210 NFC Champions: Green Bay Packers

I can say that the "official website of the Packers" SUCKS -- its blog hasn't been updated since January 21st.  Oh give me a fricking break. 

I don't know nothin' about football and I maintained a nearly constant blog-stream of commentary during today's game.  So how hard can it be, I ask you?

NFL coverage:  Rodgers leads Pack to Superbowl, beat Bears 21 - 14

We have had more than a dozen players on the IR throughout the season.  The Pack was an early pre-season favorite to go the Big Dance.  Well, we proved those prognosticators right.

How can someone do this an entire game???

Third and one Packers at the Bears 34 - incomplete pass.  Packers must punt.

Good punt, ball bounces on the 12-or -10 deep in Chicago's field.  7:22 to go in the 4th.

I am now listening to coverage on the Packers radio network.  I've got the sound turned down on the t.v. and there's a bit of a time-delay --  I tossed out the last cupful of nuts and peanuts for the squirrels for the day.  I am SO happy to see that it's still fair daylight out at 10 to 5 in the evening!  Spring will be here in 60 days...

Forte tries to run the ball and gets about nothing, so it seemed to me, but the radio is saying he may have got 2.  Haney through to Bennett who was brought down at the 15.  Gain of 3.  3rd and 5 for the Bears. 

Whoa - Chicago takes a time out at 6:12.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME - I'M TAKING A PEE AND WE GET AN INTERCEPTION-- I HEARD IT CALLED ON THE RADIO - - RIGHT WHEN I WAS THINKING I SHOULD TURN ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE -  YES, I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT DOWN AND WILL NOT UNTIL THE PACKERS LOSE, WHICH THEY WON'T ---

DAMN! 
Hero of the game #80, B.J. RAJE, run back for a touchdown, a 340 pound nose-tackle.  Goddess is definitely smiling on the Packers today.  Told you so - she does not appreciate dirty play.

PACKERS 21 - BEARS 7.

6:04 to go (I expect the website I'm checking for that is off by several minutes in real time).  Bears make a first down at the 35 of Green Bay.  Earl Bennet catches a pass and runs it in with no resistance from the Packers.  That sucks.

PACKERS 21 - BEARS 13, WILL BE 14 IF THEY MAKE THE POINT AFTER.  4:43 TO GO.

Packers will have the ball...

Ball returned to about the 25 by Charles Woodson.  Packers take over --

Looks like we may be trying to take time off the clock now - kept the ball on the ground, no gain on the play.  2nd and 10 -- Nelson runs the ball but loses a yard.  Okay dudes, this isn't working.

Rodgers was back to throw and had no one open, he runs but has nowhere to go, slides and is down with the loss of a yard.

Packers have to punt.  Hester is back to receive.  So - let's see what's going to happen - Goddess, please bless the Packers.

Chicago has the ball on its own 29 yard line.  About 3:07 to go. 

Now 2:49 to go.  2nd and 10 Chicago.  Gain of 1 on a pass bobbled by Haney.  Ball received by Forte.

3rd and 9 for Chicago, 2:44 to go.  Bears have 2 times outs left, Packers 3.

Blitz is on, sonofagoddess got the first down on a pass.  Ball now at the 39 or so.  First down, Haney incomplete pass.  OHMYGODDESS, a grounding call on the quarterback!  Now all of a sudden it's 2nd down and 20.

Forte catches a pass and gains 10 yards, 3rd and 10 for the Bears at their own 40.

1:54 left - Packers lead by a touchdown but the Bears are driving.  It appears that Forte has the first down near the Bears 50 yard line but now it's a commercial and and I can't tell --

Ohmygoddess, please spare my poor heart and give the Packers a victory.  I can't take much more.  Thank you and Amen.

4th and inches for the Bears...

29 makes the first down with 3 yards.  1.43 to go.  Pick up of 12 on short pass and run, first down for Bears.  1:27 to go.

Haney has to throw it away.  1:21 to go, 2nd and 10 Bears.

Olsen catches a Haney pass for about 7.  1:15 remaining.

