Game 5: Packers @ Cowboys - Sunday, October 6th 3:25PM

[HiAndTight]

4 - 1 and we haven't seen their best yet. Obviously they have warts.

 

Yeah, they're good, I do think that. I'd just like to see them finish a game. It's frustrating to watch.

 

 

Definitely sloppy. Losing Savage is brutal. But when you get a 31-3 lead, teams tend to relax a little and it's not hard to make the game look much closer than it actually is/was.

 

I thought that hands to the face on the Redmond INT was a bad call. He came up to the face and unlike earlier when Smith had both hands around his neck, he came off right away. But...we also got lucky with the King non-call.

 

But this team is a long way away from where they need to be. They just haven't been able to finish teams when they should this year, but all 4 of the wins felt pretty in the 4th quarter.

 

And Tramon Williams had an incredible game. Amazing what he's doing at...what, 37 years old?

[adambr2]

Just a brutal stretch coming up. I'm not a big believer in Dallas at all but the Packers next five games are teams over .500 with the exception of the Chargers. The schedule will not be the reason the Packers into the playoffs this year.

 

We just finished an almost identically difficult 5 game stretch at 4-1. They'll be fine. 3 are at home, the one game it's hard to see them winning is @KC, and even if they drop that and one other they're still sitting 7-3 after 10 games and in good position with division tiebreakers.

[HiAndTight]

Just a brutal stretch coming up. I'm not a big believer in Dallas at all but the Packers next five games are teams over .500 with the exception of the Chargers. The schedule will not be the reason the Packers into the playoffs this year.

 

 

The next 5 games of the schedule aren't as tough as the first 5 games.

 

Carolina, Detroit and Oakland are middle of the pack teams. SD is talented, and the Chiefs are obviously very good.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Just a brutal stretch coming up. I'm not a big believer in Dallas at all but the Packers next five games are teams over .500 with the exception of the Chargers. The schedule will not be the reason the Packers into the playoffs this year.

 

 

The next 5 games of the schedule aren't as tough as the first 5 games.

 

Carolina, Detroit and Oakland are middle of the pack teams. SD is talented, and the Chiefs are obviously very good.

 

I think that's highly debatable, and unknown honestly. Philadelphia could very well be the best team the Packers have played. The Raiders just beat the Bears, though the Vikings pounded them, but at this point it's hard to say the Vikings/Bears aren't middle of the pack.

 

Detroit gave KC a fight and beat Philly. I'm not seeing a real definitive distinction between CAR, DET, OAK and the Bears and Vikings other than last season.

[yourout]

Never thought i would feel blah about a ten point win in Dallas.

The 468 yard they gave through the air and 24 points in a half kind of dimmed the enjoyment.

 

It really feels like a gift win.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

NFL box scores are next to useless determining how a game went/unit performed. Big leads mean lots of cheap yards. That game probably ends 48-10 if King picks off the pass at 24-0.

 

Oddly the offense is still a bigger concern to me. Five weeks in, and you just still feel it's missing something. Adams today, but someone in that WR group needs to get it going. With someone as good as Jones back there it shouldn't be this hard. Still waiting for Rodgers to hit someone in stride down the field. Don't know if it's him, timing, lack of chemistry or what.

[PinaMadness]

Elliott/Cooper scored 50 fantasy points for me and we won? That’s a good day for my teams.

Aaron Jones scored 50 alone for my opponent and I still won.

[nodakfan17]

Would the Cowboys have been able to challenge the King interception for PI had they still had a challenge? I know the turnover is automatically challenged, but I don’t think PI is a reviewable component of the automatic challenge. Could the Cowboys have initiated one? Is so, shame on Garrett for challenging the 23-yard Tonya. reception that was clean. With PI challengeable in today’s NFL, a challenge is worth more than 23 yards.

[OldHeidelberg]

Would the Cowboys have been able to challenge the King interception for PI had they still had a challenge? I know the turnover is automatically challenged, but I don’t think PI is a reviewable component of the automatic challenge. Could the Cowboys have initiated one? Is so, shame on Garrett for challenging the 23-yard Tonya. reception that was clean. With PI challengeable in today’s NFL, a challenge is worth more than 23 yards.

 

They just put a TD back on the board last week for Philly, not a TO but a TD which is the same thing reviewable wise. But sort of like the last Packers offensive play last week I am guessing the review folks don't want to get into it on automatic reviews. I thought LeFleur should have taken a timeout and thrown a tantrum last week, it worked when Pederson had a fit earlier in the game.

[yourout]

NFL box scores are next to useless determining how a game went/unit performed. Big leads mean lots of cheap yards. That game probably ends 48-10 if King picks off the pass at 24-0.

 

Oddly the offense is still a bigger concern to me. Five weeks in, and you just still feel it's missing something. Adams today, but someone in that WR group needs to get it going. With someone as good as Jones back there it shouldn't be this hard. Still waiting for Rodgers to hit someone in stride down the field. Don't know if it's him, timing, lack of chemistry or what.

 

I think that collarbone injury affected Rodgers accuracy and it probably will never be what it once was.

