Heatherthepackgirl
Cheesehead
On Oct. 14, after the Green Bay Packers had defeated the Washington Redskins to improve their record to 5-1, Fox Sports game analyst Troy Aikman, from his vantage point in the Lambeau Field press box, was not convinced Green Bay was for real.
He said he didn't know how good the Packers were and he said the Packers didn't know how good the Packers were.
But after Green Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, Aikman took the occasion to update television viewers about his opinion about the Packers.
His doubts, whatever they were, have evaporated.
"This team is legitimate," Aikman said
"You just look at this Packers team and what they have been able to accomplish," Aikman said. "Beating Washington and then last week, regardless of whatever kind of team Denver is, winning that on Monday night at Denver, that's hard to do. Now to come here, this is not an easy place to play either."
Fox studio analyst Jimmy Johnson, who criticized the Packers for not killing the clock at the end of the first half which led to a touchdown by Kansas City, was handing out some atta-boys by the game's conclusion.
"Every single week, everybody says they are pretty good . . . but," Johnson said, referring to the Packers. "Mike McCarthy, second-year head coach, my coach of the year. The guy is 9-3 on the road since he has been in Green Bay. He rebuilt the defense. Because Brett Favre is playing under control, even though he had some interceptions today. He is doing an outstanding job. Without a running game, they are now maybe the best team in the NFC."
Before the game, Johnson was marveling at the effectiveness of the Green Bay passing game this season.
"They have the highest percentage of the offensive plays as passes, higher than even the pass-happy Detroit Lions," Johnson said. "You look at Brett Favre. He has adjusted his game. To his credit now, he doesn't force the ball in there. He's really not the riverboat gambler that he has been in past years and given them all kind of problems. This year he's got the highest completion percentage he's had and a lower number of interceptions he has had his entire career."
When a team is 7-1, observers spend more time talking about the beauty marks and ignore the blemishes.
Aikman saw plenty of Packers beauty during the telecast of the game he called with Joe Buck. A few examples:
• "I'll tell you what, I think Donald Driver does not get near enough respect for what he does as a receiver," Aikman said. "Time after time, Brett Favre will lead him and some of these other receivers into some pretty dangerous areas. Yet Donald Driver always goes after the ball. He always catches it. He always takes a big hit. He has been a good player for this organization."
• "I remember going back to when I was playing with the Cowboys. (Al Harris)was playing nickel corner for the Philadelphia Eagles then," Aikman said. "I thought probably he should have been one of those starters. I always thought he was a terrific player."
• "Green Bay likes to run a lot of those kinds of routes," Aikman said. "For whatever reason, defenses just have not given the respect to Donald Lee that he rightfully deserves based on how he has played this year."
• "There was a lot made last week about Brett Favre's arm strength," Aikman said. "I'm not sure where that came from. I mean Brett Favre is going to be 55 years old and he is going to have enough arm strength to play in the National Football League. That is going to be the last thing that ever leaves him. So why anybody would ever question whether or not Brett Favre has enough arm to play in the NFL is unbelievable to me."
• "This wide receiving corps that looked to be maybe one of the weak spots for this offense coming into this season, has really matured over the last couple of weeks," Aikman said.
But the Hall of Fame quarterback turned broadcaster was not handing out praise to Green Bay at the end of the first half, when Favre attempted a pass on third down, had his arm hit by tackle Alfonso Boone and threw an interception.
"Green Bay (was) not willing to just run the clock out or punt, trying to pick up a first down, which in all likelihood they would not have been able to get into field goal position," Aikman said. "And a poor throw by Brett Favre. All of a sudden now you're looking at Kansas City, which hasn't done much offensively, coming into the first half with a one-point lead."
Fox studio analyst Howie Long put the blame for the Patrick Surtain interception on Favre and blamed the second one on the Packers' coaching staff, which made a "poor decision," by not running the clock out with a six-point lead on the road.
On ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," Steve Young handed out his "energizer bunny" award for a quarterback in the first half of the season to Favre.
