The Packer Pundit

Packer Pundit Playoff Picture
By Patrick Stuckey
Eight weeks ago, if you'd have bet me the Packer's would be in 'any' position to be thinkin' 'bout the playoffs... let alone the number 7 seed going into the last weekend... I'd have taken your money and thought you a fool. So paint me red and call me a barn but whooooa... here it is week 17 and the Packers have a fair shot at extending their season... if...

If is a little word but it has a great big meaning.

Especially at playoff time.
Especially IF about 2 or 3 things need to fall the Pack's way.
Especially IF you consider we have to beat the best team in the NFC... at their stadium... with their 'Packer hating' fans... a team that beat us 26-0 in our season opener... and just happens to be our biggest rivalry... no scratch that... THE biggest NFL rivalry.

Other than that... it's a cake walk.

So here's the dealeo on exactly what we need to happen and why --

1) Packers must beat Chicago
We don't win... We aint in... 'nuff said
2) Giants lose to Redskins
IF the Giants win the Pack can still make it but it's such a long shot... it actually comes down to strength of victory and I think Florida has to beat Ohio State in one the Bowl games. Suffice it to say... Go Redskins! The game is being played in Washington and the Skins have been looking good lately (check out today's cheerleader). So hopefully the Giants will continue to implode.
3) Rams lose to Minnesota
This is ONLY important if the Packers and Rams are the only two teams left in the tiebreaker. As you may recall we blew the head to head game with the Rams earlier in the season. What we need to happen is either a straight out Ram loss in Minnesota (Rams eliminated) or... another team (other than the Giants) finishes at 8-8 (Panthers and Falcons who both have very difficult games on the road against the Saints and Eagles respectively). We have a better confrence record than Carolina and Atlanta so... we're bank baby!

Remember... we don't want to include the Giants in this 8-8 mix because they have a HUGE lead on us in strength of victories and at best... we'd need like 12 different upsets to happen... pull off a JEDI mind trick... get double pinochle... and win at rock, paper scissors. However... if the Giants and Rams lose... and the Packers win... we're going to the playoffs.

Green Bay clinches a playoff berth under one of the following scenarios, according to the NFL:

1) GB win + NYG win + GB clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over NYG

2) GB win + NYG loss or tie + STL loss or tie

3) GB win + NYG loss or tie + CAR win

4) GB win + NYG loss or tie + ATL win

5) GB tie + NYG loss + STL loss + ATL loss or tie + CAR loss or tie

One last word on this week's game
I'd love to beat the Bears and to have all the other scenarios happen for us but quite frankly... we've already won. The mere fact that we're in a game that actually has meaning is a win/win for our young football team. Just think... 3 weeks ago the Jets humiliated us in our own stadium and we were a dismal 4-8. After three straight (ugly) wins... we have a chance to get to .500 and make the playoffs. Not bad for a team with 18 rookies and the youngest players in the league.








Injury Update
WR Donald Driver aggravated his right shoulder injury early in the second half Thursday night and had to run back to the locker room for X-rays. Driver has a dislocated A/C joint, but he said after the game that the shoulder didn't pop out again. He returned to action later in the third quarter and finished with a game-high nine catches for 99 yards. Driver surpassed last year's personal highs of 86 catches and 1,221 receiving yards. He enters the final game Dec. 31 at Chicago with 89 receptions and 1,272 yards.

-- CB Charles Woodson also re-injured a chronic shoulder injury in the fourth quarter. He was able to finish the game. Woodson earlier had an interception, bumping his career-high season total to seven.

-- WR Ruvell Martin played Thursday after missing a game because of a bruised chest. Martin, a first-year player, had a career-high 69 receiving yards, equaling his season best with three catches. He had a key 36-yard reception late in the fourth quarter that put the offense in position to set up Dave Rayner's game-winning 44-yard field goal.

-- TE David Martin was deactivated for the fourth time in five games because of a ribs injury. Martin aggravated the injury in his return to action after a three-game absence Dec. 17 against Detroit.



Packers-Bears Moving To Prime Time
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 12/25/2006
The Green Bay Packers' regular season finale against the Chicago Bears on New Year's Eve is moving to prime time. As part of the NFL's flexible scheduling, the league has selected the Dec. 31 Packers-Bears game for the 7:15 p.m. (CT) kickoff on NBC at Soldier Field in Chicago. Other Dec. 31 games changing kickoff times as part of flexible scheduling include Atlanta at Philadelphia, Buffalo at Baltimore, and Miami at Indianapolis, all of which will begin at 3:15 p.m. (CT). While the Bears (13-2) have the NFC's top seed and home-field advantage secured throughout the playoffs, the Packers (7-8) may have their playoff hopes in the balance on Sunday night.