[OldHeidelberg]

NFL box scores are next to useless determining how a game went/unit performed. Big leads mean lots of cheap yards. That game probably ends 48-10 if King picks off the pass at 24-0.

 

Oddly the offense is still a bigger concern to me. Five weeks in, and you just still feel it's missing something. Adams today, but someone in that WR group needs to get it going. With someone as good as Jones back there it shouldn't be this hard. Still waiting for Rodgers to hit someone in stride down the field. Don't know if it's him, timing, lack of chemistry or what.

 

I think that collarbone injury affected Rodgers accuracy and it probably will never be what it once was.

 

I have worried about that but he still seems like he can make all the throws, just not as consistently as he used to. No TD's today but a big road win and he had a great day.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think that's probably not true since that's not how bone injuries work. I think he had quite a rapport with 3-4 receivers and now has one while the whole team adapts a new offense. And the guys he has aren't vets. It's a bunch of young guys or Allison, who hasn't been able to stay healthy the last couple years. NFL teams are really works in progress from Oct-Jan. This offense could be a juggernaut by the end, we just don't know, but it's sure not gangbusters right now.

 

4-1 matters though. Just win the games in the fall and be a good team in the winter.

[nodakfan17]

I think that's probably not true since that's not how bone injuries work. I think he had quite a rapport with 3-4 receivers and now has one while the whole team adapts a new offense. And the guys he has aren't vets.

I think it’s more this than a collarbone issue. Also doesn’t help that he’ll turn 36 in a few weeks. I mentioned this in a previous GT, but Driver, Jennings, Nelson, and Jones were a special foursome.

[nodakfan17]

With 4 TDs in a single game, Aaron Jones matches Al Bundy’s career high. Though, to be fair, Jones did not have to go through Marion ‘Spare Tire’ Dixon.

[yourout]

With 4 TDs in a single game, Aaron Jones matches Al Bundy’s career high. Though, to be fair, Jones did not have to go through Marion ‘Spare Tire’ Dixon.

 

"Lets Rock"

 

[sveumrules]

The laugh track in that clip is so over the top ridiculous.

[LouisEly]

In hockey they say the worst place to be is up by two goals on the road going into the 3rd period. Many a game has been blown up two on the road in the 3rd period.

 

I imagine that isn't much different being up big after halftime on the road. Pretty easy for the momentum to swing, especially if the team up big goes into conservative offense/defense.

[FVBrewerFan]

Packers may not be at their best in all facets, but who is? Cowboys looked complete after 3 games, then lost two. Rams are not amazing anymore. Etc. NFL is week to week, and so dependent on injuries. No team is consistently great in every area. Pats? Who knows. They get out of their lousy division this week and play the Skins, lol.

 

Rodgers is clearly not in his prime. I think the WRs are better than we think, Rodgers is missing them more than in the past, or not even seeing them. But the passing game can improve. If they had a new coach, scheme, WRs, etc. 7 or 8 years ago Rodgers would have made it work in week 1. He can't do that anymore, it's going to take time.

[olliegjw]

These refs in the Chiefs/Colts game are brutal, along with questionable replays as usual.

[HiAndTight]

NFL box scores are next to useless determining how a game went/unit performed. Big leads mean lots of cheap yards. That game probably ends 48-10 if King picks off the pass at 24-0.

 

Oddly the offense is still a bigger concern to me. Five weeks in, and you just still feel it's missing something. Adams today, but someone in that WR group needs to get it going. With someone as good as Jones back there it shouldn't be this hard. Still waiting for Rodgers to hit someone in stride down the field. Don't know if it's him, timing, lack of chemistry or what.

 

 

That's really becoming my main concern. I think people are pre-disposed to just assuming we don't have talent at the WR'er/TE positions if we don't get production out of them, but we've seen what MVS is capable of, we've seen Tonyan's pure athletic ability and we've seen how sure handed Allison is. I'm also finally getting on the Shepard bangwagon. The way he can turn Corners around like he did when he ran that corner route in the pre-season and that out and up in the game today....he's obviously an elite route runner and I think he's got good hands.

 

 

The problem as far as I can tell is Rodgers...I guess conservative nature. It's like he's going to make CERTAIN that the defense has zero chance to get their hands on the ball and he seems to be more cognizant of playing it safe as opposed to his MVP years when he just let it rip. He's overthrown guys the last two years now. Maybe he got used to older Jordy, Jones, Allison and the like, but he needs to put a little more air under the ball and let MVS go get it. That throw vs the Bears was great, but it should have been a TD. There was a throw where Allison got behind the D today and Rodgers missed him by several yards.

 

And the most frustrating thing is you can see him make some of those throws if we're losing...but we're not putting teams away like we should.

[HiAndTight]

Just a brutal stretch coming up. I'm not a big believer in Dallas at all but the Packers next five games are teams over .500 with the exception of the Chargers. The schedule will not be the reason the Packers into the playoffs this year.

 

 

The next 5 games of the schedule aren't as tough as the first 5 games.

 

Carolina, Detroit and Oakland are middle of the pack teams. SD is talented, and the Chiefs are obviously very good.

