GREEN BAY PACKERS 2021: GAME #3
Vs. 49ers; Sunday, September 26, 7:20 Packer (Central) Time (5:20 Pacific)
By “rights” I should be a 49ers fan. I was born in northern California (Fort Bragg, to be precise), and grew up in the Mother Lode, or “Gold Rush Country” — Calaveras County, to be specific. And I worked in a gold mine in that county for several years.
But I have never been tied to geography when it comes to which sports teams I choose to follow. Perhaps the local teams were not “exotic” enough for me. In the case of the Green Bay Packers, I was definitely attracted to the fact that they are community-owned and located in a “small town” (actually, a small city).
When I became a Packers fan, in the early 1970s, their heyday had just ended, or was about to end. On Mondays after the Packers lost, my school frienemies would tease me by saying, “The Pack is back! … in the garbage can!!!” The Packers still dazzled me with the sheen of their glory years, though. I practically idolized Bart Starr. In fact, I played quarterback on our grade school team, and tried to emulate his approach and style. I even acquired the nickname “Benjy Bart” due to this fixation I had with the Packers quarterback. The “Benjy” portion of that former nickname, somewhat oddly, stems from my first name, Benedict, which I have never gone by. I guess it was the power of alliteration that caused it to stick, as “Clay Bart” has more of a thud than a ring to it.
Enough of that, though. It’s on to the 49ers, an old nemesis of the Packers. The Packers “got on track” or “righted the ship” last Monday night, at least in the second half of the 35-17 victory over their cross-Lake-Michigan rival, the Detroit Lions. I’m expecting that progress to continue. The Packers are about to hit their stride, I believe. Yet, it still may be a gradual process and, as with most things in life, one with the occasional “bump in the road” or “hiccup.”
My prediction (made 9/21/21): Packers 30, 49ers 23.
Thursday, 9/23 (second day of Fall): The Packers were featured in a Jeopardy question today:
That nickname caught my ear the first time I heard it, but it wore out its welcome long ago. It doesn’t even really make sense, as “tundra” is found in the Arctic regions, and Lambeau Field has electric coils installed beneath it (since 1967, just prior to the game referenced above, “The Ice Bowl”, which took place on the last day of that year). The “frozen” part of the moniker, as applying to Wisconsin in general, I’ll buy (on second thought, you can have it): We lived in the Dairy State for 15 years, and it does definitely get chilly there at times.
Saturday, 9/25: I performed an interpretive dance that elegantly expressed my inner feelings about the upcoming game, but I forgot to record video of it, so instead I will show you the painting I made while sleeping last night, which vividly and poignantly displays those same feelings:
You might think my magnum opus defies description, but notice the giant amoeba in the northwest corner trying to headbutt its way to the tornado, and the blue whale starting the wave on the far right, while frustrated fans of the losing team cry like babies whose pacifiers have been stolen from them. We won’t know whose tears those are until tomorrow night.
Sunday, 9/26:
2:28 Pacific: The Bears and Lions lost earlier (the latter at the last minute, apparently), and the Vikings are currently losing 17-14. If the Packers can win this evening, they will be 2-1 and in the lead of the Central, as the Lions are now 0-3, the Bears are 1-2, and the Vikings will be one or the other, depending on how their tilt with the Sea-hoax goes.
What’s got me the most concerned at this point is that Elgton “Rocket Man” Jenkins is out with a bum ankle. He has been filling in at Left Tackle for David Beertiari, who is, presumably, building up his table muscle with twelve-ounce curls.
Just joking! I’m counting the weeks until Bakhtiari gets back.
But Jenkins in for Bakhtiari was not much of a dropoff, if any, as Jenkins looks like a cat who could play anywhere on the line for anybody. Now, though, Green Bay is down to their third choice at Left Tackle.
Regardless of who ends up manning that pivotal spot this evening, I hope that the game plan is to run it right at “Explosa” Bosa. That’s the way to slow down and tire out hair-on-fire pass rushers: run the ball right at them. Run, run, run. Then, fake the run and pass it once in a while, too, of course. Obviously, if Rodgers and Adams are lining up for you, you’re going to pass sometimes.
