March 2009 - Green Bay Packers Wiretap

RealGM's Week 12 Rundown

Jul 29, 2014 12:06 AM

The Colts remained undefeated with a thrilling comeback win over the Texans on Sunday at Reliant Stadium. We will calculate each team's Trench Counter*. Green Bay 34, Detroit 12 Team Trench Counter: Packers +14.6, Lions -14.6 The Green Bay Packers (7-4) picked apart the Detroit Lions (2-9) on Thursday afternoon. Aaron Rodgers went 28-for-39 with 348 yards and three touchdowns, with strikes going to Donald Driver (seven receptions for 142 yards), James Jones (four grabs for 35 yards) and Donald Lee (four catches for 22 yards). Ryan Grant had more than 100 total yards and Green Bay?s defense got in on the fun as well with Charles Woodson returning an interception 38 yards for a score on the fourth quarter. Matt Stafford battled through a shoulder injury to tally 213 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions. Stafford didn?t get much help on the ground as Kevin Smith had just 43 yards on 18 carries in the loss. Dennis Northcutt led the team in receiving with two catches for 51 yards and Calvin Johnson was held to just two receptions for 10 yards and a touchdown. Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in the first quarter. Dallas 24, Oakland 7 Team Trench Counter: Cowboys +22.1, Raiders -22.1 The Dallas Cowboys (8-3) increased their lead in the NFC East with a dismantling of the Oakland Raiders (3-8) at Cowboys Stadium. Tony Romo threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while Felix Jones (68 yards and a score), Tashard Choice (67 yards) and Marion Barber (61 yards) dominated on the ground. Miles Austin exploded for seven catches, 145 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Jason Witten grabbed five balls for 107 yards. Bruce Gradkowski was solid, but Oakland?s defense simply couldn?t stop Dallas. The quarterback, starting over JaMarcus Russell, went 18-for-35 with 200 yards and a touchdown. Justin Fargas was the Raiders? leading rushing, gaining 63 yards on 12 attempts in the loss. Tight end Zach Miller was Oakland?s leading receiver with five catches for 73 yards. Defensive end Trevor Scott sacked Romo twice. Denver 26, N.Y. Giants 6 Team Trench Counter: Broncos +13.4, Giants -13.4 The Denver Broncos (7-4) got a much-needed win against the reeling New York Giants (6-5) on Thanksgiving night. Kyle Orton went 18-for-28 with 245 yards, a touchdown and an interception as Denver turned to their ground game. Rookie Knowshon Moreno and veteran Correll Buckhalter combined to rush for 139 yards and a score on 39 carries. Matt Prater kicked four field goals and Brandon Marshall led the Broncos in receiving with six catches for 86 yards. Denver?s defense recorded three sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. Eli Manning was just mediocre, going 24-for-40 with 230 yards, an interception and a fumble. Brandon Jacobs (27 yards on 11 touches) and Danny Ware (four carries for 27 yards and a fumble) were held in check by Denver?s defense. Steve Smith led New York in receiving with seven catches for 71 yards and Mario Manningham added four grabs for 66 yards in the loss, the team?s fifth in six games. Seattle 27, St. Louis 17 Team Trench Counter: Seahawks -3.6, Rams +3.6 Justin Forsett led the Seattle Seahawks (4-7) to a win over the St. Louis Rams (1-10) on Sunday afternoon. Matt Hasselbeck went 14-for-25 with 102 yards in the victory, while Forsett tallied 130 yards and two touchdowns at Edward James Stadium. In addition to Seattle?s offense, cornerback Josh Wilson returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Kyle Boller, starting in place of the injured Marc Bulger, had 282 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Steven Jackson joined the party, rushing 23 times for 89 yards and a score. Ruvell Martin led St. Louis in receiving with two catches for 60 yards, while Donnie Avery grabbed four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia 27, Washington 24 Team Trench Counter: Eagles +5.6, Redskins -5.6 The Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) stormed back to defeat the Washington Redskins (3-8) at Lincoln Financial Field. Donovan McNabb went 21-for-35 with 260 yards, one touchdown and an interception. LeSean McCoy (76 yards) and Leonard Weaver (44 yards) helped the Eagles have success on the ground. DeSean Jackson had two catches for 41 yards and a score before leaving with a head/neck injury in the third quarter. Jason Campbell had 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rock Cartwright, starting at running back with Ladell Betts and Clinton Portis hurt, had just 38 yards on 15 attempts. Tight end Fred Davis (43 yards) and Santana Moss (28 yards) were on the receiving end of Campbell?s touchdown strikes. N.Y. Jets 17, Carolina 6 Team Trench Counter: Jets +16.6, Panthers -16.6 Mark Sanchez led the conservative offensive attack of the New York Jets (5-6) as they defeated the Carolina Panthers (4-7) on Sunday. Sanchez went 13-for-17 with 154 yards and an interception, while Thomas Jones (75 yards and a score) and Shonn Greene (36) ran well on the ground. Tight end Dustin Keller led the Jets in receiving with four catches for 68 yards. Jake Delhomme struggled yet again, throwing four interceptions to go along with just 130 yards. New York limited Carolina?s ground game, holding DeAngelo Williams (40 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (35 yards) in check. Tight end Dante Rosario led his team in receiving, grabbing four receptions for 62 yards. Indianapolis 35, Houston 27 Team Trench Counter: Colts +13.2, Texans -13.2 The Indianapolis Colts (11-0) scored 21 points in the fourth quarter as they shocked the Houston Texans (5-6) to remain undefeated. Peyton Manning went 27-for-35 with 244 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Joseph Addai had 69 yards on the ground and Chad Simpson rushed for a 23-yard score in the final period. Clint Sessions? interception return for a score in the fourth gave the Colts a lead they wouldn?t relinquish. Matt Schaub started hot, but struggled in the