At some point the Packers will need a legit running game to maintain the success they have enjoyed early in the season as they are 5-1.  But, the weather will turn at some point and the Packers will need a running game or Brett Favre could have a rough time in the second half.  Rookie DeShawn Wynn has stepped up and the Packers would be smart to feed him the football a little bit more to give defenses something to think about.  Wynn has 202 yards rushing this season and he has averaged 4.1 yards per carry.  Brandon Jackson, also a rookie, has been a huge disappointment this season so far for the Packers.  He has carried the ball 38 times for 97 yards (2.6 ypc).  Vernand Morency seems to be more of a third down back as he has more catches (15) than carries (14). 

WR/KR Koren Robinson has been reinstated by the NFL after serving a long suspension.  He played in 4 games last year for the Packers and he caught 7 passes for 89 yards (12.7 avg) and he also returned 12 kickoffs for 253 yards (21.1 avg).  Robinson has the speed to stretch the defense in the passing game but he doesn’t have good hands and that has held him back during his career.  Robinson has now played in 75 games in his NFL career and he has caught 242 passes for 3,603 yards (14.9 avg) with 13 TD grabs and he also has carried the ball 21 times for 114 yards (5.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also has returned 59 kickoffs for 1,474 yards (25.0 avg) with 1 TD return.

Bubba Franks will miss the next couple of weeks with a sprained knee.  Franks has caught 14 passes for 90 yards (6.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs so far this season.  The Packers won’t likely miss Franks too much as Donald Lee has been playing great this season at TE.  Lee has caught 22 passes for 270 yards (12.3 avg) with 1 TD grab this season.  Look for Brett Favre to target Lee even more than he already has this season.

If he is still in football shape he could definetly be another weapon. Also, since the running game is a lost cause, he might give teams something to think about in a 4 reciever shot gun formation.

The Packers defense won the game for them today as the offense was pitiful.  Nick Barnett led the way for the Pack with 12 tackles.  DE Aaron Kampman (9 tackles, 2 sacks) and Charles Woodson (4 tackles, interception, 57 yard fumble return for a TD) were the big difference makers in this game for the Pack.  The Redskins rushed for 94 yards on 29 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 37 passes for 210 yards.

Brett Favre had his worst game of the season as he completed 19 of 37 passes for 188 yards with 0 TDs and 2 INTs.  DeShawn Wynn couldn’t get anything going on the ground as he carried the ball 13 times for 37 yards (2.8 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Vernand Morency pitched in with 4 carries for 11 yards (2.8 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 23 yards (4.6 avg).  TE Donald Lee (3 rec, 75 yards) and Wr Donald Driver (5 rec, 38 yards) led the way for the receivers on the Packers.  The Packers finished up with 56 yards rushing on 20 carries (2.8 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 37 passes for 169 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271014009

This is a game between two good defensive teams that like to operate in different ways on offense.  The Packers like to throw the ball and the Redskins like to grind it out on the ground.

Look for the Packers to come out throwing in this football game like they always do.  Brett Favre (1,527 yards passing, 9 TD passes) will likely spread the Redskins defense out and move the ball around to his fine corps of receivers.  The Packers offensive line must block well against DE Andre Carter and keep him out of the backfield so Favre has enough time to throw the ball.  The Redskins have only allowed 182.0 yards passing per game this season and they have only allowed 2 TD passes so this will be fun to watch.  Rookie RB DeShawn Wynn has run the ball really well this season and he seems to have locked up the starting job for the time being but he might have trouble getting too many yards against the Redskins stout run defense that is allowing only 86.0 yards rushing per game and 3.8 yards per carry.

The Redskins will likely try to play smash mouth football against the Packers.  Clinton Portis (299 yards rushing, 4.5 ypc, 3 TDs) seems to have earned back his starting job and he will take on the Packers linebacking corps.  It will be interesting to see how Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk do against him.  The Packers do allow 226.4 yards passing per game so the Redskins might try some long stuff to Santana Moss and some short stuff to TE Chris Cooley.

PREDICTION:  This will be a low scoring, physical football game.  I like the Packers by a field goal but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Redskins sprung as upset here with the way they have been playing this year.

Starting center Scott Wells will miss at least this week’s game with the Redskins as he has a fractured eye socket.  Second year man Jason Spitz will replace Wells in the starting lineup.  Spitz got a lot of experience last season so he should be able to do a decent job until Wells is ready to return.

The Packers melted down in a game they should have won.  The Packers were winning 17-7 at halftime but they started to get away with what was working in the first half which was the running game.  Brett Favre completed 29 of 40 passes for 322 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions including a horrible one to Brian Urlacher that resulted in a TD a couple of plays later.  Rookie RB DeShawn Wynn was outstanding as he carried the ball 13 times for 78 yards (6.0 ypc) and a TD.  Vernand Morency also had a good game as he carried the ball 9 times for 43 yards (4.8 ypc) and he also caught 7 passes for 48 yards (6.9 avg).  Greg Jennings (4 rec, 83 yards, TD) and Donald Driver (4 rec, 51 yards) both had solid games.  But, rookie James Jones had a night to forget as he caught 5 passes for 61 yards but he lost two fumbles and they both hurt.  The Packers finished up with 121 yards rushing on 22 carries (5.5 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 40 passes for 318 yards.

The Packers defense played a pretty solid game for the most part.  Safety Atari Bibgy (9 tackles) and linebacker Nick Barnett (9 tackles, 1.5 sacks) led the way for the Packers defense.  The Bears finished up with only 82 yards rushing on 33 carries (2.5 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 25 passes for 203 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271007009

Make no mistake about it, Mike McCarthy’s play calling LOST this game!  Sure the 4 turnovers didn’t help but the play calling in second half was the worst I’ve EVER seen.  What the hell was he thinking.  During the first half we’re moving the ball nicely.   Why change things?  His play calling has been suspect sense he got to GB but this game sealed the deal… he’s got to go or he’s got to put someone else in the position of calling the game!

Punt returner Charles Woodson hasn’t made any big plays yet this season as he has returned 12 punts for 97 yards (8.1 avg).  Reserve cornerback Tramon Williams is returning kickoffs this season and he has 272 yards on 12 returns (22.7 avg) so far this season.  The Packers need a little bit more out of these two guys to help out with field position.