Update: McCarthy did a great job in the game against the Giants. His play-calling was fantastic; not perfect, but close. He didn't do anything stupid - challenge a play that would not be overruled, throw for the end zone and fourth-and-one. Most importantly, he learned from plays that didn't work for the Packers in the previous game, something that he has done well. Example: In a goal-to-go situation, the Packers went to the pass after a first-down run did nothing. In contrast, against New England the Packers ran on first and second down in a goal-to-go situation and only got a field goal. McCarthy learned the lesson, and the Packers got a touchdown on the pass. This is only one game, so I don't want to make too much of it, especially given McCarthy's track record this season, but if he coaches similarly against the Bears, the Packers can make some noise. This was an excellent game for McCarthy, and hopefully he and the players will keep up the good work.

Sure it should!

I think with all the injuries he has done a great job. I still don't think Mike Sherman should have gotten fired afyer the season he had with all the injuries.

jvldss - Green Bay could easily have won every single one of the games it has lost this season, and certainly should have won most of them. Despite all the injuries, the Packers have a huge amount of talent. If they were getting blown out in their losses, I might agree with you, but they have not only been competitive in all of them, but dominant in many of them. Take a look at the differential in yardage and time of possession in some of Green Bay's losses: Chicago - +103, +11:38; Atlanta - +124, -3:20; New England - +120, +21:36. Green Bay held the ball for more than 40 minutes against New England - and lost. Statistically, the Packers were not dominant against Washington, Miami, and Detroit, but they had a good chance to win each of those games, and blew it. This is not a case of a team losing all its talent and getting crushed week in and week out. This is a case of an incredibly talented team dramatically underachieving. The Packers have the number one scoring defense in the NFL and an explosive offense. They simply cannot win close games, and often the deciding moment or moments in those games can be attributed to McCarthy messing up a challenge or making a bad play call, as I discussed before. Believe me, I wish this weren't the case. For a long time I convinced myself that McCarthy really is a good coach, or that with time he would get better. There is even a part of me that holds out hope that he will coach well against the Giants. But I just don't see it happening. McCarthy has had plenty of chances to prove himself, with all the close games the Packers have had the last few seasons, and while he has had some success, he hasn't had nearly enough to justify the Packers keeping him after this year.

*Those of you calling for Mike's head need to ask if there is really anyone better out there to replace him.*

Um, Cowher? Gruden? Possibly Jeff Fisher?

As for Thompson, I have mixed emotions. He has done a pretty good job drafting talent although he can't seem to draft offensive linemen and corner backs. I even agreed with his move to trade Favre for the pick they used to take Clay Matthews. What I don't like is his total disregard for free agency. If you only build through the draft you are only settling for mediocrity at best. Last year the Saints added a few key free agents and won the Superbowl. This year NE was supposed to be rebuilding but they signed Crumpler, Warren, Branch and Woodhead, all key contributers. Then look at the Bears, They picked up Peppers, Taylor and the TE with a funny name I won't try to spell. They added key pieces they could not fill through the draft.
Thompson also needs to know when to recognize a bust - he kept Harrell way too long and Pat Lee is still on the roster despite contributing nothing. Just because you draft them does not mean you have to keep them forever. Thompson needs to use all the tools he has available to him for building this team. The Packers, when healthy, are good...but they need to take the next step.

JDruckman - you do realize the Packers have 15 players on IR including 7 starters. Yes the Packers have talent...unfortunately half of it is on the IR or missing completely from last year. We have street free agents replacing street free agents who replaced starters - talent only counts if it is on the field playing.

On IR or limited by injuries:
Grant - starting (and only) RB
Finley - starting TE
Tauscher - starting RT
Barnett - starting LB
Jones - starting LB
Burnett - starting S
Bigby - starting S missed over half the year
Harris - starting CB waived due to injury
Jolly - starting DL last year suspended
Kampmann - starting LB last year FA loss
Then there hosts of other players missing games due to injuries, Lee (both of them), Jenkins, Sheilds, Rodgers, Neal, Harrell, etc.

I never bought into all the Superbowl hype in training camp, not for a team that has done jack squat in the playoffs for the past few years.
I think 8-6 is pretty good all things considered. McCarthy is not a good coach but I don't think they will fire him based on this season.

imaLEGALcitizen - they can't boot McCarty out of town by train because the Gov. elect Walker does not want the high speed train. You may have to settle for another way for him to leave Wisconsin than a train.

Seriously? You people want to boot Thompson? Why?! His record with assembling a good roster has been fantastic!

Are you kidding me? There is no way that a team with this level of talent should be 8-6. McCarthy's play-calling is often questionable at best; he was perhaps at his worst on Sunday night. Between the squib kick at the end of the first half, which allowed New England to get back into the game; multiple running plays on the final drive, when the Packers had under four and a half minutes to score a touchdown; and passes over the middle, instead of to the sideline, on the two plays before the last one, with under a minute left and no timeouts, is simply horrendous. In the Detroit game, the Packers threw a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-one in what they surely knew would be their final play. The Packers could easily have won all the other games they lost this year, and certainly should have beaten New England, Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington. McCarthy also has a penchant for challenging plays that clearly will not be overturned and not challenging plays that clearly or almost certainly will be. The Packers are the most underachieving team in the NFL, and this team is almost a carbon copy of the 2008 team, which lost seven games by four points or fewer, including four consecutive games. How many games have the Packers lost this year by four points or fewer? That's right, every single game - six games. To lose to Washington, Miami, and Detroit in the same season is embarrassing. The Packers need to fire McCarthy and replace him with a competent coach who understands football, and while they're at it, fire the special teams and offensive line coaches and get a new kicker.

defense wins championships! the Packers have the defense(when they can stay healthy) they just have bad play calling. In the New England game with :16 left and eveyone is in the huddle while the clock is ticking.

Super Bowl in 2012. And then the world will come to an end. Perfect timing....the first and last Super Bowls.

Time for McCarthy to revamp Special Teams, top to bottom.

McCarthy isn't going anywhere. He did just well enough with an injury riddled team to not be fired. Is he a good coach...no way. Any coach who is 5-17 in close games clearly can't get it done with the game on the line. They will make Slocum the scapegoat this season and hire a new special teams coach. The reason the Bears won the division this year is special teams. Our defense is comparable to the Bears. Our offense is probably a little bit better than the Bears. But the Bears special teams can win games for the team while the Packer's special teams lose games.

YES, HE SHOULD BE GONE! how many years now have we not won a championship up there in green bay? he has never led us to one, as long as there getting rid of him, they might as well send Thompson and that Defensive coordinator Thompson hired last year along with him, time to clean house up there in green bay...