Among the several scenarios that could put the Packers in the playoffs, the most likely involve the New York Giants losing to the Washington Redskins on Dec. 30 and the Packers beating the Bears the next night, plus ONE of the following three pieces of help:

A St. Louis Rams loss to the Minnesota Vikings;
A Carolina Panthers victory over the New Orleans Saints; OR
An Atlanta Falcons victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

It is still possible for the Packers to qualify for the playoffs if the Giants beat the Redskins, but it would be mathematically unlikely for Green Bay to win the "strength of victory" tiebreaker over New York in that scenario. Under no circumstances can the Packers qualify for the playoffs with a loss to the Bears. Sunday night's game, with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden and sideline reporter Andrea Kremer, will be Green Bay's first game on NBC since playing the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII in January of 1997. -- Story





Those happy days
Jagodzinski, Jansen boys had a ball in West Allis
By LORI NICKEL / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 25, 2006

"Win, lose or draw, they don't care. They've always been there no matter what I've done. I've always had good friends." -- Jeff Jagodzinski

The only video game they had was Pong. There were what, five TV channels? Not a hundred. And kids didn't specialize in one sport. They shot hoops in the morning, threw around the football after lunch and played Little League baseball in the evening. In West Allis in the 1970s, in modest three-bedroom bungalows with tiny little yards, the three Jagodzinski boys lived on 90th street, the Jansen family of nine lived on 77th. They didn't tune out the world with iPods. They lived at State Fair Park. Or the after-school recreation program. Swam in the pool and skated on the little pond at McCarty Park. "You went out and made your fun," said Mike Jansen. "We spent a lot of time outside, I know that." Of course no one could ever imagine then that Dan Jansen would captivate a nation by winning an Olympic gold medal in speedskating. Or that Jeff Jagodzinski would move up the coaching ladder to become the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. That's been Jagodzinski's role this year, implementing the zone-blocking scheme while running Brett Favre's offense. But on occasion, Jagodzinski would drive down to visit the old neighborhood. St. Rita's. The barber, Judd Poeske, on 71st and Becher who first cut his hair. Old school friends. His homecoming will only last a year, though. In a week, or whenever the Packers season ends, Jagodzinski will leave again, this time for Boston College for his first head coaching job. -- More



Primed and ready for postseason
Packers have proved down the stretch
that they are playoff-worthy
By Tyler Dunne
With all due respect to the Cincinnati snapper-holder combo of Brad St. Louis and Kyle Larson, the Green Bay Packers have become a national punch line recently. Apparently winning games merits ridicule in national sports media. Although the Packers’ ascent into the playoff picture does signify the dwindling state of the NFC, Green Bay has unjustly been chastised on the radio, through the tube, and all over newspapers. While Michael Vick is worshiped after a loss against Dallas (where he took himself out of the game), Green Bay is laughed upon for grinding out a 9-7 win over Minnesota. As January football remains a possibility, the Packers have scratched and clawed their way back to respectability. And it’s that never-ending pursuit of respect that fuels the Packers’ pistons. Losing 35-0 and 38-10 to New England and the New York Jets, respectively, could have derailed Green Bay’s spirit, but Mike McCarthy’s squad is resilient. Several instances during the Vikings game proved this. After Brett Favre lofted an early Christmas present to former teammate Darren Sharper, Minnesota assumed complete control. Up 7-6, the Vikings now were in prime position to go for the jugular. Starting at their own 29, Minnesota had a golden opportunity to ice the clock into the fourth quarter and increase its lead. Instead, Bob Sanders’ defense stepped up like it had throughout the game. -- More






Meet Katie
Washington Redskins
Cheerleader

Dance/Cheerleading Experience: First-year member of Capitol Movement Project Dance team, five years with GJ's dance studio, seven years with Superstars Show Troupe, two years with Power Station, Westlake Varsity Cheerleading, two years with NCA All American Cheerleader, one year as Outback Bowl Cheerleader, four years with St. Charles Bears Cheerleading, two years coaching St. Charles Bears and two years coaching Pop Warner Redskins.

Acting Experience: American Musical and Dramatic Academy Acceptance, Creative Artists and Model One Talent Agency, three years in Arts program at College of Southern Maryland, one year in Theatre program at University of Maryland, four years of Theatre at Westlake High School performing "Music Man," "My Fair Lady," and "Gypsy." Other performances out of school: "Grease" and "Annie."

Pageant/Modeling Experience: Commercial and Print Modeling; Petite Runway Fashion Shows

Why did you become a cheerleader? I wanted to continue to perform with dancing and cheerleading, and I also wanted to full fill a dream to become a cheerleader and dancer at a professional level, and the best team to do so would be the Washington Redskins. It is the best organization in the NFL.

What do you like about being a cheerleader? I can't put into words the excitement the entire atmosphere of being a Redskins Cheerleader brings to my life. I simply love being on the sidelines and performing to my best ability for such a big audience.

What was your most exciting moment as a Cheerleader? My very first game in 2000, when the game began and the adrenaline rush as the cheerleaders, and also the players, ran through the tunnel and onto the field. The moment of the fireworks, and fans and announcers all at once, was crazy. It was all like a dream for me.

Countries Visited as a Redskins Cheerleader: Dominican Republic, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Honduras, Equador, Iceland, Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Germany, Austria, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Iraq and Qatar

Hobbies: Swimming, boating, traveling, jet skiing, shoe shopping, and laughing.

Education: Completing my Bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland in Arts and Humanities; Associates Degree in Arts and Humanities with College of Southern Maryland; American Musical and Dramatic Academy Acceptance; Westlake High School 1999 Graduate

Future Goals: To eventually be successful after the completion of my degree at University of Maryland. I want to begin a career in the broadcasting field or acting field, and I will continue to dance forever. I do hope to reside on or near a beach in the future.

Favorites!

Food: Italian and seafood
Music: Everything, including the 80s mix
Band/Singer: Prince, U2
Book: "Sam's Letters to Jennifer" by James Patterson
Redskins Player: Ladell Betts
Movie: "Pretty Woman," "Dirty Dancing," "The Notebook"
TV Show: "The Sopranos," "Golden Girls," "Sex and the City"
Cartoon: The Jetsons
Saying/Quote: "If at first you don't succeed, try harder."