We’ve got a good Sunday after a piss-poor Turkey day. After that disastrous 0-2 start, I’m 4-0-1 in the early games with the San Diego/Washington and Houston/St Louis games headed to OT and Tennessee handling San Francisco.
3:15 – At least the Packers won the toss. RaShard Lee managed to hang onto the ball. Tony Fisher gets the start and, surprise, surprise, fumbled on the opening play. They got the ball back (was ruled an incomplete pass). At least it wasn’t a 3-and-out; Clifton had a false start to make it 3rd and 15.
3:20 – Make that 6-0-1 as San Diego (make that LaDanian Tomlinson) finds the end zone in OT and Tennessee finishing the crushing of the Whiners, er Niners. Meanwhile, the special teams and the defense both are letting Brian Westbrook run all over them. SHOCK! The Pack gets the ball back as Lamar Gordon fumbles inside the Packers 10.
3:27 – Another 3-and-out as Gado gains 6, loses 1, and Favre throws out of the reach of Driver, is now 0-4. Another Philly start inside the Packers 40 as the coverage allows a 15-yard return.
3:32 – Mike McMahon must’ve went to the Favre school of passing behind your receivers. What a stat from Buck (how did he draw this turkey of a game?) and Aikman (how did we draw him for this turkey of a game? – at least we get a bundled-up Pam Oliver to look at for time to time); Career starts – Jon Runyan 139, rest of the offense 115. Will Bates finally take Mark Roman out of coverage? I could have completed that 3rd-down pass.
3:37 – There goes my lossless Sunday; I’m now 1-2 in overtime games for the weekend. Where’s that 6-pack of Maximum Ice?
3:39 – Make that a 12-pack; after Akers nailed a field goal, RaShard Lee coughs it up at the Packers 32 on the ensuing kickoff. Add Al Harris to the list of Packer DBs who don’t know how to keep his hands off guys. Oops, make that a case; Westbrook torches the Packers for a 27-yard TD run. 10-0 bad guys.
3:45 – Lee has a rib “injury” (probably from one of the coaching staff ramming his ribs with a ball), so Audrae Thurman is now returning kicks. Unlike Lee, Thurman hangs onto it. Holy cow; Favre completes one, and the Packers get a first. Gado answers nicely; 2 carries, 51 yards, touchdown. That was an ugly PAT, but we’re back within 3.
3:53 – Kampmann is a player, and if Jackson keeps his shoulders parallel to the line, he’s still a force. We got some help from the ump (who’s thankful it was McMahon throwing that ball and not Favre) to get a 3-and-out.
3:57 – Can we bench Whittaker? He just stands there and ruins any chance to run right or up the middle. 3-and-out #2 (if you ignore penalties that wipe out plays). At least Sander lofted the ball high enough to get a fair catch this time.
4:00 – It’s much the same story with the two McQBs; they can run, but they can’t get air under the ball. I swear that ball hit Jenkins in the chest.
4:03 – Two words for the Packer offense; run left! The first quarter is mercifully over.