1st half UNDER 22.5
There has been about six weeks of buildup to this game and things didn't get any quieter last week after Favres "heroics" against San Francisco. No. 4 has downplayed the revenge angle, saying "revenge isn't on his mind as he prepares to play for former team". Although Favre acknowledged in an interview with ESPN on Sunday that he does want to validate himself. "I still want to prove that I'm worthy," he said. "And I think that's human nature."
Nerves should be high on both sidelines. Aaron Rodgers will be eager to prove that Green Bay made the right call in going with him after Favre left the team. This is from Peter King's MMQB column:
When all the hubbub dies down, and there is a football game, I am reminded about what Bill Cowher used to tell his Steelers' teams. The Steelers would go into hostile environments on the road -- usually more hostile than most teams would feel, because the Steelers were always so good -- and Cowher would tell him team: "You've got to weather the storm.'' You've got to take their best punches early, not get blown out, and just survive. Then, 12 or 15 minutes into the game, it'll settle down into a football, not a screamfest from the fans, and the kind of football you've been practicing and playing will take over.
That is exactly how I see this one playing out early. Not too mention both teams bring in defenses that are much more than an afterthought. Minnesota did not allow the 49ers to convert one third down in eleven chances last week, while Green Bay has allowed just one first quarter score through three games (although the sencond quarter has been a bit problematic, having surrendered 30 points in three games :scared).
Points will certainly not be at a premium and I actually like for the game to go over the total, but I think more of the scoring will take place in the second half after the hoopla has died down and the teams get back to playing football.
There has been about six weeks of buildup to this game and things didn't get any quieter last week after Favres "heroics" against San Francisco. No. 4 has downplayed the revenge angle, saying "revenge isn't on his mind as he prepares to play for former team". Although Favre acknowledged in an interview with ESPN on Sunday that he does want to validate himself. "I still want to prove that I'm worthy," he said. "And I think that's human nature."
Nerves should be high on both sidelines. Aaron Rodgers will be eager to prove that Green Bay made the right call in going with him after Favre left the team. This is from Peter King's MMQB column:
When all the hubbub dies down, and there is a football game, I am reminded about what Bill Cowher used to tell his Steelers' teams. The Steelers would go into hostile environments on the road -- usually more hostile than most teams would feel, because the Steelers were always so good -- and Cowher would tell him team: "You've got to weather the storm.'' You've got to take their best punches early, not get blown out, and just survive. Then, 12 or 15 minutes into the game, it'll settle down into a football, not a screamfest from the fans, and the kind of football you've been practicing and playing will take over.
That is exactly how I see this one playing out early. Not too mention both teams bring in defenses that are much more than an afterthought. Minnesota did not allow the 49ers to convert one third down in eleven chances last week, while Green Bay has allowed just one first quarter score through three games (although the sencond quarter has been a bit problematic, having surrendered 30 points in three games :scared).
Points will certainly not be at a premium and I actually like for the game to go over the total, but I think more of the scoring will take place in the second half after the hoopla has died down and the teams get back to playing football.
