Jclombardi reviews Packers NFL power rankings, injuries adjustments & Favre watch.
NFL Power Rankings: Packers
Aol Fanhouse: 10. The switch to a 3-4 defense may wind up saving their season. There have been some ups and downs during the transition, but if Kampman was lost for the season in the old 4-3 scheme the Packers would be cooked. It’s weird to give thanks about something regarding a devastating injury, but there you have it.
USA Today: 11.
Walter Football: 11.
Fox: 12. Packers would be at No. 10 above Dallas if not for the gruesome postgame news that they will be without two major pieces on defense for the rest of the season: LB Kampman and CB Harris. They should be fine against Detroit, but after that the Packers face five quality QBs: Flacco, Cutler, Roethlisberger, Hasselbeck, and Warner.
Espn: 12. Rodgers is having a Pro Bowl year.
SI: 12. For all their troubles, the Packers are currently the NFC’s sixth seed and have a decent path to 10-6 and a wild-card berth. Their must wins are at Detroit this week, at Chicago in two weeks, and then home against Seattle in Week 16. Green Bay then must secure one of its other three games: home against Baltimore next week, at Pittsburgh in Week 15, or at Arizona in Week 17. And just like that, McCarthy and Thompson will have saved their skins.
Sports Network: 12. Loss of Kampman, Harris took steam out of 49ers win.
Sporting News: 12. Losing LB Aaron Kampman and CB Al Harris will be a huge blow to their defense.
NBC/PFT: 13. The Packers could still end up getting a third crack at Favre in January.
CBS: 14. Losing Harris and Kampman for the season will impact that defense in a big way. It’s good that the offense is playing better now to help offset it.
Adjustment: Personnel Losses On Defense
Analysis: The loss of CB Harris pushes the rest of the Packers’ defensive backs up the depth chart. CB Williams is the likely starter with combination of CB Bush, CB Underwood, [CB Ford promoted from practice squad], and newly signed CB Bell in the mix for the nickel and dime. Navigating this issue will be the Packers’ biggest challenge in making the playoffs. It’s great if one of them steps up. If not, DC Capers will implement lineup creativity to get best 11 players including an extra LB in nickel situations, finding a bigger role for backup LB Bishop, or flooding the line of scrimmage with blitzers.
Headlines: Injuries pose creative challenges for coaches. Kampman, Harris, & Packers Face Uncertain Futures. Packers Defensive Line Gels As Injuries Fade. Jones Confident In NFL Future. Capers, defense face decisions. The Replacements: Fill-ins look to step up.
Favre Watch
1. Favre Might Win Record 4th MVP? Mike Sando’s MVP Watch. History in the making.
2. NFL moves Favre To Prime Time In Week 13: Vikings vs. Arizona.
