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Pastimes : Green Bay Packers -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Annette who wrote (631)	9/21/1999 2:33:00 PM
From: SE	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1150

Wags by Len Wagner Tuesday, September 21, 1999 So, do you still think the Packers are Super Bowl contenders? That was going to be my lead to this column. I decided on it minutes after the Pack stumbled to that sorry 23-15 loss at Detroit Sunday. Ah, but then I heard about the Raiders beating Minnesota and -- quickly recalling that the Vikings visit Lambeau Field this Sunday -- I decided to hold off on that lead. After all, Detroit in first place in the NFC Central? C'mon, how long can that last? Consider the Lions' schedule to date: They beat Seattle and I have long been convinced that not even Mike Holmgren can make Seattle a major threat this year. And they beat the Packers -- in the Silverdome, which can't even be considered an upset since the Pack has lost there six of the last seven years. For whatever reason. So, my new lead to this column is: Pure and simple, the Packers need to beat Minnesota this week. Yes, they do. They can't afford another division loss this early in the season. In fact, they can't afford another loss this early in the season. Especially to the Vikings. Especially in Lambeau. It seem silly to talk about a critical showdown at this stage of the season. But this one is just that. Can the Packers, as poorly as they have played for two straight weeks, actually conquer the Vikings? Certainly they can. But it's hardly a cinch. One reason is something Coach Ray Rhodes said after the Lions game that bothered me a whole lot: "You're scratching and clawing, trying to get back in the game and they make a play." He was referring to Terry Fair's 91-yard kickoff return right after the Packers had taken a 15-14 lead. But what struck me was the "THEY." They made a play. I'm sorry Coach, I don't like that philosophy at all. It isn't that they made a play, it's that the Packers didn't make a play. The game's momentum had turned, largely on the punt snap that turned into a safety for the Pack. That and a quick touchdown should have sent the Lions back to their cave and the Packers stomping around in front of the cave daring the Lions to peek out again. But the Packers screwed up. We saw lots of problems with opponents' returning kickoffs during the practice season. And on this occasion, Ryan Longwell (of whom I have previously complained about as a kick offer) had a perfect kick...not short, not too long, dropping in the corner, close to the goal line. Absolutely no reason for a big return. I'd like to examine the tape on that one. No, it wasn't that the Lions made the big plays in this game, as first glance would tell you. It's that the Packers didn't make even the simple plays when they had the opportunity. The fumbled snap between Winters and Favre comes quickly to mind. The poor pass by Favre on the Packers' last chance play. And a bunch of others. And no matter what the Packers or Favre say, I firmly believe the sore thumb affected Favre quite a bit. He didn't look like vintage Favre. Couple other quick thoughts: When Mark Chumura went out, what happened to the tight end passing offense? Louie Aguiar told us why he sat out the first week of the season watching games in a sports bar. Rhodes is now 0-17-1 in his last 18 road games.