Confessions of a Packers fan

So, I must apologize. Seems like this brain is on a single track right now. After the Riders gave me hope last week, I had the long-awaited return of Brett Favre to Lambeau Field to contend with. Mighty stuff, back-to-back weekends. Luckily, inventory at work was finished Saturday afternoon allowing complete enjoyment of the "church of the NFL" Sunday.

I was more than a smidgen taken aback by the booing of Favre as he joined the field pre-game. I dare say that it did please me though. There are many more Packers fans than Favre fans in Green Bay as evidenced by this display. And as many seem to forget, if the Packers organization treated Favre unfairly and with disrespect, he returned in twofold to all who bleed Green and Gold. As nice as the good folk of the midwestern club are, they were unpologetic in letting this *ahem* legend know what they thought of him willfully donning the colours of the reviled Minnesota Vikings.

Sadly, the Vikings went on to beat the Packers, which stung in no small way. Favre played great, and Aaron Rodgers, his replacement and long-term solution at QB for Green Bay - I still say he could end up a bigger legend in Packerland than Favre will be - played pretty well. His indecisiveness in the pocket was costly with, in my opinion, a minimum of four sacks attributed to him. Favre, meanwhile, suffered no such ills. Wiley veteran play, I guess.

I also blame some horrendous game-planning and play-calling by the Packers on both sides of the ball. This offense is a dink-and-dunk, YAC yards machine. Until the 3rd quarter, no such plan was imminent. If this had been the m.o. from the outset, I believe it would have been a different result.

After a scorching pre-season, and a 3rd ranked defensive showing to this point, where was Dom Caper's attacking philosophy on defense? When he cranked up the pressure on Favre, the defense got off the field and the ball in Rodgers' hands to continue the scoring surge in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Inexplicably, the dogs were called off, and the Vikes' were able to extend the lead for good. Brilliant, just brilliant.

I suppose I am therefore still on the fence as to the development of Rodgers in Favre's stead. He has faced two big games against the old QB and borne his fair share of the blame due to a distinct and worrisome inability to see, feel, sense the approaching pressure on the pocket. Still, the "Mr. Hyde" side of the club that has appeared against the hated rivals of Minnesota has contributed as well. In the end, this is a young quarterback, on the youngest team in the NFL, both of whom show signs of how great they can be. Clerly, they aren't there yet.

So, I hold to my pre-season beliefs that this team is capable of greatness, even now. My true prediction remains that they will be contenders and start making regular runs for Super Bowls in 2-5 years. As for how Mr. Rodgers can leap over Favre in Lambeau lore? Win a minimum of 2 Super Bowls. As gaudy as the stats are for Brett, he only got one Super Bowl in his Green Bay tenure. In Packerland, that's the most important stat of all.

Let the true runs start next year!