second half going 31-for-42 with 284 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Steve Slaton (57 yards) and Chris Brown (56 yards and a touchdown) produced well on the ground for the Texans, who jumped out to a 17-0 lead. Kevin Walter had seven receptions for 73 yards and Andre Johnson added five catches for 67 yards in the loss. Cincinnati 16, Cleveland 7 Team Trench Counter: Bengals +5.1, Browns -5.1 The Cincinnati Bengals (8-3) finished perfect in the AFC North with a win over the Cleveland Browns (1-10) on Sunday. Carson Palmer went 13-for-24 with 110 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals employed a conservative offense. Larry Johnson excelled with 107 yards in the win, which featured three field goals. Brady Quinn was erratic throwing the ball, going 15-for-34 with 100 yards. Quinn rushed for 10 yards and a score and even caught an 18-yard in the loss. Jamal Lewis rushed for 40 yards on 11 touches at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns have lost six straight games. Buffalo 31, Miami 14 Team Trench Counter: Bills +16.4, Dolphins -16.4 The Buffalo Bills (4-7) scored 24 points in the fourth quarter as they defeated the Miami Dolphins (5-6) at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Ryan Fitzpatrick went 17-for-26 with 246 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Fred Jackson rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns and Fitzpatrick scrambled seven times for 50 yards and a score. Terrell Owens had another strong effort, grabbing five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Chad Henne tossed three interceptions as he went 17-for-31 with 175 yards and a touchdown. His scoring strike went to Brian Hartline, while Ricky Williams ran 27 times for 115 yards and a touchdown in the damaging loss. Atlanta 20, Tampa Bay 17 Team Trench Counter: Falcons +0.1, Buccaneers -0.1 Chris Redman led the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) on a late scoring drive to record a dramatic win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-10) on Sunday. After Matt Ryan left early with a foot injury, Redman went 23-for-41 with 243 yards and two touchdowns as Atlanta?s running game was stifled for a majority of the game. Michael Turner (33 yards on 12 carries prior to an injury) and Jerious Norwood (22 yards) were limited by Tampa Bay?s defense. Josh Freeman threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Buccaneers to a 17-13 lead entering the fourth quarter. Cadillac Williams (10 attempts for 30 yards) and Derrick Ward (13 touches for 29 yards) struggled just like their counterparts at the Georgia Dome. San Francisco 20, Jacksonville 3 Team Trench Counter: 49ers +0.8, Jaguars -0.8 The San Francisco 49ers (5-6) scored 14 points in the second quarter as they knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) at Candlestick Park. Alex Smith had 232 yards and two touchdowns and Frank Gore tallied 47 total yards and a score. Tight end Vernon Davis, who is having a career-season, caught six passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. David Garrard went 25-for-36 with 307 yards, while Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 75 yards on 15 carries. Jacksonville had more than 350 total yards of offense, but two fumbles by Garrard stalled the team?s drives. Garrard was sacked six times in the loss, which hurt Jacksonville?s postseason chances. San Diego 43, Kansas City 14 Team Trench Counter: Chargers +17.5, Chiefs -17.5 The San Diego Chargers (8-3) scored 21 points in the second quarter as they raced to their sixth straight win against the hapless Kansas City Chiefs (3-8). Philip Rivers threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed 13 times for 39 yards and two scores of his own. Antonio Gates led San Diego in receiving, catching seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The Chargers? defense joined the fun as well. Paul Oliver returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and they notched a safety in the fourth. Matt Cassel went 19-for-31 with 178 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Jamaal Charles rushed 14 times for 93 yards and a score, while Cassel scrambled six times for 22 yards. Chris Chambers continues to enjoy a resurgence in Kansas City. He caught a team-high seven passes for 70 yards and a score in the loss. Tennessee 20, Arizona 17 Team Trench Counter: Titans +8.5, Cardinals -8.5 Vince Young led the Tennessee Titans (5-6) on a dramatic final drive to stun the Arizona Cardinals (7-4) at LP Field. Young threw for a career-high 387 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Kenny Britt on a 10-yard reception as time expired to push the Titans to their fifth-straight victory. Chris Johnson excelled once again, rushing 18 times for 154 yards and a score. Matt Leinart, starting in place of the injured Kurt Warner, went 21-for-31 with 220 yards. Tim Hightower (55 yards and a touchdown) and Chris ?Beanie? Wells (20 yards) weren?t overly productive, which didn?t help Leinart?s cause. Arizona got some help on special teams, with LaRod Stephens-Howling returning a kick 99 yards in the third quarter. Minnesota 36, Chicago 10 Team Trench Counter: Vikings +20.3, Bears -20.3 The Minnesota Vikings (10-1) exploded for 24 points in the second quarter in their route of the Chicago Bears (4-7) on Sunday. Brett Favre went 32-for-48 with 392 yards and three touchdowns, coming close to just the second 400-yard game of his career. Adrian Peterson, who fumbled twice, ran for 85 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Percy Harvin did it all, rushing for 45 yards and catching six passes for 101 yards and a score. Jay Cutler struggled yet again, going 18-for-23 with 147 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. With a limited passing game, Matt Forte had just 27 yards on eight runs. Tight end Greg Olsen led Chicago in receiving with seven catches for 45 yards, while Johnny Knox caught Cutler?s best thrown ball on a 24-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. *Explaining The Trench Counter

