Breaking my self imposed rule on posting in season because I've heard it's over? Watching Sunday, while I could stomach it, it appeared the Packers needed a grief counselor more than points against the Vikings. I don't think I've ever felt more hollow watching any team anywhere anytime. Sports is intangibles to me. I feel the rhythms and emotions and this one felt so awful and different I couldn't watch it end to end.
So, is it over? I thought and said it was over after seeing what we did to "improve" the CB situation. Losing 12 just speeds up the despondency minus the regular disappointment that usually goes along with it as expectations are grossly reduced. We were already dead before the ball was kicked on this season.
This is the time we see what we've truly built here in Green Bay. The Rodgers is everything crowd vs. the, no, we're a great organization/team loaded with talent battle begins in earnest on Sunday. Ironically, I got into it with Ryan Wood on Twitter who muted me because he couldn't respond intelligently. Wood mocked a tweeter who claimed Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy needed to be accountable if our backup QB plan didn't work out. Wood, clearly in the Packers are great crowd and Rodgers is everything simultaneously, wanted to hedge and basically say without Rodgers it was over. How could that be if we're a rock solid org/team? Matt Cassel went 11-5 in NE after Brady was injured Week 1. How could Brett Hundley who has been groomed for 3 camps not be ready when he's been under Mike McCarthy who is a noted QB guru? How could Brett Hundley fail when Ted had a higher grade on him and was thrilled to trade up and get him in Round 5? How could Brett Hundley fail when he's had 3 years of Aaron Rodgers mentoring him? Matt Flynn did reasonably well. Why can't we be reasonably effective with Hundley unless the org has failed? And...the larger point...How are Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy not responsible if Hundley fails? It's not like this is the first time around the QB carousel. Our team imploded without 12 the last time he broke his collarbone so how could we not be better prepared for this this time around? I would submit all one has to do is look at the defense over the last several years for a potential answer? Oh, I hear INJURIES! INJURIES, man! 12 has preached NO EXCUSES this season. Our media and fanbase are rife with them.
Brett Hundley was the most exciting rookie I've seen in the last 10 years or more in preseason during his rookie campaign. I wanted him to play when Aaron was in his funk a couple of years ago. So, I'm a Hundley fan. What we saw on Sunday was a horror show but I think the last person on earth who thought Brett Hundley was going to play was Brett Hundley. He wasn't mentally ready in any way shape or form. This Sunday he will be. This could be another galvanizing moment for this team. I recall when Sterling Sharpe went down. Everyone thought we were done. Same with when Robert Brooks went out vs. SF. Those injuries made the team better. Now, those guys aren't Aaron Rodgers but same principle applies. The mental coasting each player taps into because they know they have 12 is gone. Each man now knows he has to give above what he's been giving. How much more do they have to offer? We'll see on Sunday.
As I look at the schedule, I see 2-3 games this team could/should win with Hundley at the helm prior to Week 15. Hundley goes 3-3 and we're at 7-5 or 6-6 with 4 to go. So, if you're really into the precious playoff streak continuing we might be able to do that but I never thought we were going far with our D with 12. The good news is if we do make the playoffs and Aaron is back plus have to play Dallas, it will be in Dallas which is more advantageous than playing in Green Bay. All predicated on a successful surgery which speeds up timeline of a potential return. It healed naturally, previously, and took 7 weeks. Throwing side changes things from what I read, but if it's not as bad as last time or even same severity why couldn't he be back Week 14 or 15?
You wanted the Lombardi back in Green Bay? Hardly going out on a limb by saying there's next to no chance of that and there never was this defense to begin with anyway. It will be fun to watch some of the young guys as the weeks roll on. Devante Mays will become a factor at some point, in my mind. Biegel and Montravious should be fun to monitor as well as Josh and Aaron Jones along with King.
If you care about the playoff streak?
“The reports of it's death are greatly exaggerated.”
Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."