Jim Zorn retro.

Coach Jim Zorn's happy place.

(Currently coaching the 2-4 Washington Redskins)

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"Atari" in Japanese means, "ATTACK!"

(most of this is reprinted from Packer.com)

Big fish means big hits. Atari-style.

"It's like catching a fish," Bigby said. "You can just feel him fighting for his life. It's a great feeling. You can actually feel the electricity in his body. I'm telling you, it's hard to describe, but it's great." If you wanna know what it's like to hit a guy hard, Atari says, 'catch a big fish'.

Regularly labeled with the tag "hard-hitting safety", this is Atari Bigby's curious description for what it's like to deliver one of those hard hits, both for him and his victim. Bigby was probably the most physical presence in a dominating defensive performance that held Seattle to just six points over the game's final 56 minutes in the 42-20 triumph. He leveled multiple Seahawks receivers and ballcarriers with big hits, leading the team in tackles with seven (four solo). And he made the biggest play of the game for the defense on the first play of the second quarter, drilling tight end Marcus Pollard after a short reception and popping the ball loose. Teammate Aaron Kampman recovered at the Seattle 18-yard line to set up a short field for the go-ahead touchdown to make it 21-14, putting the Packers ahead for good and completing the recovery from a 14-0 deficit.

(Quickly...my personal observation on Bigby. I called him "the felon" because of the way he kicked the shit out of receivers, drawing penalty after penalty. This sonofabitch is one crazy mother. The way he comes flying into receivers, leaping from his feet head first at full speed with his dread locks tossed in the wind like freakin' Predator??? All I know is I'm glad he's playing for us. He needs to be consistent again on Sunday, not laying out guys and getting penalites. Look at him - his eyes are half-shut, grinning, laughing - comparing hitting guys to fishing?. Oh I know he's having a good time, but - he's like how a dog gets when you blow pot smoke in its face. Serious. If I were a receiver I would very scared.)

Bigby continued his high-impact play on Seattle's next series. He blasted receiver Bobby Engram after a 9-yard reception and then stuck with Pollard in coverage and batted away a pass that would have given the Seahawks a first-and-goal. Seattle settled for a field goal, keeping the Packers ahead 21-17. Bigby's presence, and the early big hit, may have had an effect on Pollard the rest of the game. The 13-year veteran had two passes later in the game go right through his hands when he was wide open - one in the end zone in the third quarter, and another on fourth down in the fourth quarter. Receiver D.J. Hackett also dropped a short pass near the goal line, and while it's impossible to know if Seattle's miscues were directly a result of any seeds Bigby planted in their minds, other Green Bay defenders gave Bigby at least partial credit.

"He made some big plays," cornerback Charles Woodson said. "Anytime the secondary makes those receivers a little jumpy out there, catching the ball, it pays dividends. You see they dropped a couple of passes...When you put that in the minds of receivers running routes, running across the middle, knowing that there's going to be somebody there that's going to hit you, not just tackle you by the legs but actually hit you, they think about that."

Bigby had his rough patches earlier this season, his first as an NFL starter after beating out incumbent Marquand Manuel for the job in training camp. At Denver on Oct. 29, he was called for four total penalties on two Broncos scoring drives - a late hit, two pass interferences, and a delay of game for kicking the ball - for 41 yards. The next week at Kansas City, he took another pass interference in the end zone, for 29 yards, setting up a Chiefs touchdown. But as the season wore on, Bigby channeled and timed his aggressive play better and ended up leading the team with five interceptions, including four in the final month of the regular season that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December.

But Bigby gets far more thrills from his big hits, and he's been a key piece in run support all season. He finished third on the team in the regular season in tackles with 121 (95 solo), the most tackles recorded by a Green Bay defensive back in 17 years. "It's just a mindset," Bigby said of his aggressive mentality, which aptly fits his first name, a Japanese form of the word 'attack.'

"I'm a strong safety. I tell those guys all the time I'm going to back you up, and they have a lot of confidence in me doing that." That confidence was only reinforced by Bigby's stellar playoff debut. "I wasn't amazed at all," cornerback Al Harris said. "I see it all the time. He's a man. He's the real deal. Any play that he makes, we're not amazed because we see it all the time", Al Harris. "That's how he plays. He only has one speed. If you're on his team, just get out of his way."

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My Saving Grace

Baby Grace, me and her good luck Packer chimp last Saturday when the Packers snow-socked it to the Seattle Seahawks, 42-20 in a blizzard at Lambeau Field during the NFC Divisional Playoffs. I've watched EVERY Packer game this season (aside from the two at home during Christmas) in Tujunga (near Pasadena) at my friends' home - Donovan and Maria. Denver fans first - then Packer faithful. Thanks guys, for making this the best Packer season for me since moving to CA. It's been a magical year - regardless what happens the rest of the way. And thank you, NFL Sunday Ticket, for letting me see the games.

