The Packers have lost QB Brian Brohm who has been signed off the practice squad by the Buffalo Bills.  Brohm was a huge bust for the Packers as he was a 2nd round pick (#56 overall) just two years ago.  He never made it into a game for the Packers as he was beaten out for the #2 job by Matt Flynn who was selected in the 7th round (#209 overall) in the same draft Brohm was picked in.  Flynn has played in 16 games in his 2 years with the Packers and he has completed 4 of 8 passes (50%) for 21 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (56.3 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 4 times for 4 yards (1.0 ypc) in his career so far.  It is entirely possible that Brohm turns everything around with a change of scenery but it was likely to never happen in Green Bay.

UPDATE:  The Packers have signed undrafted rookie QB Mike Reilly to the practice squad to replace Brian Brohm.  Reilly played at Central Washington where he was a standout but he was sitting on his couch when the Packers called so don’t expect much out of him.

The Green Bay Packers (5-4) beat the Dallas Cowboys (6-3) in what I thought would be a high scoring game full of big passing plays.  I was way off, but the Packers still did what it took to win the game.  The defense should take most of the credit in this one.  Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ offense had been playing very well coming into this game, but the Packers defense was able to disrupt Romo and the passing game.  They sacked him 5 times and intercepted him once, while holding him to 251 yards on 24/39 passes.  Those may seem like some decent numbers, but if not for Roy Williams, Romo’s numbers would have looked a lot worse.  Williams had 5 catches and a touchdown for 105 yards.  He was the only one the Packers did not shut down, as the Cowboys scored a season-low 7 points.  They also held the Cowboys running attack to 61 yards as a team.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense did a good job of controlling the ball and taking what the defense gave them.  The Cowboys were not going to let Rodgers beat them deep, so Rodgers decided to go with a lot of short passes.  He finished with 1 touchdown and 189 yards on 25/36 pass attempts.  The running game was solid, getting 105 yards as a team.  Ryan Grant led the way with 79 yards on 19 carries.  They also controlled the time of possession, having 36-24 minute advantage.  Rodgers was sacked four times and this has been a problem all season long.  They did enough to win this game, but they still need to figure out a way to protect Rodgers a little more.

The Green Bay Packers (4-4) are hosting the Dallas Cowboys (6-2) Sunday and it should be an offensive shootout.  The Cowboys are playing as well as anyone right now and Tony Romo is the main reason.  If the Packers can get Romo to play more like he did in the beginning of the year, then they will have a much better chance.  Romo has 9 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Cowboys current four game winning streak and has been hitting Mile Austin for many of those touchdowns.  The Packers need to make sure Austin doesn’t beat them for any big plays, as that is pretty much all Austin has been doing.  He has 27 catches for 612 yards (22.6 yards per catch) and 7 touchdowns this year.

The Packers offensive line needs to figure out a way to protect Aaron Rodgers.  Rodgers has been sacked more than any other quarterback this year but has still been putting up very good numbers.  The Cowboys are going to score some points, so the Packers are going to need to keep up.  Rodgers has the ability to, if he gets enough protection.  Ryan Grant can help with that too.  If the running game can have a big day, Rodgers will have more time in that pocket to hit Donald Driver and Brandon Jennings.  I expect this to be an exciting offensive game, but with the way the Cowboys have been playing lately I am not betting against them.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Dallas Cowboys 34, Green Bay Packers 30

It was Murphy’s Law for the Packers today as everything that could go wrong did in this game.  Aaron Rodgers was under assault the whole game as the Bucs had six sacks today.  Rodgers completed 17 of 35 passes for 266 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 INTs including a pick six that sealed the Packers’ fate late in the 4th quarter.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 26 yards (8.7 ypc) with a TD run.  Ryan Grant had a solid game for the Packers today carrying the ball 21 times for 96 yards (4.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Ahman Green became the All-Time leading rusher for the Packers in this game as he rushed for 45 yards on 6 carries (7.5 ypc).  James Jones led the way for the Packers in this game with 103 yards on 4 catches (25.8 avg) with a TD.  Donald Driver (4 rec, 71 yards, TD) and Greg Jennings (5 rec, 61 yards) both pitched in on the passing game today.  The Packers rolled up 404 total yards in this game (170 rushing, 234 passing) as they had possession of the ball for 35:17.

