Is the root of the problem how the coaching staff spent the offseason?  Between the time they spent tampering with Brett Favre, then the time it took to cover up their cheating ways, they had no time to game plan.  I guess the old adage, "cheaters never win" must be true.

Could Cower/Parcells/Johnson/Schottenheimer/McCarthy get more out of this team than Chilly does?  This team clearly has some talent.  How long does Chilly keep his job? 

Brett and I were born a month a part and have never met.  So much of our lives have paralleled one another.  My father died a year before Brett's did.  When the news broke that his father died and there was speculation Brett wouldn't play.  I knew he would play.  He had to.  Living vicariously through him, he gave a tribute to his father in that game on Monday Night.  It was the kind of tribute I wish I could have given my father.  On a national stage, with everyone in the country watching.  

His struggles with alcohol.  His marrage in jeopardy.  I'm not proud to say it, but I was there.  We both chose our families over alcohol.  He just did it in front of the whole world.  

Cancer, family tragedies, conflicts with co-workers.  All played out in public.  Mine played out at home.  He just put on his hard hat and grabbed his lunch pale and went to work.  

I relate to Brett Favre on a different level than as just a football player.  His super human feats on the field were amazing.  But maybe 5 guys in history could do those things.  He's more than a football player to me because he has lived his life in the public eye the way I would hope to have done it.  Puting family first.  Working hard and not missing a game.  Living with enthusiasm.  Taking responsibility for his actions and always trying to get better.  I like Brett because of the values he displays.  

Enjoy your life Brett.  You've earned it.  

First of all, WELL DONE to the Giants.  Go in to Dallas and beat their asses in front of the whole world.  And in the process, shut up their arrogant fans.  The only thing better would have been Manning taking the ball and spiking it and dancing on the star.  He's too class an act to do that.  

On to Sunday.  
Does it get any better than this?  Smash mouth football.  Outside.  
The Packers offense is the strength of the team.  Favre has had a well documented renaissance in his career.  He's carved up teams with a short passing game or gouged them with the long ball.  Whatever the defense has given them.  He hasn't tried to carry the team this year.  As evidenced Sunday.  Down 14 points old Favre would have tried to take risks to get back in the game, ultimately turning into picks.  Old age has brought patience.  The real stars of the Offense are the "Fab Five".  Driver, Jennings, Jones, Robinson and Martin.  Half of Farve's 4100 yards this year are after the catch.  Bubba Franks (TE) is finally healthy.  He brings good blocking to the run game.  Donald Lee is a pass catching TE.  The run game seems to be working out.  Somewhere in the area of 235 yards last week.  Ryan Grant is the star of the show.  You know all about him.  Brandon Jackson has come on lately, too.  

The Defense is Jim Bates's scheme that was so successful in Miami for years.  Decent pass rush.  Nothing like the Giants.  They don't blitz much at all.  The front four need to create pressure.  The d-line eats blockers in the run game allowing the fast linebackers to make the tackles.  The D-backs are all bump and run.  Woodson and Harris are well known.  Bigby is a big hitter.  The coaching staff doesn't mind giving up a penalty or catch for being agressive.  They remind me of the '70s Raiders D-backs.  The players to watch on defense are Ryan Grant and Atari Bigby.  Grant is a big fatty on the d-line.  He's murder on the run game.  Bigby hits like Jack Tatum.  He unloaded on 3 recievers against Seattle (causing 1 fumble).  By the 3rd qtr their recievers were afraid to catch the ball anywhere near him.  
The Packers run a zone blocking scheme (like the Broncos) that ate up Seattle's fast, agressive defense on the cut back lanes.  

My questions are, will the Giants D be caught being too agressive like the Seahawks?  Can the Packers shut down the Giants run game?  Will the Packers tackles be able to shut down the d-ends of the Giants like they did to Seattle's?  

Predictions?  

This magical season continues.  The New York football Giants are going to Green Bay Sunday.  The story lines are great.

Ryan Grant picked up from the Giants for a 6th round pick just before the season starts.

The Giants bring their 9-1 road record into Lambeau against the Packers 8-1 home record.  

Cliff and Tauch against Osi and Strahan.  

The GBP beat the Giants 35-13 in week two.  But both teams are different today.  The Giants are not a one demensional team like the Seahawks.  The defense will have to play a complete game.  

The questions of the week are:
Can the Packers move the ball on the Giants D now that they've found themselves (which didn't happen until week 3)?  Or put another way, can the Giants slowdown the the Packers Offense?  

Am I dreaming?  Is this season really happening?  Is my team, really in the NFC Championship game on their home turf?  Does Favre really have another shot at a championship?  

Where is "Wittenrocks"?  Will he (and the rest of the Cowboy fans) step up and have his big slice of humble pie? 

What are your predictions?

