A kick in the helmet! Packers’ loss hurts

| 10/08/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Disappointment in Green Bay’s 31-23 setback to Lions

GREEN BAY, Wis. –  Disappointment aplenty –  Green Bay’s performance included fumbles, foibles and bloopers, and once again questionable officiating.  Ultimately, the Packers’ 31-23 loss at Detroit had to make you laugh, if for no other reason than it hurt too much to cry.  How do you roll up twice the yardage of your opponent, 521 to 264 yards, get 30 first downs to 18, win the time of position battle by a large margin, never punt once, and still lose the game?

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Easy, you fumble the ball away three times deep in your own territory, and miss five field goals or extra point tries, leaving 13 points off the board.
Seriously, who’s going to suggest cutting Mason Crosby? I’m not. His record speaks for itself. This is not some rookie who is awed by the pressure of the NFL and misses a bunch of kicks (recall the Vikings at  Packers game of just a few weeks ago).  It’s the great ones that manage to avoid being released afterward.
But Crosby explored almost every way to miss a kick. He was wide left. He was wide right. He hit the left upright. He hit the right upright. At some point, he changed his kicking shoe. He was snake-bit yesterday.  But a mini-trend is possibly developing? It is worth noting that Crosby missed a 52-yard attempt at the end of regulation that would’ve won the Minnesota game, and he also missed a PAT last week.
But, I’m thinking Crosby will rebound. He’s done it before.
So who’s pinning this one on Aaron Rodgers and his lost fumbles?
Not me. In fact, I’m skipping the whole “blame placing” thing this week. It’s too obvious. It’s too easy. There’s too much to go around.
What I can’t do is dismiss this as “just one of those games.”  They’ve had three “just one of those games” already this season.  The Packers showed up in a daze again Sunday. They played in a fog for the first half, and by the time it lifted, it was too late.
That is becoming a tired refrain. The Packers are prone to playing one bad half, often the first half, followed by one good half, likely the second half.
Way too often one of two storylines emerges:
** The Packers rally for a great win or settle for a so-so tie;
** The Packers fall short, unable to climb out of a hole too big.
There are many reasons for it, including really poor decision-making, and I’m not just talking about the coach. Lately, it’s as if the Packers have been beset by an onslaught of brain-cramp. If they took a “Football IQ” exam right now they’d probably flunk.
Coaches are control freaks. They dislike the things they can’t control. What drives them really insane is when the things they believe (falsely?) that they can control go belly-up.
Things like the snap, the hold and the kick. Things like the quarterback realizing he’s out of time before he gets hit and fumbles. Things like fielding the punt or at least making dang sure your teammates are out of harm’s way if you don’t. Things like being an undrafted free agent cornerback, and finally making a play, only to keep the drive alive by drawing a taunting penalty for acting like a punk.
It’s got to stop.
“A disappointing division loss,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. “We did too many things we couldn’t overcome.”
This loss was all about the Packers and McCarthy knows it. There was nothing captivating, mesmerizing or hypnotic about Detroit. In fact, it looked like the same old Lions to me: All silver, blue and blah.
Matthew Stafford completed 14 of 26 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Nothing earth shattering there, but he avoided any big mistakes. Stafford’s key contribution was zero turnovers.
Kerryon Johnson rushed 12 times for 70 yards before leaving with an injury. LeGarrette Blount was held to 22 yards on 12 carries but managed to rush for two touchdowns anyway.
The Lions were good enough to take what Green Bay gave them, which was over 20 points on mistakes, and win with it by 8 points.  The scary thing is that a team more accomplished than the Lions might’ve taken what the Packers generously gave and won by 30 points.  And let me tell you, there are some very much more accomplished teams coming up on the Packers’ schedule real soon.
Aaron Rodgers was beaten up again. Still, he completed 32 passes in 52 attempts for 442 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also was sacked four times and he fumbled twice.
“I gave (the Lions) 10,” Rodgers told reporters. “We missed some field goals, obviously, had a turnover on the 1-yard line. You put that all together and that’s a lot of points we gave them.”  The Packers trailed 24-0 at the half and could’ve closed to within 10 in the 3rd quarter, but missed the PAT.
“Obviously (Crosby’s) disappointed,” Rodgers, ever the diplomat, said. “I don’t think he expected this. We have a ton of faith in him. He’s done it for a long time, made some big kicks over the years.”
The stat sheet shows that the Packers rolled up a lot of passing yards.  Davante Adams had nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown despite playing with a sore calf.
Rookie receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling had seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Fellow rookie receiver Equanimeous St. Brown had three catches for 89 yards, including a nifty catch-and-run late. 
Jimmy Graham had six catches but it took 11 targets and netted 76 yards.
If you just looked at the stats sheet, and those numbers in particular, you might’ve said the Packers must’ve won by a bunch of points.  Not.
“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers said, and added this understatement: “We’ve been kind of a one-half team: one good half and one not-so-good half. You know, I was a little off. I missed a couple I usually hit. If I hit Davante on that first drive he might score on a crossing route. They dropped him. Yeah, we missed some opportunities there. (It was) definitely a disjointed game: not punting, putting up a lot of offense and not winning the game.”
Indeed, the Packers’ offense never got on track, at least without plenty of hiccups.  The run game had an inconsequential, after-the-fact feel to it. The yards-per-carry is a strong 5-yards plus, but the number of attempts is way too low.  It just seems like the most dynamic running weapon they have, Aaron Jones, is inexplicably underused.  The guy starts out like a house on fire, and then gets relegated to no touches.  Also, the Packers surrendered four sacks again to continue at a bad pace.
The Packers committed a ton of penalties. They had 12 penalties for 112 yards and three turnovers.  It’s becoming a trend lately. “We’re five games into it,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t care for some of the things we know we can do better. At the end of the day it’s about winning and we didn’t do enough to win today.”
Amen,  Coach. Amen.   Here’s hoping that the Packers can snap out of this funk they are in. We know that they’re better than this. They just have to start believing it themselves, and act like it.
 