LB A.J. Hawk led a so-so effort by the Packers’ D in this game with 8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and a QB hit.  Safety Nick Collins pitched in with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception today. The Buccaneers finished up with 279 total yards on offense in this game (81 rushing, 198 passing). 

The Packers also had issues on special teams today as punter Jeremy Kapinos suffered a blocked punt that was returned 31 yards for a TD by Bucs’ CB Ronde Barber.  The Packers also had problems covering kicks today as Clifton Smith of the Bucs returned 4 punts for 54 yards (13.5 avg) and 2 kickoffs for 107 yards (53.5 avg).  The Packers are now 4-4 on the season after this disturbing loss to the Bucs.

The Packers have lost starting center Jason Spitz for the season due to a back injury.  He played in 5 games (4 starts) for the Packers this season.  Replacing Spitz will be Scott Wells who has played in 6 games (5 starts) this season for the Packers.  Losing Spitz has really hurt the team so far this season as the Packers were depending on him.  At least they had a decent backup like Wells to take over at center.

The Packers really need this game on Sunday and they are mad after getting dumped on for the second time by Brett Favre.  They will likely take out their frustrations on the poor Tampa Bay Buccaneers and this game won’t likely be too pretty.  Like they did against the Browns they will likely lean on the running game a little bit more than usual.  Ryan Grant will be taking aim at a Bucs’ D that is allowing 162.4 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  The Bucs don’t have the pass rush to likely bother Aaron Rodgers much despite the fact that he has been sacked 31 times already this season.  Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and newly found TE Spencer Havner could all have big games against the Bucs on Sunday.

This game could get ugly quick as Josh Freeman is making his first start of his NFL career this Sunday.  The Bucs should try to lean on the running game against the Packers on Sunday.  Cadillac Williams should get a lot of work in this game in an attempt to protect Freeman.  But the Packers have a good run defense as they have only allowed 99.4 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry so it won’t be easy for Williams.  Look for Freeman to lean on Kellen Winslow in the passing game as he should avoid taking on Al Harris and Charles Woodson. 

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 38, BUCCANEERS 7

Mason Crosby has been pretty solid for the Packers this season.  He has made 14 of 18 field goals and 17 of 18 extra points so far this year.  The Packers have a really good offense so Crosby will be among the league leaders in points at the end of the season.

The Packers will be without linebacker Brandon Chillar for a couple of weeks with a fractured hand.  Chillar has played in 7 games for the Packers this season and he has 36 tackles (2nd on the team), 1 sack and 1 tackle for a loss.  Look for rookie Clay Matthews to get more playing time due to Chillar’s injury and that’s likely a good thing.

 Brett Favre returned to Lambeau Field Sunday and he led his Minnesota Vikings (7-1) to a victory over his former Green Bay Packers (4-3).  Favre and the Vikings offense built a 17-3 lead going into halftime and it looked like it might be a blowout as the Vikings opened up the second half with a touchdown.  Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense finally responded though and scored 17 straight points to put the Packers back in the game.  Rodgers had another good game, but lacked protection once again.  He went 26/41 for 287 yards and three touchdowns.   Ryan Grant only got 30 yards on 10 carries.  Jared Allen and the Vikings defense did exactly what they did in the last match-up, blowing by the Packers’ offensive line and getting to Rodgers.  Allen led the Vikings with three sacks and they had six as a team.

The Packers defense could not do much to contain Favre, especially in the redzone.  He had four touchdown passes and no interceptions, while connecting on 17/28 passes for 244 yards.  They also gave up a huge passing play when Favre hit Percy Harvin for a 51-yard touchdown to open the second half.  The Packers offensive line really needs to get it together, as they have been giving up a ton of sacks all year.  If Rodgers can continually put up big numbers, despite getting sacked five times a game, imagine what he could do with good protection.