Maybe it's just Sunday Night Football but Minnesota looks almost as bad tonight as they did two weeks ago against Arizona. This isn't even a marginally good team tonight that's man-handling them.

NT

the OL looks horrible thus favre can't do jack and AP ain't running either

the defense was never an issue with this team , jake the sanke was burying them early in the year , not so much now

Carolina is a very capable team that put it together tonight. Its the NFL...it happens. When its this late in the season, winning has as much to do with soundness as it does talent.

The NFC is ridiculous. How can one have faith in any team? I still like this Minny team better than the rest of the contenders.

In the AFC, the chargers are rolling and looking like the class. However, there is no way a Norv turner coached team makes it to the superbowl.

Farve is going to be plenty sore today, probably having Julius Peppers nightmares right about now.

Damn! Minny lost to Carolina!?!?! Minny is sure heading in the right direction right now :rolleyes:

if you're a minny fan what has to concern you is not favre and ap - it's the ol and dl - they have been manhandeled by the cardinals and panthers on the last 2 nfc games

all of a sudden they can't run the ball and they can't stop the run not a winning formula, favre isn't capale of carrying any team on his back he needs the ol to open up the holes and force defenses to put 8 in the box

Manhandled? Can't stop the run? Did you watch either game? Arizona ran the ball SEVEN TIMES the ENTIRE GAME. Carolina ran the ball at a clip of 3.1 yards per carry. Thats hardly getting manhandled. Even against Zona, Warner averaged 6 yards per pass attempt and that offense is as lethal as any in the NFL.

Both games were on Sunday night where the dog has a history of being extremely dangerous especially at home. Believe it or not, teams lose football games. It happens.

The question is whether or not this is a pattern. Against Cincinatti, the sandwich game, they were extremely effective. Cincy runs better than either Carolina or Zona.

For the record, Im NOT a Viking fan nor do I have any real confidence in them. I think they are a solid squad but if they are beaten by any of the teams currently eligible for the NFC postseason, I would not be shocked. At least, not nearly as shocked as I was watching Dallas beat up the Saints on Saturday.

Favre certainly exceeded my expectations this year but the signs of fatigue are starting to show just like last year. They really mismanaged him this year, no way he should have thrown 46 times against San Fran, 50 times against Pittsburgh, 48 times against Chicago (in a game that was 24-7 at the half), or 45 times against Arizona. Those were all mistakes, plain and simple, and they will pay for it down the stretch by having a tired QB. Peterson should have got a few more carries in all those games and Chester Taylor should have got a lot more carries in them.

I agree. Its like they became so in love with this passing game that they forgot about simply pounding it behind that line.

A win next week would do wonders as far as securing the bye and resting the last week.

And seeing as how you are being so gracious, I will concede that despite Sunday's showing, Green Bay's defense looks a lot different than it did at the beginning of the year.

Dom Capers is a miracle worker. How that defense is #2 in yards allowed is beyond me. My big miss on Green Bay (aside from underestimating Minnesota) was not realizing how bad their offensive line was at protecting Rodgers. Not all of it is their fault though as Rodgers does do a terrible job of getting rid of the ball quickly.

That really hasn't been the case the last 6 weeks

They are a much better team. Lets face it, they could go on a run just like any of the other NFC teams. If the playoffs were starting today, they would be on the road in Zona. Is that unreasonable that they would beat Zona? I wouldnt bet that they would beat zona, minny AND New Orleans but stranger things have happened.

Believe it or not, I'd rather play Philly than AZ. Their big weakness now with Al Harris out is teams that play 3 wide outs and make the Packers play in the nickel. Their offense can play with anyone now, but the D is still vulnerable if Kurt Warner goes off like Rothleisberger did yesterday.

You can't deny what Capers has done with the D, especially identifying players strengths and putting them in positions to maximize them, but why he insisted on a 3 man rush that last drive I don't understand. If that had been Pitt on D, they would have brought the farm on that last play (s) and made him throw quickly.

I was referring more to the two Minnesota games which is where I lost my bet. They pull a split in those two games and don't lose in the last second yesterday and GB/Minn would be all tied with two games to go and all the momentum in favor of Green Bay. As it is Minnesota has already clinched.

I think GB matches up great with Arizona and the Saints. They just need someone to knock off Minnesota for them which doesn't look too unlikely at this point.

No arguement regarding the Minnesota games, or the ramifications of that loss at GB and the f'in Tampa Bay disaster.

Looks like you got something right

Looks like a got a lot right in this thread Wiphan ;)

As far as the Packers, they are playing stellar football and I don't see any reason why they can't go back to AZ and repeat Sunday's performance.

Cheers!

Defense wound up #2 in the NFL. Capers is a miracle worker.

soft schedule sniper they are not that good

lol...gimme a break Marty. They are as good as anyone not named San Diego in the NFL right now. Have you even watched them play outside of the Monday night loss to Minny?