 

I think that's highly debatable, and unknown honestly. Philadelphia could very well be the best team the Packers have played. The Raiders just beat the Bears, though the Vikings pounded them, but at this point it's hard to say the Vikings/Bears aren't middle of the pack.

 

Detroit gave KC a fight and beat Philly. I'm not seeing a real definitive distinction between CAR, DET, OAK and the Bears and Vikings other than last season.

 

 

You're right, I shouldn't have said it was definitively tougher. I believe it was however. KC is a juggernaut...like the 2011 Packers. But none of those other teams scare you. The Bears...that's a scary team. This may be the most talented defense they've ever had. I realize that's a big statement for a Bears team, but they've got the best defense anyone's had in a decade at least IMO. People focus on Mack and Jackson, but they've Hicks who I'd say is close to Clark in terms of impact, Goldman, Robertson-Harris. And Haha has been a perfect signing for them. With that pass rush, and those swarming LB'ers? I've love Trevathan, much less Smith, a LB'er with CB speed.

 

The Lions are a division rival...and it looks like a Pats coordinator is finally working, but they don't have a ton of talent. They'll be tough to run the ball against, but we should win that game. Carolina is a average team, the Raiders are not a very good team. So it's really two games on the road vs VERY talented teams and 3 games vs teams who we could lose to, but we really shouldn't. Other than Denver, I think the 4 other teams we've played are better than those three teams.

 

But we could certainly lose. Again, I expected a 4-5 type start to the season. Now it looks like it should pretty safely be 7-3.

[HiAndTight]

Packers may not be at their best in all facets, but who is? Cowboys looked complete after 3 games, then lost two. Rams are not amazing anymore. Etc. NFL is week to week, and so dependent on injuries. No team is consistently great in every area. Pats? Who knows. They get out of their lousy division this week and play the Skins, lol.

 

Rodgers is clearly not in his prime. I think the WRs are better than we think, Rodgers is missing them more than in the past, or not even seeing them. But the passing game can improve. If they had a new coach, scheme, WRs, etc. 7 or 8 years ago Rodgers would have made it work in week 1. He can't do that anymore, it's going to take time.

 

 

I don't know if Rodgers has actually declined physically or if he's just playing a different style. There was one play when he had a clean pocket and he bailed out. Bulaga was running Lawrence out of the play and Rodgers had I think it was MVS open on a post and he bailed out and scrambled. It was late in the 3rd IIRC.

 

It's so obvious that Rodgers hasn't lost any arm talent and he's still plenty mobile. That back shoulder throw he made on family night to Kumerow shows what he can do. I just don't think he trusts the WR'ers. Tonyan SHOULD be a matchup nightmare but it just feels like Rodgers is locking in on guys. And that's not something he's done in his career.

 

I think it's a combination of him not wanting to take a hit and miss several weeks AND him not having this offense down like he has in the past where he just knows where guys will be. It's gonna take a full year for him to get this offense down, but he should have it down enough by the last half of the season to be able to start getting back to the type of offense we have come to expect.

 

I'm definitely a Rodgers over Favre guy, and I think there were teams that Favre had that would have been much better with Rodgers, but if Favre had this group of skill players, I think they'd be producing at a higher level. Rodgers is not the type of QB who just "makes it work," with skill players unless he absolutely has to. Like at the end of the Cards Wild Card game a few years ago.

 

 

Maybe I'm wrong and Rodgers has regressed...he's clearly not putting enough under some of those deep balls. He's got this NBA sized WR'ing Core. He has to start trusting them. Of course, as soon Tonyan does make a big play, he's out the rest of the game. They need to scrap the "get the ball to Graham," emphasis and the Lewis screen game and try and get Tonyan more involved, try to get MVS more involved early on. And definitely start working Shepard more. That guy has just an innate feel for setting up that double move or for getting open.

[nodakfan17]

With 4 TDs in a single game, Aaron Jones matches Al Bundy’s career high. Though, to be fair, Jones did not have to go through Marion ‘Spare Tire’ Dixon.

 

"Lets Rock"

Do you think Jones wears #33 to honor Bundy?

 

Honestly, some of the offensive ‘struggles’ (can you even call it that after scoring 34 points?) are probably due to 1) playing in a totally new offensive system and 2) barely playing together in the preseason.

 

Also, I’m OK with Rodgers’ conservative play as he enters his late 30s. The Packers are 4-0 in games where they’ve won the turnover battle. They have an above average defense and a punter who can net them 50 yards. Taking care of the ball is underrated.

[Zad Fnark]

If we win I’d guess the story line will be more about how much the Cowboys are “pretenders” than it is about us being “contenders”.

 

You called that one. ESPN headline:

 

With second straight loss, how good are the Cowboys?

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Like I said before though, that's a fair narrative. The Cowboys have two wins against the 0-9 Redskins and Dolphins and a third against the Giants. They lost a 12-10 game to the Brees-less Saints and went down 31-3 to the Packers. There's no reason to think that team is good.

 

I'd be more impressed if the Packers played a complete game against Detroit. To this point, they're a better team and have competed tightly with good ones. Fair to say GB should beat Detroit at home, but not a game where they can just show up and coast.