Game Thoughts – Packers/Vikes

• Great victory. This is exactly what should have happened. The Packers are a way better team than the Vikings and this was a very comfortable victory.
• Our defense was very solid. I saw lots of guys making good plays – Walden (was outstanding), Matthews, Shields, Jennings, Woodson, Neal – most of the guys on the defense were good. Very solid scheme too by Capers to hold AP in check (relatively speaking).
• DuJuan Harris is the real deal (despite a shocking 2.8 yards per carry tonight – can’t believe it was that low). I know we were all excited by Starks when he emerged a few years ago at this time too. And he was critical to our Super Bowl run. But Harris is different. His cuts are tremendous and his center of gravity is special. He could end up being a real asset to this team. His 5 receptions and 53 yards came at big moments in the game. I really like how this guy runs – especially when the O-Line isn’t blocking well (like tonight).
• Ponder must have really been significantly hurt because it’s very risky throwing in a backup for a game like this. While Webb really has some scary mobility, he sure didn’t show much else tonight. And I guess this shouldn’t have been surprising considering the guy hasn’t played hardly at all this year.
• The Vikes made the kind of mistakes bad teams make in big games. Not just their turnovers, but they had some horribly timed penalties that really cost them.
• I liked seeing Woodson out there. Capers managed to work him into the game perfectly today. Woodson was able to just jump back in there and contribute without disrupting the progress the secondary has made since he’s been out.
• I was saying to some friends while watching the game that our offense may be coming together at just the right time. While we should have scored more points today and I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t, if this offense gets on a bit of a roll here I think it could end be virtually unstoppable if we continue on in the playoffs. Next week will obviously be a great gauge for this, but think about it: if Harris can at least keep defenses honest (and wear them down some) and Rodgers has all 5 of his main targets finally healthy and playing together (Jones, Jennings, Jordy, Cobb and Finley) – it will be increasingly difficult for defenses to figure out where to focus.
• This was a solid victory and I think importantly, there were no significant injuries. Nelson was hobbled at one point but I am assuming we’re OK injury-wise.
• I really think this next game will be a good one. The 49ers are good, but I think the Packers are the better overall team. While I’m not an Alex Smith backer necessarily, I think the QB change Harbaugh made several weeks back was curious, especially considering how Smith was playing this year. Making a move like this can really divide a locker room so I was a bit surprised he made it. But I think a good part of the reason for this move was simply because Harbaugh thinks Harbaugh is awesome. In fact, I can very much see the story-line at the end of their season being “is Harbaugh’s ego getting in the way?”. I think it is. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a good coach but I also think he thinks he’s a better coach than he is. He’s arrogant, annoyingly intense – I really just want to beat the guy next week. Will be a tough game.
• Lastly – it’s still at least a little frustrating for me that had we been given that win at Seattle we would have had a bye and a 2nd round game at home.