Packers’ ‘D’ blanks lifeless Bills, 22-0

| 10/01/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Rodgers’ mobility, Jones’ shiftiness positives as Green Bay offense evolves

GREEN BAY, Wis. –  Now that was more like it.

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For the first time this season the Packers looked like a team, which is to say they relied on offense and defense to defeat Buffalo, 22-0, in Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.
On offense, the Packers tried to find a semblance of balance between the run and the pass. On defense, they analyzed rookie quarterback Josh Allen’s play at Minnesota, implemented the game plan and then executed it to the tune of a shutout.
In short, the Packers’ defense and new coordinator Mike Pettine made the Bills’ rookie play like one.
Allen was sacked seven times, including three by Kyler Fackrell, often while trying in vain to locate an open receiver. It was the Packers’ first shutout since 2010, a 9-0 victory over the New York Jets.
The Bills eked out just 145 net yards.
Allen, who looked good in an upset of the Vikings last week, was equally awful on Sunday. Allen completed 16 of 33 passes for 151 yards with two interceptions and a 36.3 passer rating.
“Well, we improved from last week,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think we have been transparent and identified the things we need to work on. This was our best week of preparation, so you always feel good when you see your players benefit from a really good week of preparation.”
It always seemed like the kiss of death when McCarthy would mention on a Thursday about how “this has been our best week of practice … blah, blah, blah.” At least now he waits until after the victory is in the books to compliment his team’s practices.
At any rate, the Packers are headed in the right direction.
Aaron Rodgers’ scamper along the left sideline showed more speed and less limp than since his left knee injury. That was the biggest takeaway from this game.
Rodgers appears to be getting healthier.
It wasn’t reflected in his performance, which was uncharacteristically so-so, but it means everything long-term. Rodgers was 22 of 40 for 298 yards, a touchdown and an interception (which wasn’t his fault). His passer rating of 76.9 is terrible by Rodgers’ standards.
“It was as bad as we’ve played on offense with that many yards in a long time,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers missed several open receivers and also had to contend with five drops, which is a half-season’s worth.
Davante Adams caught eight passes for 81 yards and essentially had his way with Bills’ cornerback Tre’davious White, and Geronimo Allison had six catches for 80 yards before leaving with a concussion.
The Packers’ offense accomplished several firsts.
Jimmy Graham caught his first touchdown pass from Rodgers, and Aaron Jones scored the Packers’ first rushing touchdown of the season. Green Bay went 2-for-3 in the red zone, which isn’t good enough, but is better than what it had been doing.
Jones, in particular, looked strong. He had 11 carries for 65 yards with a long run of 30 yards. It seems he has at least one explosive run every game despite limited touches.
That’s mostly Jones’ fault, though, for getting suspended the first two games. McCarthy’s got a plan to implement him into the attack bit by bit until he’s going to get the lion’s share of touches.
The Packers’ defense also made strides.
The seven sacks were a season-high, and they didn’t allow an opening-drive touchdown. In fact, the Bills punted eight times and committed three turnovers on their first 11 drives.
“I’ll just definitely start off with the defense,” McCarthy said to open his post-game news conference. “I mean, the shutout is huge. It’s what you’re looking for.”
Clay Matthews notched a half-sack without drawing a flag, and Jaire Alexander and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix both had impressive interceptions.
Next up is the Lions (1-3) at Detroit, followed by San Francisco (1-3) at home on Monday Night Football, and then the bye.
“We’re 2-1-1 and there’s a lot more work to do,” McCarthy said. “I think today’s game was reflective of that. I would definitely say it was a good blue-collar win, so we got some building blocks in place, and we need to continue to stack successes off of that.”
 

Packers’ first loss tough to stomach

| 09/24/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Washington rides fast start to victory as Green Bay deals with injury, sloppiness

GREEN BAY, Wis. –     The Packers’ steady descent into the NFL’s cluster of averageness has come full circle.

