Why do people keep crowning the vikings as the champs? The only crown they have the odds of winning are the division and thats it. They have to win 2 more games or the Pack loses 2 more. After that its team against team, you win you move on. All the stats and standings mean nothing once the ball is kicked.
The GREEN BAY PACKERS are a completely different team since they last played the vikings. Just look at the O-Line. Barbre was starting right tackle (not Tauscher), Spitz played guard/center (not Wells), Colledge at left tackle and Lang was barely in the picture just starting to play. Clifton was already injury prone at that time. What a mess, I am surprised we were able to accomplish anything on offense.
MM and A-rod call and play the game differently now. The 7 step drops have finally ended and have learned to play within the abilities of the O-line and expand as the O-line has gotten better. A-rod has a better internal clock and pocket presence. At this point we might be able to take a 7 step drop once in awhile, could not early in the season.
Another fact that we will have once he gets into football shape is A. Green. A veteran running back who can run that screen play like no-one else. I think they tried to bring him in too fast and are being smart with him. His playing time will increase the closer we get to the playoffs. He is older, but will have fresh legs.
J. Finnely, enough said
On the defensive side of the ball we were still making the transformation. Barnett was still not at 100%, Hawk had not bought into the system or the coaches had not bought into Hawk, Mathews has improved to be the Defensive player of the Week, the answer to the Kampman experiment has been answered, and Raji was barely playing with a hurt leg. We had injury plagued safety position that had TT grabbing every available body trying to fill that position, remember the Woodson comments after the game that shocked the Packer Nation. Now Collins and Bigby are healthy and the defense is clicking.
With these few minor, insignificant, and barely worth while to mention changes that have occurred to the Packers since first half of the season, people still believe the Pack is not worthy a opponent. IMO the Pack has just as good a chance as anybody else at this point. We finish strong, 12-4 oh ya.