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Game Recap

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Woodson Donates $2M To Children's Hospital

Sep 24, 2014 11:52 PM

Charles Woodson donated $2 million to the new University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital. The school announced Woodson's gift on Thanksgiving before he played for the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions. Woodson's money will support pediatric research by The Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund in the $754-million, 1.1-million square foot hospital slated to open in 2012.

NFL.com

Tags: Green Bay Packers

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Packers Lose Harris, Kampman For Season

Sep 24, 2014 11:53 PM

The Packers have lost cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman for the remainder of the season. Both defenders will have season-ending knee surgery. The pair were taken to the locker room on separate plays in the second half of Green Bay's win over San Francisco on Sunday.

ESPN

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Injury

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Risdon's $.10 For Week 10

Nov 7, 2014 8:45 PM

$.01--For all the statements made on Sunday, and there were quite a few, the biggest one to me was the Packers emphatic victory over the Cowboys. Green Bay had surrendered 76 points and 13 sacks in their past two games, but they completely dominated the heretofore surging Cowboys. The Packers defense turned up the pressure, sacking Tony Romo five times and consistently getting great pressure. Green Bay created turnovers and had none of their own, and allowed just an after-the-fact TD in their 17-7 triumph. The Packers were in very real peril of having their playoff aspirations snuffed out after two humbling losses, but with this win they killed two birds with one stone. Not only did they vault themselves back into playoff relevance, they also earned a tiebreaker with Dallas, which could wind up fighting for the same Wild Card spot. Charles Woodson played a game reminiscent of his Michigan days versus Ohio State, forcing two fumbles while bagging a sack and providing blanketing physical coverage. $.02--San Diego also made a big statement, beating up the Eagles to pull to a 1st place tie in the AFC West with the faltering Broncos. LaDanian Tomlinson turned back the clock a little, showing much better burst and more ability to finish his runs with power. But the most impressive thing for San Diego is their performance in the red zone at both ends. The Chargers defense held Philly to three David Akers field goals when the Eagles had 1st and goal on three drives, while the offense went a perfect 5-for-5 with four TDs and a field goal in their red zone visits. That had been a recurring issue during the Bolts? early season struggles, and with those woes apparently remedied, San Diego is now looking like the team I thought they?d be when I forecast a 14-2 record. This victory sets up a winner-take-all AFC West matchup in Denver next Sunday, though even with a loss the Chargers schedule sets up very nicely for a near-certain playoff berth. $.03--Another statement was made by the downtrodden teams. Tampa Bay valiantly fought against Miami, losing on a last-second FG. St. Louis gave the undefeated Saints all they could handle, with Steven Jackson strapping the team on his wide shoulders and the Rams defense doing a relatively good job slowing down Drew Brees & Co. and having a shot at the win. Washington, losers of five of their last six, upended the Broncos thanks to a strange fake field goal and hard running by backup RB Ladell Betts. Tennessee annihilated Buffalo behind Chris Johnson and another solid game-manager performance from Vince Young, winning their third in a row while sending the Bills to a finger-pointing cellar. Even the Lions played reasonably well in their loss to Minnesota, keeping the game within reach most of the day despite having six defensive starters leave the game due to injuries. All season we?ve been talking about the stark dichotomy between the haves and have-nots, but for one weekend anyways, the gap closed considerably. Nobody is happier for that than the bookmakers, who have taken a beating this year thanks to predictable lopsided slaughterings. $.04--The Thursday night affair was an unmitigated disaster for the Bears, and there are plenty of fingers to point. I think one finger that isn?t getting enough wagging is the lack of veteran mentorship and leadership on the Chicago offense. This team is screaming for a savvy veteran backup QB, someone to serve as a sounding board and support system for Jay Cutler, similar to what Jon Kitna has done for Tony Romo. Cutler is not a great leader, and far too often he spends his sideline time either brooding alone or joking around with teammates, not focusing on how he could get better. He badly needs someone to push his buttons and keep his head right, showing him where he could improve. It?s an extra imperative when the head coach is