Sunday, December 09, 2007

Final: Packers 38 - Raiders 7

NFC North Division Champions: the Green Bay Packers! The universe is once again in order. The Packers are atop the division by virtue of defeating the Raiders 38-7.

Remember how I said that the Pack needed to get their act together in the second half? They did. Remember how I said this game had an "Oh-oh" feel to it? It did. But it was "Oh-oh" for the Raiders.

The last Packers' TD came with about 4 minutes left on a 46-yard pass from Brett to Donald Lee. Lee seemingly had about 25 yards of that on the run-after-catch, breaking several tackle attempts on his way to the endzone. Packers 38 - Raiders 7.

It appeared that there were no significant injuries in the game. Barnett returned in the third quarter and showed no ill effects from whatever the injury was near the end of the first half.

So, the Packers are division champs and are in the playoffs. The remaining schedule sets up well for the Packers, with the next two games away at St. Louis and Chicago, and the final regular season game back at Lambeau against Detroit. It will be interesting to see what personnel moves the coaches make in terms of resting key players. You always play to win. But at this point, it's now about winning in the playoffs to get back to the Super Bowl.

11-2...not a bad season...not bad at all. And it isn't over yet.