But what I hope is that the Packers play the long game by running the heck out of the ball during the first half. Once the 49ers defense is tuckered out, start heaving that spheroid more as it becomes more effective to do so. If the Packers get a lead, go back to the run to wear out the defense even more and run out the clock.
I know: easier written than done. But that’s why I’m paid the big zilch for this game plan—it’s only academic/theoretical for me. It’s easy for me to sit in my chair and prognosticate.
So, I’m going to quit now while I’m at least not behind, allow LeFleur (and Rodgers) to make those decisions, and watch the game play out.
4:38 Pacific
The Vikings beat the Sea-hoax, who continue to be a disappointment; the Packers can either take sole possession of 1st place in the Central with a win, or end up in a three-way tie for first with a loss, as the Bears and Vikings are 1-2. In that case, the Lions would be in sole possession of second and last place at 0-3.
5:31 Pacific
3-0 Packers, 54-yard field goal by Mason “Bing” Crosby. Yosh Nijman, at Left Tackle, looks pretty shaky so far. If this keeps up, Kelly (not “Machine Gun”—neither the classic one nor the new one) will probably come in.
The Packers started the game running, then hit Lazard for his first catch in a while, a beauty.
5:43 Pacific
10-0 Packers. Rodgers to Adams. MVS got a long catch in that drive, too. That’s maybe the drive of the game already.
Now that they’ve got the lead, the pass rush can “pin their ears back” a little, as the saying goes. I’m looking for sacks, batted balls, interceptions now…
6:21 Pacific
Jaire made a brilliant interception, and Garvin got a sack, with a lot of help from his friends, but I still, of course, want more.
Packers look pretty darn good so far tonight.
7:40 Pacific
It got pretty scary after the 49ers doubled up by scoring at the end of the first half (bad no-call on Grappletoe intentionally grounding) and then on the first possession of the second half brought it from 17-0 Packers to 17-14. Now, though, after a TD pass from Rodgers to MVS, it’s back to a more-like-it 24-14.
Not calling intentional grounding is a pet peeve of mine. So often it’s obviously intentional grounding—everybody knows it—but it’s not called. Either call it or remove it from the rule book. A rule that’s not enforced is no better than a can of rancid lima beans.
7:46 Pacific
FWIW, I think the PI on Stokes was legitimate. And that Sanu caught the ball. There’s certainly not enough to overturn the call on the field. So the defense just has to keep on keepin’ on. Grappletoe is not accurate enough to do that kind of stuff consistently. Just let him try to get it there; don’t help him by interfering with the receivers.
8:00 Pacific
Terrible, brutal hit on Adams. It should not just be a penalty, but the cat who hit Adams should be thrown out of at least this game, if not several. And fined heavily.
8:15 Pacific
I think MVS may have a hamstring. Actually, he has four, no doubt, but I’m fearful he has a hamstring injury. Jones looks a little iffy now, too.
Crosby’s FG with a couple of minutes left made it 27-21
Then the 49ers got a TD, 28-27. As Kip Dynamite said, “Dang it!”
Now Crosby hits a 51-yard FG as time expires to seal the deal at 30-28. Now we know whose tears there are.
Packers are now in sole possession of first place in the Central, and I don’t think they’ll ever give it up (this year, that is). But then again, they’ve been tied for first up until today.
Gary got at least two sacks today. Kenny G. Clark caused a fumble, too, which De’Vondre “Glen” Campbell picked up. He’s a linebacker for Brown County (sing it, everybody!).
I should have done this at the start of the season, but I will now give my prediction for the season record: 13-4. They are getting better every week, and they will get Bakhtiari and Z Smith back before too long; Deguarra should also make his presence felt more as the season wears on. And how about the “young pups” on the O-Line? Impressive bunch! Larry will be proud, and crowing like a rooster this week.