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Schein 9: Favre in for rough day at Lambeau

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Adam Schein

Adam Schein hosts the "Sirius Blitz" on Sirius NFL Radio from 11-3 ET. He also co-hosts "Loudmouths" on Sports Net New York every weeknight at 6 ET. He is a weekly columnist, files weekly video reports and makes NFL picks "video style" for FOXSports.com.

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Updated Oct 29, 2009 12:07 PM ET
     
 
Brett Favre loses for the first time as a Viking, then has to travel to Lambeau Field. The Cards are tougher than the Giants. Ryan Fitzpatrick wins on the road. The Rams, Raiders, Browns, Panthers and Bucs are more unwatchable than ever. By the way, did I mention the Packers host Brett Favre and the Vikes on FOX this Sunday? We hand out the weekly SCHEINERS in our Tuesday SCHEIN 9.

1. Foaming at the mouth

The Vikings lost a very competitive ball game against the Steelers. And now the focus shifts to Lord Favre making his return to Lambeau Field. The fans will boo their least favorite traitor. And Green Bay will win the rematch. Green Bay is ready for the rematch. Here are 9 reasons (the Schein 9 within the Schein 9, if you will) why the Packers are ready to win this time around and why they don't miss or need Favre.
  • In the last two games, the Packers defense pitched a shutout and gave up 3 points. Sure, it was against Detroit and Cleveland. But it is obvious that Dom Capers' defense has clicked since the bye week and the last Brett Favre soap opera in Minnesota.
  • Aaron Kampman is back. His hand is in the dirt. Kampman is getting to the passer. Kampman was dropping back too often in the first game against the Vikes. Kampman will chase Favre all day long, something he didn't do at all in the first matchup.
  • Al Harris and Charles Woodson make up the single-best combination of cornerbacks in the NFL. Woodson had a pick against Cleveland. Woodson and Harris will have two combined picks against Favre on Sunday.
  • The linebacker rotation is peaking. A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, Nick Barnett and Clay Matthews make up a diverse and talented rotation of playmakers. I think they can bottle up Adrian Peterson.
  • Ryan Grant is coming off of his best game of the season, pounding the Browns for 148 rush yards and a touchdown. The Packers need him to get back to his 2007 form and last Sunday gave them the hope that he will get there.
  • Mike McCarthy is a better coach than Brad Childress. Did you see the run-to-pass ratio for the Vikes on Sunday? How about Chilly settling for the field goal the week before against the Ravens? McCarthy is an excellent play-caller. He puts a major emphasis on winning at home and the Packers will be ready for this unique environment come Sunday.
  • Aaron Rodgers is playing brilliant football. OK, so he isn't quite in the MVP mix like I predicted. But he's damn close. Rodgers has just two picks against 11 touchdowns with a passer rating of 110.8. He doesn't get enough credit for being great. Rodgers is a true extension of McCarthy on the field, something Favre really never was. Rodgers shares McCarthy's love of practice, film study and a 24-hour quest to succeed — to the extent where he sounds like McCarthy during interviews. Rodgers will be a model of efficiency and dominate the Vikings.
  • Rodgers told me two weeks ago that he believes Greg Jennings is about to explode. With Antoine Winfield injured, this will be the week. Minnesota has been vulnerable to opposing passing attacks in recent weeks.
  • The pressure is solely on Favre. He will get booed in the stadium where he used to be a star and a legend. I think he has no idea what is in store. And I think it is going to get ugly with the sight of Favre wearing the enemy's colors and with Green Bay getting a chance to cut into Minnesota's division lead.

