Matt Flynn stepped in for a concussed Aaron Rodgers and threw three touchdowns, evaded Patriot defenders, and showed poise and confidence in his first start.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough, as the Packers lose a close one to the Patriots 31-27.

First off, huge props to Flynn for showing poise and making smart decisions when they mattered most. Kudos to Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn for running hard and opening up the passing game.

The Packers defense, which has been labeled “bend but don’t break” all season, finally broke on many plays tonight.  They gave up a 39 yard TD run to Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis in the first quarter, and were plagued  by bad tackling on many plays.

Special teams also laid an egg tonight, achieving next to nothing in the return game and giving up an embarrassing 71 yard kickoff return to Dan Connolly to set up another Pats TD.

Overall, it’s hard to hang your head too

much after this loss. Considering how New England went into Soldier Field last week and ripped apart a highly-touted Bears defense, this game could have been much uglier.  I’m sure we’ll discuss this further during the WST podcast tomorrow night, but clock management towards the end of the game was, in my opinion, horrendous.  I’m curious to see how Mike McCarthy defends that call.

Despite the fact that Matt Flynn was starting his first career game, there’s no reason to waste your final timeout with only a minute left in the 4th. Further, there seemed to be ZERO sense of urgency getting to the line in the final seconds of the game; How can nobody on the offense start jumping and hollering to get a play rolling.

Lastly, in a game when the defense absolutely needed to create turnovers, Charles Woodson drops an easy INT that could have been returned for 6.  If you want to beat a team like New England when shorthanded, plays like that can make a huge difference.

All hope is not lost, however. With Tampa Bay and the New York Giants both losing, the Packers hopes of making the playoffs remain alive.  And with New York coming off a heartbreaking loss to Philadelphia today, they could be vulnerable coming into Lambeau next Sunday.

Good effort Pack. But as is the story of our season, not quite good enough.

- Recap of the Badger v.s Wildcat match-up last weekend.

- Badgers in the Rose Bowl?!?! Probably, is TCU their likely opponent?

- Re-visiting the SEC v.s Big Ten debate.

Part 2:

- Badger Talk- if the Badgers were in the Rose Bowl who would be a potential match-up?

- Do the mid majors belong in the BCS gowl games?

In this week’s second section, the guys talk about the Badger Football Team’s 83-17 shillacking of the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday.  The guy’s briefly revisit their debate about the strength of the Big Ten and talk about the Badgers’ final two games with Michigan and North Western.

The WST Guys talk briefly about the Badgers’ upcoming Saturday Match-up with the Indiana Hoosiers (4-5 (0-5)).  Then the guys debate the how the Big Ten stacks up against the other power conferences.  The WST crew closes with some Shout Outs!

The NFL has officially changed its overtime rules… But only for the playoffs. The world is coming to a change, with health care reform and overtime reform in the same week. However, unlike health care reform, this new change should have few opponents for the following reasons.

1.)  The old rule was straight up unfair. Whichever team won the coin toss in overtime had the clear advantage of winning. All the team had to do was get inside field goal range. “Evens or Odds” or a game of “One. Two. Three. Horsengoggle!” made as much sense as the old rule.

2.)  The Packers and other teams will not have to frantically pray for a “Heads” or a “Tails”. One example I can think of is a Detroit Lions game a few years ago. In overtime, the Lions won the toss and for whatever reason not know to man, they decided to kick! The Lions of course being the losers that they are, lost the game.

Why does this rule only take effect in the playoffs you ask? Well the official explanation for that was player safety. The NFL fears that if they were to extend the game by one drive, players might get hurt. Kind of stupid I think, but better safe than sorry.

Profootballtalk.com is reporting that Packers TE/Swiss-Army knife Spencer Havner was arrested for a DUI early last Saturday in California following a motorcycle accident. Havner sustained a fractured scapula and lacerations to the back of his head and arm. He was not wearing a helmet.

According to TheUnion.com, Havner was driving a Kawasaki motorcycle around a cul-de-sac at 2:45 am. It was there that he lost control and suffered the injuries.

