Tuesday is apparently trade day…just not for the Packers

(Before we begin: Tuesday is normally our day to take a glance at the Green Bay Packers’ opposition for that week. As much as we’d love to write about the Washington Redskins, sorry, there was just too much else going on Tuesday. Don’t worry – you’ll get our full wrap-up of the D.C. trip next week. That is, if I don’t have a heart attack on the plane. Okay, I’ll stop writing about that now.)

Aren’t Tuesdays supposed to be the off day for the NFL?

It certainly wasn’t the case on this particular Tuesday. There was more than a little activity of interest involving the Green Bay Packers.

Only, really, none of it actually involved the Packers.

The first piece of news broke in the early afternoon when we learned that running back Marshawn Lynch had been traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Seattle Seahawks. The Bills reportedly received a fourth-round pick in 2011 and a conditional pick – believed to be either a fifth or sixth round pick – in 2012.

The second piece? Well, that was even more interesting, wasn’t it?

Gettin' you ready for week eleven

It’s almost time. Not quite. But almost.

With every team in the league having played nine games (no more bye weeks – YES!!), it’s almost time to start discussing what the ever-changing playoff picture will look like.

(Come on, sing with me: “It’s the most/wonderful time/of the year…”)

So, for next week’s “Gettin’ you ready…” post, we’ll have an up-to-the-minute look at the playoff picture for both conferences. It will include teams that are already dead, teams on life support, teams that should make it and teams that are sitting pretty.

It will replace the “Thoughts on the bye week teams” section. We’d run it this week, but we’re firm believers that you can’t start talking playoffs until 10 games are in the books.

Those 10 games will be in the books for everyone after this week. Speaking of this week, let’s tee this thing up as we at OBOD get you ready for week eleven.

Game of the Week

San Diego Chargers (6-3) at Denver Broncos (6-3)

Just a few weeks ago, the AFC West looked like a done deal. The Broncos were 6-0 and the nation’s darlings. The Chargers were 3-3 and once again dealing with claims that, while they had the talent, they would yet again fail at putting it all together.

My how quickly things change.

The Bolts have ripped off three straight wins and are starting to look like legitimate AFC contenders. The Broncos have lost three in a row and are beginning to smell like flukes.

Two teams going in completely opposite directions meet, with the winner getting the inside track for the division title.

Gettin’ you ready for week eleven

It’s almost time. Not quite. But almost.

With every team in the league having played nine games (no more bye weeks – YES!!), it’s almost time to start discussing what the ever-changing playoff picture will look like.

(Come on, sing with me: “It’s the most/wonderful time/of the year…”)

So, for next week’s “Gettin’ you ready…” post, we’ll have an up-to-the-minute look at the playoff picture for both conferences. It will include teams that are already dead, teams on life support, teams that should make it and teams that are sitting pretty.

It will replace the “Thoughts on the bye week teams” section. We’d run it this week, but we’re firm believers that you can’t start talking playoffs until 10 games are in the books.

Those 10 games will be in the books for everyone after this week. Speaking of this week, let’s tee this thing up as we at OBOD get you ready for week eleven.

Game of the Week

San Diego Chargers (6-3) at Denver Broncos (6-3)

Just a few weeks ago, the AFC West looked like a done deal. The Broncos were 6-0 and the nation’s darlings. The Chargers were 3-3 and once again dealing with claims that, while they had the talent, they would yet again fail at putting it all together.

My how quickly things change.

The Bolts have ripped off three straight wins and are starting to look like legitimate AFC contenders. The Broncos have lost three in a row and are beginning to smell like flukes.

Two teams going in completely opposite directions meet, with the winner getting the inside track for the division title.

Quick prediction for tonight

Our weekly “Gettin’ you ready for…” series isn’t quite ready yet (as usual).

That being the case, I figured I’d give you a quick prediction for tonight’s game, which sends the Miami Dolphins (4-5) on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers (4-5).

Like last Thursday night’s Chicago/San Francisco game, this game is a matchup of two teams who desperately need a win to stay alive in their respective playoff hunts.

Miami was just dealt a huge blow Wednesday when it had to place running back Ronnie Brown on I.R. Brown is a huge cog in the Dolphins’ wildcat offense.

Carolina has, quietly, righted the ship after a disastrous 0-3 start. Like last season, the Panthers’ top-notch rushing attack, led by DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, is leading the way.

The Panthers will win this one, officially entering them into the NFC playoff picture.

Prediction: Carolina 24, Miami 14

(Update: Well, looks like I’m 0-for-2 on Thursday night predictions. Jake Delhomme was a horrendous 19-of-42 as the Panthers dropped a 24-17 decision, likely ending their playoff hopes. Way to step it up, Jake.)

-Chris Lempesis

 

Wednesday wrap-up: Green Bay getting healthy, etc.

The Green Bay Packers were back at work Wednesday, their win over Dallas behind them and an extremely important home game with San Francisco ahead.

As they prepare for this vital contest, they finally seem to be swinging the good health pendulum their way.

An injury update now, courtesy of the fine folks at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (which can be found here and here). Of course, I’ll add some thoughts in there too:

Cullen Jenkins and Desmond Bishop each have ankle injuries, but it’s likely both were held out for precautionary reasons. No cause for worry there.

Buffalo solves Brohm conundrum

It looks like we won’t have Brian Brohm to kick around anymore.

Brohm was reportedly signed off Green Bay’s practice squad to a two-year deal with the Buffalo Bills late Wednesday night, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette (the GBPG got its info from a radio station in Appleton).

The move ends the up and (mostly) down saga of Brohm, a 2008 second-round pick out of Louisville. Brohm was handed the backup QB job before training camp in ’08, only to quickly lose the job to Matt Flynn, a seventh-round pick in that same draft. He never got it back. Brohm was actually released at the end of camp this season, only to quickly re-sign with the practice squad.

Brohm never saw action in a regular season NFL contest as he struggled mightily in grasping the pro game. He was timid in the face of an NFL pass rush and didn’t have great mobility or great arm strength.

Buffalo’s quarterback situation is pretty weak (Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick have shared time at the position this season) so there’s always a chance Brohm could break through.

But, simply put, it was never going to happen for him in Green Bay. For all parties involved, it’s probably a huge relief that this is finally over.

-Chris Lempesis

Kampman must become KGB

The Green Bay Packers returned to practice Wednesday. They did so with Aaron Kampman back in the lineup.

Kampman suffered a concussion against Tampa Bay and sat out the Dallas game.

Now that he’s healthy again, it sounds like he’s re-claimed his starting spot at LOLB. According to that same link, Brad Jones apparently rotated in at times during practice, so it looks like the Packers could have a platoon-like situation in store for the pair.

To some, this would seem to create a fairly big problem going forward. To me, it’s a no-brainer what the Packers should do.

Jones should get the starting nod.