Packers bend (a lot), but don't break against Saints

The Packers defense stood stout when 
they most needed to. (via LA Times)

20%.

That's the only stat that matters from last night's action. Not the fact that the Saints owned the Packers D in-between the 20s, or New Orleans' ability to convert 64% of their third downs, or even Drew Brees' 419 yards passing.

I repeat: 20%.

It's the percent of times the Saints were able to score a touchdown after making it inside the Packers' 20.

The Packers defense, on their heels for much of the game, nonetheless found their resolve at just the right moments. There was Walden's third-down sack that held the Saints to a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. There was the pressure put on Brees that forced an incompletion on 4th and 1. And, of course, there was the way the game ended.

The last drive was a perfect testament to how the Packers defense played the entire game. After allowing Brees and Co. to march 77 yards down the field in only 1:03, the Packers made a goal-line stand for the ages, stone-walling rookie back Mark Ingram on a run from the 1-yard line with no time left on the clock.


The Packers sure as heck did a lot of bending. But more importantly, they didn't break, holding on for a wild 42-34 victory to open up the 2011 season.

Ongoing thoughts on Packers vs Saints

I think I'm supposed to say something about how this is not a substitute for play-by-play....so, this is not a substitute for play-by-play.


1st Quarter
Randall Cobb with a nice little run back on the opening kick-off...C'mon Aaron, you gotta get rid of the ball when they're showing the blitz that badly...Rodgers is money on third down...Wow, I'll admit when I'm wrong: Driver looks spry...And there's your first touchdown of the 2011 season. Rodgers and Jennings have that back-shoulder pass down-pat. Unstoppable. Packers 7, Saints 0

Jon&Bob make some predictions about the 2011 Season

With the start of the 2011 season only days away, it's time for Jon&Bob to make some predictions. Clearly we're both expecting big things from the Pack, although one of brandishes gung ho brand of optimism, while the other subscribes to a more tempered variety. Enough chatter; check out our picks. And make sure to leave your's in the comment section!

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER AWARDS

Rodgers is easy to agree upon.

Culver's of Baxter Offensive Dynamo

Jon's Pick: Aaron Rodgers- A boring selection, yes, but I'm not picking against your 2011 NFL MVP.

Bob's Pick: Aaron Rodgers- Duh.

ChuckClay Award for Impact Player on Defense

Jon's Pick: Nick Collins- Not many non-Packer fans know that Collins has been to 4 straight Pro Bowls. By the end of this season, he'll be a household name across the league, and will finally earn the respect normally reserved for Troy Polomalu and Ed Reed.

Bob's Pick: Tramon Williams- Down the stretch last year, a star was born.  Williams will build on his breakout performance in the playoffs and continue his meteoric rise to one of the game's elite corners.

The dust has settled...let's take a look

Teddy's a little frazzled after his busy weekend.

Following the madness associated with Cutdown Weekend, the Packers 2011 roster appears to be solidified- at least for the time being. No doubt it will change as we progress through the season, with the inevitability of injuries and other areas of weakness that may need to be addressed.

What follows is my rather random assessment of how things went down this past Saturday and Sunday-- and how the Packers are situated on the cusp of the 2011 season.

Bob's Final 53 and Thoughts on Jarrett Bush, Super Bowl Hero

It's that time of year again. Teams are breaking camp, roster "bubble" players are looking forward to showing their stuff in the final game of the preseason, and the kickoff to the regular season is just around the corner. So are teams' final roster cuts, which will reduce the total NFL labor force by almost 35% (anyone else see the irony of this happening over Labor Day Weekend?).

Naturally, you're wondering which players are good enough to crack our beloved World Champion Packers' 53 man roster. The following is my best guess as to who Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are ready to roll with in 2011 on the way to Green Bay's second straight Super Bowl victory.

(Note: A * next to a player's name indicates that he is an absolute, stone-cold lock for the roster in my eyes. If one of these players are cut, I would be shocked.)

QBs (3)
Aaron Rodgers*
Matt Flynn*
Graham Harrell*

This was the easy part. Flynn is a top backup QB entering the final year of his rookie contract and his clipboard-holding days are numbered. Harrell has made leaps and bounds from his first year on the practice squad to now. Green Bay can't leave him there this season and risk losing him too. And yeah. It's safe to say the reigning Super Bowl MVP's roster spot is safe.

Taking stock after Indy

Well, not all of us could attend the Packers game in Indianapolis (I'm looking at you, Bob). In fact, some of us actually worked during the contest and only were able to catch the first quarter during our meal break. So no fourth quarter excitement for us (me).

Nonetheless, I've still been able to piece together a pretty solid secondary grasp of what transpired Friday night, so I figured I'd throw together some hodge-podge analysis. I mean, come on, when have I ever let a loose grasp of the facts stand in the way of me spouting off my opinions?

Chiming in on the Pack's 2011 Schedule

Well, the NFL released the 2011 schedule and the pundits have been quick to offer their thoughts, so here are mine:

(For reference, click here for the Packers' schedule)

• I'm fine opening up against the Saints. Some people are griping that it should've been the Pack and the Bears, the NFL's oldest rivalry, but I see why the schedulemakers avoided that match-up: the Bears just aren't going to be very good in 2011. 9-7, at best.
• I don't understand how we have to play AT Atlanta AGAIN. I realize the playoff game shouldn't be factored in, but even still, that's two times in a row. Why?
• We play the Vikings TWICE in less than a month. And factor in the bye week in there, and they're our opponents two out of three weeks during that stretch. Astoundingly stupid.
•  November 6 in San Diego could be the last time the Packers play in 50+ degrees weather all year.
• Vikings, Buccaneers, @Lions...all within 11 days. November 14-November 24 could make or break this season.
• That being said, I'm not complaining. The Packers on Thanksgiving is totally worth it.
• NFL football on New Years day...not sure how I feel about that. I suppose it's inevitable that there'd be some clash with College Bowl Season but making fans choose between the Pack and potentially the Badgers just doesn't seem right.