Definitely not the ideal way for Havner to start his offseason training. He scored four memorable touchdown’s for the Packers last year, and I figure that he could at least play an enhanced role on offense this season. These injuries and DUI charges definitely put that scenario in jeopardy.

Terrelle Pryor’s performance

Terrelle is coming into his own as a passer

Ohio State just might have found their quarterback. The former #1 high school recruit in the country played his best football game of the year in the Rose Bowl. Terrelle Pryor was more accurate and precise with his decisions then he has ever been, going 23 of 37 for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns while also running for 72 yards.

One look at the 6’5’’ Pryor with his arm strength and 4.5 speed and you realize this performance was a long time coming. His biggest weakness has always been his ability to make decisions and read defenses, which isn’t surprising given his true sophomore status, but he definitely made strides in that area, routinely moving to his secondary options while being very accurate downfield.

What people forget is how Vince Young struggled throwing the football his first year in Austin and up to this point in both of their careers, Young and Pryor have taken eerily similar paths. Young broke out in a Rose Bowl win over Michigan his sophomore year and then went on to lead Texas to a National Title the next season. Only time will tell if that is how Terrelle Pryor’s story will be written, but he sure took a big step on 1/1/10.

TCU/BOISE: Boise = college football’s Gonzaga

• Why isn’t Chris Peterson wanted more by big-time programs? His name doesn’t seem to come up when a Michigan or Notre Dame is looking for a head coach and you have to wonder why. Boise quarterback Kellen Moore’s only offer was from Peterson’s Broncos and he has been tremendous as a freshman and sophomore, throwing for 39 TDs and just 3 picks this season while going over 3,300 yards and completing over 60% of his passes his past 2 years.Peterson’s gutsy calls with the game on the line have become a Boise State staple and the man seems cool and calm on the sidelines, all traits needed for a big-time college coach.

Mountain West Conference worthy of BCS status?

Future BCS Conference?

• With TCU, Utah, BYU, and Nevada having consistent, quality seasons, the realization among the college football community is that maybe the Mountain West Conference is ready for BCS status. A playoff has been pushed extremely hard among FBS programs but to no avail. Maybe this can be a consolation prize for those programs that feel slighted by not being invited to the party. If Boise State were added to the Mountain West that would give them at least 4 schools capable of 10-11 win seasons. That seems to spell BCS.

Wild Outback Bowl – Northwestern vs. Auburn

• What a crazy game to start the new decade. Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka put up video game numbers (47/78, 532 yards 4 TDs 5 INTs) in the Outback Bowl, but it wasn’t enough as Northwestern would miss a field goal to win the game and then went for the win in overtime after their kicker was injured on the final play of regulation.The fake field goal reverse came up 3 yards short of a game-winning touchdown and Auburn won, 38-35. What stood out most to me was what the Big 10 has done in bowl games; Penn St. defeated LSU, Wisconsin took down Miami, Ohio State dismantled Oregon and now Northwestern almost beating Auburn.I’m a firm believer in bowl games not meaning too much other than a reward at the end of a solid-or-better season because Penn St. would have to beat LSU, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, etc. week in and week out instead of Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, and this year Michigan. Nonetheless, the Big Ten definitely improved themselves in the eyes of spectators.

Tim Tebow’s farewell; What might have been with Carlos Dunlap

• Leave it to Superman to bid the college football world adieu with the best passing performance of his career (at least statistically). Tebow set Florida single game records for completions and yards in a game, going 31-35 for 482 yards and 3 scores. Those numbers surpassed even the Fun N’ Gun-era of Florida quarterbacks. Many people have said he has answered the NFL critics but I disagree.
  

  On to NFL stardom or clipboard DJ?

  Production doesn’t guarantee future success and Tebow’s problems are rooted mostly in his mechanics, which cause him to be a little later with the football. The windows for receivers in the NFL are that much smaller. If he improves his backswing and tightens up his release, he could have a future as an NFL quarterback but those are very tough flaws to correct.

