Rodgers is looking like Steve Young to Favre's Joe Montana. He's great. That's not my point. Favre is a difference maker compared to Tarvaris Jackson. I have yet to be convinced that Rodgers is a difference maker compared to Favre.


Who looked pretty average against Green Bay in both contests -- 25 carries for 97 yards last night and 25 carries for only 55 yards in Week 4.


But they didn't have a good, veteran quarterback. They had Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels before Favre entered the picture.


That's a moot point in my opinion -- unless you want to argue that the Packers are considerably better with Rodgers than they would have been with Favre (who led them to 13-3 before retiring the first time). Otherwise, if Green Bay would have been roughly as good with Favre as they are with Rodgers this year and Minnesota would have been a quarterback shy of fielding a great team, this year's Packers might have swept the two games instead of the other way around. Even last year's 6-10 Packers split the series with 10-6 Minnesota. In the game Green Bay won, Tarvaris Jackson was Minnesota's quarterback.

And the Packers might not have even needed to beat the Vikings twice to be division leaders. If Minnesota was stuck with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels at quarterback, they might have lost several of the other games they've won as well.

Of course, it's all hypothetical. No one knows how Green Bay would have fared if they'd welcomed Brett back with open arms. But the idea that they'd be better off this year simply because Minnesota might have been worse seems plausible to me.

Best,

Geoff

Sounds like next week will be a matchup of two injury-plagued teams. SD is still missing the cornerstones of both sides of the trenches (Williams on the D, Hardwick on the O). The OL has been tested by good DLs - pass protection has held up enough for Rivers to put up good numbers, but the run blocking continues to struggle due to the inexperience at center, right guard, and fullback. The D will probably never be dominant this year with Williams gone, but it's been gradually progressing after the embarrasment in Pitt (granted in that game, they only had a 4-man rotation into the three DL spots, resulting in a prematurely worn down DL).

I don't like SD's chances on the road against a superior coaching staff, but I hope they'll make a game out of it. SD will do their usual thing of matching up VJ and Floyd against the smallest DBs they can find and I'm sure NYG will be attacking the safeties and inside LBs with the TEs and slot receivers like everyone else. SS Clinton Hart was a clear weakness to attack - oddly enough his replacement Kevin Ellison, a rookie, actually looks like he knows what he's doing. The pass coverage specialist LB, Kevin Burnett has been a bust but since he's injured, we'll have our remaining true inside LB Tim Dobbins starting again. If Tim can't go, we'll probably have to deploy enthusiastic but still young, inexperienced OLB Brandon Siler on the inside again.

Now that Favre is gelling with his wideouts (particularly Percy Harvin, man what a stud that kid is going to be in a couple years) teams are having to respect the pass in Minny, hence you see AP's numbers starting to go up as more and more teams are realizing that Favre is a legitimate threat to throw deep and no longer dare to stack 9 in the box to bottle up the run.

Before the season is over, teams will have to commit more and more resources to the pass, and you'll see AP putting up numbers like he did the last couple years.

I just hope they find at least a competent replacement for Favre in free agency either next year or the year following. I don't think Brett will come back if he gets to hoist a Lombardi with the Vikes this year - I think that's been the itch he's been trying to scratch for the last few years.

All good points. Here's one thing that's puzzling about Favre's renaissance in Minny--He's kinda playing over his head, if that's possible for a 40-year old hall of famer in waiting. Dude has never finished a season with a QB rating over 100, and he's cruising along at about 106 right now. With a dome over his head and this Peterson/Rice/Berrian/Harvin (and even old NYG guy Shancoe) toolbox at his disposal, it's hard to see that dipping much.

QB rating has its limits, for sure, but it is a good indicator of efficiency, weighing ball security against production as it does. It has never been a flattering stat for a player like Favre (and thus perhaps the most compelling indicator of the dark side of the Favre bargain) but he seems to be playing like a different cat right now.

Plausible, indeed, but keep in mind that with one of the worst starting QBs I've ever seen, Minny was a playoff team last year. So Favre is stepping into a sitch where just small improvements in the QB chair could put the whole thing over the top, and then add in Harvin, and boom, Griff might actually have to deal with an NE/Minny SB, and we'll learn more about his real affiliations

Ahman Green


Don't forget about Gus Frerotte. After the Vikings started 0-2 under Tarvaris Jackson last year, Childress benched Jackson in favor of Frerotte, who went 8-3 before suffering a back injury. Jackson returned and finished the regular season with a record of 2-3 before losing in the playoffs.


Small improvements at least took them to the playoffs last year -- that is, if you consider an over the hill former Pro Bowler to only be a small improvement over Tarvaris Jackson.




It's a mixed blessing when your two favorite teams meet in the Super Bowl, as I learned when the Favre led Packers lost to the Elway led Broncos.

Best,

Geoff

I almost forgot to mention what a pleasure it was to see Ahman Green back in a Packers uniform again yesterday.

His best days may be behind him, but he's a Green Bay legend and it's only fitting that he retire as a Packer.

Best,

Geoff

When they mentioned him as a kick returner, I did a double take. Ahman Green?

These careers turnover so fast, I guess it wasn't that long ago he was a stud.

I'll tell you this much, as long as the officiating was clean, I'd be happy for either team.

Talk about layers of irony - Randy Moss in the SB against the Vikes on the last team Favre beat in the SB, with Favre QB'ing the Vikes, who have never won a SB, nor even been to one since Tarketon retired...

They'd never run out of stuff to talk about in the two weeks leading up to that matchup.

No doubt.

Best,

Geoff

Hey Governor.

Just saw that the Chargers released Chambers. What's up with that? Is he washed up?

