(Best E Casino) - If the
Green Bay Packers didn't have this past Sunday's meeting with the
Dallas Cowboys circled on their calendars at the beginning of the season, certainly the team's 2-0 start made the matchup highlight-worthy at that point.
Many questions surrounded Green Bay heading into the season due to the exit of Brett Favre and the club's decision to go with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. However, season-opening wins against Minnesota and Detroit had the Packers on the top of the NFC North and making a case to be considered one of the conference's top clubs.
That made this past Sunday's game versus Dallas a big one. After all, the Cowboys are considered by many to be one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. In addition, the Packers were looking to prove they were for real, as the two teams they had beaten so far are a combined 1-5 on the season.
There was also the need to defend their home turf. The Packers were 5-0 all-time versus the Cowboys at Lambeau Field heading into Sunday's matchup.
It wasn't meant to be, though, as the Packers fell by a 27-16 score.
"I definitely thought we had that going in the right direction. But the reality is that it's the third game of the season," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. "It was a big game. It's a great measuring stick for our football team. And I'll tell you exactly what I told them. The Dallas Cowboys are further ahead than we are right now. That's the facts and that's Week 3. How far ahead, time will answer that question."
There was some positives to take out of the loss. For starters, Rodgers continued his impressive start to the season, throwing for 290 yards and rushing for his second touchdown of the season.
Although the Green Bay defense allowed 217 yards on the ground, the unit did hold star Cowboy receiver Terrell Owens to just two catches for 17 yards.
The loss did show that the Packers still have some ways to go, but the fact is there is no reason the club can't capture its second straight NFC North title. None of the other three teams in the division seem to be on Green Bay's level right now.
In addition to a road test versus Seattle in Week 6, Green Bay's next big measuring-stick game comes the following week with a home test versus the Indianapolis Colts on October 19.
Then the Packers can see just how far they have come.
NOTES: Green Bay was outgained, 217-84, by the Cowboys in rushing yards...The Packers are still 10-2 in their last 12 home games...Safety Nick Collins' 61- yard interception return was the longest of his career...Defensive end Aaron Kampman posted the 10th multi-sack game of his career after getting credited with 1 1/2 takedowns...Wide receiver Greg Jennings had a career-high eight catches on Sunday night.
INJURIES: Though McCarthy said on Monday that corner Al Harris was having tests done, published reports say that the veteran has a ruptured spleen and may be out for the season. Running back Kregg Lumpkin strained a hamstring, while Collins suffered a low back contusion. In addition to a knee sprain, wideout James Jones also hurt his wrist on Sunday.
WEEK 4: The Packers head to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs this Sunday. The teams have alternated wins in each of the last seven meetings, with Tampa taking the most recent matchup.
LIONS: HEADING INTO BREAK CONFUSED
The Detroit Lions can't seem to pinpoint what is going wrong so far this year. That is probably because the club is doing little right at this point.
The Lions are 0-3 for the second time in three seasons and can't seem to click on either side of the ball. Following Sunday's 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit ranks 29th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (75.7) and 20th in points scored (59).
Also, Detroit has converted just nine of its 34 third-down conversion tries and went 5-for-13 in that situation versus San Francisco.
"Third-and-longs tend to put a lot of pressure on your line," said quarterback Jon Kitna, who threw for 146 yards versus the 49ers. "We had too many of them (Sunday). We prepared well enough, we just didn't execute like we should have."
Unfortunately, it doesn't get much better on the other side of the ball. Detroit ranks 30th in yards allowed (430.3), last in rushing yards allowed (207.7) and has yielded 113 points so far this year, 31st in the league.
"It's (an) 0-3 start. That's the reality of it," said head coach Rod Marinelli. "You just move forward and that's what we'll do. We have a bye week coming up. Hopefully we'll get rested and focused, see all the corrections -- and there are a lot of them to make -- but then come back and get ready to move on."
One thing Detroit may work on during its off week is getting running back Rudi Johnson involved more. It was rookie Kevin Smith who carried the bulk of the load in Week 1 versus the Falcons, turning 16 carries into 48 yards and a score. Smith then had 10 carries to just one for Johnson in Week 2 against Green Bay, but Johnson broke out for 83 yards on 14 carries versus the Niners.
The former Bengal also added three catches for 48 yards with a score, while Smith was held to just three carries for 14 yards without a catch.
"We've got time and the talent in house to fix it and that's the main thing," Johnson said. "We've got a bye week coming up and that is something we need to take advantage of, going back to the drawing board, look at the film for the past three weeks and learn from it."
NOTES: The Lions also started 0-3 in 2006 and ended that season with a 3-13. mark...Jason Hanson connected on a 51-yard field goal versus San Francisco, giving him 35 field goals of 50-plus yards in his career. That ties Carolina's John Kasay for third on the all-time list...Wide receiver Calvin Johnson had a team-high four catches for 40 yards in Sunday's loss.
INJURIES: Kitna suffered a knee sprain in the fourth quarter. Other injuries on Sunday include corner Travis Fisher (groin), guard Stephen Peterman (broken hand) and defensive tackle Shaun Cody (knee sprain).
WEEK 4: The Lions enjoy their bye week before hosting the Chicago Bears on October 5.