3rd down and 3 -- Chicago takes a time out after what appeared to be a snap. 1:13 left?

Haney sacked NEAR THE 30 YARD LINE, loss of 2. 

OHMYGODDESS - INCREDIBLE.  I can't even describe what happened - Shields intercepted a long pass and started a run back and I was jumping of my chair and screaming my head off,  but looked like he fumbled but the ball but appeared to be recovered by a Packers player, but now they're saying Shields recovered his own fumble so is it a fumble?  At any rate - ITS FRICKING OVER, DARLINGS!!!!!!

ITS OVER!!!!

As our Green Bay Packers announcer, Wayne Larrivee, says, THERE IS YOUR DAGGER.

OHMYGODDESS!

GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!

GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!

Okay, need to take a serious break here. OHMYGODDESS!

P.S. added at 5:19 p.m.  I had to take a pee and immediately afterward I ran to the Christmas tree in the front room and plugged in the lights, with maybe a minute to go on the play clock?  Anyway - I think my Magic Christmas Tree did the trick!  GO PACK GO! GO PACK GO!

SUPERBOWL BOUND!  Thank you, Football Goddess.  Thank you.

3:10 TO GO IN THE THIRD QUARTER - PACKERS LEADING 14-0

A stupid play by Tramon Williams to grab the ball on the Bears' punt put us in jeopardy when he fumbled the ball but another Packers player fortunately bounced on the ball - and the whole thing was rendered moot by a Bears penalty called upfield.  So, it's the Packers' ball.

2:59 to go Third Quarter.  Ball handed off to John Koon for 2.

2nd and 8.  Brandon Jackson goes nowhere and gets hit in the backfield for a loss of 5, Urlacher makes the play.  Well, we have to give the Bears something.

Rodgers throws under pressure, incomplete.  4th down.  Rodgers is pissed off at the execution by his players.

Hester catches the ball in relatively good position and had room to roam, but his own man had to run into him.  Unfortunately, Packers had an inelligible man down field and was penalized 5 yard and have to kick again.  SONOFAGODDESS!

Okay guys, suck it up. 

Wow, a nice punt - Earl Bennett for the Bears runs it back for 21 yards.

Bears player gets a first down, runs for 11 yards - didn't catch his name, sorry.  It's now about on the 44 Bears ard line.  Forte runs the ball for a gain of 4.  END OF THIRD QUARTER.

COMMERCIAL BREAK -

Forte picks up a first down after an 8 yard run.  Oh my Goddess - Collins is now out as substitute Bears quarterback and someone named Caleb Haney is now in????  Is that right? 

Forte gets 11 on the ground for another first down.  Ball sacked behind the line of scrimmage.

Haney throws and completes to Johnny Knox at the 1 - he was forced out of bounds.

First and Goal Chicago, TD Chester Taylor running the ball.

Green Bay 14 - Bears 7

12:35 left in the 4th.  The Bears fans are making noise again, after having been remarkably quiet during the third quarter. 

So - will the Packers try to keep it on the ground to run up time, or go for the quick score?????  I say - quick score.  But I don't know nothink!

Commercial break --

James Starks catches the punt and runs it out to the 24.  Packers ball.

Starks running the ball.  No gain. 

Rodgers throws way down field - incomplete - but a roughing the passer penalty is called agianst Peppers and we get 15 yards and first down.  DIRTY PLAY DIRTY PLAY DIRTY PLAY!

And now a bullshit call against the Packers, just to show that the refs are "balanced" - called the 5 yards false start against the Packers.

Penalty flag called against Chicago against 46 on a pass play to Donald Driver.  Automatic first down.  You betcha!

At the Packers 48.  Pass dropped off to Koon, who takes the ball to the Bears 45.  2nd and 4 Packers.

Starks on the ground picks up 2.  Third down and 2. 

Incomplete pass to Quarless #81.  Packers have to punt.

Packers down the ball inside the 5 - nice!  Oh - the bullshit is going on now - the officials are saying it's a touchback.  Yeah, right.  I've seen the replay 3 times already.

