dubont

I've got this vision that I can't shake of the Packers going 16-0, and making the Super Bowl against the Patriots...

...and of course the Patriots beat them.

(if only so that "18-1" gets directed at someone else )

Seriously though:

The Patriots and Packers are in some senses mirror images: two of the three highest octane offenses in the league (with the Saints, these are the teams that have a reasonable chance of putting 40 on anybody) and suspect defenses. Offensively, I think they can hang with each other. The defenses, though?

Patriots and Packers common opponents (Patriots have yet to play Broncos and Packers have yet to play Raiders and Chiefs)

Giants

Giants 24-20 Patriots

Packers 38-35 Giants

(I don't think there were any major injury differences for the Giants offense in either game... kurt/kkr?)

Patriots take 2 TDs off the board relative to the Packers, and it's not like the Packers gave up cheap TDs late with a big lead.

Manning vs. Packers: 347 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT (a pick 6)

Manning vs. Patriots: 250 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT

Giants rushing vs. Packers: 100 yards, 5 ypr

Giants rushing vs. Patriots: 111 yards, 3.8 ypr

Giants overall vs. Packers: 447 yards, 7.3 ypp

Giants overall vs. Patriots: 361 yards, 5.3 ypp

If the Giants are the yardstick, it's hard to call the Packers a better defense than the Patriots

Chargers

Chargers 21-35 Patriots

Packers 45-38 Chargers

17 points difference in terms of conceding, and the Packers had problems putting away the Chargers while the Patriots approached dominance over the Chargers (never trailed and the game was only tied for 13 or so minutes in the first half (counting 0-0) after which the Patriots pulled away.

Rivers vs. Packers: 385 yds, 4 TD, 3 INT

Rivers vs. Patriots: 378 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT

Chargers rushing vs. Packers: 85 yds, 4.0 ypr

Chargers rushing vs. Patriots: 98 yds, 4.1 ypr

Chargers overall vs. Packers: 460 yds, 6.7 ypp

Chargers overall vs. Patriots: 470 yds, 7.1 ypp

I have more confidence in the Patriots defense being able to stop Rodgers than I do in the Packers defense being able to stop Brady.

The Packers have won 18 in a row, during which time they've never ever trailed in the 4th quarter and have never looked like losing.

They're better thn the Pats.

I've just been contacted by the ticket office at Villa offering me the same deal for the Doug Ellis Stand.

“It concerns me,†he said. “He has got the money, but the Americans have a different motive (for buying Villa). What do they know about football?â€

Why doesn't he ask him next time he offers to withdraw if his costs are paid by Lerner?

He comes across like a blundering numpty. {edit MN, not GT}

What's Neville's motive for "buying Villa"

What's Lerner's motive?

What are the differences?

It was GT's quote, not Neville's.

Pete - if one of his conditions is to stay on - which I would assume is a pre-requiste, and that has been met then I'm not sure that any takeover will have a proper effect.

I thought it had been established that he can't do that.

According to the Sunday Times, there is a 0% chance of rain at Trent Bridge tomorrow.