of the ball, Jay Cutler will look to bring his playoff record to 2-0. That’s right last Sunday marked the first post-season game of Cutler’s life. He never qualified for a bowl while playing at Vanderbilt, and failed to make the tournament in any of his four previous seasons as an NFL starter. Although his lack of experience in late January is worth noting, Cutler was able to silence all the critics last week with a 4 TD (2 passing, 2 rushing) performance last week against Seattle. Crucial to Cutler’s success is his ability to remain upright in the pocket. Green Bay will dial up every blitz in the book to pressure Cutler into making mistakes, which has been his downfall throughout his career. He should be especially weary of blitzing duo Clay Matthews charging off the edge, and Charles Woodson coming on the corner blitz, a specialty of Green Bay’s stout defense.

Defensively, Green Bay has to depend on their defense to do what they do best, create turnovers. Aside from maybe the Baltimore Ravens, the Packers are the best in the league at hurrying the quarterback and forcing him to throw before he is ready. Defensive tackle, B.J. Raji, makes things very difficult for opposing offensive linemen. He commands a double team on virtually every snap. This leaves an empty gap for Matthews to rush free causing the quarterback to either wet himself or throw the ball too quickly, or sometimes both. Their lockdown secondary consisting of Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Nick Collins have essentially clinched the previous two playoff games. The first of which was a Collins interception to prevent a game winning touchdown against the Eagles, and most recently, Williams’ pick-six of Matt Ryan at the end of the first half from which the Falcons never recovered.

Chicago, like Green Bay, will need to diagram some creative blitz packages to throw the unflappable Aaron Rodgers off his rhythm. Easy for me to say, but very difficult to execute. Veteran linebacker core led by Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have to eliminate all underneath routes and force Rodgers to throw to the sidelines. Like I mentioned before, both teams need something special to happen on defense and or special teams, this applies double to the Bears. Their offense is suspect at best and with Cutler’s inconsistent play, this game weighs heavily on the broad shoulders of the Bears’ defense. If the Packers play turnover free football, it could be curtains for Chicago’s playoff run. However, if the Bears are able to generate a strip-six or a punt return TD from Hester, this could put Chicago in a fortuitous position of playing with a lead, something they do exceptionally well.

Normally these games go down to the wire, but I am picking the team that can get out to the quick lead. I think both defenses are good enough to protect it for their respective offenses. In the end, I do not see Chicago having the firepower to contend with a dangerous Packers team.

Packers 21 Bears 13

Divisional Round Breakdown

Packers at Falcons

In Saturday’s NFC matchup, the Green Bay Packers will take their show on the road for a second consecutive week. Their opponent, the number one seeded, Atlanta Falcons. The Georgia dome has provided very little southern hospitality to visiting teams this season. Matt Ryan has led the Falcons to a 7-1 home record and a 13-3 mark overall. The Packers will have to become just the second team this season to defeat Atlanta at home if they want to punch their ticket to the conference championship.

The Saints were able to stun Atlanta in week 16 when they became the first team defeat the Falcons in the Georgia dome this season. Prior to that defeat, Atlanta had rattled off eight straight victories and appeared to be the class of the NFC. However, after losing to New Orleans, many people (myself included), began to notice the softness of Atlanta’s schedule. Wins against; St. Louis, Arizona, Carolina twice, San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Cleveland account for more than half of their victories. However, a closer look reveals that Atlanta’s only three losses have all come at the hands of playoff teams. However, seeing as the two NFC teams (Eagles and Saints) out of those three were eliminated last weekend, Atlanta’s chances of playing in Dallas seem more realistic.

The biggest advantage Atlanta holds over Green Bay is location. If this game is played on the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field, the Packers could run away with it. Instead the Falcons hold home field advantage, a place where the Packers have already lost this season.

A Matt Bryant field goal with :09 seconds left is all that separated these two teams in their week 12 matchup. Matt Ryan was nearly perfect; completing 24 of 28 passes for 197 yards and a score. However, it was the play of running back, Michael Turner that propelled the Falcons to victory. Turner carried the ball 23 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. If the Falcons wish to serve the Packers with a second helping of home cooking, Turner has to be the main ingredient. Atlanta’s 12th ranked rushing attack relies on turner to pick up yards as well as, bring opposing safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, opening up the door for play action and single coverage on Pro Bowl receiver, Roddy White.

White led the NFL with 115 catches this season, shattering Atlanta’s franchise record. The Ryan to White connection has at times looked unstoppable. White is able to create separation from cornerbacks with relative ease. From there, if he is not double teamed or allotted safety coverage, he uses his big body to make space and catch the ball at its highest point. He is especially dangerous inside the red zone where the Falcons will run slants and fades in an effort to get one on one coverage for Roddy to exploit.

