B.J. Raji Only Getting Better
B.J. Raji seems to be playing better as the year goes on despite hardly ever coming off the field.
By PackerAaron
How great was it to see nose tackle B.J. Raji playing his best game of the year last night? The big man made life miserable for the Patriots front all night long, both in the run and passing games.
When the Pats tried to slide away from Raji and single him on the backside of their zone plays, Raji simply blew past whoever was assigned to him. On one play he jumped over an attempted cut-block like a man half his size might and made a tackle for a loss on BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
Of course, the big surprise were the two sacks of Tom Brady and the constant push Raji got up the middle on passing downs. The NBC telecast made a lot of noise about Vince Wilfork having to play all the defensive snaps because their defense was down so many key players, yet not once did they mention the fact that Raji has been doing that pretty much all year. And the scary thing is, at least for upcoming Packers opponents, he seems to be getting stronger and quicker as the season wears on.
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Comments (35)
December 20, 2010 at 11:12 am
Raji is so much fun to watch. I just love the guy. What a great draft pick.
December 20, 2010 at 11:14 am
Is anyone else perturbed by the announcers being unprepared for the game? They talked about Patriots injuries, but ignored every player on the Packers who is IR'd or out.
December 20, 2010 at 11:15 am
Perturbed that the announcers focused almost exclusively on the Pats. Of course. Surprised? Not even a little.
December 20, 2010 at 11:23 am
NBC loves Tom Brady and the Patriots. Dan Patrick brought up on his radio show this morning that he and the entire NBC Crew went to Foxboro Saturday night to a dinner at Robert Kraft`s.
December 20, 2010 at 07:37 pm
Another instance was were the graphic popped up that he was breaking Magic Don's rookie record. He's not a rookie. It's not just commentators, it's producers.
December 20, 2010 at 02:44 pm
If we stop pissing games away, they'll start focusing on us to the detriment of other teams.
December 20, 2010 at 09:47 pm
Collinsworth was unbearably annoying.
December 20, 2010 at 11:14 am
The eating cereal or whatever celebration is so silly and awesome.
Speaking of celebrations, I loved Flynn doing the belt.
December 20, 2010 at 06:36 pm
Flynn's belt celebration was hillarious.
December 20, 2010 at 11:14 am
Good stuff Aaron, Well really need him to flush Eli next week and stuff up the running games of the Giants... 2 biggest games of the year coming up, well need all the Raji we can get.
December 20, 2010 at 02:48 pm
We getting Jenkins back?
PackerAaron
December 20, 2010 at 03:03 pm
Not this week. Maybe against Chicago.
December 20, 2010 at 11:18 am
The only thing that gives me pause is the fact that there have been whispers about him not playing hard all the time, and easily his best game last night was when he was back home in his BC stomping grounds. I just hope he is that motivated for every game.
PackerAaron
December 20, 2010 at 11:35 am
I hear what you're saying but I tend to give him a pass due to the fact that he's playing almost every defensive snap. For a guy that big to not be totally winded and to even be out there that much is amazing. He's going to have plays where he gives a little less.
December 20, 2010 at 11:20 am
Quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the team, just got his jersey last summer. Our 2009 1st Round haul has shades of Sapp/Brooks, Ted definitely hit the jackpot there.
December 20, 2010 at 11:39 am
Yeah, but what about Kuhn???
PackerAaron
December 20, 2010 at 11:52 am
Did you miss my last post?
December 20, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Oops, forgot to use the funny font...
Regarding Raji, last night I thought he wasn't so different from other games. I still have to see more from hm on running downs, he tends to get turned around too easily. I think the sacks were more of a consequence of luck, he has been applying pressure like this all year long, last night it simply paid off...
But no doubt, he's gonna be a top 5 NT in the league.
December 21, 2010 at 10:42 am
Kuhn flies....like a reindeer
December 20, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Ndamukong Suh who ??
Would love to see C. Jenkins ready to go this weekend ..... Along with that other QB ..... What's his name ..... Rodgers.
December 20, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I would hate to see rodgers going against that Giant Line
December 20, 2010 at 12:09 pm
In what is essentially a playoff game, I sure hope Rodgers plays. Flynn exceeded expectations, but he's no Rodgers.
December 20, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Not to look past the Giants, but looking past the Giants...if the Bears win tonight as expected & clinch the Division, is it concievable they rest some guys on Jan 2nd?
Not saying the Pack needs the help, but just thinking out loud...
December 20, 2010 at 12:36 pm
It's definitely a possibility. But I feel like if Chicago has a chance to keep the Packers out of the playoffs, they'll do everything they can to do just that.
December 20, 2010 at 01:11 pm
You think Lovie Smith will take it easy on the Packers?
Never.
December 20, 2010 at 01:32 pm
tisk, tisk, Nagler. Nothing about his sack celebration? It was hilarious. I had to rewind the tv twice-- even better than Cullen Jenkins'
December 20, 2010 at 02:03 pm
Talking about celebrations, the way Bishop reacted to his sack showed the team's mindset and motivtion. I was stunned by this sheer display of willingness.
Quite a contrast to CMIII's response to his sack last a week.
December 20, 2010 at 02:05 pm
I love Raji's "eat 'em up" celebration!! He's a big boy!! He's gotta eat!!!
December 20, 2010 at 05:34 pm
Didn't Quinn Porter do that same celebration after a run in preseason?
December 20, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Yes, Quinn Porter did (I couldn't remember his name yesterday, thanks!), and to the best of my knowledge, he was the first to do it.
December 20, 2010 at 03:35 pm
Your observation about NBC focusing on Wilfork while overlooking Raji is spot on and a big reason why I find Cheeseheadtv so useful. The networks deliver headline - level information. Networks miss the details Cheeseheadtv delivers.
December 20, 2010 at 05:29 pm
Sure hope Mathews is hurt because if he's not then he's been figured out. I miss the Predator.
PackerAaron
December 20, 2010 at 05:38 pm
They were def doubling him on nearly every passing down last night. But you saw him get free early when Dom blitzed him up the middle. Wish we'd see a bit more of that.
December 21, 2010 at 09:34 am
I am glad someone else noticed how the announcers were going on and on (a number of times) about NE's injuries and how they are playing hurt.
Come on, a team playing through the injuries, let me think, who could that be.
I mean for petes sakes we did not have our Tom Brady. How long is the list of defensive starters and second string players on IR??
That may have been the most off based comments I have heard in a long time by an announcer, I can see saying it once but then to repeat it again and again makes me wonder if they did any homework before the game.
December 21, 2010 at 04:49 pm
I don't mean to toot my own horn, but the Raji sack; me and a couple friends were watching the game together, and on that play, I don't know what it was. The way he lined up, maybe, but I said "ooo, watch Raji, here. He looks hungry! He's gonna get him, watch him." Boom, he owns the line and gets the sack. There was a moment of jaw dropping, then the high fives and cheering, and "I can't believe you called that!" Thought I'd share a fun Raji moment.