Now, finally, the Main Event…

Posted: Oct. 26, 2009

If the Green Bay Packers game against the Minnesota Vikings were on pay-per-view, then it would definitely be the Main Event.

That would make their 31-3 win Sunday over the Cleveland Browns the epitome of an undercard match. Not much of a prelim, was it.

If the Viking game were to be staged at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, then the Browns game should’ve been played at Moose Lodge #2370 in suburban Toledo…on Saturday afternoon.

To quote popular ring referee Mills Lane: “Let’s get it on!”

In what has to be considered the most anticipated regular season game – ever – the Vikings will come to Lambeau Field for the rematch. Think Holyfield-Tyson II, the afterbite.

The Pittsburgh Steelers did their part by defeating the Vikes, 27-17.

Sweeter than that Minnesota loss, at least for those Packer fans with a thirst for vengeance, was the fact that two Steeler TDs came via a Brett Favre fumble and interception. The latter came just as Favre was driving for a game-tying field goal or outright win with less than two minutes to play.

To be fair, it wasn’t Brett’s fault. The pick came off of Minnesota’s Chester Taylor into the welcoming arms of Keyaron Fox, who gamboled the remaining 82 yards to snuff out any hopes Favre had of remaining undefeated.

In fact, if Percy Harvin hadn’t run the kickoff back for a score after the 77-yard touch return of Favre’s fumble, the above heroics would not have been necessary.

Still, the Vikes lead the North Division with a 6-1 mark as they travel to take on a 4-2 Packer team hell-bent on revenge…big time.

So?

What, if anything, can be gleaned from the 60 minutes that passed itself off as an NFL game? Not a whole helluva lot!

They dispatched a pathetic Browns team that is ravaged as much by its lack of talent as it was by a swine flu outbreak during the week. Not exactly a shocker.

We learned that Green Bay could protect Aaron Rodgers against an inferior team.

We learned that when you increase the number of carries, you will rush for more yards, especially against an inferior team.

We learned that Donald Driver is a special player who shows no signs of slowing down and is having another Pro Bowl season.

We also learned that the penalties continue to accrue to the Packers like frequent flyer miles for a salesman. Not good.

You can survive mental lapses and errors that result in a sea of yellow against the likes of Detroit and Cleveland. But not against a motivated Favre & Co. And don’t forget, the Steelers are also on their schedule.

What you can say is that the Packers did show some flashes of brilliance.

The YAC (yards after catch) was the best of the season, reminiscent of 2007 when Green Bay led the league in that category. Spencer Havner’s and Driver’s scores leap to mind.

And even though the Cleveland offense is woeful at best, the defense strung together its eighth quarter in a row without ceding the end zone. They had more turnovers. They played an aggressive, in-your-face style against the run as well as the pass.

There was even an A.J. Hawk sighting. And he made plays. He stuffed the run behind the line of scrimmage on at least two occasions. More of that ball Hawk-ing, please.

Green Bay will have to bring all of this – and more – to the table next week at home.

Whatever you do, don’t let Favre beat you like he did the first time around. Take some chances. Rattle his cage. Bring on the blitz. Let Charles Woodson and Atari Bigby alternate coming in off the corners. Let Aaron Kampman touch the not-yet frozen tundra.

NOW, THAT’S WHAT I CALL ‘ADMIRAL-ABLE’

A doff of the cap is definitely in order for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.

The Ads kicked off their home schedule by honoring the area’s heroes from Milwaukee’s Mayor Tom Barrett to fiery SUV crash survivor, five year old DJ Harper, who dropped the ceremonial first puck Saturday night. A true lump-in-throat moment

Harper’s main rescuers, Joel and John Rechlitz, wounded MPD officers Graham Kunish and Bryan Norberg, Elm Grove PD’s John Krahn and Naval Officer Jaymz Touchstone, representing all of our nation’s men and women in uniform.

Ordinary people committing extraordinary acts of courage and bravery…thinking of others and putting their own comfort and safety at risk.

The Admirals continue to be one of the best run organizations in town. Ticket prices are family and recession-friendly. There are discounts and promotions and other deals too numerous to mention.

The always anticipated promotion video featuring the front office never fails to entertain. A trip to the Bradley Center for an Admiral game is always worth the trip. Oh, and they won their opener, 3-2, in overtime.

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Now, finally, the Main Event…