NFC’s best fall flat – Packers News @ PFT

fpadmin | 11/12/2012

Bye came at good time for Packers

Green Bay Packers News – It was a good weekend to have the bye, especially if you entered Week 10 ranked among the NFC’s top teams.
While Green Bay (6-3) enjoyed some rest, relaxation and rehabilitation, the rest of the NFC’s finest took its lumps. The carnage was widespread with lingering consequences a real possibility.
Previously unbeaten Atlanta (8-1) is no longer burdened by the pursuit of perfection. Highly motivated New Orleans edged the Falcons, 31-27, to put an end to the 16-0 speculation. The Saints’ Jonathan Vilma said Atlanta showed disrespect toward ex-Falcon Curtis Lofton in warm-ups. New Orleans retaliated with its best performance of the season.
The Chicago Bears (7-2) and quarterback Jay Cutler took it on the chin strap, both figuratively and literally, in a rain-soaked 13-6 loss to Houston on Sunday night at Soldier Field. Cutler played poorly before sustaining a concussion late in the first half. Backup quarterback Jason Campbell was shaky at best, and the Bears never seriously threatened.
Elsewhere, the New York Giants (6-4) got whipped 31-13 at Cincinnati, the Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) were beaten by Dallas, 38-23, in a game that saw Eagles quarterback Michael Vick knocked out with a concussion, and the Detroit Lions (4-5) fell below .500 after a disheartening 34-24 loss at Minnesota.
Meantime, the San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1) lost their quarterback, Alex Smith, to a concussion before finishing in a 24-24 tie with St. Louis.
No one was spared.
Well, almost no one, as the Packers were able to stay out of harm’s way and gather themselves for what should be a wild seven-game stretch run.
The Packers’ challenge begins Sunday at Detroit.
The Lions will be in desperation mode, especially after being run over by the Vikings and star running back Adrian Peterson. Detroit’s defense was abysmal against the run and only slightly less so against the pass. The Lions lost cornerback Chris Houston (ankle), who was carted off, although Houston did say he’d “be OK” for the Green Bay game. Defensive end Cliff Avril left with a concussion, so his status is unknown for Sunday’s game at Ford Field.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 28 of 42 pass attempts for 329 yards and three touchdowns against the Vikings. Those numbers included 12 completions for 207 yards to Calvin Johnson, whose dominance was off-set by his fumble near the Vikings’ goal line.
Clearly, the Stafford-to-Johnson combination remains dangerous, but the Lions continue to be thwarted by their lack of balance in the passing game and an inability to sustain anything meaningful on the ground.
Look for the Packers’ defense to double-cover Johnson, blitz sparingly and play conservatively with playmakers Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Charles Woodson (collarbone) sidelined with injuries.
On offense, look for James Starks to take over as the Packers’ primary ball carrier on early downs. The season-ending hip injury to right tackle Bryan Bulaga forces Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy to shuffle his offensive line. It is likely Evan Diedrich-Smith will step in at left guard, while starter T.J. Lang kicks out to right tackle.
The Packers’ offensive line depth truly is being tested, and another injury in that unit could be disastrous.
Aaron Rodgers remains the Packers’ trump card. While the league awaits word on concussions to Cutler, Smith and Vick, the Packers continue to focus on keeping their star signal caller healthy. That means hoping Bulaga returns, getting tackle Derek Sherrod healthy and up to speed ASAP, and it means continuing to develop a reliable run game.
Defensively, coordinator Dom Capers must devise creative solutions until Matthews and Woodson return.
After seeing the Bears’ offense struggle and watching the Falcons reduced to mere mortals, the Packers appear to be in good position for the seven-game stretch run.
The Packers’ bye weekend surely helped.
This week’s prediction: Packers 31, Lions 28
Season: 6-3
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

"

Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
"

-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada

"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help. As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game, particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "

-Kayle

"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time. One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA. "

-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida

"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"

-Matt

"Hi Amy- Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future! Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol! Go pack go!!"

-Julie Mastrianni

"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service. My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it. We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip. Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."

-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN

"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."

-Frank Chavez, Sacramento

"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."

-Beverley Moore, Lancaster

"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"

-David Anastas, Worchester

"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."

-Dick Koerner, Neenah

"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."

-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario

"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."

-Sam Jones, Sedalia

"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."

-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor

"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."

-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly