Giants vs Packers Preview

Giants vs. Packers Preview

Giants Travel to Lambeau

The New York football Giants travel to Lambeau Field this week, in a rematch of a game played in week 2 of the season. Although the Giants travel to Lambeau on a "hot streak" after knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys on the road. The Packers will look to exploit the loss of Cornerback Aaron Ross who suffered a dislocated right shoulder in the second quarter of Sunday's game at Dallas. He tried to return, but missed the majority of the second half. Ross told the New York Times that he believes he'll be healthy enough to play in next week's NFC championship game at Green Bay, even if Ross is able to play he will likely be leaving a large cushion for the Packers receivers.
Providing the Packers receivers with a cushion Ross will invite Favre to throw slants all night. Check back later for a Giants Packers video preview.

Seahawks vs. Packers Recap

Packers vs Seahawks - NFC Divisional Playoffs - 01/12/08

Seahawks-Packers Matchup

NFL Gameday Seahawks vs Packers Discussion

Seattle Kicker Wearing Hot Pants???

I guess Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson are done vacationing, which led to a pretty slow news day in the NFL. As we head into the second round of the NFL playoffs the nations sports reporters have displayed their investigative reporting skills, leaving no stone or pair of pants unturned. On this remarkbly slow news day we get an enthralling story about the Seahawks kicker Josh Brown and his magical heated pants. According to the Seattle Times: Seahawks kicker Josh Brown says he'll wear heated warm-up pants in the freezing weather at Saturday's playoff game in Green Bay. Brown says he has equipped his pants with battery-powered heaters for the calves, thighs and hamstrings. Brown told KIRO Radio that no matter how low the temperature drops his legs will be 75 degrees. Brown says kickers, who spend most of the game on the sideline, have to work harder to stay loose in cold weather.


I know Josh Brown may feel a bit out of his element in Green Bay, not being able to order his venti skim caramel macchiato with no whip but extra sugar or a skinny cinnamon dolce latte and all, but come on now heated pants? I don't want to question the testicular fortitude of a NFL player but the weather report for Green Bay isn't terrible. The temperature in Green Bay will be a balmy 28 degrees on Saturday, I wonder what Mason Crosby be wearing? Maybe he will borrow one of Brett Favre's or Al Harris's hawaiian shirts. Maybe he went out and bought some magical heating pants, or a maybe a #1 Bears Fan t-shirt? I thought the under armor craze was bad enough, I hope to god this heated pants concept doesn't catch on.


Even if Josh Brown does end up wearing his magical underpants it doesn't look like Green Bay will be allowing the Seahawks to get into field goal range let alone the red zone. Shaun Alexander ran out of gas a few weeks ago, Deion Branch is nursing a injured right calf, and Matt Hasselback will be facing the best corner back combo in the league. Meanwhile the Packer come in firing on all cylinders equipped with a new and improved balanced offense and staunch defense. Kickoff is at 4:30PM on Saturday be sure to tune in and check out Josh Brown in his hot pants! The Packers will be playing the Seahawks too.

Vote for Favre and McCarthy

Brett Favre and Mike McCarthy are finalists for some season ending awards. Brett Favre is a finalist for the Fed-Ex Air player of the year. Favre was voted the Fed-Ex Air player of the week five weeks this year. Favre completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 4,155 yards and threw 28 touchdown passes. In 2007, Favre passed John Elway (148) for the most wins by a quarterback with 160, passed Dan Marino (420) for most career touchdown passes with 442 and also eclipsed Marino's all-time career passing yards mark with 61,655. His 82-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings against Denver was the second-longest overtime touchdown in NFL history. Favre was nominated for six FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week awards in 2007, winning five times.

Vote for Favre here: http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=players-air-and-ground

Mike McCarthy is Motorola Coach of the Year after leading the Packers to a 13-3 season and the NFC North Title. A year after finishing 8-8 McCarthy fielded the youngest team in the league and tied the Packer team record for wins in a season. McCarthy, who calls the plays on offense, watched QB Brett Favre have a resurgent season and an offense that came in second in total yards per game (370.7), total passing yards (270.9), and fourth in total points scored (450). To protect Favre, McCarthy employed the league’s only offensive line that used five of their own draft choices as starters. On defense, the Packers were tied for sixth in points allowed (291) and interceptions (19). Green Bay is young and talented on defense, with only two starters in their 30s. On special teams, the Packers relied on the foot of rookie kicker Mason Crosby, who had three field goals of at least 50 yards. McCarthy was nominated for two Motorola NFL Coach of the Week awards, winning twice.

