Packers - Titans reviewed; The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Well, the Packers fall to 4-4.

My intial thoughts following watching the game were that they hung in there - but like another team I root for in a different sport (sens!), they didn’t push the extra sumthin and come up on top.  Despite the missed (hit the post!) field goal attempt late in the 4th by the Titans, the Packers could not take advantage of that luck.  Instead, it was only minutes later a kick finally took care of the Packers and the game. 

The Good

The Packers parted ways with KGB.  Despite KGB’s Packer service, his time had come up in Green this year.  I recall even before the season got going the articles about knee surgeries and the fact that it wouldnt be a shock had he been cut prior to Week 1.  Although that didn’t happen, the teams highest paid player this year failed to make an impact as he had in previous seasons and as a result of that and other intangibles was released.  Unlike the other guy (#4), it appears as some have noted in replies to my previous blog, this split was amicable and forseen by both sides and handled with a ton of class and respect by both parties.  I would imagine, the Packers would love to have KGB as a scout or coach or something at some point with the organization.

The return of the Spleen Man!  Yep, why not eh?  Al Harris participated in Sunday’s game, returning from what everyone (including yours truly) assumed incorrectly was a season ending injury (or close to it).  This just goes to show, miracles do happen.

Also playing, Ted Thompson most infamous draft choice - Justin Harrell.  I can’t say much about Harrell as he made no huge plays and I hardly heard his name during the broadcast.  I think I counted ‘Joe The Plumber’ more!  TGTEIFHT (Thank God The Election Is Finally Here Today)..I can’t take these commericals (from all levels being voted on today) any longer. 

The Bad

The Packers offense continues to be quite bizarre.  With the execption of the always reliable Greg Jennings (WR), the Packers are hit and miss again this year.  Ryan Grant, as explosive as he appears ’sometimes’, always seems to run into ‘rush-hour’ traffic and ends up like a skunk on the 401 near Yonge & Sheppard (Toronto traffic analogy).  Anyways, it would be nice to see some plays where the team takes the ball and runs away from the other teams D more often - and isnt that the idea?

The Ugly

The final score of course.  Titans 19 - Packers 16.  The Packers lost a similar game, and similar score in their final preason game against the then Young-led Titans.  And they had hungry young rookies working the field. 

In Other News…

The next two games are now must win!  Minnesota in Minneapolis, and then ‘Da Bears’ at home.  Forget about the Packers beating Minnesota at home in Week 1 - this is the now and the Vikings have quietly been turning the corner after a pretty rough start, failing to live up to lofty publication expections.  As well, despite the Bears losing surprising QB Kyle Orton - they still have a decent guy in Rex Grossman and the team remains intact.  And that is the key for the Bears - a team effort.  From what I’ve seen, they push with all they got and that little bit more for the win and fail to think of the fact they could lose on their gambles.  So far, so good for them.  The Packers simply cannot afford to lose either of these games.

More from me a bit later in the week.

Be sure to check out STB’s own - Tom Matyok for the Vikings fan perspective on this weeks game here.

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