How Do You Spell Relief? R-A-M-S!

A trip to St. Louis was just what the Packers needed. Our team, which seemed to be in mid-season form during August, was full of kinks and mistakes so far in September. Clearly, there were still some things to be ironed out. And so it was nice to be able to get another week of work in while stilling getting a "W" in the process. Of course, it probably couldn't have happened against a better team.

I guess we'll find out next week, when we'll play an obvioulsy much better team.

What was Allen Greenspan's famous phrase? "Irrational exuberance," I believe. That is what I am trying to avoid in the wake of Green Bay's 19-point victory. Every win is a step in the right direction, of course, but some serious concerns remain. To wit:

How does our defense give up 17 points to a team that had averaged 3.5 so far in 2009? How does our offense come away with only field goals on those first three opportunities, especially given the short field? How does our kicker miss one PAT and get another one partially blocked?

Also, I'm afraid that pretty soon teams are going to figure out that, anytime they need to pick up 8-12 yards, they just need to throw something underneath against our linebackers in coverage. Capers' pass-rush schemes need to get consistent pressure on the opposing QB, othewise those linebackers are going to get eaten alive by some good, patient, dink-and-dunk quarterback.

Meanwhile, our protection of our quarterback remains a concern. Granted, giving up only 2 sacks this week is an improvement on the league-leading 10 that we came into the game with after two weeks. Still, it would have been more than 2 sacks yesterday if Aaron Rodgers weren't so mobile.

On the other hand, you have to love this about Rodgers: 3 games, 12 sacks, but no intereceptions. That's a cool customer, who is facing continual pressure, is taking a lot of hits, but doesn't throw the bad ball.

Also encouraging was what we were able to do with a lead in the 4th quarter. The great fear -- and not an unfamiliar sight -- is that your team turns into "prevent" mush on defense and three-runs-and-a-punt on offense. The Packers showed a little more killer instinct with the lead on both sides of the ball this week, however.

Another welcome sight was the return of the big play on offense. Indeed, the big play was really our offense's best weapon on Sunday. (Perhaps that's why we only got field goals when we were given the short field -- it was TOO short! We couldn't squeeze in one of our 50-yard passes!)

Well, in the end it was a win, which is most important. It was a Conference win, which is strategically important. It was a road win, which is excellent. And it was a win in a game we were supposed to win, which is essential.

Next week, however, is not a game that we are supposed to win. But we need to! 'More about that another day...