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It started way back when with a nail-biting win against Chicago. It continued last week with an exciting yet infuriating tie with Minnesota. It ended Sunday with a painful loss at Washington.
Green Bay’s 31-17 setback to the Redskins on rain-soaked FedEx Field in Landover, Md., occurred on three fronts.
The Packers (1-1-1) were beaten by the opponent, the officials and mostly themselves.
The league may be getting soft, as the Packers’ Clay Matthews said after the game, but it’s not like Green Bay was hard as nails. The Packers dropped four passes, committed 11 penalties for 115 yards and yielded four touchdown drives in the first half.
The officials weren’t sharp, either. They continued the “roughing-the-passer” controversy with yet another awful call on Matthews. In addition, they ignored what should’ve been an obvious roughing call on the Redskins.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy’s sideline bull-rush of an official was almost as impressive as the official’s ability to backpedal. The Packers may want to sign the ref up as a cornerback option until Kevin King returns from injury.
Despite all that, Washington (2-1) deserves credit for getting its stuff together at the worst possible time for Green Bay.
The Redskins rode a fast start – keyed by head coach Jay Gruden’s play-calling and Alex Smith’s quarterbacking – to cruise to victory in a game that was never seriously in doubt.
Washington put together touchdown drives of 75, 79, 98 and 74 yards in the first half. The Packers’ defense has surrendered an opening drive touchdown in three straight games.
The Redskins’ opening drive was capped by a 46-yard touchdown pass to Paul Richardson – his only catch of the day – despite double-coverage. Safety Kentrell Brice couldn’t locate the football in time to be of any help to cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Brice is not up to the task of being a starting NFL safety, period.
The Redskins’ next touchdown drive featured three pass interference calls on three different Packers’ defensive backs. All three calls, in my opinion, were the correct call.
Is that how new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine teaches it?
After an inconsequential field goal sliced Washington’s lead to 14-3, the Redskins put together the drive of the game.
Starting deep in their own territory, they went 98 yards in eight plays to make it 21-3. The drive was kept alive when Smith hit tight end Jordan Reed for a 34-yard gain on third-and-6 at the Washington 6-yard line. Adrian Peterson took over from there. He burst off right tackle on a 41-yard gallop to set up the first of two short-yardage touchdown runs in the half.
Aaron Rodgers answered with a 64-yard touchdown strike to Geronimo Allison to slice the Redskins’ lead to 21-10 with 2:15 to play in the first half.
It proved to be false hope when Washington answered.
Smith connected with ageless tight end Vernon Davis for a big gainer of 50 yards. After several short completions, Peterson dived in from the 2 to make it 28-10 at half.
The Packers’ defense yielded only a field goal the rest of the way, but it was too little, too late.
Peterson finished with 120 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. At 33, he looked like the running back of old, rather than an old running back.
Brice took out teammate Mo Wilkerson when he whiffed on a tackle attempt and leg-whipped the Packers’ defensive end in the process.
Wilkerson, a key offseason acquisition in free agency, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. It’s likely his season is over.
Bryan Bulaga also left with a back problem, which created more problems for an already troubled right side of the offensive line. Justin McCray struggled and was benched for Byron Bell.
The receivers, in particular Randall Cobb, also struggled.
Cobb had two drops, a lost fumble and only four catches for 23 yards in 11 targets.
“I didn’t give us an opportunity to win,” Cobb said after. “A third-down drop on the first drive, the fourth-down drop, a fumble, I played terrible and didn’t give us an opportunity to win. No, it has nothing to do (with the rain). We’ve played in these conditions before. It’s on me.”
Actually, it’s on everyone in green and gold.
Rodgers, limping on his heavily braced left knee, missed some throws and had others dropped. Tight end Lance Kendricks’ drop on a perfect throw deep down the right sideline was especially painful to watch.
Rodgers finished 27 of 44 for 265 yards, two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 93.5. He also was sacked four times, which keeps the Packers on pace to give up 64 sacks this season. If it continues Rodgers won’t be around at season’s end.
Aaron Jones provided a spark upon his return, but instead of lighting a fire it merely hissed and sputtered before being doused by the Redskins’ salty defense.
Meantime, the Packers and Matthews are left to sort it all out.
Afterward, a perplexed Matthews said, “Unfortunately this league’s going in a direction I think a lot of people don’t like. I think they’re getting soft.”
To be fair, the same could be said of the Packers.
 

Packers 29, Vikings 29 Fans are fit to be tied!

| 09/17/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s missed opportunities plus “NFL” refs’ poor calls doom Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. –     It was empty calories, a hung jury and a quick handshake at the end of a first (and likely last) date.

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It was at once entertaining and bizarre but also infuriating and ultimately unsatisfying.
It was Packers 29, Vikings 29.
Green Bay’s overtime tie – can there be any other kind of tie? – was cluttered with missed opportunities, blown calls and a decidedly Twilight Zone feel to it.
It wasn’t a loss. It was worse. It was wasteful.
Let me count the ways:
** No. 1 – It ruined an otherwise exceptional performance by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Despite being hobbled by a badly bruised and heavily braced left knee, Rodgers hit on 30 of 42 passes for 281 yards, a touchdown and a 97.4 passer rating.
“He’d been working with the brace and the other components and getting ready to play throughout the week and as you can see, he went out and played a heckuva football game under those circumstances,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said.
Rodgers, at 34 and injured, is still superior to the Vikings’ Kirk Cousins.
A great effort by an all-time great quarterback was squandered.
** No. 2 – The Packers’ Geronimo Allison caught six passes (on six targets) for 64 yards, but the third-year receiver didn’t stop there. He knifed through the Vikings’ line on a first-quarter punt and reached out with his right hand to block it at the goal line. Rookie Josh Jackson hauled it in and scored the game’s first touchdown on the Packers’ first blocked punt in six years.
** No. 3 – Jimmy Graham, the Packers’ key free agent acquisition, caught six passes for 95 yards on eight targets.
Graham is going to be a dominant figure this season.
** No. 4 – The Packers’ defense did enough to believe coordinator Mike Pettine’s unit is significantly better than it was a year ago.
Green Bay only sacked Cousins twice on 48 pass attempts, and he threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns, but it didn’t feel nearly as lopsided as those statistics suggest.
Beyond that, the Vikings’ sensational second-year running back, Dalvin Cook, was corralled by the Packers’ defense. Cook had an inconsequential 10 carries for 38 yards with a long run of 9.
But for all of that, the Packers only managed a push.
So how did the tie feel?
“Close to an ‘L’,” the Packers’ quarterback told reporters. “It doesn’t feel great. That last play, it’s either an ‘L’ or a tie. It’s nice not to have a loss on the record right now, but it’s disappointing. We found a lot of ways to give that one away, after last week where we were on the other side, but we had the momentum and found a way to win a game. We had a ton of chances. Disappointing the way it finished.”
The Packers’ MVP was Minnesota kicker Daniel Carlson, who missed three field goals, including two in overtime. Somehow I doubt Carlson will be around when the teams meet again.
The Vikings’ MVP was the head referee or whoever was ultimately responsible for gift-wrapping Minnesota’s tie. Somehow I feel the NFL’s “officiating problem” isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Certainly, the officiating was substandard, even by NFL standards.
Clay Matthews’ roughing-the-passer penalty was an absurdly awful call at the worst possible time. Instead of Jaire Alexander’s interception effectively sealing a 29-21 Packers’ victory, the Vikings got another chance.
This time, Kirk Cousins delivered with a game-tying, 8-point touchdown drive on the Vikings’ final possession.
In addition to Matthews’ ridiculous call, the Packers also were on the wrong end of a Lane Taylor holding penalty that wiped out a Rodgers-to-Graham touchdown in the third quarter. Instead, the Packers had to settle for yet another of Mason Crosby’s five field goals for the day.
The Packers’ offense was just 1-for-5 in the red zone. Minnesota finished 2-of-3 inside the Packers’ 20-yard-line.
Still, the Packers could’ve won at the end of regulation except Crosby’s 52-yard kick stayed wide of the left upright to send the game into overtime.
Green Bay also had a chance to set up the game-winning field goal in overtime, but Rodgers fumbled on a second-and-1 at the Minnesota 37 and then failed to convert on third-and-4.
That led to the Vikings’ game-ending missed field goal.
Afterward, the Packers sounded empty inside.
Matthews, especially, was displeased with the officiating and the outcome. He still sounded in disbelief at his roughing penalty.
“I have so many emotions running through as far as what a terrible call it was,” Matthews said. “At the same time, I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know. You let me know. You tell me. Did I put pressure on him? I thought I hit him within his waist to chest. I got my head across, put my hands down. To call it at that point in the game is unbelievable.”
“We had opportunities to win the game, no doubt about it, but it’s frustrating to allow a call which I feel like I did the right thing to influence the game. I don’t know. I’m trying to bite my tongue, but obviously I don’t agree with it.”
 

