Packers-Lions: by the numbers

By Os Davis  |   Friday, December 15, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Green Bay Packers
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!
It isn't all quite said and done with the Green Bay Packers yet, as much as some cheeseheads may wish it. While these last three regular-season weeks of the NFL often feel an interminable final five minutes of a "Madden" game when you're down by, say, 27, Packer backers will have a few numbers to keep track of this weekend against the Detroit Lions.

Key figures to look for include the following:

Seven. In the race for football immortality, Brett Favre now trails Dan Marino in career TD passes, 420 to 413. Against the once-feared (that once was in the opening game) Lions 'D' and with play calling leaning toward the pass, Favre should pitch at least a couple, if not three, on Sunday.

Ten. Meanwhile, Favre is also still chasing George Blanda in another run at immortality, that of career interceptions. The old QB/kicker combo is currently up, 277 to 267. Incidentally, looking at Blanda's numbers, one wonders what all the hype about Favre's long career is ... Blanda played for 26 years!

Eight. That's how many wins rookie head coach Mike McCarthy should be happy with, meaning that the Pack would have to win out, first in Lambeau against the Lions, against the Minnesota Vikings, and finally at the Chicago Bears. It's not as impossible as it seems upon first glance. Figure the Bears will have the No. 1 seed well clinched going into the game and Lovie Smith will be tuning up Brian Griese and some other backups.

Fifty. Certainly one of the bright spots in Wisconsin this season has been first-round draft pick A.J. Hawk, a dude living up to his carnivorous name more and more each week. After recording consecutive games of double-digit tackles in contests against the Vikes, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, Hawk snagged his first pick as a pro last week. Could the future of the Green Bay Packers be about 'D'?

Twenty-one. The future may begin with the 'D', but something will need to be done about No. 21 Charles Woodson. Woodson was the sole name player the Pack saw fit to sign as a free agent. Just one subpar season into a reported seven-year, $52 million deal, Woodson has managed to assist the green-and-gold 'D' into the 28th-best against the pass. Which means that on the other side of the ball, cheeseheads will be sweating over...

Eleven. Roy Williams, who should shred the weak Packer secondary for at least 100, maybe 150.

Prediction: Packers 38, Lions 21. Nothing like a visit from the Motor City Kitty Cats to boost spirits, eh?

Winding down the season with the Green Bay Packers at RealFootball365.com.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report