"Everyone thought (Favre had) diminished skills, no arm strength anymore," Young said. "You know what? The only thing he was missing was a team. He's got all of his skills and all of his wits."
He said he didn't know how good the Packers were and he said the Packers didn't know how good the Packers were.
But after Green Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, Aikman took the occasion to update television viewers about his opinion about the Packers.
His doubts, whatever they were, have evaporated.
"This team is legitimate," Aikman said
"You just look at this Packers team and what they have been able to accomplish," Aikman said. "Beating Washington and then last week, regardless of whatever kind of team Denver is, winning that on Monday night at Denver, that's hard to do. Now to come here, this is not an easy place to play either."
Fox studio analyst Jimmy Johnson, who criticized the Packers for not killing the clock at the end of the first half which led to a touchdown by Kansas City, was handing out some atta-boys by the game's conclusion.
"Every single week, everybody says they are pretty good . . . but," Johnson said, referring to the Packers. "Mike McCarthy, second-year head coach, my coach of the year. The guy is 9-3 on the road since he has been in Green Bay. He rebuilt the defense. Because Brett Favre is playing under control, even though he had some interceptions today. He is doing an outstanding job. Without a running game, they are now maybe the best team in the NFC."
Before the game, Johnson was marveling at the effectiveness of the Green Bay passing game this season.
"They have the highest percentage of the offensive plays as passes, higher than even the pass-happy Detroit Lions," Johnson said. "You look at Brett Favre. He has adjusted his game. To his credit now, he doesn't force the ball in there. He's really not the riverboat gambler that he has been in past years and given them all kind of problems. This year he's got the highest completion percentage he's had and a lower number of interceptions he has had his entire career."
When a team is 7-1, observers spend more time talking about the beauty marks and ignore the blemishes.
Aikman saw plenty of Packers beauty during the telecast of the game he called with Joe Buck. A few examples:
• "I'll tell you what, I think Donald Driver does not get near enough respect for what he does as a receiver," Aikman said. "Time after time, Brett Favre will lead him and some of these other receivers into some pretty dangerous areas. Yet Donald Driver always goes after the ball. He always catches it. He always takes a big hit. He has been a good player for this organization."
• "I remember going back to when I was playing with the Cowboys. (Al Harris)was playing nickel corner for the Philadelphia Eagles then," Aikman said. "I thought probably he should have been one of those starters. I always thought he was a terrific player."
• "Green Bay likes to run a lot of those kinds of routes," Aikman said. "For whatever reason, defenses just have not given the respect to Donald Lee that he rightfully deserves based on how he has played this year."
• "There was a lot made last week about Brett Favre's arm strength," Aikman said. "I'm not sure where that came from. I mean Brett Favre is going to be 55 years old and he is going to have enough arm strength to play in the National Football League. That is going to be the last thing that ever leaves him. So why anybody would ever question whether or not Brett Favre has enough arm to play in the NFL is unbelievable to me."
• "This wide receiving corps that looked to be maybe one of the weak spots for this offense coming into this season, has really matured over the last couple of weeks," Aikman said.
But the Hall of Fame quarterback turned broadcaster was not handing out praise to Green Bay at the end of the first half, when Favre attempted a pass on third down, had his arm hit by tackle Alfonso Boone and threw an interception.
"Green Bay (was) not willing to just run the clock out or punt, trying to pick up a first down, which in all likelihood they would not have been able to get into field goal position," Aikman said. "And a poor throw by Brett Favre. All of a sudden now you're looking at Kansas City, which hasn't done much offensively, coming into the first half with a one-point lead."
Fox studio analyst Howie Long put the blame for the Patrick Surtain interception on Favre and blamed the second one on the Packers' coaching staff, which made a "poor decision," by not running the clock out with a six-point lead on the road.
On ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," Steve Young handed out his "energizer bunny" award for a quarterback in the first half of the season to Favre.
"Everyone thought (Favre had) diminished skills, no arm strength anymore," Young said. "You know what? The only thing he was missing was a team. He's got all of his skills and all of his wits."