focused almost completely on his defense and the offensive coordinator isn?t a great teacher. But it?s even more pronounced at wide receiver, where the Bears feature converted CB Devin Hester and two guys (Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett) with zero career catches entering the season. This group runs terrible routes and freelances too often, as well as failing to run hard all the time and being abysmal blockers. With no veteran to show them the ropes or tell them why they?re not getting open or how to plant and cut with sound footwork, there has been no visible improvement throughout the season. By comparison, look at the wonders Torry Holt has done in Jacksonville with Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas, two greenhorn wideouts that have become significantly better as the season progresses. Chicago screams out for a player like Holt or Amani Toomer or Laveraneus Coles, a beyond-his-prime vet that can still function as a secondary weapon but can also teach the young talent how to play in the NFL. All three of those guys were affordable free agents last summer, and the Bears are paying the price for not stepping to the table. $.05--Highlight of the day goes to Arizona safety Adrian Wilson for his impressive game-sealing INT of Matt Hasselbeck?s shovel pass near the goal line. It was a bit of a broken play, and Wilson correctly picked up on Hasselbeck?s intentions. His diving snare sealed the win and all but sealed the NFC West for the Cardinals, who now hold a two-game lead with a rediscovered running attack. Kurt Warner shook off a sluggish start, and the offensive line that helped Beanie Wells run so well also kept Warner?s uniform spotless. When that happens and the opportunistic, aggressive defense led by Wilson are playing well, this Arizona team is as good as any in the NFC. Gut-check comeback wins like this one have been few and far between for this franchise, and in winning five of their last six the Cardinals have announced their presence with authority. $.06--5 quickies: 1. There were audible screams at Buffalo Wild Wings when Mo Jones-Drew took a knee at the one instead of scoring the winning TD against the Jets. How big is fantasy football? I counted at least 15 patrons with laptops, constantly checking their fantasy teams, and the guy next to me at the bar borrowed my Droid phone three times to check his team. 2. After watching Bruce Gradkowski inject some life and potency to the Oakland offense, there is no valid reason why Coach Cable should reinsert JaMarcus Russell at QB. Gradkowski?s INTs were not his fault, though it?s hard to blame the Oakland wideouts for being surprised that the pass was actually where they wanted it. 3. I never thought I?d say this, but the Bengals were clearly the more physical team in their battle with the Steelers. It was an ugly game with no offensive TDs and many crushing hits and forced mistakes, i.e. Pittsburgh Steelers football. But once again the Bengals did it better. Trust me folks, they are not a fluke. 4. Matt Stafford won over a lot of Lions fans with his toughness and never-say-die spirit despite taking a major beating in the loss to Minnesota. In 54 dropbacks, Stafford got hit on 34 of them. He kept his chin up and never lost his poise, continuing to sling good throws despite the constant pounding. His leadership and tenacity scored major points in the locker room and the message boards, not to mention the Vikings locker room. 5. Brian Westbrook?s second concussion in three weeks is a real cause for concern. The Eagles have LeSean McCoy to fill in, and the rookie is proving capable, but he?s not the dynamic playmaker that Westbrook is. The greater concern is for Westbrook?s health, which has been an ongoing concern for years. $.07--The New England-Indianapolis game developed into an instant classic, with the Colts coming from behind for an amazingly improbable victory. The Indianapolis defense held tough despite being ravaged by injuries, and with Peyton Manning in charge they are never out of a game. His masterful performance changed my (non-existent) MVP vote, and Manning is having his best year ever, one of the greatest years by any pro athlete ever. If nothing else, Peyton put an end to all the asinine ?quienes mas macho?? debates with Tom Brady. Still, this was just one game in the standings, and if/when they meet again in January, this outcome will mean next to nothing. The sooner the talking heads realize this, the better off we?ll all be. There will be very little difference between the #1 seed and the #6 seed in the AFC playoffs this year. Of course no other team has a Peyton Manning... $.08-- Non-football thought of the week--I must have struck a chord with my whining about the ability to smoke in public places in Michigan, as I received several emails of empathetic disbelief from all over the country. My fair state is in a state of economic catastrophe, yet for thousands of us who revile secondhand smoke, we?re discouraged from spending money in restaurants and bars. I loathe coming home smelling like