2. Rise and Schein

Bill Davis and the Cardinals defense deserve a ton of credit for how physical they were with the Giants. Davis has done a great job since taking over as defensive coordinator. Teams don't run on Arizona anymore. Plus, the Cards flustered Eli Manning into three picks. Rising star Calais Campbell had a big deflection that led to a pick. Antrel Rolle, Adrian Wilson and Darnell Dockett made huge plays for a defense that needs to be respected. This is the kind of game the Cards lose throughout their history. They were tougher than the Giants on Sunday night in New York. It says something. How about the incredible, thunderous win for Cedric Benson, Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals! Benson humiliated his former club with 189 yards on the ground. Palmer is a top five NFL quarterback and once again played like it. The 'human jugs machine' was perfect again, going 20-for-24 with 233 yards and five touchdowns. And major credit goes to Chad Ochocinco, who has stopped being a sideshow and seems more interested in being a winning football player with 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. I thought the Dallas defense finally lived up to its collective talent and coaching, sacking Matt Ryan four times in a needed win. Houston will usually lose a game when it blows a lead like it did against the Niners. Great resolve by the Texans not to fall short, beating San Fran 24-21. Matt Schaub is playing like a Pro Bowler and my Texans have a great chance to go to 5-3 after visiting Buffalo next week. And the Saints' comeback in Miami was flat-out majestic. That's a tough, well-coached Miami team. To be down 24-3, get a touchdown from Drew Brees to end the half, and then use your defensive playmakers and the extraordinary passing attack to complete the comeback, that's just special. Do you realize the Fish averaged six yards per play in the wildcat coming into the game and the Saints held them to 2.4? I tried to persuade you weeks ago to buy into the Saints!

3. Hide the women, children and Matt Millen

JaMarcus Russell has the single worst internal clock of any NFL quarterback. Calvin Pace barreled through the Raiders' offensive line on the first play from scrimmage and Russell had no clue. He was rightly, finally benched. But because Tom Cable has absolutely no juice and Al Davis still runs the team, Russell, with his grotesque demeanor and feel for the position, will be back at quarterback against San Diego. Russell fails on the field, fails with his preparation, dedication and leadership. Only in Oakland does that get you a lifetime job.

4. Backseat coaching

I am watching the Pats take on the Bucs. Raheem Morris is down by 21 with seven minutes to go in the second quarter. It's a 4th-and-1 from midfield. You haven't won a game. You need a spark. He punts. Way to inspire any sort of confidence in your club. The Bucs are an overmatched disaster.

5. Schein's anatomy

Leon Washington, one of my favorite guys in the NFL, had surgery Sunday night after breaking his fibula in ugly fashion in the Jets game in Oakland. Washington should miss the year. While I love Shonn Greene and heaped tons of praise on Mike Tannenbaum for trading up to get him in the third round this past draft, losing Washington is a huge blow. In the preseason, with his ability to hit the home run, catch balls out of the backfield and dominate on special teams, I called him the second-most-valuable Jet. The most valuable is DT Kris Jenkins. Now they are both gone for the season. I think Greene is going to be a very good player, but he isn't Washington quite yet. And while his performance against Oakland was outstanding (19-144, two touchdowns), it was merely against Oakland. By the way, and I can say this since I wrote this several times, shame on Washington's agent for turning down $4.5 million a season with $15 million guaranteed, holding out for Maurice Jones-Drew money.

6. Weekly hot seat

Welcome to the club, Steve Spagnuolo. And for that matter, Billy Devaney. Is there a more damning statement than this? I love the Lions over the Rams this weekend. St. Louis is 0-7. They've given up 30 or more points four times. They've been shut out twice. This is totally unacceptable. You can't get blown out by the Lions, right?

7. My guys

Brandon Meriweather — The Patriots defensive back typified the dominant effort with a 39-yard pick-6 for game's first score in the blowout win against Tampa. Meriweather is a very talented player who gives the Patriots defense some sizzle and playmaking ability on the back end. Owen Daniels — Houston's tight end continues to be a game-changer for Matt Schaub and the Texans, torching the Niners for seven catches, 123 yards and a touchdown. Miles Austin — Tony Romo has found his guy. This is not a fluke, folks. That's back-to-back weeks with two touchdowns. Vincent Jackson — It was man against boys for the Chargers' stud receiver against the Chiefs. Jackson had 142 receiving yards and a beautiful looking touchdown. Dick LeBeau — The Steelers' effort against Brett Favre and the Vikings was vintage. And the man to credit, as always, is the best defensive coordinator in football.