9:19 to go in the 4th and it will be Bears' ball on the return from commercial break.  And I'm going to sit back and watch the rest of the game.

NFC Championship 3rd Quarter - Packers have the ball...

James Starks runs for 9, but a penalty flag is down.  Oh shit, holding against Scott Wells, our Center, for 10 yards.  Damn!

Now it's 1st and 20 at the 17...

Pass complete for only a yard to Jennings.  Jennings makes a big first down catch on second down of 22 yards!  GO PACK GO!

We're now about our own 34 - James Starks picks up a yard after a lot of spinning.  Time off the clock.

Second and 8 - oh oh - penalty called against Green Bay - holding.  Against Chad Clifton (76).  Rodgers didn't have anywhere to go anyway.  Now 2nd and 18.

Pass complete to Jordy Nelson for 10.  Third and long at about the 36 --

Rodgers pressured, Rodgers dodges sacks - but has to throw the ball away.  Packers punt.  Hester catches the ball at about the 22 but he slips and goes down.  So much for the National Football League declaring that Soldiers' Field was PLAY READY.  YEAH, RIGHT.  In this case, it helped Packers.

GO PACK GO!

Taking a break for a bit --

Packers at Their Own 17...

Jennings missed the pass, but he was blocked out.  2nd and 10 Pack at their own 17.

A gain of 2, it will be 3rd and 8 for the Pack.  The Bears fans are trying to make some noise now.  BUT JORDY NELSON MAKES A 22 YARD CATCH ON 3RD DOWN - GOOD TO MOVE US INTO BEARS TERRITORY, ABOUT THE 50.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!

Rodgers now hits Jennings for another first down at about the 40.

Starks running the ball for 9 - short of the first down but close, very close.  GO PACK GO.  GO PACK GO.

Starks gets stuffed behind the line of scrimmage, third and short.  Oh oh - Rodgers threw down the field to James Jones - PASS INTERFERENCE CALLED as 26 Bears Jennings grabs Jones' left arm.  AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN inside the 10!

Wow, 23 yard penalty.   First and goal.

Starks runs the ball for 2.  Incomplete pass to drive deep in the endzone - the ball was overthrown and Driver was too close to the line, even if hehad come down with the ball he probably would have been out of bounds. 

Oh shit, on third and goal Rodgers threw a pass that was intercepted by Urlacher.  Rodgers tackled him at the Bears 45.

Todd Collins, Bears substitute, replaces Cutler.  Jake Cutler is out with a knee injury.

Collins' first pass is incomplete.  False start called on #68 for five yards on the Bears.  Collins is hit on his throw, it's now 3rd and 15 and Bears fans are booing.  BOOING - the dirty rotten assholes - booing their own players when they should be standing up cheering --

Packers' Nick Collins appears to have intercepted Collins' pass on third down, but the ball appears to have been picked off the ground.  It's ruled an interception, and Lovey Smith is challenging the call.  It's now a commercial break and I'm getting another glass of wine --

AFTER THE COMMERCIAL BREAK:

After review, pass was incomplete and hit the ground, no interception, it's 4th and 15th for the Bears.

They have elected - wisely - to punt.

Tramon Williams waits for the punt in the backfield.  Garrett Wolf taps the ball inside the 20.  PACKERS BALL.

Be Calmed My Beating Heart...

WHEW!  Trying to catch my breath here.  Packers lead, 14-0 against the Bears and the second half is about to begin.

There is a LOT of football chess left to play and I am by no means sanguine that the Packers have this one in the bag.  That being said, I believe the Packers have a slight edge on the better players, starting with the quarterback position.  Rodgers has been efficient and FAST today. He's not giving the Bears defense time to key in on him, getting rid of the ball quickly and has been relatively accurate, I believe he's completed something like 75% of his passes during the first half.  Packers are balancing passing with running and have well over 100 yards the first half.  Rodgers has been outstanding, I think, and a full host of Packers players have stepped up and made plays when they had to.  It is truly a team effort.