I just spent three hours inside a burning building, the food tastes worse, and my eyes take a day or two to recover from the haze. Michigan needs to step into the modern era and do what so many other states have done: ban smoking in all public places. For you Michigan smokers who protest, consider this: your health insurance costs will decrease, and you just might get a hook-up with a non-smoker that you never would have had before. $.09--6 college quickies: 1. Georgia Tech is the quietest 10-1 team ever. Consider that if Texas and Cincinnati each lose (which could happen), the Yellow Jackets might be playing for the national title despite almost zero national media coverage. They should beat Clemson for the ACC title and will not be an easy BCS opponent with their throwback offense and disciplined, talent-laden defense. 2. This USC team is the epitome of what happens when you recruit nothing but blue-chip athletes. They sorely lack anyone for whom football didn?t come easy, early. Those type of players are great when it?s going well, but tend to stumble badly when really tested--just as these Trojans have all year. 3. Much is being made of Charlie Weis having the same winning percentage as the ingloriously deposed Bob Davie and Ty Willingham at Notre Dame. What that says to me is that the coach really doesn?t matter anymore at Notre Dame; the program is simply no longer a national power, and not even Knute Rockne rising from the grave is going to change that. It?s an academically restrictive, low-enrollment school in an impoverished small city with poor weather, and the national reputation and NFL pipeline have both withered to insignificance. That is not just Charlie Weis? fault. 4. Maybe I?m just a bitter Lions fan, but if Matt Millen would have put half the acumen he shows as a college analyst into his drafting duties, the Detroit Lions would be a perennial playoff team and not the perennial doormat. 5. Daniel Passafiume of Hanover College caught 25 passes on Saturday, breaking an NCAA record held by Jerry Rice. I don?t know how impressive the feat is, considering he netted just 153 yards on those 25 catches, though he did score twice. Hanover lost the D-III game 42-28 to Franklin College, another Indiana school that happens to be where I lived from 1984-86. I?m writing this proudly wearing a Franklin College hat. Go Grizzlies! 6. TCU answered any lingering questions about their BCS legitimacy by walloping a very good Utah team 55-28. This is the same Utah team that spanked Georgia in a BCS bowl last year. The Horned Frogs? improved offense this year makes them the best non-BCS conference team of the BCS era...and that still isn?t good enough to earn a berth in the national title game. $.10: Scouting Report--Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. 6?6?, 284 pounds, 4.7ish 40. Positives: Tremendous size/speed/strength package and he?s comfortable with his body. Great base strength to hold at the point of attack, rarely gets moved backwards. Outstanding quickness for his size, consistently dictates the action by forcing the blocker to react to his movement. Good at using his hands and arms to shed blocks. Maintains excellent pad level and consistently gets strong leverage. Good tackler, wraps strong and keeps his head up. Shows good awareness and quick reaction to screens and cutbacks. Has a polished barrage of pass rush moves, can go inside or outside with speed or power. Fast in pursuit with decent closing speed, and he does a good job of staying in control while chasing. Good balance, great knees and feet to stay with plays even when blocked. Good football IQ. Solid locker room leader. Father was Craig ?Ironhead? Heyward, former NFL running back, and stepfather played at Wisconsin, so he?s been brought up around the game a la Larry Fitzgerald. Negatives: Strictly a 3-4 DE in the NFL; lacks burst around the edge and speed to play DE, too upright and not bulky enough to play full-time DT in 4-3 fronts. Can be too eager to just tie up blockers and let his mates make the plays--makes him a great teammate but could cause disappointment if drafted high (think Chris Long). Will get caught in the interior trash when the runner or QB bounces outside. Has had some issues with shorter, fireplug-type guards against the run. Has been surrounded by loads of talent that is often quite superior to the offense they are facing, has not been asked to do a lot by himself; that doesn?t mean he can?t, it means he hasn?t done it yet. NFL Comparison: A taller, quicker Tyson Jackson from last year?s draft, or a lighter Richard Seymour. Forecast: Just a junior, Heyward has continued to improve and impress scouts with his playmaking knack and rare physical attributes. Not as fast or explosive as the elite edge rushers, but much like Tyson Jackson last year, Heyward?s all-around play elevates his stock. He?s more highly regarded by scouts than most media pundits at this point, but that will change. Surefire 1st rounder, probably in the 10-20 overall range.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers

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RealGM's Week 10 Rundown

Sep 26, 2014 7:19 PM

The Saints just got past the Rams to remain undefeated through Week 10. We will calculate each team's Trench Counter*. San Francisco 10, Chicago 6 Team Trench Counter: 49ers +7.5, Bears -7.5 Jay Cutler threw five interceptions as the San Francisco 49ers (4-5) defeated the Chicago Bears (4-5) on Thursday night. Alex Smith went 16-for-23 with 118 and an interception, but Frank Gore excelled with 104 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Rookie Michael Crabtree led the 49ers in receiving with four receptions for 48 yards in the victory. Cutler, who went 29-for-52, added 307 yards to his five turnovers. San Francisco held Matt Forte to 41 yards on 20 carries, but he led Chicago in receiving with eight receptions for 120 yards at Candlestick Park. Cutler, who the Bears acquired from the Broncos this offseason, now has more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (14). Washington 27, Denver 17 Team Trench Counter: Redskins +13.2, Broncos -13.2 The Washington Redskins (3-6) won for just the first time in five games as they downed the struggling Denver Broncos (6-3) at FedEx Field. Jason Campbell went 17-for-26 with 193 yards and a touchdown, while punter Hunter Smith completed a 35-yard scoring strike to Mike Sellers in the second quarter. With Clinton Portis sidelined by a concussion, Ladell Betts totaled 114 yards and a touchdown in the win. Kyle Orton, who posted 193 yards and two touchdowns, injured his ankle and missed the second half. Both of Orton?s scoring strikes went to Brandon Marshall, who hauled in five catches for 134 yards on Sunday. Denver rookie Knowshon Moreno had 97 yards on 18 carries. Washington scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to record a come-from-behind victory. Tennessee 41, Buffalo 17 Team Trench Counter: Titans +10.3, Bills -10.3 Vince Young is now 3-0 as the starter of the Tennessee Titans (3-6) after a thrashing of the Buffalo Bills (3-6). Young went 17-for-35 with 210 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Chris Johnson continued his torrid pace with 132 yards and two scores on 26 carries. Johnson, who surpassed the 1,000-yard mark against Buffalo, added nine catches for 100 yards in the win. Trent Edwards went 18-for-28 with 185 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while running back Fred Jackson completed a 27-yard scoring strike to Lee Evans in the first quarter. Terrell Owens led Buffalo in receiving with three catches for 85 yards, while Evans recorded four receptions for 50 yards and two scores. New Orleans 28, St. Louis 23 Team Trench Counter: Saints -2.8, Rams +2.8 The New Orleans Saints (9-0) narrowly edged past the St. Louis Rams (1-8) on Sunday afternoon to remain perfect. Drew Brees went 18-for-26 with 223 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Reggie Bush had 98 total yards and two scores, while Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell combined for 67 rushing yards on 19 carries. Devery Henderson led New Orleans in receiving with four catches for 72 yards. Marc Bulger had 298 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss. Steven Jackson posted 131 yards and a score on 26 carries, while wide receiver Brandon Gibson led St. Louis in receiving with seven catches for 93 yards. The Rams had lost seven straight games prior to their Nov. 1 win over the Lions. Cincinnati 18, Pittsburgh 12 Team Trench Counter: Bengals -3.8, Steelers +3.8 The Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) continued to impress with their second win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) this season. Carson Palmer went 18-for-30 with 178 yards in a game that featured eight field goals. Cedric Benson went down with a hip injury early on, but Cincinnati kept motoring on. The Bengals outscored the Steelers 12-3 in the second half. Ben Roethlisberger went 20-for-40 with 174 yards and an interception at Heinz Field. Cincinnati kept Pittsburgh?s rushing attack in check, limiting Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore and Willie Parker to just 64 combined rushing yards. Santonio Holmes led the Steelers in receiving with seven grabs for 88 yards. Jacksonville 24, N.Y. Jets 22 Team Trench Counter: Jaguars +6.3, Jets -6.3 Josh Scobee drilled a 21-yard field goal as time expired to give the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) a win over the struggling New York Jets (4-5). David Garrard had 221 yards and a touchdown and Maurice Jones-Drew tallied 123 yards and a score at Giants Stadium. Jones-Drew broke an important run late in the game, downing himself short of the end zone to ensure that the Jets wouldn?t have time to come back from a last-second field goal. Mark Sanchez had 212 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss; New York?s fifth in six games. Thomas Jones continued his strong play, tallying 77 yards and a score on 21 rushing attempts. Braylon Edwards (three catches for 79 yards) and Jerricho Cotchery (six grabs for 68 yards and a score) were Sanchez?s top targets. Minnesota 27, Detroit 10 Team Trench Counter: Vikings +7.8, Lions -7.8 The Minnesota Vikings (8-1) jumped out to an early lead and never really looked back against the Detroit Lions (1-8) on Sunday. Brett Favre went 20-for-29 with 344 yards and a touchdown, while Adrian Peterson exploded for 133 yards and two scores in the victory. Peterson also lost two fumbles, including one on a possible touchdown scamper. Sidney Rice led the Vikings in receiving with seven grabs for an amazing 201 yards. Matt Stafford was respectable, going 29-for-51 with 224 yards and a touchdown. He was forced to throw the ball often as Detroit fell behind in the second quarter. Kevin Smith was limited by Minnesota?s tough rushing defense, posting 55 yards on 12 touches. Calvin Johnson, eight catches for 84 yards, was Detroit?s leading pass-catcher. Miami 25, Tampa Bay 23 Team Trench Counter: Dolphins +9.6, Buccaneers -9.6 