A Perfect Weekend

Some Packer fans have created veritable shrines in their basements and rec rooms. Their walls and shelves are filled with pennants, posters, jerseys, ticket stubs, autographs, clippings and other paraphernalia that reflects the highlights from their years of allegiance.

Well, if an entire afternoon could be bronzed and displayed on a shelf, this Sunday afternoon would qualify. What a perfect weekend for Packer fans!

First, of course, there was the cakewalk in Cleveland. While there was a moment of concern when the Browns drove so effectively into the Packer red zone early in the game, their failure to turn it into a touchdown gave not only a sense of relief, but also a sense of how the rest of game would unfold. Cleveland was inept on offense, and their defense was no match for the Packers' explosiveness. Like last week's romp over Detroit, this week's game was another three hours of pleasure viewing. And even more pleasurable than last week, in fact, because there were fewer Green Bay mistakes.

We'll explore the details of Packers' victory more in the days ahead.

Then, later in the day, there was the public undressing of the Chicago Bears. Another three hours of undisturbed pleasure! I did expect the Bengals to win, but this was no contest. If I were a Bears fan, I wouldn't know where to begin in analyzing, evaluating, and processing this loss. What an embarrassment. Obviously even good teams lose games. But does a truly good team get plastered like that? I don't think so.

In the 4th quarter, the announcer said it was going to be a highly forgettable game for Lovie Smith and the Bears. Forgettable? That would be a mercy if they could just forget it.

'Should be another great week of eavesdropping on Chicago sports talk radio!

The real piece de resistance, however, was the Viking loss.

FOX moved briefly to coverage of the Minnesota-Pittsburgh game after the conclusion of Green Bay's victory. When we tuned in, the Steelers were ahead by 3 with just under 2 minute to play -- an encouraging scenario. It began to look ominous, however, as Favre and Peterson moved the Vikings into Pittsburgh territory, and then quickly into field goal range.

Last Sunday, my enjoyment of the Packer win was partly spoiled by the subsequent coverage of the Vikings' last minute comeback against Baltimore, followed by the Ravens' missed attempt at a game-winning field goal. And now I feared the same kind of nonsense was going to unfold before my eyes again -- a great Packer victory somewhat deflated by having to watch more 4th-quarter Favre heroics.

But, no! A muffed pass turns into an interception, and the interception turns into a Pittsburgh touchdown. 'Not enough time left for Favre to come back from a 10-point deficit.

I have only cheered for the Pittsburgh Steelers about 3 times in my entire life, and each time most reluctantly. But I was a big Steeler fan today, and delighted by the outcome.

So, it was a perfect Packer weekend. We'll enjoy it for a few days... and then we'll take a look at what lies ahead.