Vote for McCarthy Here: http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=coaches

Packers 2008 Opponets

In case you missed it the NFL announced the teams the Green Bay Packers will be playing in the 2008 season. At first glance the Packers appear to have a very difficult schedule next year, as they face off against six teams that made the playoffs this year. Two NFC and AFC powerhouses will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers, the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts. The Packers will be on the road against Jacksonville, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee. The Packers had a strong schedule this year playing against the NFC East, but they will face a larger challenge when they take on the AFC South next season.

Games within the NFC North will continue to be live up to the slugfests of the past. Adrian Peterson and the Vikings will surely challenge the Packers for the NFC North championship in the 2008 season. Adrian Peterson and Tavaris Jackson will make the Viking one of the most exciting teams to watch in the 2008 season. Although the Vikings will be exciting to watch they will be no match for the 2008 Packers, even in Favre decides to retire.

Here is the list of teams the Packers will play in 2008:

Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

The official 2008 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.

NFL Kickoff 2008 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 4, and the regular season will conclude on December 28.

Wild Card Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, January 3-4; Divisional Playoff games on the weekend of January 10-11; and the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 18.

Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida will be played on Sunday, February 1.

Packers Place Coston On I.R.

Well the bye week isn't going to help Junius Coston recover from an injury to his calf suffered in last week's win against the Detroit Lions. The loss of Coston for the rest of the season is a serious set back to the Green Bay offensive line. Although Coston is only in his third year with Packers, and has only started seven games this season, the loss of Coston this late in the season is a devastating blow. The offensive line is a frequently overlooked aspect of every football team, nevertheless they are the most critical unit on every team. Without a solid offensive line you will be unable to stop the pass rush or get a good push to open holes for running backs. Offensive lineman Daryn Colledge will take Coston's position at left guard. Junius Coston and Colledge had been competing in practice and rotating during games since the Dallas contest, but after the injury suffered against Detroit Coston will be out for the remainder of the season.

With a pocket passer like Brett Favre the loss of an offensive lineman this late in the season may upset the chemistry which the team has struggled to develop all season. The Packers signed Orrin Thompson from the practice squad to fill the open roster spot created by Coston going on the IR.

Daryn Colledge will have large shoes to fill as the team which Green Bay faces off against next week in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. Whichever team is unfortunate enough to travel to Lambeau will seek to exploit the addition of Colledge to the line. There is no doubt the opposing defensive coordinator will single out Colledge, attacking him with stunts and blitzes that will no doubt lead to sacks.

We are entering a new era in the NFL where offensive linemen are becoming more respected and valued, (look no further than Steve Hutchinson's $49 Million Dollar Contract) as people now realize that skill players are useless if the pocket collapses before the quarterback has the opportunity to take a three step drop, or hand the ball off. The free agency market will see another unprecedented contract as Alan Faneca of the Steelers will test of the waters. Hopefully the loss of Junius Coston will be offset by Brett Favre's experience.

McCarthy Runner-Up For AP Coach Of The Year

Mike McCarthy was named the runner up for coach of the year yesterday. I don't feel that McCarthy was entitled to the award, however, the vote should have been much closer.

Did everyone forget about Belichick's adept coaching in the first game of the 2007 season?

How can you give a coach who was caught cheating the award for coach of the year? Are we condoning cheating in the NFL??? What are we saying by giving Bill Belichick this award??? Regardless of "Spygate", Belichick did lead the Patriots to a 16-0 record, but does going 16-0 mean you should get the award automatically? This award is for the best coach not the best record! McCarthy has been able to harness the strengths and abilities of the youngest team in the NFL, and lead them to a 13-3 season after going just 8-8 last year. Although the 2007 Patriots most likely will go down as the best team in the history of the NFL, the Patriots did not make as large an improvement from last year when compared to the Packers.

The 2006 Belichick led Patriots went 12-4 in 2006 improving to 16-0 this year. Before the 2007 season even started the Patriots were being picked to win the Superbowl. What were the experts saying about Green Bay, third or possibly forth in the NFC North. McCarthy should be recognized for his ability to bring a team which was mediocre in the 2006 season to an elite team in 2007. The Patriots were already an elite team, this award should be recognizing coaches who improve their team significantly from the previous year, not maintain their elite status. McCarthy was deserving of more votes by the AP voters, they should not worship at the altar of Canton or their sports almanacs and vote him the coach of the year because his team went 16-0, his team only won 4 more games than last year! Granted Belichick helped his team win four more games this year their were other coaches in the NFL which improved their teams more with a smaller arsenal.