Remarkable Rodgers spearheads epic rally

| 09/10/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s 24-23 victory over Chicago kicks off 100th season in dramatic style

GREEN BAY, Wis. –    After 99 years and one half of football, Aaron Rodgers willed his team to the greatest comeback in Green Bay Packers history, and brother, that’s a lot of history.

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Indeed, the story is as old as the game itself, and why we love it.
Rodgers, the NFL’s two-time MVP, erased a 17-point fourth quarter deficit en route to Green Bay’s amazing 24-23 victory over Chicago on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
It wasn’t just how Rodgers did it. It’s that he did so after being carted off the field in the second quarter. Rodgers’ left knee was grotesquely twisted as he was sacked a second time.
The injury wasn’t a single freak play so much as the result of constant battering by a rejuvenated Bears’ defense.
Led by Khalil Mack, whom the Bears traded for and promptly made the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player last week, Chicago was on a mission: Hit Rodgers early and often.
Mission accomplished.
To compound matters, Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy inexplicably had backup quarterback DeShone Kizer throwing with nowhere to go and not enough time to get there.
Kizer was hit while attempting a screen pass to Ty Montgomery. The errant throw was hauled in by Mack, who sprinted 27 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-0 with 39 seconds in the half.
The Packers exited to boos from many of the 78,282 fans at Lambeau Field. Surely a national TV audience also felt like this game, and perhaps the Packers’ season, would be lost.
Re-enter Rodgers.
When he left the Packers were down 10-0. When he returned it was 20-0.
No matter.
Rodgers shared a laugh with McCarthy on the sideline before taking the field and directing a field goal drive to make it 20-3 in the third quarter.
Then he really heated up.
Playing on one leg, as if bouncing on a Pogo stick, Rodgers relied on his brains, his guile and his magnificent right arm to shred the Bears’ defense. It also helped that the Packers’ offensive line – in particular right tackle Bryan Bulaga – got it together after an abysmal first half.
After surrendering four sacks in the first half, the Packers shut down Khalil and his cohorts after intermission. To do so with an injured, immobile quarterback is remarkable in its own right.
Rodgers was 3 of 7 for 13 yards when he limped off.
He went 17 of 23 for 273 yards and three touchdowns after he returned. His passer rating of 130.7 was incredible under the circumstances. Then again, that’s why Rodgers isn’t merely the highest-paid player in the NFL, but also its best player.
“Aaron Rodgers was remarkable,” McCarthy told reporters. “I just can’t tell you how proud I am of him.”
First came the Geronimo Allison touchdown drive.
Allison caught four of his five passes on the Packers’ first touchdown drive of the season. It began in the third quarter and spilled into the fourth, when Allison capped it by beating the Bears’ best cornerback, Kyle Fuller, for a 39-yard touchdown.
That made it 20-10.
Next came the Davante Adams touchdown drive.
Adams, who caught five passes for 88 yards, snared a pass and went 51 yards deep inside Bears’ territory. Then he hauled in a short pass and dived into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.
That made it 20-17.
The Bears added a field goal to make it 23-17, but the Packers had too much time and too much quarterback to go quietly into the Wisconsin night.
Facing third-and-10 at the Green Bay 25, Rodgers rolled left as Randall Cobb was bumped off his crossing rout by Bears’ safety Eddie Jackson. Cobb stopped, reversed course and caught a perfect pass just inches beyond Jackson’s outstretched arms.
“I saw Aaron scramble and I tried to break free,” Cobb said. “Once I caught it I just saw green grass and did what I could to get in (the end zone).”
Cobb raced 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown to make it 24-23 with just 2:13 to play. Cobb finished with nine catches for a career-high 142 yards and the biggest play of the night.
“We went exclusive no-huddle (in the second half),” McCarthy said. “The two-minute drill is the best thing (Rodgers) does.”
Rodgers has had many great moments.
There was the “Hail Mary” victory at Detroit. There was the last-ditch completion to Jared Cook in Dallas to beat the Cowboys. There was the late pass to Cobb to KO the Bears at Soldier Field and send the Packers to the playoffs.
All were great. None was any better than this.
Now it’s time to prep for Minnesota and the vaunted Vikings defense. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 24-16 in their opener to set up this Sunday’s noon showdown at Lambeau Field.
Meantime, Rodgers needs to rest and rehab his left knee, the offensive line needs to build off its strong second half and coordinator Mike Pettine’s defense needs to do the same.
Hopefully Rodgers won’t go down against the Vikings, but even if he does Minnesota would be wise NOT to count him out.
 

