Before I get into our game today, I want to mention last week, when we finally got our first road win in Green Bay. Everyone said we were too young and inexperienced to do it, but Coach really emphasized how important it was not only to win on the road, but to get a winning streak going. Yo-yoing back and forth between wins and losses is what really kills you. So we went out there and showed them what we could do, and we finally got a nice winning streak going for us.
This week, against the Bears, I was a little nervous but also excited about the challenge of going up against one of the best linebackers in the game, Brian Urlacher. All week my teammates were teasing me. They kept asking if I was scared of him and telling me not to fake an injury to get out of it. But I felt confident. I'm just as big and bad as he is, and when my teammates were clowning me, I told them that he should be shaking in his boots, too. I was excited to show him what I could do.
The game was electric. It was great to see all those fans there, and everyone was so into it. This year we're showing them that this team is for real, and everyone is responding in a very positive way. It was a fun atmosphere from the first kick-off to, of course, the very last second. The ending was like what you would see in Any Given Sunday or Remember the Titans or something. It was a storybook ending that I couldn't have written any better myself.
Especially during these kinds of games, the most important thing is to put personal goals aside, and just win as a team. I really felt that the whole team did just that today, which is why we came out on top. Everyone was giving it everything they had, especially because we knew we'd have the bye week to recover. There were a couple heartstopping moments, which we could definitely do without. I'd prefer to have a blowout, but this made for a really memorable 5th game.
I have to say it was surprising and disappointing the first time Jason Elam missed. But it reminded us that he is human, despite being such an established player. When we gave him another chance, though, he dusted himself right off and came back to help us win the game. Douglas also had an amazing return on that last drive, and Ryan and Jenkins hooked up for that perfect pass downfield. Those two things combined to give Elam his second chance. Jenkins deserves a lot of credit there. You could see him turn to face the clock as soon as he caught the ball, making sure to plant his feet and get out of bounds with just that one second left on the clock. Perfect.
Our defense was also key - they were better than our offense. They ALWAYS show up at the critical moments of the game, like that last goal line stand that we needed so desperately. Watching them be so physical and do anything and everything to stop the ball was amazing. On the drive before that, all the offense needed to do was run out the clock, but we just couldn't do it. Instead, we fell back on our defense as a crutch, knowing they would bail us out. We should really stop thinking that way, but it's good to know they're there to back us up.
Now it's time for a little celebrating and then some rest. Next week I might actually get to sit down and watch some football. What games will you guys be watching?