An area of weakness for the Falcons is their 22nd ranked pass defense. In two of their three losses, Atlanta has allowed a quarterback to throw for over 300 yards. Kevin Kolb torched the Atlanta secondary for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns. Drew Brees completed 35 of 49 passes for 302 yards and a score. Even their first loss against Pittsburgh, the Falcons surrendered 236 yards to third string quarterback, Dennis Dixon.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, they are going against the hottest passer in the NFC in Packer’s quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has been on fire since returning from his second concussion of the season. In his first game back, Rodgers dissected the New York Giants defense for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns, effectively spoiling their playoff chances. Last week, in Philadelphia, Rodgers needed just 18 completions and 180 yards to put up 3 touchdowns and advance past a dangerous Eagles team. Enough cannot be said about Rodgers’ play. He has stepped up as Green Bay’s leader and continues to produce despite not having a running game to compliment him.

Rodgers’ main target is Pro Bowl receiver, Greg Jennings. After getting off to a slow start Jennings has elevated his play and has emerged as one of the top receivers in the NFC. His ability to go over the middle and over the top has provided Rodgers with a legitimate number 1 target who can be relied on in the clutch. Last Sunday, Asante Samuel blanketed Jennings; he was limited to 1 catch for 8 yards. However, Jennings had an outstanding season, with over 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He will no doubt be a headache for the Falcons secondary on Saturday.

The Packers defense is nothing short of ferocious. Led by Clay Matthews, the Pack have held opponents under 10 points five times this season, most of any NFC team. Their 5th ranked pass defense can be credited to a strong secondary led by reigning defensive player, Charles Woodson. The key defensively for the Packers is to force Atlanta to be one-dimensional. Shutting down Roddy White is much easier said than done, but Woodson is truly one of the league’s premier shutdown corners.

This is going to be a close game with both teams evenly matched. I think Atlanta’s home field advantage can be neutralized with early scoring drivers orchestrated by Rodgers. However, Matt Ryan has proved to be money in the clutch and can never be counted out of a game. I believe whichever quarterback has the ball last will be victorious. A game winning drive by Matty Ice is going to be the difference in this one.

Falcons 23 Packers 20

Rodgers Cleared To Play

"Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he has passed all concussion-related tests and has been cleared to return by both team physician Dr. John Gray and an independent neurologist, ESPNMilwaukee.com reported Tuesday (ESPN)."

This is huge news for Packers' fans. The Packers face a must win against the Giants this week. The only way the Packers can make the playoffs now that the Bears have won the division is to jump the Giants for the final Wild Card spot.

The good news is that the Packers do have the tie breaker with Tampa Bay (the other team trying to get in the playoffs). I think there is a good chance that the Packers beat the Giants this week. The Giants are coming off one of the most demoralizing losses I have ever seen. The Packers should be able to expose their defensive backfield, and their pass rush could cause ShEli to throw some more picks.

Oh by the way, rumor has it Rodgers is banging Erin Andrews.

Aaron Fraudgers?

The Packers fell to 3-3 with a 23-20 overtime loss at home to Miami. Green Bay's three losses are by a combined nine points. Yes, injuries on offense and defense can be an excuse. Two Aaron Rodgers stats to ponder: Colin Cowherd floated this yesterday morning that the Packers' QB is 7-13 in games decided by seven points or less. Greg Bedard of the Journal Sentinel followed that up with this shocker - Rodgers is a staggering 1-11 in games decided by four points or less. Superbowl dreams are slowly dimming.

I like Rodgers, I do. Just something to choke/ I mean think about.

Packers' Finley Out For Season? (UPDATED)

Brad Biggs of the National Football Post is reporting that Packers' TE Jermichael Finley's recovery time, initially diagnosed at as low as three weeks, "will be more like six to 10 weeks and if it's at that outer limit, Finley's availability for the season will be very much in doubt (CBS Sports)."

I don't know what to think of this, because up until this point everything I read is that he would be back in 2-4 weeks. If this is true it is obviously a big blow to the Packers.

The good news is there is already another reporter refuting this report. Though the timeline might be extended for this return, he shouldn't miss the rest of the season.

If that wasn't bad enough, reports came out earlier today that it is unlikely that that there is "pessimism" that Clay Matthews will be on the field Sunday, which could spell trouble for a defense that is already having trouble getting pressure on the QB.

