Recap: Weeks 9-12 in 2008

by Brandon on Jan 26, 2009 8:00 AM CST in Looking Ahead to 2009 Comment 5 comments

Before moving ahead in 2009, I started by looking back at 2008. I covered weeks 1-4 here and weeks 5-8 here.

	at Tennessee	at Minnesota	vs. Chicago	at New Orleans
Rushing Yards Gained	102	74	83	109
Rushing Yards Allowed	178	220	200	98

Passing Yards Gained	288	110	227	234
Passing Yards Allowed	169	141	151	318

Turnovers by Opponent	0	3	1	1
Turnovers by Packers	2	0	1	3

Points by Packers	16	27	37	29
Points by Opponent	19	28	3	51

Three tough road games against good teams resulted in three road losses. Two were not surprising; losing at unbeaten Tennessee and in the Metrodome. But the severity of the loss at New Orleans was stunning. It didn't end their post season chances, but that's when the hopes started to dim.

The game at Tennessee was well played. RB Ryan Grant ran well against a great run defense. Critics, unfairly, started pointing some blame at QB Aaron Rodgers because the offense was forced to settle for FGs instead of scoring a TD, but expecting perfection against a great Tennessee defense is asking too much. Again, the run defense failed when Tennessee got the ball at the start of OT, preceded to hand off several times, and easily moved into position for the game losing FG.

The game at Minnesota was a real shock. Although the Packers lost by a single point, and a failed 52 yard FG attempt by K Mason Crosby on the last play of the game almost won it for them, the Packers were blown out in this game. Minnesota's defense owned the Packers offense. And Minnesota's offense had a great game running the ball. But QB Gus Frerotte threw 3 INTs, KR Will Blackmon ran a punt back for a TD, and that kept the Packers in the game.

After two straight losses, some hope returned when they destroyed Chicago. This game really has to be ignored. All their wins were close in 2008, except this one. Chicago never had a chance. It was the only time it happened all season; everything went right for them in this game.

All the games in 2008, whether a win or a loss, were close, except for the week 11 crushing of Chicago and the week 12 crush by New Orleans. QB Drew Brees and his receivers destroyed the Packers secondary, which had been arguably the best in the NFL up until this game. The Saints really showed that S Atari Bigby (his last game of the season) and S Aaron Rouse did not have enough speed to keep up with NFL receivers. Still, Rodgers played well, although the 3rd quarter was a disaster, and he led the offense on four TD scoring drives.

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These summaries

are nice to read through, like the game recaps. Thanks for letting us know that pain does indeed fade with time.

However, when you recap the Metrodome game, you didn’t mention the highly controversial flag that was thrown on Rog in the end zone that, realistically, did give Minnesota the game. Well it was that safety or the other one, ONE OF the safeties that game, in my opinion, decided it. Oh, and the other controversial thing that screwed us,, with AP ignoring NFL rules that had been in place and enforced for years, somehow he was just allowed to do what he wanted after scoring, taking his helmet off while he was still in the end zone. So, fifteen yards and two safeties..

by PackaCracka on Jan 26, 2009 9:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Close moments

That was a razor close game. The late, missed FG. TWO safeties, including the “illegal forward pass” fiasco that the head of officiating couldn’t even explain. If any of those three plays had gone the other way, the Packers would have won.

But the most important thing about that game, at least in regards to looking forward in 2009, was that Minnesota killed them. The offense did nothing in that game; held to only 184 yards. RB Adrian Peterson had more yards than the Packers’ offense. They can’t count on +3 turnover margin, plus a special teams’ TD, to keep them in the game at Minnesota next season.

by Brandon on Jan 26, 2009 10:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Funny that the you did this today

as I just rewatched the shellacking of the Bears yesterday. I had it saved on my DVR and just burned it off onto DVD. The running game was so impressive that day. Grant looked good, BJack was a big time spark. I hope he gets more carries next year. I still want Grant as the starter but Jackson should get a good amount of touches cause he definitely provides a spark

Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb

by verno329 on Jan 26, 2009 12:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yes to BJacks

I think he proved he belonged in the NFL this year. The limited time he got touches. We had so many games this year were Grant was not getting it done. So McCarthy needs to get BJack in the games more they have two different styles of running and both can help eachother! I also want to see Grant as the starter still but we NEED to get BJack into the game more often.

by bizzle4 on Jan 26, 2009 6:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Free BJacks!

I’d be stunned if Mike McCarthy gives the starting job to anyone other than RB Ryan Grant. That’s ok with me; Grant was fantastic in 2007 and pretty good over the second half of the 2008 season.

But give Brandon Jackson some touches! He ran for 5.5 yards/carry and did manage to end up with 30 receptions. And he was kept off the field entirely in some games. He needs at least 10 touches per game next season.

by Brandon on Jan 26, 2009 10:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs