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The final score ended up being closer than it should have been. Down 30-14 after the Vikings capitalized on a goal-line stand and responding with a TD drive and safety the Packers could have quit. They did not. One reason: QB Aaron Rodgers(26-for-37 384 yards 2 TD). Yes, I know he had two costy turnovers(INT & fumble) in Vikings territory that foiled scoring opportunites, but he refused to lay down and quit. It would have been the easy theing to do. After being sacked 8 times in the game it would seem as the easiest thing to do. Heading into the game I knew the Packers Defense had to stop Vikings RB Adrian Peterson. The Packers Defense was succesful as they held RB Adrian Peterson to only 55 rushing yards on 25 carries and 1 TD. The Packers Defense also forced RB Adrian Peterson into a fumble as Packers Rookie LB Clay Matthews stripped the ball and took it 42-yards to the house to even the score at 14-14 in the 2nd Quarter. However, the Packers Defense did not get any pressure on Vikings QB Brett Favre. I hate to say it, but this was the difference in the game. QB Brett Favre(24-for-31 271 yards 3 TD) was able to stand back in the pocket and pick the Packers Defense apart. The Vikings Offensive line did not surrender one sack. Come to think of it I can only remember QB Brett Favre being knocked down maybe once or twice. If the Packers 3-4 Defense could have pressured QB Brett Favre into making mistakes and disrupted his timing the end result of the game could have been different. Packers Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers should have been more aggressive. Who knows, if he was it may have allowed QB Brett Favre to burn them even worse. If anyone after watching this game thinks that the Packers would be better with QB Brett Favre they are crazy. It is more of QB Brett Favre being in a good situation. Through 4 games, the Packers have surrendered an NFL-high 20 sacks. Who knows how many times QB Aaron Rodgers has been hit, knocked down, and hurried out of the pocket. QB Aaron Rodgers may not surive the season much less a 40-year old QB Brett Favre. QB Aaron Rodgers with his legs has avoided soo many sacks and hits as it is. His will to not give up and quit has kept this teeam where they are right now. The loss drops the Green Bay Packers record to 2-2 as they head into the Bye week. I usually do not like the Bye week to come this early in the season, but the Packers need it. They need the extra practice time and also need the time to get healthy as well. LG Chad Clifton and SS Atari Bigby will be huge difference makers once back after the Bye week. LG Chad Clifton will help give an added boost to the protection up front and SS Atari Bigby's presence will give the Packers needed experience at the third level. The bad thing about the Bye week coming after this loss to the Minnesota Vikings(4-0) is that they will have 12 full days from now until their next game with this sick feeling in theior stomachs. Either way, the Packers need to watch the film, learn from their mistakes and prepare for their next game against the Detroit Lions(1-3). As a matter of fact, the Packers next two opponents(Lions, Browns) have a combined record of 1-7. The Packers need to use these next three weeks to refocus and have to absolutely win their next two games against lesser of quality opponents to move to a record of 4-2 heading into the November 1st rematch with the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. On a final note: This game and loss was hard to watch and hurts badly for me, but I can not imagine what Packers GM Ted Thompson is thinking and feeling right now. GO PACK GO!!!
www.multichannel.com/article/356974-Favre_Fever_MNF_Draws_21_8_Million_Viewers_Most_In_Cable_History.php
P.S. The #25 Wisconsin Badgers(5-0) did beat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 31-28 to retain Paul Bunyan's Axe in the College Football's Most Played Rivalry(119x) earlier in the weekend. The badgers have also won 13 out of the last 15 meetings. So, Minnesota did not take everything and their is 11/01/2009 at Lambeau.
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