BEARS: TOUGH ACT GETS THE BEST OF THEM
Chicago's defense lived on a reputation of being nasty and punishing while helping carry the Bears to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2006 season. However, after taking a step back last year, Chicago's attempt to re-establish that style got the best of them on Sunday.
The Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were engaged in a feisty contest right from the get go, as the clubs engaged in some early-action scrums.
Things boiled over for Chicago at the worst time in a 27-24 overtime loss, as Charles Tillman's unnecessary roughness penalty midway through the extra frame on a third-down stop allowed the Bucs to stay on the field and eventually boot the game-winning field goal.
That miscue came after the Bears had already stopped one Tampa Bay drive in overtime.
"I didn't see enough but the official did," said Bears head coach Lovie Smith. "In that situation, you have to come off the field. We're off the field. It's pretty simple, doesn't matter what's going on, everyone comes off, we're getting the football. It's just something you can't do, it's an elementary mistake, you can't do that."
The penalty came during a scrum in which Tillman came to the aid of some his teammates. Unfortunately, it looked as if the Bears' corner threw a punch at a Tampa Bay player, prompting the flag.
Tillman admitted that it was a costly mistake, saying the second man always gets caught.
"I was just trying to swing him (Tampa Bay wideout Michael Clayton) off me," he added. "I was trying to pull guys off my teammate, and one thing led to another. I've got to be smarter than that."
So, instead of possibly improving to 2-1, the Bears find themselves a game under .500 through three weeks of the season. However, Tillman doesn't deserve all of the blame, as Chicago's defensive unit allowed 10 Tampa Bay points in the final 3:11 of the fourth quarter to force the extra frame.
"It's definitely frustrating when you have the lead and you can't sustain it. That part is definitely frustrating," Tillman said.
Despite the meltdown, the Bears defense is showing improvement. Chicago allowed 122.9 rushing yards per game a year ago, but are holding opponents to just 71.3 yards per game on the ground through three 2008 tests, good for fourth in the league. However, Tillman and the secondary are getting tagged for 249.7 yards per game through the air thus far.
If Chicago wants to contend in 2008, its secondary is going to need to start swinging back. Before the whistle blows, that is.
NOTES: Rookie running back Matt Forte had 89 yard rushing yards while also catching seven passes for 66 yards and a score...Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese, who spent last year with Chicago, threw for 407 yards against his former team...Chicago is 1-2 for the fourth time in five seasons. The only time in that span they didn't begin the season 1-2 was in 2006, when the Bears began the year 7-0.
INJURIES: The Bears played without kick return specialist Devin Hester on Sunday due to bruised ribs. Hester is hopeful he can return to action this weekend.
WEEK 4: The Bears remain at home this Sunday night to take on the 2-1 Philadelphia Eagles. Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak (including playoffs) to the Eagles with a 19-16 win in Philadelphia last year.
VIKINGS: GET GOING BEHIND GUS
It was only a matter of time before the Minnesota Vikings banished the ineffective Tarvaris Jackson to the bench.
Jackson went 8-4 in 12 games as a starter in 2007, but threw for just 1,911 yards and nine touchdowns while getting picked off 12 times. The worst part about those numbers is that opposing defenses were more concerned with shutting down Adrian Peterson, yet Jackson still couldn't beat defenses.
The swift-footed Jackson was hoping for an improvement this year, but he threw for a mere 308 yards through two games while turning the ball over twice. He failed to guide the Vikings into the end zone even one time during their 18-15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 that saw Minnesota get all of its points off field goals.
Aiming to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2002, the Vikings went with Gus Frerotte on Sunday versus the undefeated Panthers, and walked away 20-10 winners. Frerotte threw for 204 yards and a touchdown in the win.
"We were trying to push the ball down the field a little bit," Frerotte said. "I was excited to get out there and try to make some plays. Our play calling was really good, and when we are up-tempo and keep the ball moving, good things seem to happen."
Obviously, Frerotte's numbers weren't eye-popping, though he did complete 16 of his 28 pass attempts. However, the veteran showed that he was able to guide a Vikings offense during a situation in which it couldn't be carried by its run game.
In the Vikings' Week 2 loss, the club failed to score even though Peterson posted 160 yards on 29 carries. The blame falls to Jackson, who couldn't push the Minnesota offense over the top in that one.
Yet with Peterson battling a bad hamstring and posting just 77 yards on 17 carries versus Carolina, Minnesota found the end zone offensively, as Frerotte hooked up with Visanthe Shiancoe for a 34-yard score in the third quarter. It also helped that the Minnesota defense scored a touchdown as well.
Don't be surprised if Minnesota goes with Frerotte for the remainder of the season in the hopes he can make the offense more than just the Adrian Peterson show.
NOTES: The Vikings allowed just 47 yards rushing to Carolina. Linebacker E.J. Henderson led the attack with 12 tackles...Cornerback Antoine Winfield returned a fumble 19 yards for a score...Wide receiver Bernard Berrian made three catches for 79 yards...Frerotte's QB rating for the game was 77.1, while Jackson's was 64.8 through two games.
INJURIES: Wideout Sidney Rice missed the game with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
WEEK 4: Minnesota hits the road to take on the 3-0 Tennessee Titans. The Vikings have won seven of their 10 all-time meetings between the clubs, but have gone just 1-2 as the visitor against the Houston/Tennessee franchise. Minnesota has won four in a row in the series and hasn't lost since dropping a test to the Oilers in 1992.