Another good luck charm, unbenounced to me until the game was finished, was that my friend, Justyna, was watching the game in Chicago. Not that she doesn't like football, but she doesn't watch a ton of it. More magic.

By the way, this picture was taken toward the end of the game and I'm shit-faced. Not really - feeling good, more like it (quite capable of holding the baby on my lap, mind you). 7 shots of Patrone Tequila and a 6-pack does that to you.

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Did I mention it was a helluva game?

Brett taking the snap - I told you with Spitz back in on the O-line, our protection for Favre would be a key to victory. Brett was never sacked and barely even touched.

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"Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!" - Seahawks Meet Old Man Winter AND Old Man Favre; Pack Wins 42-20; Next Stop = NFC Championship

One of the best Packer games I've witnessed. Favre said afterward, "That was awesome. I've been hoping for that for 17 years. I wanted to play where you couldn't see the field and the snowplow comes out. It just kept getting worse and worse."

That was just the snow. In a blizzard that helped to paint the quintessential Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field...the quintessential Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field, the Pack came back from a 0-14 start within the first couple minutes to snow-sock it to the Seattle Seahawks, 42-20 in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. Click here to see highlights - go to page 3 or 4 wherever you see "NFL Film highlights, Jan. 12". Of all the Packer highlights this season, you don't wanna miss the one - and the Favre flea-flicker is about half-way through - look for Can't Miss Play - Favre: http://www.packers.com/multimedia/videos/recent/

Dammit! What a game. It really was perfect. Honestly after Grant fumbled TWICE which led to Seahawks' scores, I wasn't nervous. It was too early with almost the entire 1st quarter to play.

Grant - and the rest of the team (the youngest team in the NFL) - kept their cool and he went on to rush for 201 yards and three TDs - only 7 RBs have done this in a playoff game. Other notable stats: Favre became the second quarterback to pass for more than 5,000 yards in the postseason (Montana is first). His three TD passes tied a career playoff-high (he's done it five times). The 28-point opening quarter ties the NFL record for the highest scoring first quarter in playoff history. Green Bay's 28 first-half points tied a franchise record for points in first half of a playoff game.

Above: Favre in trouble flea-flicks a pass to Donald Lee for a first down. Classic Favre.

I watched this game in Tunjunga - near Pasadena - with my friends Donovan and Maria and their 6-month old, Grace. Donovan suggested a shot of Patrone Tequila - which I don't drink. I obliged. Then suddenly we're down 0-14 inside a couple minutes into the 1st quarter. We then scored. So I suggest to Donovan we do another shot to celebrate AND do one every time the Pack scores.

Didn't know they'd score 6 times. Favre had under 200 yards and 3 TDS; Grant had 3 TDS, and Donovan and I got plowed. Never missed a beat of the game though. GO PACK!!! And congrats!

Brett having a snowball fight with Donald Driver.

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"The Pack IS Back! It's the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lambeauuuuuuuuuuu Field!"

...and the Seattle Seahawks are due for an old-fashioned ACME Packer ass-whoopin'!


Here come the Pack! After a franchise-tying record of 13-3, the Packers are in the hunt to return to the NFC Championship - if they do it would be the first time since 1997 (they were last in the playoffs in 2004 - first playoff game was a Wild Card match against...the Seattle Seahawks - which they won in overtime.

Big Question: Will the Bikini Girls be in attendance again? They were all over the tube when the Pack trounced Detroit in the last game of the season. It was about 20 degrees out - must've used tape. Cute, too. Always in tow is their banner that begs Brett Favre to stay another year.

For them - I would.

Oh - game time temperature = slight chance of light snow showers, high 29F and low 20F, winds light. I think Favre is 40-5, 41-5 at home when the temperature is below freezing...

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Packers to play Seahawks in Divisional Playoff Game

With their win over the Washington Redskins on Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks earned a trip to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional playoffs Saturday, Jan. 12. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. CT.

Had it been my choice I wouldn't have picked Seattle - they're a cold weather team and they're led by our former coach Mike Holmgren, who took the Packers to previous Super Bowls (1-1). GB is 8 points favorite. I still remember a few years ago when, during the overtime coin flip of a playoff game, QB Matt Hasselback won the toss and said, "we'd like to receive and we're gonna score". He then threw an INT and the Packers won. IDIOT.

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