After a surprising loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field last weekend, I had asked if the Green Bay Packers might actually be bad. The team had looked good at the beginning of the season, but then dropped three straight games, two of those at home. I know I wasn't the only one wondering if this team maybe wasn't cut out to be a playoff contender.
Now, a week later, I'm a little more optimistic. Not to say I was ever really worried, as it was only five weeks into a very young NFL season.
The Packers righted the ship on Sunday, beating Seattle 27-17, and this team is starting to play like the team I thought it was. This season is starting to come a little more into focus.
It wasn't exactly easy, however.
When you're down 10-3 to the Seattle Seahawks—or any team lead by Charlie Frye, for that matter—you need to take a step back and think about where you want to go as a football team. And this Packers team wasn't going to let another game slip away.
Aaron Rodgers, once again, was the difference-maker for the Packers, tying the game at 10-10 with a touchdown. Rodgers must have a rushing touchdown incentive clause in his contract or something, because he is piling them on.
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After half-time, it was Rodgers by air that put the Packers out in front. He threw an absolute perfectly placed ball to Greg Jennings, who went in for the 45-yard touchdown score. A John Kuhn one-yard touchdown pass then assured the Packers a victory.
So what do we take away from this game?
Well, Rodgers is a stud, and anyone who doesn't think that by now is lying to themselves.
Sure, Brett Favre has the Jets at 3-2, and I give him all the credit in the world for that. But Rodgers has been showing the leadership as well as the talent to be the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. If he hasn't won you over by now, well then you're just being stubborn.
In addition, the defense looked better, especially the defensive line.
Elsewhere on defense, Charles Woodson's legend in Green Bay is growing. As far as the running game, well, Ryan Grant finally remembered how to use the offensive line to his advantage. And the backups that are filling in for those who are out with injuries are starting to really step up.
The Packers are 3-3, which isn't quite what I was hoping for after six weeks. But we are in front in the NFC North. What a great division to be in, right?
The Vikings are an annual over-hyped affair. The Chicago Bears are the most inconsistent team in the league. And the Detroit Lions really haven't been competitive at any point in their history.
Whoever wins the division will probably be able to do it at 9-7. With four more games against NFC North opponents, it should be an easy task for the Green and Gold.
Also, our loss to the Atlanta Falcons might not look that bad. They beat the Bears this weekend, improving to 4-2.
That's the same record as the other two teams that beat us, Tampa Bay and Dallas. The Packers lose to winning teams, and beat losing teams. That's not the most ideal way to get to the playoffs, but as I said, this is the NFC North.
So at 3-3, I'm feeling alright about this team. They played well enough to be a team they needed to beat, no matter how hard Jon Ryan was trying to kick the ball as revenge against Ted Thompson.
The Packers will play their first affair against an AFC opponent next weekend as they host the Indianapolis Colts, who are finally hitting their stride.
How do I feel about that game? I'm not sure just yet, but either way, it really doesn't matter. I still don't feel the Packers have hit their stride, and even if it takes awhile, it's not a big deal.
Because even though the Packers might not be that good, they're still the best the NFC North has to offer.
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about 1 month ago
Good article. The Packers are indeed a very underestimated 3-3 team. Rodgers has certainly proved himself as the leader of the offense..and through the last couple weeks has carried the team on his shoulders.
The Green Bay defense held this weak..but against a rather weak Seattle offense without Hassleback. They did manage to stop the run better, but there defensive backfield is still devestated with injury. Ryan Pickett and Aaron Rouse both left the game early with injuries; further pushing the defense into disrepair.
Much credit indeed deserves to go to Charles Woodson for keep the defense alive. Of all the things Green Bay needs on defense right now it is a leader.
The NFC North is very much like you say it is. The Vikings have gone down the tubes after all the hype that they were a Super Bowl contender. The Lions are just playing plain terrible right now, but the Bears still have me worried. They can be inconsitent...but they played a good game against Atlanta(who is much better then people give them credit for) and have done well against Green Bay the last two years. You are correct however that the team who wins the division can do it at 9-7 or maybe worse this year.
Ryan Grant did rush for 90 yards that game, but on 33 carries. I don't know if that counts in my book..but at leat he isn't hurt and he got the yards. The Packers now have the Colts in Green Bay. Manning has really come alive again..so the Packer Defensive Backs better be on their game this week. If the front four can put some pressure on Manning, and the Linebackers BLITZ once in awhile they could hold out and let Rodgers make up the ground.
Lets just hope that Bob Sanders has his defense ready this week in Green Bay.
Green and Gold Forever!
29 days ago
As you said, we've beaten .500 or worse teams and lost to above .500 teams. We did this a lot under Sherman as well. We made the playoffs but got spanked most of the time. I can only hope that we do better in the playoffs (if we make it there) and that we gain some degree of balance by then. I see that we have made some improvement already in the timing of the O line with Rodgers. Rodgers doesn't yet have the ability to read D's like Favre did (which you hope a QB would after 16 years) and so Rodgers would use less quick plays forcing the O line to actually engage longer, resulting in all those penalties which brought back points and killed drives. But we seem to be passed that now. But it stands that the Packers have yet to do well against top tier D's and so the Titans game will be key to see how far they have come.
The D line looked spotty in the preseason and the D in general has had a ton of injuries, but hopefully they are getting healthier and into a good mindset.
Overall I think we've got a decent team, one that can contend in the Division. I think all that is left is to make sure our balance between O and D stays as good if not better. The easiest way to portray that 1996 season was the perfect balance between the O and the D, the O using up clock, giving the D the time to rest, get some points and turn it back over to the D to force a punt or get a TO. It was a machine. We obviously aren't to that point yet. But we can't ever return to those "glorious" 8-8 years with a potent offense who would score in three plays and turn it back over to a dog tired D ripe for getting hurt. I'd much rather win 24-13 twelve times than win 48-42 eight times.
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