Oct 28, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (top) celebrates with safety Morgan Burnett (42) following a sack during the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Writing about the Packers is not always fun.  In this case reviewing the Jags game follows actually watching the Jags game, and in all honesty I can say this was the hardest game of the season to watch.

The Packers emerged from their game with Jacksonville on Sunday on the victorious side of the 24-15 score.  They were outpassed, outrun, but not outlasted.  Expectations were much higher in this game though – especially for the offense.

The game began with a three and out by the Jaguars after the Packers won the toss and deferred.  I thought for certain that the Pack O would get rolling early, but lo and behold they went three and out, too.

On the Jags second possession they completed a long pass on third down to get within field goal range and they took an early lead 3-0.  A collective groan was heard emanating from the Packers faithful.  Were the Packers going to play down to the level of their competition again?  It sure looked that way.

On the ensuing possession, the Packers O looked better, driving the ball down for a short TD pass to Randall Cobb.  Score 7-3 Packers, but the lingering doubts remained.

The Jaguars moved the ball efficiently on their next possession until Morgan Burnett recovered a Jennings fumble in Packers territory.

The Packers could not capitalize on the turnover.

After the punt, the Pack D applied some pressure and held Jacksonville deep in their territory.  When the Jags went to punt defended by only 10 Packers players, Davon House went unblocked anyway and took advantage of the situation by blocking Anger’s punt.  Dezman Moses recovered in the end zone for a Pack TD.  Score 14-3 Packers.

On the Jags next possession a questionable PF call on Davon House for what looked like a clean hit and another on Mike Neal for defensive holding (on a lineman?) kept Jacksonville moving but for the rest of the first half neither team was able to sustain anything meaningful until the Jags forced a Rodgers fumble deep in Pack territory.

Jacksonville punched it in but failed to convert the two making the halftime score 14-12 Packers.  Not what anyone had envisioned for the halftime score in this one.

The third quarter was exceptionally difficult to watch.  Rodgers got pounded some more.  Packers receivers dropped more passes.  Jacksonville managed to remain close enough to threaten.  The Packers moved the ball but stalled once when a fourth down pass by Masthay fell short and a second time when Crosby right-doinked a FG from 32 yards out.  It was still 14-12 Packers after 3, and it seemed we were looking a game that could go either way.

The final quarter started with the Packers finally moving the ball.  Jones hauled a 31 yard pass in to get close, and Driver got his end zone dance on after he snagged a Rodgers TD pass.  Score 21-12 Packers early in the fourth.

Except for trading field goals to make the final score 24-15, the fourth quarter was entirely forgettable.  It seemed every time the Packers O or D did something positive, they managed to erase the positive with a negative.

The game wasn’t all bad though.

Here are some chest bumps and thumps:

Chest Bump - Coach McCarthy tossed the red hanky twice, successfully challenging two plays that the officials really should have gotten right on their own.  Both the second quarter pass to Shorts and the fourth quarter pass to Blackmon were reversed as they should have been.

Thump – I’m tired of harping on this point, but the officials made questionable and straight-up bad calls that definitely affected the outcome of the game.  Some examples include the PF call on House, which appeared to be a clean play, and the defensive holding on Neal – which I don’t think ever really happened.  While watching the game the vibe seemed to be that the refs were going to steal another one from the Packers.

Thump – The offensive line didn’t exactly keep Rodgers clean in this one.  He took a couple of pretty good shots.  O line play has got to be more consistent than what the Packers are getting from theirs.  Did it start with the lack of a respectable run game?  Perhaps.

Chest Bump – Special teams block of a punt for a TD!  Even when playing with only 10 guys they still got it done.  The Packers hadn’t done that since before I was married.  And I’ve been married a long time!

Thump – Special teams whiff on fourth down at the Jaguars 37.  Perhaps we’ve been once too many times to the well this season?  McCarthy put it succinctly enough in his Monday presser, essentially saying they won’t do that again.  Good.

Chest Bump – Morgan Burnett and Brad Jones came up big – each with a sack and forced fumble.  Casey Hayward played well for the most part.  Yes, the Jaguars at times seemed to be able to move the ball at will on the Pack D.  But in the end the D played well enough to win.  Against Jacksonville anyway.

Thump – The drops.  They were trending downward but after this one they’ve spiked again.  Catch the ball and you don’t stick out.  Drop it and you look like you don’t belong in the uniform.

