Packers Stock Report: “Go Pack Go” vs. “Bears Still Suck” edition
Let’s start this week’s Green Bay Packers stock report with a quick poll:
Is it more satisfying when Packers fans take over an opposing team’s stadium with “Go Pack Go” chants when the Packers win on the road, or is it more satisfying when the Packers are stomping the Bears at Lambeau Field and fans chant “Bears still suck?”
The correct answer is both, of course, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with taking over the other team’s stadium. One of my favorite Packers’ memories is walking out of Soldier Field after the Packers beat the Bears in the NFC title game and chanting “Go Pack Go” with other large groups of Packers fans. It made you feel eight feet tall (and thankful you were in a larger group of Packers fans so you didn’t get killed by depressed Bears fans).
The “Go Pack Go” chants were also loud when the Packers beat the Falcons during that same playoff run.
We can chant “Bears still suck” whenever we want to. At home, in our cars, at Lambeau Field, in the shower, and even on those rare occasions when the Bears actually have a decent team and don’t fit the traditional definition of sucking.
But it’s not very often that you get to celebrate loudly in the other team’s stadium after a big victory. Hearing Lambeau erupt in a “Bears still suck” chant was great, but I’m hoping we hear plenty of “Go Pack Go” in opposing stadiums the rest of this season.
Onto this week’s Packers stock report:
Rising
Julius Peppers
After Ted Thompson signed Peppers, there were actually people who wondered if he shouldn’t have signed Jared Allen instead. Good thing those people don’t run the Packers. Allen was a helluva player, but he’s nowhere near as gifted as Peppers. Allen also was aided for years in Minnesota by a fast indoor surface, whereas Peppers has played his entire career outdoors. So far, Peppers has delivered as we hoped he would in Green Bay.
Clay Matthews
In early October, some bozo suggested moving Clay Matthews to inside linebacker might not be such a crazy idea. The Packers tried it on Sunday, and Matthews had 11 tackles and a sack. He also nearly killed a Bears receiver who I had never heard of on a reverse. I’d like to see this experiment play out further. Matthews likely won’t dominate every game like he did on Sunday, but he’s the Packers most gifted defensive player. Sticking him inside seems to give him more opportunities to fly around and make plays in other areas besides edge pass rushing.
T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton
Normally I don’t cheat and grant multiple players rising status in the same slot, but I’m making an exception here. Lang toughed out an ankle injury and Sitton is battling through a toe injury. To see both suit up and play (and play well) against the Packers’ biggest rival says a lot about their toughness.
Military veterans
Thank you to all the veterans who read the Packers Stock Report and ALLGBP.com on a regular basis. Your sacrifice and service grants us the freedom to chant “Go Pack Go” and “Bears Still Suck.”
Steady
Jordy Nelson
Yeah, he should be in the rising category again, but seeing Nelson running past defensive backs and making big plays is starting to feel routine.
Mike McCarthy
McCarthy’s steady presence was rewarded with a contract extension this week. Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels also had plenty of time to fill during the second half on Sunday, and used some of it to praise McCarthy. The extension from the Packers and praise from the national broadcast team are well deserved.
Falling
Nobody
When you beat the Bears 55-14 at home, nobody is falling. Well, the entire Bears franchise is falling, but you don’t need the stock report to tell you that.
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