Don’t Miss Out on the Green & Gold Celebration of the Century

| 09/04/2018


One of the most compelling stories in sports history is about to add a new chapter.  The Green Bay Packers organization, first established in August of 1919, is turning 100, and now the NFL’s only publicly-owned, not-for-profit team is preparing a fitting celebration.
Things didn’t always look so promising, however.  In fact, fans had to rescue the Packers from financial ruin on multiple occasions.  The league even considered making Green Bay a “traveling-only” team because home games were so poorly attended.
Today, a Packers game at Lambeau Field is the hottest ticket in town.  Amid constantly selling out home games year after year, the team’s season ticket waiting list is 133,000 names long.  That long-standing popularity is borne from decades of success:  13 world championships and 25 Pro Football Hall of Famers.
The Packers enter their 100th season as an elite franchise with worldwide appeal but haven’t lost sight of the fans who got them this far.
 

Green Bay Packers Celebration Weekend

Regular season football returns to Lambeau on Sunday, Sept. 9, and fans are invited to join in the festivities as the team kicks off this milestone centennial season.
Similar to the 2017 home opener, 2018’s “Celebration Weekend” will be highlighted by a free concert for fans outside Lambeau Field on Saturday, Sept. 8. 
The Packers Tailgate Village will open at 4:30 p.m., with live music headlined by Steve Miller Band beginning at 7:30 p.m. near the Oneida Nation Gate. Miller, a Milwaukee-native, hasn’t played in the Green Bay area since 1992.
The celebration continues on Sunday as the Packers renew the NFL’s most storied rivalry with the Chicago Bears on “Sunday Night Football.”
“Celebration Weekend” is but the start of a long list of special events and game-day features that have been planned for fans throughout the next year.  A 10-part documentary series dedicated to the team‘s history will be released ahead of the “official” birthday of August 11, 2019.  A “100 Seasons” book will also be published in 2019, and fans can already find “100 Seasons” merchandise in the Packers Pro Shop.
 

Another Tradition in Titletown

As the Packers franchise rose to prominence, Event USA was proudly creating its own tradition less than a mile from Lambeau Field. Serving as Green Bay’s headquarters for tickets and game packages since 1989, Event USA has helped nearly one million fans get a seat to a game.  Ties to the team are strong, with many players giving their stamp of approval over the years.  The agency also used to partner with Ray Nitschke, with the Lambeau legend appearing for many years at Event USA fan functions. 
Let Event USA help you properly celebrate the Packers’ centennial!

 
Don’t miss out on the Green and Gold celebration of the century! Give Event USA a call to learn more: 920.722.5377

Packers’ GM right to pass on Mack

| 09/04/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Gutekunst’s restraint protects future as season of great expectations kicks off

GREEN BAY, Wis. –    Brian Gutekunst has mastered one of the most important aspects of being an NFL general manager: Discipline in the face of a “win at all costs” mentality.