The only good news is that there seems to be more "optimism" that Aaron Rodgers will play Sunday.

***UPDATE***
I was wrong it seems Finley will miss the rest of the season...

"Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley indicated via Twitter that he'll miss the rest of the 2010 season with his knee injury."

Update On Aaron Rodgers

I know two people who are watching this very closesly as our very own BMack and his dad are going to Lambeau field to watch his dad's favorite team and secretly BMack's favorite team the Packers play the Dolphins. For their sake I really do hope Aaron Rodgers plays (their favorite player) and the reports seem to be leaning he will play:

"Green Bay Packers backup QB Matt Flynn acknowledged that he'll be getting more snaps with the first-team offense this week, but didn't think Aaron Rodgers seemed out of sorts following Sunday's game, in spite of a concussion.

"He seemed normal," Flynn said, per the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "We were talking, having a normal conversation, playing cards this morning. He doesn't seem foggy or cloudy or anything."

They also haven't signed a veteran QB, so that can be looked at as a good sign.

Obviously with the amount of injuries and shittiness the Packers have played this year a loss of thier "MVP" Quarterback would be devastating. I truly hope he is on the field, however, with the watch on the concussions I can't say for a fact if he will play or not.

Some Love For First Year Starting QBs

There has been some impressive plays coming from rookie QBs this year, and when I say rookies I mean QBs that are getting their first chance to start...

Matt Ryan - Good chance this guy will win rookie of the year. I knew he was going to be a great NFL QB, but I didn't think it would happen this fast. He has the Falcons at 6-3, and I really think they are going to make the playoffs. Today he beat the Saints by going 16/23 for 2 TDs 0 INTs. He is unbelievable running the play actions, and just seems to never make mistakes.

Joe Flacco - He has had some up and down games, but he has the Ravens sitting 6-3, and he also has the highest QB rating in the 4th quarter of any rookie QB. He won't wow you with number, but he sure knows how to manage a game, and that's al the Ravens really ever needed (remember Dilfer?). You have to be impressed that Flacco has been so good, and only played 1AA football in college.

Tyler Thigpen - Sure the Cheifs are bad, but this guy has had some great stats. In his last 3 games he has 6 TDs 0 INTs. Not too bad for a guy DP and I were making fun of since we saw his name in as the starting QB. Who knows maybe this guy is the real deal for the Chiefs.

Matt Cassel - Tom Brady went down, and a lot of bandwagon Patriot fans headed for the exit. Sure he is no Brady, but he actually looks a lot like Brady his first year playing. Is he going to throw 6 TDs in a game...no, but he doesn't make mistakes, and has been showing he can make some plays with his feet. Not only do I think he can win the Patriots the AFC East, but I think he can help them make some noise in the playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers - He came out and was awesome for the Packers, but he has been laying eggs for a couple weeks now. Still, I believe in this kid, and maybe it's just because of my hatred for Favre, but I really think this kid is the real do. The Packers' seem to agree, as they just signed him to a long term deal. He has been battling a shoulder injury all year, and has lost some close games. Still, the Packers are sitting at 4-5 and have a good shot at wining the division. You have to be somewhat impressed with his 13 TDs, and only 5 INTs. I'd rather have that then Favre's 12 INTs.

Brady Quinn - Only one game, but you have to be impressed so far. He has the weapons around him to put up some very good stats. Still, he went to ND, so I refuse to see him as a winner.

All and all you have to be impressed with a lot of these first time starter. Of course there are the not so good, cough cough JaMarcus Russell....

-BMack

LEAVE AARON RODGERS ALONE!

All week, all fucking week, the question was tossed around ESPN. "Should Aaron Rodgers play?" NEVER in my life have I ever heard such a silly discussion. Should an injured athlete play, because he replaced somebody that played in a lot of games. When every other athlete IN THE FUCKING UNIVERSE gets hurt, nobody says they should or shouldn't play based on what their predecessor did. When Babe Dahlgren took over for Lou Gehrig, would there have been an uproar in New York if Dahlgren had gotten hurt and took a day off? When Tony Batista replaced Cal Ripken Jr, were Baltimore fans expecting to see him play every day?



This is just another example of the Brett Favre worship in the national sports media that's become as funny as it is enraging. He's made 257 starts in a row, the most for a QB (not the most in NFL history, defensive end Jim Marshall played in 282 straight games, and made 270 straight starts. Punter Jeff Feagles has played in 321 straight games).



