Bretsky

It goes without saying that last Sunday's victory versus Phily was a Great Win for Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, and the Green Bay Packers. Overall, they played an outstanding first half, and good enough in the second half to win the game. Next week, they travel to one of the most difficult stadiums in the NFL to win in, and they need to put together four quarters of turnover free, solid football to advance to the NFC Title.

With that being said, her is one idiot's take of the winners and losers of our first road playoff victory in ages.

WINNERS

1. CHAD CLIFTON
Standing on the top of this list has to be Chad Clifton. Clearly he's had some ups and downs this year, but when the guy brings his game he is still one of the best in the NFL. Clifton manhanded the only true Eagles pass rushing threat in DE Trent Cole, who disappeared every time the Eagles needed a key play to stop the Green Bay Packers. The week before Cole talked the talk when commenting on how the Eagles DL was going to pressure and disrupt Aaron Rodgers, but clearly he failed to walk the walk.

2. JAMES STARKS
Circumstances did allow James Starks improved chances of success, but his skills still stood out nicely. Defensive Coodinator Sean McDermott devised his game plan around getting beat deep by Greg Jennings. Fortuntely, the Eagles have a small DL, crappy LB's, and often kept both safeties back which allowed for greater opportunities in the run game. Starks surely took advantage of them. Starks, who has dropped a few pounds the past few weeks, looked quick, decisive, shifty, and powerful. He was a part of several clutch first down and looks very natural as a receiver out of the backfield and I can't remember the last Packer rookie RB to crack 120 yards.

3. SAM SHIELDS
This dude has improved more than any rookie I can remember. Kudos to secondary coach Joe Whitt. TG we don't have Kurt Nottenheimer anymore ! Green Bay has so much trust in Shields they were often leaving him out on an island against Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Early in the game Shields broke up a 44yd bomb to Maclin as he was with him stride for stride. Once an unreliable raw athlete imitating a capable DB, Shields is looking like a future starter and his advancment has allowed Dom Capers to utilize Charles Woodsen in many effective ways. Revis Schmeevis Island..........our story this year is that NOBODY is getting by SAM'S SHIELD.

4. TRAMON WILLIAMS
Besides giving up one big play to Maclin, Williams was his normal blanket. Being assisted by a choke job by Mike da prick Vick, Williams times his jump perfectly in making the game winning interceptions. This guy ball instincts are incredible and he continues to get a great break on the pass

5. Aaron Rodgers- I was torn on the final spot. Rodgers needs to protect the ball better and gave up another 04 like fumble and we can't afford for that to occur again in Atlanta. With that being said, he did an outstanding job managing this game. It's obvious his week to week study has him very well prepared for every opponent, and his ability to move around in the pocket and make plays after keeping the play alive makes him one of the best in the NFL.
Despits some terrible drops by his WR's, Rodgers continues to run a very smart and effecient offense with the potential to strike a big play at any time.


OK, now on to the losers It goes without saying that in a game like this, the losers section may be a bit smaller and less detailed but here's your list of guys I'm going to be nitpicky about

1. JAMES JONES
You have to start with the obvious. Jones seems to be superior to Jordy Nelson in talent and ability to get open but his lack of consistency and focus appear to get in his way of being a dependable player. On one hand he caught a difficult TD pass with perfect form. And then he drops the easy long ball that might have had many of us celebrating an almost sure victory before the third quarter kickoff. TT has a tough call with this guy. He has big time talent but will continue to underachieve unless the light switch flips on.

2. GREG JENNINGS
The Phily DC seemed to design his scheme around not letting Greg Jennings beat his team deep. He had five targets. Our offense was effective without much from him. With that being said, Greg Jennings, you are our playmaker. We expect more of you than Driver, Jones, and Nelson. Jennings dropped two very catchable balls that we should expect him to pull in. Neither throw was perfect, but your star has to make those plays.

3. CULLEN JENKINS
I know I know. I have no conscience in calling out a guy who's been hurt for a while and was probably playing through pain. We've all been drooling over his return since he can be a playmaker when healthy. Jarius Wynn seemed to be just as effective. Jenkins seemed invisible. Call me spoiled, but I'd expect more.

4. MIKE da dog abusing VICK-- OK, I'm out of losers for Packers so I'm adding Vick for his choke job to end the game. If there was ever a doubt, Vick's meltdown should show us in pressure time we'd rather have AROD leading us to the win instead of Vick da Prick. Moving in on 35 seconds, many on offense figured Vick was going to spike the ball but instead he called his own play.........thankfully. After dropping back and pump faking the ball, he negleced to throw the ball to a wide open Jeremy Maclin hovering around the 15 yard line that would have put a panic into Packer nation. Had he hit Maclin, the Eagles may have had one or two shots to break the Packer Nations heart. Instead, Vick chose to try to expose a matchup of their #3 WR at best against one of the top CB's in the game. With that being said, Riley Cooper seemed to have a step on Williams and a good throw could have ended our season and at worst would be incomplete. But Vick da Prick underthrew the ball, Williams intercepted it, and all of Packer Nation was at peace !!


ON TO ATLANTA