How do the Packers stay in command?

I know the game is on Christmas day, but wouldn’t it be incredible if Favre were in attendance to see Rodgers break his record (with a pass to the Big dog!!).

If it were any other day than Christmas, Favre probably would be coming. But it’s understandable if he doesn’t.

Vic tried to get Packer fans to enjoy the now and not complain about winning. As fans we need to enjoy winning the division and seeing players evolve, how do you look at fans being so negative when the team is winning?

I understand it with this fan base because the Packers have come so close for a decade now without winning another championship. Fans want another Super Bowl, period, and I get it. There have been plenty of double-digit win seasons and playoff runs, but they’ve all come up short, some agonizingly so. The angst is all about getting over the hump.

It’s December. Time to run the ball. Is our O-line up to the task?

Even with all the changes, I think it has proven to be. Last week’s performance with the run vs. Baltimore, the best rush defense in the league, was pretty darn good. I loved the way the Packers ran the ball in that game. They have the backs and the players to do it, and if defenses gear up to stop it, Rodgers can see that and adjust. It’s one of many things he does so well.

I feel like we are on more experienced pass rusher in the rotation away from being elite. The Packers best three game run on defense seemed to lose a lot of steam after we lost Mercilus. Hoping we get Z back so we can see what that rotation would look like.

The fact that Z. Smith hasn’t practiced yet doesn’t bode well. Preston Smith and Rashan Gary have had great seasons, and they have to keep it up, while the reserves at edge rusher need to provide more. Losing Whitney Mercilus was a tough blow. He was going to be that third guy amongst the edge rushers and he was just starting to settle in here when he got hurt.

I was surprised to see your snap count re Rasul Douglas on ST. Is this going to be an issue? Or these guys can cover this well?

As I said before, it’s all about when you use them on special teams in relation to their down-after-down, line-of-scrimmage duties. Just be smart about it and they can handle it.

Do you think there actually IS a mental let down when a team plays a lesser rival? I’m wondering if that accounts for some of the slow starts on both sides of the ball?

The players are human, but I think it’s unfair to say a whole team has a mental letdown. Because it’s such a team game. All it can take is one or two guys not having a good day, and everything can look terrible. It happens to everyone. The better teams can snap out of funks and still win most of their games to give themselves a chance in the playoffs. Once you get there, no such thing as a mental letdown.

What does the team’s schedule look like for the rest of this short, holiday week?

Well, today is like a Thursday, except instead of practicing in pads they’re just doing a couple of walk-throughs. Then tomorrow is like Friday, with a short practice, and then Friday is the usual meetings and walk-through day before the game. There’s less physical work and a lot more mental work in a week like this, especially this late in the season. The reward is a day off Sunday and extra time to rest up before the following week’s game.

Hey Mike, are we pulling for the Rams or the Vikings this week? I don’t want to see MN in the playoffs, but the Rams are only one loss behind GB.

I was just writing tomorrow’s Path to the Playoffs before I logged on here. I think it would be most beneficial to the Packers for the Rams to lose another game, but if GB fans would rather not see the Vikings in the playoffs, that makes sense to me, too.

I’m looking forward to (hopefully) receiving Cliff Christl’s Packers history tomes under the Christmas tree. Any tips for how to read them (chronologically or otherwise)?

Every chapter covers a full decade, so it’s really up to the reader. If you don’t want to go chronologically and dive into all the Lombardi success right away, go for it. Or if you’d rather get the misery of the ’50s, ’70s or ’80s out of the way first, up to you.

49ers vs. Titans, Colts vs. Cardinals, Rams vs. Vikings, WFT vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Patriots. Which game intrigues you most this weekend? Any upset predictions?

The only results amongst those I would consider upsets are if the Vikes beat the Rams or if WFT beats Dallas. The others are all coin flips to me, and very intriguing. I think the 49ers could be dangerous if they get in the playoffs and get hot, so Tennessee is an interesting test for them right now (with the caveat that Thursday night games are never a great barometer regardless). The Colts and Cardinals are currently going opposite directions, so that’s interesting, too. And Buffalo still having a shot in the AFC East will draw a lot of eyeballs to that game with NE. Lots of good stuff.

Two GB wins and one Dallas loss, and the Packers are guaranteed the 1 seed. Doesn’t matter what the Bucs do. However Packers fans may feel about Mike McCarthy, we have to keep rooting against him now.

Yeah, the Cowboys are the big threat right now, and one loss by them really puts the Packers in the catbird seat of catbird seats.

What does your gut tell you about D Bak suiting up for any remaining games or the playoffs?

I really don’t know. I can’t get a read on the situation. He hasn’t spoken to the media, understandably, and the coaches are saying very little. It’s all wait and see.

Wins for the 49ers, Colts, Rams, WFT, Patriots, and Packers. Santa told me!

Mike, what’s cooking for Christmas? Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones already!

Merry Christmas to everyone out there. Thanks for the kind wishes. With that I’ll sign off. Talk again next week. Cheers, Mike