People will give Aaron Rodgers shit if he doesn't play this afternoon. I guess they want him to be more like Brett, pop a couple dozen painkillers, then go out and play. If there's any streak that needs an asterisk next to it, it's Favre's consecutive starts streak. Or at the very least, the record for consecutive starts should be jointly held by Brett Favre and vicodin.

People need to stop being retarded Brett Favre worshipping ball washers. Face it, he's overrated. And whether or not Rodgers plays should have nothing to do with the former quarterback in Green Bay. If he's seriously hurt, he shouldn't play. Not all of us can be like Brett Favre, and not all of us like vicodin.

-The Commodore

NFL Injury Updates

Here our the lastest updates for your fantasy teams...

Aaron Rodgers: He is going to play today. He has a great match up against the Falcons. I know he is an injury risk, but it is such a good match up it is probably worth the risk.

Matt Schaub: He is out, and in the hospital. Not sure why, it just says he is sick, but anyways he is just been a terrible disappointment.

Willis McGahee: He will play today, but he has a terrible match up against Tennessee. I would really try to stay away from this guy.

Brandon Lloyd: The Bears won't have him going this week. If you have him, drop him.

Brian Westbrook: He will play this week, and seems to be close to 100%. He practiced on Thursday and Friday.

Donovan McNabb: His chest contusion will not keep him from starting tonight. He is been great this year, and with Westbrook back he could be real dangerous.

-BMack

24 Green Bay, 19 Minnesota

Aaron Rodgers silenced the critics, for now anyways. In the first game of the Rodgers era the kid didn't do to bad. He was 18/22 passing for 172 and 1 TD and he also rushed for another TD as well; of course he had some help from Ryan Grant who rushed for 92 yards and our old friend Will Blackmon who returned a 76 yard punt to the house, but Rodgers still did well. The thing that surprised me the most about the game was the Vikings defense. With the big trade of Jared Allen and the two Williams' in the middle they were unable to record a sack all game.

For the Vikings Peterson ran for 103 yards and Tavarius Jackson seemed to have did all that he could to keep them in the game until the final interception.

Favre Wants Out

Favre came out today and stated that he would like to be released, and the "best thing for this team is for us to part ways". Tomorrow he had another team meeting to discuss trade possibilities. I said earlier that I thought he needed to go, but I have to say that I have changed my stance a little bit. Listen, Packers fans are going to rip apart Rodgers, so why not bring Favre back and trade Rodgers? He has to be worth at least a 3rd round pick. The Packers showed that did not have complete faith in him by drafting Brian Brohm, so why not let you All-Star QB comeback and develop Brohm. I hate what happened to Rodgers, but if you are going to allow Favre in camp then you have to sleep in the bed you made and trade Rodgers. All I have to say is good luck to you Packers, I think you season is in the toilet.

-BMack

Favre Gets What He Wants

"Team president Mark Murphy said in a statement Sunday that the team has a specific plan with Favre in camp that it won't reveal until Monday, but sources told ESPN's Wendi Nix that coach Mike McCarthy will announce he's holding an open competition for the starting quarterback position (ESPN)."

Looks like Favre got what he wanted. Does anyone think that Aaron Rodgers has a shot if this is going to be a real open competition? One, the Fans love Favre, so even if he sucks they will want him. Two, he is Brett Favre, and he still has the tools to be a very good QB. This is Rodgers first real season, of course he is going to struggle. My only hope is that this is just a way to make Favre happy long enough to trade him, because they said they were committed to Rodgers and this seems to be a 180 from that position.

-BMack

Packers President Goes To See Favre

ESPN is reporting "Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy traveled to Mississippi to meet with quarterback Brett Favre and his agent James "Bus" Cook on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to talk Favre out of reporting to camp later this week."

This is not going to work. We all know Favre is coming back, and the Packers can't fold now and make him their starting QB, so they need to bite the bullet and cut him. Obviously the best scenario (other than him staying retired) is to be able to trade him, but the more they wait, the worse this situation is going to get. Packer nation seems to want Favre back, but the front office needs to take notice that the longer they wait to make a move, the harder it will be for Aaron Rodgers. No matter what this is going to be a very long season for the Packers, and it is all because their former hero ruined this organization (and maybe Rodgers career)

-BMack

Rodgers Number One Quarterback In G.B.

The Packers are doing the right thing in making it known that Aaron Rodgers is the number 1 QB. It is great that they are not giving into the Brett Favre hooplah(?). People are already talking about Rodgers being a bust and hasn't played a game. I will be very surprised if Rodgers throws less than 3,000 yards and 20 Tds.

I know it is kind of old..... but fuck Favre! I hope that douche doesn't ever play a down of football again.