Week 12 Preview

A significant percentage of Week 12 is already in the books, what with the three Thanksgiving Day games, and the remaining slate does not feature a whole lot of compelling match-ups.  There are, however, some interesting story lines even within the poorer contests.  Are we watching, for example, the end of certain coaching eras in Philadelphia and San Diego?  Perhaps also, though less significantly, in Kansas City, Cleveland, and Arizona? 

The two prime time games this weekend are certainly at opposite ends of the spectrum.  The Football Night in America crew pulled the best match-up of the entire weekend, as the 7-3 Packers visit the 6-4 Giants.  More on that later.  The Monday Night Football folks at ESPN, meanwhile, are going to try to make interesting viewing out of the 2-8 Panthers' trip to 3-7 Philadelphia. 

The most interesting facet of the Monday Night game, it seems to me, is the juxtaposition of two over-hyped quarterbacks.  Both Michael Vick and Cam Newton have been heralded as sensational, multi-threat weapons.  And both have generated some highlights and some wins, to be sure.  Yet Newtom has fallen off considerably since his rookie debut, and Michael Vick has not proven himself to be a consistent winner in the NFL.  I doubt that that will be the dominant storyline on Monday Night, but with a combined 5-15 record, the question ought to be asked. 

Two games in our Conference have some interest for us.  The 9-1 Falcons at the 6-4 Buccaneers is likely to impact playoff seeding.  Meanwhile, the 7-2 49ers at the 5-5 Saints is a fascinating match-up.  San Fransisco is coming off of their impressive dismantling of the Chicago Bears, and they are coping now with an unexpected quarterback controversy.  The Saints, meanwhile, have climbed their way back from left-for-dead to relevancy.  They may not be able to contend seriously for their own division, but a wild card berth is within their reach.  The 49ers, meanwhile, have the Seahawks on their heels and lots of competition in the quest for bye weeks and home field advantage. 

Within our own Division, the 7-3 Bears host the 6-4 Vikings.  Chicago is reeling a bit right now, with two consecutive losses (including being humiliated by San Francisco), plus a concussed quarterback.  They head to Minnesota themselves in two weeks, with a visit from the Seahawks in between, so they cannot afford to lose this game.  And I don't think they will.  For while I never bought the 2012 Bears as one of the elite NFC teams, I do think they're better than the.  In any case, at this stage of the season, I'll welcome a loss by either one.

Finally, the undisputed game of the week is clearly the Packers-Giants match-up on Sunday Night.  New York has been the patron saint of inconsistency this year, including two consecutive clunkers against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.  But they sit atop a lousy division, they're coming off their bye week, and they sure had our number in the playoff game in Lambeau last January. 

I worry about the absence of Clay Matthews.  I worry about Eli Manning.  I worry about our inconsistent running game.  And I worry about the New York D-line.  But the most worrisome thing for me is Mason Crosby.  I don't think this Packers team is going to get blown out by anyone (cf. the Bears in San Francisco or the Jets on Thursday night).  If we lose, we'll lose by a few points.  And I'm not sure that Crosby is in the place right now mentally where he can be counted on to produce those few points that we may need.

Nevertheless, I like the Packers on the road, I like the revenge factor working in their favor, I like the way the defense came through (even without Matthews) in Detroit last week, I like Rodgers & Co. against New York's pass defense, and I like that we have been finding different ways to win this season.  And so, while I am admittedly nervous and anxious, I am looking for a Packer victory on the big stage in the big apple on Sunday Night.