Thump – The injuries.  DLs Neal had an ankle and Worthy a concussion.  If this keeps up we might have to put in calls to Ezra Johnson and Mike Roller.  Does Jurko still do radio down in Chicago?

Chest Bump – I loved watching the Packers run the ball on third and short.  Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but when Green carried on third and 1 twice in the fourth quarter for first downs it sure looked awesome to me.  Of course in the third quarter he didn’t make it, and Rodgers trying to sneak for it just scares me on many levels.

With regard to predictions made about this one I’m in good company being mostly wrong about nearly every aspect of how the game actually transpired.  I have no wish to revisit my “Weather Forecast” from the before-the- game piece except to say I didn’t exactly give Al Roker a run for his money, but I’m happy to be right about the big play (blocked punt and TD) on special teams.  In this game it was huge!

The Packers are now 5-3.  They don’t owe anybody any apologies for winning this game.  But had they lost, we’d all be wondering and pointing fingers and the collective angst about the team would be at least as pervasive as it was prior to the Houston game.  So glad not to have to go there!

Bring on the Cardinals!  Go Pack GO!

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With Greg Jennings out and Jordy Nelson questionable, do the Packers take Donald Driver off the shelf for this game against the Jaguars? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The following are the staff picks for today’s Green Bay Packers game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Ray Rivard: Look for Clay Matthews to have a huge day as he adds to his sack total against one of the worst teams in the NFL. The defense overall plays much better on this sunny Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Packers defense snares at least two picks, one by Casey Hayward, will get at least one defensive touchdown. Offensively, Aaron Rodgers will have another big day, despite not having Jordy Nelson. There will probably even be a Donald Driver sighting – maybe for a touchdown. Alex Green has his best day as a Packer and the offensive line begins to show signs of synchronicity. The game will be close through the first quarter, but the Packers get rolling on their third possession and don’t look back. Packers 38 Jaguars 12

Bill Walton: The Jaguars come into Green Bay with a record of 1-5. They’re missing RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is their only legitimate offensive threat.  QB Blaine Gabbert has a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Defensively the Jags rank in the bottom third of the AFC against the run and the pass, but more importantly their record reflects close losses to average teams and blowout losses to above-average teams. The Packers are an above-average team, and an oustanding offensive team. Even though Green Bay is missing several starters, the Packers are still dangerous enough offensively to win a track meet-style contest if it comes to that. We think the defense fills the holes, makes some tweaks, and performs well enough to keep the Jaguars from even getting close to pulling off an upset of the Packers.

Wife and CheeseMobile pilot Deneen sees this one going to the Packers 38-14. Son, nose tackle, and future Packers season-ticket holder John says it’ll be 41-17 Packers. After much scientific analysis I’m going with Packers 44-16.

We’ll be attending the watch party at Tailgator’s on 242 in The Woodlands, so if you’re looking for a place to watch the game and you don’t mind noisy Packers fans – join us!  Go Pack GO!

Dan Turczynski: This is a game the Packers with thoroughly dominate. The Jaguars come into Lambeau as the worst team in the NFL with no hopes of pulling of the upset. My bold prediction is that Alex Green will become the Packers first 100-yard rusher since Brandon Jackson over two seasons ago. I also think the Packers have a good shot at their first shutout since 2010 when they shutout the Jets 9-0. Packers roll big at home 31-3.

Jason Hirschhorn: There’s been a lot of injured Packers in the news this week. Key injuries. I don’t think Charles Woodson’s absence is going to be a significant factor this week given the Jaguars’ limited offensive capabilities, but if Jordy Nelson isn’t active there could be rhythm and consistency issues with the offense. As great as Randall Cobb and James Jones have been, they’re not go-to-guys yet. This is why you stash Donald Driver all season. I don’t see this as the blowout it looks like on paper without Nelson, but I don’t think it’ll be too uncomfortable. Packers 24 – Jaguars 13

Tommy Marquardt: The Jaguars are near the bottom in both offense and defense whether it is the pass or the run. Ironically, they have played much better on the road than at home. With an apathetic fan base in Jacksonville, these guys have played with more heart when they are in a stadium filled with raucous fans, but this is Lambeau. JAX is without MJD and they have Blaine Gabbert at QB.  The Packers haven’t put on a show at Lambeau yet this season and I expect the them to make a statement on both sides of the ball. Packers 45 Jags 7