Couple of things, MidLife.

Chargers are thin at inside LB. They were already starting a backup (Dobbins) and were forced to use a backup outside LB when Dobbins went down. With the former Pro Bowler Chambers being outplayed by former backup/new starter Malcom Floyd this season, they deemed him expendable in favor of shoring up the ILB depth, even if the new guy probably won't be a Ray Lewis level talent. I wouldn't mind if the Chargers brought back former starter Randall Godfrey to mentor all these young LBs and serve as a backup. He's currently working on a degree at U. Georgia.

Shame about Chambers. Age suddenly caught up with him as fast as it caught Keenan McCardell. All of a sudden, he can't separate anymore nor reliably catch the ball when thrown his way. One good play vs. the Raiders yesterday wasn't enough to balance out his overall season. Maybe his departure will give WR "Bust" Davis another chance to prove he belongs in SD.

Heh, this Yahoo FF page is touting the man who unseated Chambers because "we hope to see him in a Bears uniform next year".

Man, I can't believe that I completely forgot about MNF because it was up against an elimination game in the World Series. That may be a first!

Best,

Geoff

Saints-Falcons was a much better game than the blowout I'd originally anticipated. Hard to believe this is is the same Drew Brees who was a fumbling, pick throwing machine as a Charger in 2003. Michael Turner had a great game, albeit in a losing effort.

Geoff:

I had a very difficult time finding a radio station to listen to MNF. After the base ball game was over, the local ESPN affiliate had a post game show, so I had to look for another station covering the football game. I have absolutely NO INTEREST in watching or listening to a freakin' base ball game in November!

Mike T.

The Saints are firing on all cylinders and will make the post season but I do not believe they will remain undefeated.

The Falcons are playing well despite two losses. Hopefully they won't take it out on their next opponent.

In other news, I'm not sure firing the GM will solve the Browns' woes. But, I wish the Skins thought similarly.

Or not.

Congrats, Steve.

Best,

Geoff

...or if you were hoping for the top draft spot, then my condolences.

Best,

Geoff

Week 9 has been brutal. So far, it's as if I didn't get my picks on time. I had a few changes in mind and didn't make them. The point spread didn't help me either.

I figured the Cards and Bengals would show up today. I didn't give the Bucs a chance against the Packers coming off a tough loss to the Vikes.

The Bucs could lose that 1st round draft pick if the rookie keeps playing well. Huge win. Especially in those throwback jerseys.

Well, even the Skins' defense made unncessary mistakes today. The offsides penalties were bad enough but the poor tackling and bad angles were indicative of the season.

Ouch. San Diego probably just effectively ended the Giants' season as solid playoff contender, and there are so many things to point to--the decision to run clock instead of try to score a TD after the Thomas interception; the FG mishap on the opening drive.

Eli was very sharp today and we ran the ball well. The defense made a few plays,picking Rivers twice. How did we lose this game?

Well, you know, I am ready to watch this team try to claw their way to 10-6.

Erm ah, arggh, ugh,. that was one tough football loss.

I consider this season as lost so I might as well root for a good draft slot and reload next year.

What happened to Rodgers? He looked horrible today. No pocket presence.

Tell me about it. I had 4 games slip through my fingers in the very last minute. The Seattle game was a prime example. Straford throws a pick 6 with 23 seconds left to kill the spread.

Oh well. Guess that is why I don't bet money on games

I don't have an answer for you. They looked solid all game. On that last drive they just could not get any pressure on Rivers.

You have to question the mentality where after the pick they take a conservative approach. They were almost playing just for the field goal. A TD there and the game is over.


BTW: What is up with the Ravens? Is there a more up and down team out there?

It's looking like a bad spiral. This is a game the Giants should have won, so I say pin it on Coughlin. How do you rest it in the hands of the defense after the last three weeks? Ugh.

MLC, congrats on the Bucs win. Maybe Freeman holds the key for a brighter future.

FWIW-Historically (my history that is) no team has burned me more in the pickem' pool than Detroit. More accurately, no team has looked like they would cover and then blown it in the 4th quarter more than Detroit. Forget winning, they just flat out refuse to cover the spread. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

I thought the Giants would literally run over the Chargers but I didn't take into account that Jacobs and Bradshaw would both be playing hurt. The nose tackle by committee continues to be just good enough to give our offense a chance to win.

Where the Giants really helped the Chargers was the penalties. This negated an excellent effort by the Giants D (other than giving up plays to VJ). The botched field goal attempt also helped - those 3 points could have made all the difference for NYG. Eli hung in there and played well despite the sacks we racked up on him. I figured he'd try to attack us with his TE (Boss) and slot man (Smith) - I was pleasantly surprised with our safety and LB play for the most part, given we had a first time starter at ILB and a rookie at SS. Our worst defensive series was giving up 3 3rd and longs in a row (most created by Giants penalties), and finally a TD. I was thinking "Here we go again" at that point.

NYG has a tough road ahead with Philly and Dallas fighting over the top spot, but my team came from behind to win the division at 8-8 last year. They showed signs of returning to the Giants team that looked so dominant in September.

Congrats indeed to Steve for the Bucs first win - in those "classic" orange unis at that!

I expected NE-Miami to be close, but not NO-Carolina or Indy-Houston.

Cincy continues to prove they're for real this year.

What's left of the Eagles couldn't manage to hold off Dallas at home...

dB

Houston has always played Indy tough, even in their early years. I would have liked for it to be an easier game for the Colts than it was, but I'm not surprised - the Texans have always been a better team than their record. This year they may end up with a (well deserved and overdue) winning season.