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It’s easy for Packers fans to say, “Trade two first-round picks and whatever else Oakland wants in return for Khalil Mack.” Fans see a possible Super Bowl berth with little concern for the team’s future in terms of fiscal viability and the draft.
Fans have to live with the short-term consequences, of course, but they don’t have to justify the move if it fails miserably. They merely blame the GM and demand that he be fired.
The fact is Packers fans wouldn’t have two first-round picks to trade if it weren’t for Gutekunst’s draft-day brilliance. Instead of selecting a pass rusher with the 14th pick, Gutekunst held firm to his board and drafted the best available player – a cornerback.
Further, he didn’t reach in the second round for a pass rusher, either. He selected the best available player on their board – another cornerback.
Those decisions forge trust within the coaches and scouting department. That can’t be overstated.
Trust me on this.
No one knows better than Gutekunst the need for a top-flight pass rusher. I suspect he would agree with fans on the point that Mack likely would give their Packers an improved defense.
Perhaps even a championship-caliber defense.
But at what cost to the Packers?
This isn’t fantasy football.
This is about the Packers’ ability to field a championship-caliber team this season and beyond.
The Chicago Bears traded their first-round picks in 2019 and 2020, plus a third-round pick in 2020 and a sixth-rounder in ’19.
They also agreed to pay Mack an average of $23.5 million per year during the next six seasons.
The move raised the Bears’ odds to win the Super Bowl from a 100-to-1 long-shot to a 40-to-1 long-shot. Nevertheless, I don’t recall hearing Bears fans predicting any championships.
If anything happens to prevent Mack from being the player he’s been in Oakland, the Bears’ present AND future are hamstrung.
Meantime, the Packers maintained 14-to-1 odds to get to the Super Bowl this season. That’s without Mack.
Now, instead of going on about the correctness of Gutekunst’s decision to pass on Mack, I’d like to talk about the moves the Packers’ new GM has made in the past week:
** The Packers signed Aaron Rodgers to a four-year, $134 million contract extension. It makes him the highest-paid player in league history. It also keeps him in Green Bay for the balance of his NFL career.
The Packers could have done so and still traded for and signed Mack, but just being able to do something doesn’t make it wise. In fact, I have changed my opinion on a Mack trade. When the possibility was pitched I thought it would be worth it even if the price was two first-round picks and a veteran player.
I was wrong.
The Packers have a terrific chance to win the Super Bowl this season. And that’s without mortgaging the future.
They have a revamped defense with a new coordinator. They also have added Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Mo Wilkerson, Tramon Williams and others in free agency.
** Gutekunst traded backup quarterback Brett Hundley to Seattle in exchange for a sixth-round pick next year. It’s a good return on the investment of a fifth-round pick three years ago. It also paved the way for DeShone Kizer – another player acquired via trade – to become the full-fledged backup quarterback.
It is a considerable upgrade at a position of potentially great significance.
** Gutekunst, in concert with head coach Mike McCarthy, continues to alter and improve the roster going into Week 1.
They traded for Colts linebacker Antonio Morrison and continue to scour the waiver wire for potential help.
In fact, the mere notion that the Packers were involved in trade talks with the Raiders indicates Gutekunst’s willingness to explore all options to improve the team. That doesn’t mean he has to give away the farm to make a deal.
Ultimately, the question is this: How prepared are the Packers to make a title run in this 100th anniversary season? I’d have to say exceedingly prepared given where they were a year ago.
It begins with the Bears-Packers game Sunday night at Lambeau Field. Interestingly, Packers fans most likely will see Rodgers and the offense try to neutralize the Bears’ newest acquisition.
Whatever impact Mack may have is debatable. There is talk that Mack may play on a limited basis. That’s in a new defense without the benefit of training camp or preseason games to get acclimated.
Meantime, the Packers’ mission remains the same: Protect Rodgers from elite pass rushers, light up the scoreboard and allow Mike Pettine’s defense to wreak havoc.
I’d take Jimmy Graham over Khalil Mack in a heartbeat.
Given the way rookie cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson have played, I’d take them over any pass rusher that was available when they were selected.
The decision not to trade for Mack isn’t going to define the season. The Packers’ chances for success don’t hinge on one player, unless that player is Aaron Rodgers.
Last time I checked he’ll be playing quarterback for the Packers for a long, long time.
There’s a reason the Bears have struggled for so long. It’s because of weak GMs, mediocre coaches and a penchant for mortgaging the future in hopes of hitting the jackpot.
As for Mack, history will decide if Oakland head coach Jon Gruden’s decision to trade his best defensive player was wise. It also remains to be seen if the Bears were smart to pin their hopes on a pass rusher that cost a ton. The last time the Bears traded two first-round picks it was for Jay Cutler. That didn’t work out so well in Chicago.
The Packers were wise to pass on Mack.
Now they can look forward to passing on the Bears’ defense. If Mack singlehandedly beats the Packers, it won’t be because Green Bay didn’t trade for him. It will be because tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga weren’t up to the task.
No more, no less.
Prediction: Packers 31, Bears 17 in a game that shows it’s more difficult to defend a tight end such as Graham than to slow down a pass rusher such as Mack.

Packers’ D delivers while O-Line flails

| 08/27/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Oakland’s pass rush pounds Green Bay; Pettine’s unit bares teeth in 13-6 loss

GREEN BAY, Wis. –    The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line depth is frightfully bad, a fitting revelation on a night when the third preseason game dragged well beyond the witching hour.

