8:25 – Uncle Paulie has just made his Favre prediction; he’s back next year. ESPN shows Favre in warm-ups shooting his own ducks. Henderson still can bull over people on screens. Jay Weber is right; reverses don’t work anymore, but Antonio Chatman somehow splits the two guys waiting for him to make some positive yardage. Piss-poor spot leaves them inches short at the fringes of Longwell’s range, and unlike the last 4th down in Lions’ territory, they go for it. The Bull makes a great adjustment to get the first and more. Fergie wastes it a bit later with a block in the back, and Favre tries to make him pay by leading him into in-the-middle double-coverage. The ensuing field-goal try is blocked (missed it live and in the replays getting some pumpkin pie, so I don’t know who’s to blame).
8:38 – 3-and-out for the Lions brings the first punt of the game, and Chatman loses 2 on the return.
8:42 – Despite the call from ESPN Radio Milwaukee/Waukesha’s talking heads for Rodgers to play (and in Homer’s case, start), Suzy Kobler said Rodgers is okay with staying on the bench for this and next year if Favre’s back. The Bull with nifty running for a 59- 64-yard Lambeau Leap. Score now 13-10 Bad Guys (thank you very much, Turd Fergie).
8:50 – Another short kickoff gives the Lions good field position despite a modest return. Another 3-and-out aided by Playcalling 100 (2 runs and a pass doesn’t even qualify as Playcalling 101) and poor passing from Garcia. The Lions catch a break on the punt as it rolled down to the 3.
8:51 – A run that goes nowhere and a pass that goes nearly nowhere gets us to the 2-minute warning.
8:56 – Somehow the “throw-short-of-the-down-marker” play gets the first down. That screen play is Exhibit ZAA, that poor excuse of a draw is Exhibit ZAB, and that Whiffaker whiff on that run is Exhibit ZAC in why guards and offensive linemen are important (you listening, Teddy Thompson). Mikie doesn’t drop his blanket as they go to the boys in the booth. RW McQuarters ruins a chance at a free kick as BJ Sander has a piss-poor punt.
9:01 – A couple of jailbreak blitzes plus some bad receiving (Williams doesn’t read the blitz on 1st down, doesn’t get the handle on a perfect ball on 2nd down) leaves a poorly-thought-out 3rd-down play where the receiver doesn’t get out of bounds. The half mercifully ends, 13-10 Bad Guys.
