Packers set to shatter team sack record

A quick look around the rest of the NFC North while wondering how many sacks it takes to begin the Matt Flynn era in Green Bay ....

. Speaking of Green Bay, folks are talking about the franchise record for most sacks allowed in a season. It's 62 ... for now, at least. The current team has given up a league-high 37, putting it on pace for 74, which would shatter the mark set by the 6-10 1990 team.

"I don't think it's as hideous as it looks," left tackle Chad Clifton said after the game. "But we definitely have some issues we have to deal with."

When an 0-7 Bucs team that came in with 11 sacks gets six sacks in a 38-28 upset, then, yeah, it's as hideous as it looks. When Rodgers is on pace to be the second-most sacked QB in NFL history, then, yeah, it's as hideous as it looks. The NFL record for most times sacked in a season is 76 by David Carr during the Texans' first season in 2002.

The target of everybody's anger this week in Green Bay is left guard Daryn Colledge, who gave up at least two more sacks and appears to be a candidate to be benched in favor of rookie T.J. Lang.

. Also in Green Bay, Journal Sentinel columnist Mike Hunt is suggesting it's time to start considering whether GM Ted Thompson and/or coach Mike McCarthy should be fired. I think it's way too early for that. This was a team that made it to the NFC title game just two seasons ago. Yeah, they parted ways with Brett Favre. But that was a move Favre forced on them. And, besides, Rodgers isn't the problem in Green Bay.

. In Detroit, the Lions are talking about a game that got away. The Lions are a hard team to place in my power rankings. I think they could be so much better than some of the other dregs of the league. But they're 1-7 and have now lost 16 consecutive road games after blowing a 17-0 lead in Seattle. They'll lose their 17th in a row at the Metrodump on Sunday.

I put the Lions back in their comfortable No. 32 spot, just a tad below the idle Browns. While I think the Lions have promise, they just lose and lose and lose and ... With another five picks, rookie QB Matthew Stafford is having about the kind of season you'd expect from a rookie leading the Lions. He's been inaccurate, he's lost, he's been hurt. Hopefully, his spirit won't be crushed beyond repair (Did someone say Tim Couch?) cuz I think this kid can be a good one.

Apparently, TV cameras caught an uncomfortable exchange between Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson. But it shouldn't have anything to do with throwing the ball to Johnson. Even though Johnson caught only two passes, Stafford targeted him nine times.

. In Chicago, columnist Rick Morrissey wanted to talk to Bears DT Tommie Harris after the game, but Harris was long gone. Harris made great strides toward becoming the league's most selfish player when he took a swing at Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui and got kicked out of Sunday's 41-21 loss on just the fourth play of the game.

Not exactly the way you want to start when you're facing Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, eh?

Naturally, Harris wasn't around when reporters came looking for answers for the fans. That left other players to try and speak for Harris. Defensive end Alex Brown wanted no part of that, according to Morrissey.

"I'm not talking about Tommie," Brown said angrily. "I'm not talking about him. Don't want to talk about him."

The Vikings could win this division with nine victories. Maybe eight. The goal now becomes getting that first round bye while getting Favre out of games as early as possible.