Huddle Up: Charles Woodson's legacy
Each week, Press-Gazette Media will look at national stories involving the Green Bay Packers as well as stories about their opponents this season
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Packers: Former Green Bay star Charles Woodson, now with the Raiders, is making his case as the best defensive back in NFL history, writes Peter King of MMQB. King tells of his locker room interaction with Woodson after Super Bowl XLV, in which Woodson suffered a broken collarbone during the Packers’ 31-25 victory over the Steelers. King also presents this week’s “Fine Fifteen,” with the Packers ranking second behind the Patriots.
Packers: With its 5-0 start, Green Bay is shaping up as the most balanced team in the NFL, writes Katie Sharp of SI.com. The Packers have an NFL-best 90 percent probability of winning their division, according to calculations by FiveThirtyEight.com, and a 17 percent probability of winning the Super Bowl (second only to the Patriots’ 23 percent).
Chargers: Can San Diego (2-3) recover from a last-second loss Monday to Pittsburgh? Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that the Chargers have no time to feel sorry for themselves with a trip to Green Bay looming. As quarterback Philip Rivers put it: “The place we’re going to, they will run us out of the stadium if we don’t go there ready to play.”
Broncos: Denver’s problems on offense can’t all be blamed on Peyton Manning, but 39-year-old quarterback admits he needs to do better at avoiding interceptions, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Manning has been intercepted in each of his first five games for the first time since 1999. “Some have just been poor decisions and a couple have been bad luck. But regardless, I need to eliminate them.”
Panthers: The Seahawks’ defense has shut down Cam Newton and Carolina four times in three years, writes Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer, but Newton doesn’t think that will have any bearing on Sunday’s game in Seattle. “I’m eager to face them on Sunday,” Newton said. “The stats say one thing, but those are old things that I refuse to dwell on.”
Lions: When the team gathered to review video of Sunday’s blowout loss at home to Arizona, the coaching staff changed the manner in which mistakes were noted, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Rather than meeting for a short film review and then breaking off by position for more in-depth study, the entire offense watched all of Sunday’s game in the Lions’ auditorium and – to put more emphasis on accountability -- called out their mistakes as they happened to coach Jim Caldwell.
Vikings: A quarter of the way through the season, the Vikings’ 2-2 record is an accurate reflection of who they are, writes Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: a power-running team that can rush the quarterback and play well at home but is wildly inconsistent on the road. The Vikings host the Chiefs (1-4) Sunday, then visit the Lions (0-5) and the Bears (2-3), host the Rams (2-3) and travel to Oakland (2-3) before hosting the unbeaten Packers on Nov. 22.
Cowboys: Installing Matt Cassell in place of Brandon Weeden at quarterback isn’t the only tinkering being done with Dallas’ starting lineup during the bye week, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Rookie La’el Collins is moving ahead of veteran Ron Leary at left guard, coach Jason Garrett said.
Cardinals: Newly-signed defensive end Dwight Freeney is slated to see action Sunday when Arizona plays at Pittsburgh, writes Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. Freeney figures to play 15 to 20 snaps, depending on how often the Cardinals use their nickel-and-dime packages.
— scourtney@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Stucourt.