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Oakland’s famed “Black Hole” – where every game resembles Halloween – was an appropriate place to get the bad news: Green Bay’s offensive line is a disaster beyond the starters.
The Packers’ 13-6 preseason loss to the Raiders exposed Green Bay’s most significant problem: The pass rush. Only now the problem isn’t generating a pass rush so much as stifling one.
The good news is that there was rugged, hard-hitting defense being played and it wasn’t all by the Raiders. The Packers’ defense forced two turnovers, including a nifty interception by rookie cornerback Jaire Alexander. Fellow rookie Josh Jackson also had an interception and touchdown return that was called back by a penalty that had no influence on the play.
But before I expound on the defense, I’ve got to return to the Packers’ offense, or rather a lack thereof.
The Raiders’ defense harassed starter Brett Hundley and backup DeShone Kizer early and often. The Packers’ porous offensive line surrendered five sacks and allowed Green Bay QB’s to complete just 19 of 37 passes for a meager 155 yards.
It resembled the ghastly outings by Hundley a year ago.
“It was a tough night for both quarterbacks particularly,” Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy said Sunday. “It was probably from a protection standpoint as poor of a performance as we’ve had.”
Right tackle Kyle Murphy dealt with a lower right leg injury throughout the game. Afterward, ESPN reported seeing Murphy exit the locker room in a walking boot.
Left tackle Jason Spriggs battled but didn’t impress. The interior of the line didn’t fare much better. Left guard Adam Pankey, center Lucas Patrick and right guard Byron Bell all struggled.
“Well, it isn’t like it was just one thing,” McCarthy told reporters. “You go through it (and) every individual had some things that didn’t go well. So I mean Kyle was injured … actually I thought Spriggs played better … Lucas, he hadn’t played a whole lot of center in games, but he did some really good things …”
“It’s just, unfortunately, there’s positive plays to build off of, it’s just the big plays that we gave up as far as the hits and the sacks and the penalties, and where you really don’t get to establish a rhythm and be productive; we were able to accomplish that the first two weeks.”
The offensive line’s woes hampered the Packers’ ability to evaluate the quarterbacks and, by extension, the other skill position players.
Hundley was 11 of 23 for 120 yards and a 63.7 passer rating. Kizer was 8 of 14 for 78 yards and a 72.9 rating.
The best series came with Hundley in the first quarter but resulted only in a field goal. The Packers added another field goal in the third quarter to cap their scoring.
Tim Boyle didn’t play, but McCarthy expects to play him in Thursday night’s preseason finale at Kansas City.
I would hope so. The reality is Boyle has a quicker release, throws a better deep ball and is generally more accurate than either Hundley or Kizer.
The kid just needs a chance.
The running game was led by LeShun Daniels (5-for-23) and Aaron Jones (5-for-18).
That was the extent of the ground attack.
Ty Montgomery continued to be his same old injury-prone self. He had four rushes for 12 yards and one catch for 1 yard before leaving with a foot injury.
If Jones wasn’t suspended for the first two games I would move on from the Ty Montgomery experiment. He can’t cut it.
At receiver, J’Mon Moore had four catches for 62 yards in what was easily his best performance. He needs to build on it.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (3 targets, 0 catches), Equanimeous St. Brown (2 targets, 0 catches) and the rest didn’t get into a rhythm with the quarterbacks constantly being hounded.
“I thought Brett’s start was probably the highlight of the night for us offensively,” McCarthy said. “He had four throws on that first series that were exceptional.
“DeShone is getting better. Tim didn’t get a chance just because our reps were low for the first time this preseason. We’ll definitely get him work in Kansas City.”
The Packers’ defense played well enough.
The Raiders’ starters moved the football behind Derek Carr, who played just one series. It ended when the Packers’ Reggie Gilbert pushed the Raiders’ Donald Penn into Carr’s face with a bull rush that caused a sack and fumble. Gilbert (four tackles, three solos and the sack) had another strong showing.
Montravius Adams looked strong on the interior defensive line while racking up four tackles. Vince Biegel had his best game professionally, while Ahmad Thomas, Josh Jones and Alexander (with the interception) all impressed.
However, rookie Oren Burks injured a shoulder in warm-ups and didn’t play as Green Bay’s defense allowed 5.5 yards per play. The Packers also committed 13 penalties for 110 yards.
“We wanted to get some things done offensively … didn’t accomplish that,” McCarthy said. “The obvious is the penalties … they were kind of the theme for the evening. It was a sloppy football game.”
It was sloppy, indeed, and if the Packers’ backup offensive linemen continue to play like that, it’ll be downright scary.
 

Five key takeaways as Packers rout Steelers

| 08/20/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s ‘big picture’ comes into focus with heavy TE use, multiple defenses

GREEN BAY, Wis. –    The NFL preseason is so much about the evaluation of individual players: Who’s improving? Who’s struggling? Who will make the 53-man roster? Who won’t? Did the veterans get the necessary work to be sharp in the opener?

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Those are critical questions that need to be answered.
There’s also the big picture to consider: Which players are the best fit for the scheme? Will the offense rely on a heavy dose of double- and at times triple-tight end formations?
Does the defense have the horses to employ multiple packages?
So who are the Packers based on two preseason games?
Green Bay’s 51-34 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday night at Lambeau Field offered a glimpse.
Here are five key takeaways:
** No. 1 – Aaron Rodgers looked terrific.
If that seems absurdly obvious so be it. So much of the Packers’ success hinges on No. 12 that it can’t be overstated.
Rodgers, 34, is the consummate pro.
He leads by word and deed.
His teammates learn by watching him do his thing every day. The backup quarterbacks are better for seeing how it’s supposed to be done. In turn, the receivers benefit by having a quartet of QBs who give them opportunities to make plays.
Imagine the nightmare of trying to gauge receivers with shoddy quarterback play. Rodgers, Brett Hundley, DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle have facilitated the evaluation process.
Rodgers was a cool 2-of-4 for 35 yards and a touchdown. His scoring strike to Jimmy Graham offers a hint at how lethal the Packers’ offense could be in the red zone.
Kizer was 7-for-12 for 149 yards and two touchdowns. It seems clear he will be the No. 2 quarterback come the season opener.
Hundley (6-9, 77 yards) played well a second straight week. The question is twofold: Will it be enough to stave off Kizer? Will it be good enough to land a job elsewhere if he isn’t in Green Bay?
Boyle (4-7, 37 yards) has done enough to earn a spot on the Packers’ practice squad. It was difficult losing Taysom Hill to the Saints last year. It would be nice to keep Boyle in the fold.
** No. 2 – The tight end position group has been rejuvenated.
Marcedes Lewis, Lance Kendricks and Graham give the Packers their best tight end trio in forever. Behind them, Robert Tonyan and Emanuel Byrd made plays against Pittsburgh.
It’s apparent Packers head coach Mike McCarthy intends to put his tight ends to good use. This isn’t Martellus Bennett and Richard Rodgers. It’s not even close.
** No. 3 – Packers’ fans love Reggie White and Gilbert Brown.
So what about Reggie Gilbert?
While they dream of the Raiders’ Khalil Mack riding into Green Bay on a white horse to save the defense, Gilbert is actually here doing the work.
He’s not Mack. Not by a long shot.
Frankly, I think GM Brian Gutekunst should pull the trigger on a trade for Mack. It’s not just because Mack’s arguably the NFL’s top pass rusher. It’s because Green Bay has positioned itself to be a legit Super Bowl contender. If the Packers fall one player short it would be a shame.
Then again, I can’t believe the Raiders’ Jon Gruden would be willing to part with his best player. Perhaps two first-round picks and a starting-caliber veteran would do the trick.
If not, the Packers have to move on.
Enter Gilbert.
The 6-3, 261-pound pass rusher has been with the Packers for three training camps. He has spent the time wisely. None other than left tackle David Bakhtiari offered huge praise, calling Gilbert a hard worker who has developed his talent. Always athletic, Gilbert has added the strength to make him a more complete and dynamic player.
Gilbert isn’t the reason you don’t trade for Mack. It’s the reason you still feel good after the trade talk fizzles and Mack re-signs with the Raiders.
** No. 4 – Tramon Williams and Josh Jackson are a credit to both the pro and college scouts.
Each had a nifty interception return for a touchdown.
Williams looked as if he was in the Steelers’ huddle before the first play. When the Steelers went empty backfield behind rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph, he correctly guessed that they were looking for a quick, easy completion to start.
Williams was right.
Jackson’s pick six was impressive in part because of the catch. It wasn’t an easy interception, especially in that setting as a rookie, but Jackson made the play.
If the Packers’ second-round cornerback is this good, I can’t wait to see Jaire Alexander.
** No. 5 – The Packers’ greatest flaws – offensive line depth and a pass rush – remain until further notice (aka the season opener against the Bears).
It’s why Bakhtiari’s and Bulaga’s health is critical.
Fortunately, both seem to be on the right path.
The pass rush is going to grow from new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme. His ability to dial up plays and rely on multiple defensive formations to gain an edge is essential.
It appears Pettine has enough defensive backs to excel in coverage. The question remains: Can Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Gilbert and the rest win their one-on-one battles?
We probably won’t know for sure until the Bears are driving toward the tying or go-ahead touchdown late in the opener. Will the defense be able to slam the door when it counts?
Through two preseason games it looks promising.