Dan Carpenter hit a 23-yard field goal with just a few ticks remaining to give the Miami Dolphins (4-5) a dramatic win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8). Chad Henne had 175 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Ricky Williams (102 yards) continued his resurgent play. Ronnie Brown injured his right ankle after recording 82 yards and a score in the victory. The Buccaneers took a 23-22 lead on a 1-yard run by Cadillac Williams with less than two minutes left in regulation. Williams finished with 52 yards in the loss, while rookie quarterback Josh Freeman had 196 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 16-for-28 passing. Tight end Kellen Winslow led with seven catches for 102 yards. Carolina 28, Atlanta 19 Team Trench Counter: Panthers +5.1, Falcons -5.1 The Carolina Panthers (4-5) kept themselves in the playoff picture with an impressive win over the Atlanta Falcons (5-4). Jake Delhomme went 15-for-24 with 195 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to Steve Smith (four catches for 34 yards). DeAngelo Williams (92 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (82 yards and two scores) helped Carolina control the ground game and the clock. Matt Ryan continued to struggle, posting 224 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Michael Turner burned Carolina for 111 yards on just nine touches, but left the game in the first half with an injured ankle. Jason Snelling came on in relief and had 61 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Roddy White led Atlanta in receiving with seven grabs for 98 yards. The Falcons have lost three of their last four games. Kansas City 16, Oakland 10 Team Trench Counter: Chiefs +5.9, Raiders -5.9 The Oakland Raiders (2-7) benched JaMarcus Russell midway through a game for the second time this season as they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs (2-7). Matt Cassel went 19-for-34 with 216 yards and an interception, but Jamaal Charles paced the Chiefs with 103 yards and a touchdown at the Oakland Coliseum. Dwayne Bowe was Cassel?s top target, grabbing six catches for 91 yards. The Raiders lead 7-0 after a 1-yard run by Justin Fargas, but Russell went just 9-for-24 with 67 yards. Bruce Gradkowski, who replaced Russell, had 46 yards and two interceptions in limited work. Michael Bush had 119 yards on 14 carries as the only real offensive star for Oakland. San Diego 31, Philadelphia 23 Team Trench Counter: Chargers +10.2, Eagles -10.2 The San Diego Chargers (6-3) used a balanced attack to down the Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) at Qualcomm Stadium. Philip Rivers went 20-for-25 with 231 yards and two touchdowns, while LaDainian Tomlinson tallied 96 yards and two scores in the victory. Antonio Gates led San Diego in receiving with seven catches for 78 yards, but Legedu Naanee (three catches for 42 yards) and Mike Tolbert (two grabs for 25 yards) were on the receiving end of Rivers? touchdown passes. Donovan McNabb had 450 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 35-for-55 passing in the loss. Brian Westbrook, in his first action back from a concussion, left early and totaled just 28 yards on six carries. Philadelphia had just 29 rushing yards to go along with McNabb?s impressive passing total. Jason Avant was his top target, grabbing eight receptions for 156 yards on Sunday afternoon. Green Bay 17, Dallas 7 Team Trench Counter: Packers +3.1, Cowboys -3.1 The Green Bay Packers (5-4) got a much-needed victory over the Dallas Cowboys (6-3) in the very tight NFC. Aaron Rodgers had 189 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 15 yards and another score at Lambeau Field. Ryan Grant added 79 rushing yards and Rodgers spread the ball around to ten different receivers. Green Bay?s defense kept Dallas off the scoreboard for more than 59 minutes with five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Tony Romo, who will have to cut his hair, had 251 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Roy Williams was his top target, tallying 105 yards and a score on five receptions. Green Bay limited Dallas to just 61 rushing yards, with Marion Barber rushing five times for 26 yards in the loss. Arizona 31, Seattle 20 Team Trench Counter: Cardinals 0, Seahawks 0 The Arizona Cardinals (6-3) scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to soar past the Seattle Seahawks (3-6) on Sunday afternoon. Kurt Warner had 340 yards and two touchdowns, while Chris ?Beanie? Wells excelled with 85 yards and two scores, in the victory. Anquan Boldin, hobbled and disgruntled, led Arizona in receiving with eight catches for 105 yards. Matt Hasselbeck had 315 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Seattle led the game 20-17 a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Justin Forsett led the Seahawks in rushing with 123 yards and a touchdown, while T.J. Houshmandzadeh led in receiving with nine receptions for 165 yards in the loss. Indianapolis 35, New England 34 Team Trench Counter: Colts +4.9, Patriots -4.9 The Indianapolis Colts (9-0) are still undefeated after a shocking win over the New England Patriots (6-3) on Sunday night. Peyton Manning threw for 327 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, including the game-winning score on a one-yard pass to Reggie Wayne with 13 seconds remaining. The Colts got the ball back in the final minutes after stopping the Patriots on fourth-and-2 deep in their own territory. Tom Brady had 375 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, but couldn't find a receiver past the first down marker on the critical fourth-down play. Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney combined to rush for 110 yards and a score, while Randy Moss exploded for nine receptions, 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns. After the game, coach Bill Belichick said he felt the Patriots could get the yards they needed for a game-clinching first down in the final moments. *Explaining The Trench Counter