  On a side note, Florida must wonder what might have been with Carlos Dunlap. Their stud defensive end tallied 2 sacks and was consistently in the Bearcat backfield. Maybe he makes a bigger difference against Alabama in the SEC title game than I originally thought, but that’s water over the bridge now.

Bobby Bowden’s last hurrah

One of the all-time greats will be missed

Quick congrats to Bobby Bowden. Not many people can say they created a powerhouse and that is what Bowden did when he came to the once all-girls university in 1976. Arguably the team of the decade in the 90s, Bowden’s Seminoles had 14 consecutive Top-5 finishes.

His team has fallen a bit since a 2005 Orange Bowl loss but Florida State seems like they might be on their way back with one of the nation’s best quarterbacks going into next season, Christian Ponder, ready to lead the ’Noles back to prominence. A great ambassador for college football, Bowden will be missed.

In a return to a place where they were lambasted one year ago by another Florida school, the Wisconsin Badgers will play the Miami Hurricanes in the Champs Sports Bowl.

While both teams have had resurgent seasons, they get it done in different ways. Wisconsin wants to run the ball and use play action to get the ball to their tight-ends and young, developing wide receivers whereas the Hurricanes prefer to let their speed do the work and get athletes in space – depending on their quarterback to deliver the football accurately. Let’s take a look at the match-up:

WHEN WISCONSIN HAS THE BALL…

John Clay will be the focus of the Badgers offense

Wisconsin will try and pound the ball using the best running back in the Big 10 this season, John Clay-who has run for 16 touchdowns-to run right at another fast Miami defense. Running right at the Hurricanes will neutralize their speed advantage somewhat and focus on making linebackers take on bigger blockers while trying the tackle Clay and backup Montee Ball.

Badger quarterback Scott Tolzien has proven himself to be an accurate passer capable of using the play action game to hit emerging sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon-who caught 52 balls for over 700 yards-and tight ends Garrett Graham and Lance Kendricks downfield. He lacks arm strength but can be effective if used correctly. The Canes have been inconsistent at times stopping both the pass and the run this year. Miami corners have struggled limiting the big play and with the Badgers weapons at all three skilled positions, they seem likely to approach their points per game average of 32, although Wisconsin has struggled against the two top defenses they have seemed this year (Iowa and Ohio State), scoring just 26 points in those two games. They will need to run the ball effectively to win this game.

WHEN MIAMI HAS THE BALL…

Jacory Harris is a dangerous weapon for the 'Canes both on the ground and in the air

The Canes quarterback Jacory Harris is their main weapon, showing a solid arm with good touch and athletic ability. Harris has proven to be accurate when given time but, like most quarterbacks, will rush throws and make poor decisions under duress. Even though they have a quality stable of running backs including Javarris James and Graig Cooper, the Miami offensive line has been inconsistent and has kept the talented backfield from being even more productive.

Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson has given Harris a threat to stretch the field with and has been what Nick Toon has meant to Scott Tolzien. The secondary is where the Badgers are the weakest and the Canes receiving core could have a big impact. Miami will try to isolate their athletes in space and on the edge, allowing them to go one-on-one in the open field, which is what they do best. Wisconsin’s defensive line is underrated with J.J. Watt and O’Brien Schofield having the ability to play at the next level. Whether or not the Miami offensive line can succeed against the Wisconsin front seven will be a key factor in determining the outcome of the game.

Positional Advantages:

UW     Pos     Miami
QB             √
√           RB
WR           √
√            OL
√            DL
LB            √
DB            √
SPECIAL       √

PREDICTION…Wisconsin 28, Miami 27
This seems like a classic speed vs. strength showdown but Wisconsin has playmakers on both sides of the ball that will help some against the big speed advantage for Miami. The keys to the game will be how the Wisconsin secondary can defend against the Miami passing attack and how well the Badgers will use the run and play action game. It should be a fairly close game, with Wisconsin’s d-line forcing Harris into a few turnovers to pull off the mild upset.