200+ yards!  Are you kidding me?!  Grant SMOKED 'em today.  Jackson did a great job of spelling Grant.  By the way, I was not that confident after the first 5 minutes of the game.  What I saw in the match up was the Hawks agressive, fast defense sets up perfect for the cut back, zone blocking scheme.  
Out scored them 42-6 in the last 55 minutes.

WELL DONE BOYS.

The pressing questions of the week are:

1.  Can the GBP slow down Seattle's pass rush?  They were in Washington's backfield all day.  Collins never seem to be able to get comfortable.  They had a hard time handling Dallas' ends.   Seattle's got a good pair, too.  Grant should slow down the pass rush, but that is a fast defense.
2.  How will the Pack d stack up to the Hawk passing game?  Will the bump-n-run disrupt the rhythm passing game?  Can  the Pack get Hasselbeck's jersey dirty?  The d-backs should be able to hang with the Seattle recievers.  None of them seem to strike terror in the hearts of defenses across the league.  My real concern is the Pack pass rush.  It has cooled off significantly.  Kampman and KGB don't seem to be getting to the qb like they were at the begining of the year.  Hasselbeck can't get comfortable or he'll eventually beat you.
3.  Will Dallas be able to beat NY three times in one year?  Dallas is hurt and NY is on a roll (8-1 on the road this year).  It would be nice to see the NFC Championship where it belongs, LAMBEAU FIELD.  
   

Jessica Simpson will be in Carolina! No just kidding.
Dallas is banged up.  C Andre Gurode is out with a knee and Saftey Patrick Watkins is out with an ankle.  Roy Williams is suspended, but they're appealing to the league (don't hold your breath, 3rd horse collar this year).  It should be interesting to see what Steve Smith can do against Dallas' 3rd string d-backs.  

{QB Tony Romo walked into the offices at Valley Ranch today wearing a heavy wrap over his right hand. It seemed like bags of ice, held on with Ace bandages.

There were also wires coming out of the wrap, which would indicate some kind of muscle stimulator being used on the thumb. Just so you know ...}

All info compliments of the Dallas blog on SB Nation.  

It's looking better and better.  Carolina is becoming more of an even match.  Vegas is giving Carolina 10-13 points.  That will be coming down in the next couple of days.  Take Carolina and the points!  It's just a matter of days and TO will have a Narcissistic Spasm.  That will be the indication the meltdown has started.  

GBP take care of business and it's home field through out!

The Bears and the Lions have been eliminated from the playoffs(as much as this hurts to say)thanks to the Vikings.  They have nothing to play for.  Pride only goes so far.  
The Bears offense looked beyond pathetic tonight.  The Packers won't have an easy time with them but I think they'll pull away in the end.  
Detroit on the other hand will be playing their hearts out... no just kidding, they quit a month ago.  Their players will be booking flights out of Green Bay to start the off-season early.  
The Pack has something to play for 'til the end.  They can't afford to take one series off in the next two games.  It's too important to have home field in Lambeau. God Bless Green Bay in January!
Dallas on the other hand has two teams playing for a playoff berths.  Washington and Carolina are still both alive.  They both have to win out to have any shot at all.  Dallas, however, does have a bye week, an injured qb, and a starting saftey with a one game suspension.  Good reasons not to push to the end.    
Washington has to play at Minnesota before they get Dallas.  If Minnesota plays half as poorly as they did tonight, Washington has the offense to make them pay, unlike Chicago.  They will be playing with purpose.  I've just become a huge Redskins fan.  
Carolina has Dallas next, then Tampa.  Ouch.  Maybe they can steal one from them like they did to Seattle.  Wouldn't that be something.  Beating 3 Division champs in the last 3 games of the season.  I'm not expecting it, but I'm hoping.

Is home field advantage the Packers to lose?

Well, did ya?  Did they cover again?  Maybe you should start listening instead of looking for articles to cut out of Wikipedia.  

Did Dallas lose?  Dimples hurt his thumb.  Not so crazy a thought now is it?  Round two goes to the GBP.  Especially when round two is Lambeau Field.

The Jags just laid the smack down on the Steelers in Pittsburg.  Told ya, they're scary.  

It was good to see the Raiders keep it close this week.  They should petition the league to have every team they play sit 5 starters.  Maybe that was just a kind gesture from a class organization like the Colts.  

Keep it real kids.  Take the Pack and the Points.  

Will the GBP be able to close the gap on the Boys?  If Dimples thumb is really hurt, will they drop another one to Carolina or Washington?  Is it really possible to hold out hope for home field throughout?  
I was ok with the loss to the Boys earlier in the year (not really it took me a couple of weeks)because I think it's highly unlikely GBP would beat them twice in a season.  Second, I think they held their own without 5 starters.  Third, we know what to expect.  They've seen them, they'll be able to game plan them better.  This is all assumptive that GBP beat the the Bears and Lions.