8. My goats

Larry Johnson — So not only is he unable to run against the previously weak San Diego run defense, but he goes off on Todd Haley on Twitter? And then he uses a homosexual slur in the direction of reporters! I guess Johnson truly hasn't changed. It's only a matter of time, whether it's tomorrow or in the offseason, before he's an ex-Chief.

Schein's Guys and Goats

ALTTEXT Who's a Guy and who's a Goat this week? Adam Schein breaks it down.
John Fox — I am choosing him over Jake Delhomme because it was the coach who foolishly hitched his wagon to the interception machine in the offseason. The Panthers needed another veteran on the roster. They needed to draft a quarterback. These are first guesses. Now Fox is in a spot where he has to bench Delhomme, who is sucking the life out of the franchise. Eli Manning — In the best season of his career, Eli had his worst game of 2009 for the Giants, making poor decisions, throwing for three picks. Matt Forte — Sure, I can pick Lovie Smith or Ron Turner. But when does Forte rightly take some blame for the Bears' offense being stuck in the mud? Derek Anderson — 12-for-29 and 99 yards? Brady Quinn can do much better than this!

9. Three and out

By now you know how much I like and respect Dick Jauron. Chances are he will still lose his job at the end of the year. So let's take a moment to recognize the job he's done the last two weeks — with his backup quarterback, on the road, with the natives calling for his head, beating the Jets and Panthers. I'll say it again — Dick Jauron is a good football coach in a bad situation. Alex Smith looked the part on Sunday, throwing for three touchdowns in relief of Shaun Hill. There is a cap on how far Hill can take you. I'd start Smith for the rest of the season and see what he has. I'm glad Mike Singletary saw it the same way. So we had the wedding of my buddy "Rabbi" this weekend. Perfect wedding, amazing time with three-quarters of the Syracuse fantasy league in attendance. Rabbi, our league commissioner, somehow remembers during his wedding weekend that his tight end is on a bye week. He manages to sneak away from the Sunday morning, post-wedding brunch and grab a tight end at 11:45. Too bad that guy was the immortal Sean Ryan. But then again, this is the same guy who drafted Domenik Hixon in the fifth round! In summation; great guy, awesome wedding, sensational weekend, horrible but dedicated fantasy player. Sean Ryan? I know it's your wedding weekend and you are on no sleep, but come on! You can watch Schein and Chris Carlin on Loud Mouths, weeknights at 6 ET on SNY DIRECT-TV 639. You can listen to Schein and Rich Gannon on the Sirius Blitz, weekdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET on Sirius NFL Radio 124. Join Schein on NFL Sundays for the Sirius NFL Tailgate show from 9 a.m.-noon ET on Sirius NFL Radio and immediately after the Jets games on SNY for Jets Postgame Live. Adam Schein has joined the Twitter craze. Follow his work on FOXSports.com, SNY and Sirius NFL Radio at twitter.com/AdamSchein Email Schein at adamjschein@hotmail.com
Tagged: Brett Favre, Nick Barnett, Adrian Wilson, Falcons, Jake Delhomme, Shonn Greene, Bengals, Browns, Shaun Hill, Cowboys, Cedric Benson, Eli Manning, Lions, Packers, Brandon Chillar, Tony Romo, Chiefs, Raiders, Rams, Antrel Rolle, Carson Palmer, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Jets, 49ers, A.J. Hawk, Aaron Rodgers, Panthers, Jaguars, Charles Woodson, Ravens, Cardinals, Calais Campbell, Chargers, Al Harris, Texans, Ryan Grant, Darnell Dockett, Greg Jennings, Sean Ryan, Antoine Winfield, Brady Quinn, Drew Brees, Chad Ochocinco, Calvin Pace, Maurice Jones-Drew, Clay Matthews, Leon Washington, Matt Schaub, Aaron Kampman, Kris Jenkins, Matt Ryan

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