Not once this game did I nearly break a vocal chord yelling "Go! Go! Go!" Not once did my heart race while I grabbed onto the sofa arm and silently begged Favre to throw a smart ball. Not once did I feel the need to help Driver gain that extra yard via my patented on-the-couch body English.
Granted, this had partially to do with me watching the game by myself this week, and being sober. But the real reason watching the game today felt so relaxing was because the win was a day on the beach. Again. I felt completely confident we'd win, easily, for maybe the first time all year, and then it happened exactly that way.
We heard a lot about 82 years and 44 days in the first quarter, and it was fun when they showed the poster that reminded Dick Vermeil that he is old and reminded us that he sort of looks 82. But then the sideshow ended and the football started. Let's re-live it, why don't we?
Smart Favre
You know what didn't happen today? Favre didn't throw a single stupid ball. Not a one. I can't think of the last time that happened. Sure, his yardage numbers weren't Fed/Ex Air Player of the Week caliber but his QB rating was through the roof, again, and he bagged 3 TDs. The Kid can play like a man on fire and today he reminded us he can do a controlled burn too. Come playoffs, we're gonna need him to do both. Once again, I genuflect in his general direction.
Good Ol' Grant
Before he got dinged up late in the game, Grant had another solid showing. He's not a star, but he's undeniably good. 4.5 yards a carry is good. And on this team, good is all we need to make for shorter third downs and super-effective play-action passes. I like how he grunts out extra yardage, I like how he seems both smart and fearless. The way he walked off the field and the low-key way he was talking with the medical staff on the sideline makes me think/hope he'll be okay for Thursday, though what do I know? Where was that dude Drew Whatsit with the sideline report when you really wanted it?
Donald
It was nice to see Driver carry a good share of the load today and offer up an exciting catch and a clutch-as-usual grab on the onside kick. This year The Smiley One has had to share the attention with Jennings and Jones, et. al, but you get the feeling like he couldn't give one poop about it. When Favre throws it to him, he catches it and always adds a few after the catch. What more can we want?
Blue Collar Genius
I've gotten down on McCarthy in the past, like most everyone. But this year Big Mike seems to have figured some stuff out. The play-calling has been great for quite a while now. I love the roll-out plays where Favre doubles back after juking the defense. I love how we've made a point to try out all kinds of WR formations. Even though it only netted like six, seven yards, I loved the play that went straight to Driver. It shows that Big Mike is creative, maybe as much so as Favre, and it reminded me of the reverses and flea-flickers that I used to live for as a young Packer fan in the Dickey/White era, but without all the mediocrity. If McCarthy doesn't win Coach of the Year, it'll be a crime.
Lovin' the Fun Run
How sweet were Tramon and Koren's big runbacks on special teams? How well-coached is the special teams crew in general? The only thing that would have made me enjoy the two plays more is if we'd gotten the normal 50 yard line perspective on the Williams runback, and if I had flipped back in time to see Koren's runback in in real time. Yup, my post-game bitching has come to this.
Secondarily
Actually, I can do better than that.
It would have been nice if Al Harris would have not flaked on that long pass to Drew Carter in the 4th quarter. I would like Atari to be about 20% saner, and Aaron Rouse 20% better. Watching the Patriots dominate again tonight, I try to picture our guys against Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and I get very nervous...but who doesn't? (It can't be an impossible task to contain Moss, can it? There's got to be some way to make Brady frazzled, isn't there?) Also, I have to call out Jarrett Bush. After Charles Woodson's INT, Woodson and Harris, I think it was, jumped up and bumped eachother sideways, shoulder to shoulder, which seems to be the thing with the DBs and receivers this year. But then Bush, you came in a little after the fact wanting in on the action and your timing was horrible. Your body glanced awkwardly against Woodson's. It was pretty half ass and I want to see better from you next week.
Fun with Dick and Baldy
Did you notice this? During the third quarter, Dick and Baldy were talking about how the struggling Panthers were looking for a silver lining to this game. Soon after, the camera pans to four GB fans, semi-buff fellas in their early twenties, shirtless, cheering for the camera. Just one of those random shots into the crowd. At this, Stockton says "There's the silver lining. Those four guys." Baldy had no follow-up comment, as I'm sure he had no idea how to respond to something that makes no sense. I like to think of it as a zen riddle that is not meant to be solved but puzzled over for a lifetime. Not to be outdone, Baldy ended the game by looking forward to the Cowboys/Packers game later this month and asking "Who will reign supremacy?"
More and more each game, I'm thinking the answer just could be us.
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