Packers come up with grand effort; Defeat Manning and Colts!

On a windy fall Sunday at Lambeau Field here in Green Bay, Wisconsin - the Packers came up with a win in a game most predicted they would lose.

Finally, the Packers got the majority of breaks there way and had few penalties which had plagued them in a previous 3 game losing streak called against them.  Instead, a Peyton Manning led Indianapolis Colts team (considered one of the NFL’s best teams) committed the fouls and couldn’t get the job done.

Aaron Rodgers once again came up with the necessary material and plays.  The defense, despite injuries, came up with there best game of the year so far.  And the offense - they finally gave everything they had and it showed the most in the game’ final result, a 34-14 home win.

The Packers now stand at 4-3 heading into the bye week tied atop the NFC North for first with the Chicago Bears.  The Vikings lost to the Bears in a high scoring affair (41-48) and fall to 3-4, and the Lions remain winless and fell to 0-6 losing 21-28 to the upstart Texans.  All NFC North teams except for the Lions (bye in Week 4) are off this coming week so the standings are not going to change much until the first weekend of November.

As a Packers fan, you have to be excited about how this team is doing so far - and there schedule ahead along with there playoff chances.  Aaron Rodgers has remained the starter through his first seven games and has a winning record.  He has won and lost on the road and at home, he has survived his first losing streak and responded by winning consecutive games afterwards.  He has perserved through a seemingly painful shoulder ’sprain’ to his throwing arm and appears to be getting over it too in the weeks following its appearance.

Despite some key injuries on defence (Jenkins, Harris), a slow start for the Ryan Grant led-offense (Grant’s training camp holdout), and some terrible games where football fundamentals where non-apparent by the entire team during a three game losing skid - the team has kept positive and continued to buy into Coach McCarthy’s philosophy and go back out game after game.

The remaining 9 games (5 away, 4 home) are intriguing.

Four games are versus NFC north divisional opponents - at Minnesota (3-4), at home vs. Chicago (4-3), at Chicago, and at home vs. Detroit (0-6).  The Packers defeated Minnesota in their home opener and took out the Lions the following week.  They have yet to play Chicago - and Chicago has looked nothing like a team most critics would have indicated at the beginning of the season were headed for the North’ basement.  I feel that these two Chicago matchup’ could indeed be two must wins for the Packers in there quest to return to the post season.

Following the off week, the Packers return to action with a trip to Tennessee to play the Titans, whom they played (and lost 21-23 to) during the preseason.  The Titans are among the toast of the NFL - the only unbeaten team after week 7 at 6-0.  They will take on the Colts next Monday night, and then take on Green Bay at home following a short week.  I give credit to an NFL team for a perfect record this far into the season - and wish them luck vs. Indy, it will really depend on which Colts team shows up to play that will determine if the Packers get a shot at spoiling the Titans perfect record. 

All in all - a great game Packer fans.  We can feel great now for two weeks!

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