Packers’ backup QBs, WRs soar in opener

| 08/13/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Kumerow grabs passes, Rodgers’ attention; Valdes-Scantling also looks good in debut

GREEN BAY, Wis. –    When Aaron Rodgers talks his receivers listen.

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After Rodgers criticized several for a poor effort in Tuesday’s practice, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Kumerow starred in the Packers’ 31-17 preseason win over Tennessee.
Valdes-Scantling caught five passes for 101 yards and a nifty back-end zone touchdown grab. He also caught a 51-yard bomb in Thursday’s preseason opener at Lambeau Field.
Kumerow, who has received rave reviews from Rodgers, had three catches for 76 yards and a 52-yard touchdown grab.
Equanimeous St. Brown added four catches for 61 yards, including a clever move on a 28-yard reception.
Even J’Mon Moore showed the ability to get open. Now, Moore needs to catch it after a two-drop night that included what would’ve been a 40-yard plus reception from Tim Boyle.
Davante Adams, who had a 57-yard catch, was in mid-season form while Geronimo Allison made several tough catches.
Now, the young receivers must build on it.
Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy, his staff and the backup quarterbacks did an excellent job of providing the inexperienced receivers with opportunities to make plays.
The pass protection was good enough and the quarterbacks’ accuracy was impressive. Passes rarely sailed over receivers’ heads or bounced at their feet. Plays were there to be made.
Valdes-Scantling, Kumerow and Moore each had seven targets. St. Brown had six and holdover DeAngelo Yancey had five.
It provides the coaches with ample opportunity to correctly evaluate the receivers behind Adams and Randall Cobb, who sat out to rest his surgically-repaired ankle.
Brett Hundley started at quarterback and showed improvement from a year ago. He hit 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards with one touchdown and an interception. His 57-yard bomb to Adams was the highlight. It was a perfectly thrown deep ball, something that Hundley had struggled with last season.
Hundley moved OK in the pocket, but he still tends to have his eyes on would-be pass rushers as opposed to would-be receivers.
Kizer, the No. 3 for now, completed 9 of 18 for 134 yards in his Packers’ debut. His pocket awareness is much better than Hundley’s, and he appears comfortable in a new offense.
Boyle (7-of-15, 130 yards, two touchdowns) was sharp. He throws the best deep ball of the three backups and looks to have taken advantage of his time in the system this offseason.
Thus far, it seems first-year GM Brian Gutekunst and his scouts have upgraded the depth at receiver and quarterback.
The offensive line’s lack of depth remains a concern, however.
Kyle Murphy started at left tackle and battled through it. Meantime, veteran Byron Bell struggled a bit at right tackle and Jason Spriggs was a non-factor there.
The good news is David Bakhtiari (ankle) practiced Sunday in a very limited role. Clearly, the Packers’ plan is to have him ready for the Sept. 9 season opener.
Bryan Bulaga continues to rehab his knee but also expects to be ready for the opener.
Defensively, it’s difficult to make any meaningful assessments in terms of the big picture. New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine rarely blitzed and lined up without most of his starters.
The Titans threw 37 passes, combined for a 92.5 quarterback rating and were sacked just once.
Obviously, that’s not good enough, but it’s early.
Several individuals did stand out.
Montravius Adams, the second-year defensive tackle from Auburn, was very active. He held the point of attack, recognized and reacted, and chased down plays from the back side.
It was a good start.
Oren Burks made six tackles, including several in the open field, and fellow linebacker Ahmad Thomas also flashed. Reggie Gilbert continued to show pass-rush ability, while defensive end Kendall Donnerson made a nice play to force a fumble.
Now, it’s on to preseason Week 2 and another Thursday night home game, this time against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Sunday, Rodgers took reps with the No. 1 offense. It might be a clue that he’ll play some against the Steelers. It’ll be interesting to see how the snaps are divided among the receivers.
The Steelers, who have legit Super Bowl aspirations, should give the Packers a good gauge on both sides of the football.