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Game Recap

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Kampman: Packers Didn't Know About Concussion

May 17, 2014 3:11 AM

Packers linebacker Aaron Kampman says that the team wasn't aware that he played most of Sunday's game with a concussion. He took a hit to the head in the first quarter, but played into the fourth period before he told coaches that he wasn't OK. "They didn't know what was going on," Kampman said Wednesday. "They need to be completely absolved. And I didn't really know what was going on. Sometimes you just play. You keep playing. And you don't really know what's going on. But it got to a point where I was having some symptoms where I knew I was probably going to jeopardize the team, so I knew to come out." Kampman had "a couple" concussions in his rookie year and possibly another one in his second season.

ESPN

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Injury

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Packers President 'Disappointed' With Start

Sep 25, 2014 12:03 AM

Packers president Mark Murphy isn't happy with the team's 4-4 start to the season. "Yeah, I do," Murphy told the Press Gazette when asked if he felt Green Bay could turn things around. "I've seen enough football and been involved in the NFL long enough that I can see it happening, sure. But obviously I'm disappointed about where we are. The number one goal as an organization every year is to win, but obviously we've got half the season left, and it's really premature to do an evaluation. At the end the season, I'll sit down and see how we performed." Murphy added that he'll evaluate general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy at the end of the season. "You really need to wait until the whole season is completed. I've seen it both ways. Teams get off to great starts and collapse, or struggle early and play well at the end. But obviously I'm disappointed in where we are now, especially the loss to Tampa, very disappointing to everybody, but we'll see how we respond."

Press Gazette

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor

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Play About Lombardi's Life Headed To Broadway

Feb 14, 2014 10:17 AM

The life of Vince Lombardi will be the subject of a new Broadway play. "It's 40 years since he last coached and that's part of the reason we're doing this," Eric Simonson, who is adapting the play from "When Pride Still Mattered," David Maraniss's 1999 biography of Lombardi, told the New York Times. "His name is on the Super Bowl trophy. But who is the guy? There's something about his character that reflects America." The producers' plans to stage "Lombardi" will be announced Monday.

New York Times

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor

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Three Packers Fined $5K For Actions Against Vikings

Nov 5, 2014 4:40 PM

The NFL has fined three Packers $5,000 each for their actions against the Vikings last Sunday. Johnny Jolly, Al Harris and rookie B.J. Raji received the penalties. Defensive tackle Jolly was fined Friday for unnecessary roughness for head-butting Minnesota's Chester Taylor. Cornerback Harris was fined for unnecessary roughness for grabbing a helmet to make a tackle. Defensive tackle Raji was fined for a major facemask violation. "Not very smart," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "We had them stopped. Personal fouls in that situation and the way it happened, from my understanding, it's unacceptable, to extend the drive like that, and it cost us four points."

Pioneer Press

Tags: Green Bay Packers, Misc Rumor

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1st Rounder Raji Playing More Vital Role For Green Bay

Sep 25, 2014 12:03 AM

B.J. Raji, the ninth overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, has begun to make legitimate contributions to the Green Bay defense. ?Yeah, and now I?m really starting to understand the defense,? Raji said on Thursday. ?I?ve been more spectating and watching and learning than playing. So now, I?m getting my chance, and hopefully, I take advantage of it.? ?He needs as many reps as he can get,? Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ?I think he?s picked it up, as far as his performance level, coming to camp late, had an injury. I had a chance to watch him in the one-on-ones and watch him more (Thursday) than I normally do. He?s getting better.?

Green Bay Press Gazette

Tags: Green Bay Packers

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Rodgers Has Sprain On Each Foot
Aaron Rodgers will be dealing with a pair of foot injuries against Tampa Bay.

ESPN

Risdon's $.10 For Week 8
The Giants in trouble, Favre's return to Green Bay, a finally emerging Vernon Davis, the winless Bucs and more.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

RealGM's Week 8 Rundown
Brett Favre threw four touchdowns for the Vikings against his former team, the Packers, at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Packers Fans Welcome Favre With Boos
Fans at Lambeau Field welcomed Brett Favre with a chorus of boos on Sunday afternoon.

ESPN