Wow - over 250 yards and 14 first downs.  The announcers are - can you believe this - pooh-poohing this because "it's only a 14 point game."  You know what - well, I will try and be a lady and not say what I really want to say right now.

Bears receive and run the ball to their own 40.  Cutler evidently may be hurt but will stay in the game (for now).  Forte has been stuffed trying to run the ball twice.  It's 3rd and 4 and an incomplete pass makes it a punting situation for the Bears.

Tramon Williams is back to catch the ball but he lets the Bears down it at about the 14.

A frustrating start to the 2nd half for the Bears, who needed to make some big plays and move the ball down the field.  I can feel the change in the air all the way up here in Milwaukee - it's definitely showing green and gold in the sky right now, and the sun is shining more brightly than ever for Packers gold.  Damn - even my hair is starting to look better.  What's up with that???

Packers will have the ball when we return after commercial break...

PACKERS 3RD AND ONE ON BEARS 45....

Packers ball - Rodgers had to take a time out because of play clock and crowd noise and confusion on the field.  Packers have over 200 yards in offense not quite first half.  Fourth down - Starks was not able to make the down and Packers have elected to punt.  The ball landed deep in Bears territory but bounced back and ended up downed at the 11 yard line.

Still a lot of time to go in the first half:  5:02 minutes.  I have my toes, eyes, arms, and most of my fingers crossed (except those needed to type) against the Bears scoring anything in this half.  It is important the Packers go into the half with a big lead, cuz you know the Bears will come out in the second half all re-charged. 

Ah shit, Tremon Williams just got called for a holding penalty and give the Bears, who weren't doing jack shit after 2nd down, an automatic first down.  Booo hiissss boooo. 

Cutler put the ball up for grabs and Clay Matthews of the Packers nearly had an interception - but Greg Olson knocked the ball away (which was meant for him).    Now, running the ball, Forte gets 13 yards for a first down.  Trying the run again, Forte is knocked down with next to no gain.  Yep, it's second and 10.

Meanwhile, time is ticking away - just checked and it's 3:59 to go in the first half.  Forte just gained some yardage after a short pass.  A.J. Hawk for the Pack is getting the guys revved up...

Third and seven coming up for Chicago and it's the 2 minute warning - time to go pee...

I have relocated to the Toshiba laptop downstairs in the kitchen-dinette.  The floor seems to be more sound here.  It was making ominous creaking noises upstairs but after so much jumping up and down I'm sure I've damaged the joists, particularly since I haven't been able to lose these last 5 pounds.

WOOOOHHHHHAAAAA!  Packers just made a really BIG PLAY!  Cutler was stripped of the ball and the play is marked dead within about the 15 yard line of the Bears.  Punt ---- ball hops out of bounds about the 40?

Packers ball!  Now we'll see Rodgers and the Pack going into their minute drill.

Packers have the ball on about the 30, Rodgers looks to pass but no one is open, he runs AGAIN with the ball and no one is covering him!  He picks up an easy 12 yards and a first down!

Packers have 1 time out left.  Rodgers missed a pass, it's 2nd and 10.  Donald Driver picks up his first pass for 9 yards and we're close to a first down.  Rodgers takes the ball over the line himself.  First down!

Oh shit - Donald Driver loses the ball and it's intercepted - but I tell you, that ball was DOWN.  That's a bullshit call, Packers should have challenged.

But they probably figure it's not worth it, this close to the half. 

OKAY, SAM SHIELDS, A ROOKIE ON THE PACK, INTERCEPTS CUTLER'S LONG PASS NEAR THE END ZONE.

Oh - and now those assholes are reviewing the interception.  Gee, good sportsmanship, Bears.  I predict - the call will not be overturned, unless they're seeing something that is not being shown to us on television...

CALL IS NOT OVERTURNED.  One announcer said he thought the call should have been overturned because the ball held by Shields "moved" as he hit the grounds.  Yeah, right - watch the replay over again, and get some glasses, dude.

HALF TIME! Packers 14 - Bears ZERO.