My Bye Week Is Over, I Am Ready, Are the Packers?

Here we go Packer fans!  Are the 2018 Packer for real?

We will soon find out!

Packers & Rams, what will happen?

Well, here I go:

1 - Aaron Rodger vs Jared Goff

The "old pro" vs the "new kid on the block"?  Rodgers should be more mobile.  Rodgers should be more motivated.  Rodgers should be ready to strut around the barnyard and show he is still the "Head Rooster"! My prediction - a shoot out with Rodgers coming out on top!

2 - Gurley vs Packers Front 7

This will be interesting.  Will the Packers be able to stop one of the best running backs in the league? History says NO!  But, this is NOT a Capers Defense.  I say MAYBE!  A true test of our new defensive coordinator!  I will make a "hopeful" guess - we keep him under 100 yards!

3 - Packers young d-backs vs Rams young QB

Here is what we NEED!  The young D-backs are fairly healthy.  Ha Ha is tied for the league lead in interceptions!  Our other safety Brice, has struggled!  We know our pass rush is NOT very good.  So, we give up a lot of yards, but make a couple BIG plays!  Ram receivers Woods, Cook & Kupp are dangerous!  TD's are Woods-3, Cook-2, & Kupp-5!  THEY are dangerous!  I see issues, we give up yards, but some possible BIG plays by our guys - how about 2 interceptions!

4 - Young coach vs Old Coach!  This scares me the MOST!  Coach McVay is new, hot item in the NFL!  He is an aggressive & creative coach.  Our guy, well you know our guy!  Will McCarthy let it all hang out?  My guess, YES!  PLEASE!!!!  Mike!!!  Attack, create & show this young puppy what the old guy can do!!!

If the Packers are to be one of the top NFL teams, they MUST win this game!  Otherwise, another year of mediocre football and no playoffs!!

HOPE FOR THE BEST!!!!

Packers 31 

       Rams 27 

A Win, A Bye Week, A Look at Our 2018 Packers

Bye Week is Upon Us!  Another Aaron Rodgers Comeback!  And, who are the 2018 Packers?

First, after 6 games, we start slow - evidence?

Score for first 6 games in the 1st Half - Packer Opponents 100 - Packers 63
Score for first 6 games in the 2nd Half - Packers 85 - Packer Opponents 44

Sloppy play to start games, fumbles, penalties, poor offense & poor defense!

Aaron doing his second half magic!

Injuries & inconsistent play.  Last game, we had two starting receivers out, Cobb & Allison.  At right tackle, Bulaga is suffering from injuries for yet ANOTHER season!  Our young D-backs are banged up and have at times lost receivers & had big penalties.  Our linebackers are up & down.  Refs throwing flags at Clay!  Perry hurt again.  Our big pick up at D-line, Wilkerson, out for the year.  Mason Crosby, our usually dependable kicker, has a terrible game!  At tight end, we refining Jimmy Graham, but, Mercedes Lewis is a NO show.  At running back, McCarthy does not want to make Aaron Jones the man, instead shuffles Montgomery & Williams, along with Jones.

Again, a team, during the season, either gets better, or NOT.  What will we be after the BYE week?

We will find out VERY QUICKLY!!

WEEK 8 - At LA Rams

WEEK 9 - At New England Patriots

Packer - 49ers, Will This Be The Beginning of Something Good?

Ok, Packer fans, it is time to see something good!

An easy home win would be nice!

An offense that looks smooth & dangerous!

A defense that continues to show a NEW life in Lambeau!

No turnovers, few penalties, and NO NEW INJURIES!!

Plus, the Packer BYE week allows old injuries to heal!

Monday Night has always been special!

Here is a list of memorable Monday Night games:

10. September 8, 2008: Packers 24, Vikings 19

9. October 16, 1972: Packers 24, Lions 23

8. September 20, 1982: Packers 27, NY Giants 19

7. October 29, 2007: Packers 19, Broncos 13 (OT)

6. October 1, 1979: Packers 27, Patriots 14

5. September 24, 2001: Packers 37, Redskins 0

4. October 14, 1996: Packers 23, San Francisco 20 (OT)

3. November 6, 2000: Packers 26, Vikings 20 (OT)

2. December 22, 2003: Packers 41, Raiders 7

1. October 17, 1983: Packers 48, Redskins 47

How about another great Packer win!!

What Do The Packers Need In Week 6 - 49ers!

What must happen in the Packers game #6?

1 - How about making field goals!  Remember, a field goal is a long snapper, a holder, & a kicker!  In the threesome we have 2 rookies!  I will say that again 2 of 3 are ROOKIES!  The kicker technique is a lot like a golf swing!  Any hesitation, any doubt, any mental "brain farts" and the ball will do funny things!  Last game - funny things!  The rest of the year - NO MORE FUNNY THINGS!

2 - Aaron Rodgers - play like the BEST QB in the league!

3 - Penalties - STOP!  Especially, making long yards for our offense!  And, no more Roughing the QB!!!!

4 - How about a little offensive creativity!

5 - NO MORE INJURIES!

6 - Playing a back up QB, the Packer Defense should shine!!!!

7 - The Packers play Monday night, then they have a bye week!  AND, the next game back, the RAMS!!!  One of the BEST teams to start the 2018 season!!!

A GAME WE SHOULD WIN!!!

Bottom Line, Packers, "Just Win Baby!"

With a record of 2 Wins - 2 Losses - 1 Tie, the rest of the year ahead, JUST WIN!

This is a strange team, but there are some similarities to past years!

1 - Defense
Injuries & inconsistent play!  First, a lot of youth on the back end.  We have seen some good play, but with any young players, mistakes will be made!  We have already lost 2 starters for the season!  At defensive tackle, Wilkerson, a big pick up in the off season, is out!  Jake Ryan, our young inside linebacker, never even had the chance to start the season!  A new defensive coordinator!  A shut out against the Bills!

Bottom line, we NEED to give the defense a little slack!

2 - Offense
We begin the year with our star QB getting knocked out of the game, coming back & leading the Pack with a miracle finish!!!  A QB, that cannot practice, but can play hurt.  Our best running back on a 2 game suspension.  Wide receivers getting hurt & playing rookies!

Bottom line, inconsistent play!  We need to stay healthy & Aaron must STAY healthy!

3 - Special Teams
Wow!  Last game, Crosby missing 4 field goals, that was weird!  Rookie Punter & Long Snapper!
Not easy!

Hate to say it again, we need to give them time!

4 - A Head Coach fighting for his job!  A personality of a stubborn man!  No question, he knows his football.  No question, he is a winner.  When you watch interviews, he is always uptight!  He tries to crack a joke, but it looks like a "root canal"!

Again, we owe him some time!

5 - New GM!
Brian Gutekunst, his first year!  His first draft!  This one is simple!

Needs time!

So, I know Packer Fans, you DO NOT want to hear this!!

Patience Please!

Team Building in Progress!

Another Difficult Loss for Packers! Lions 31 Packer 23

Wow! I'm VERY sorry if I am sounding like a broken record!

And, Mike McCarthy is again on the hot seat!  Should he be?

Let us take a fair look at his tenure in Green Bay:

2006 - Year 1   - 8 wins - 8 losses - NO Playoffs
2007 - Year 2   - 13 wins - 3 losses - Play offs
2008 - Year 3   - 6 wins - 10 losses - NO Playoffs
2009 - Year 4   - 11 wins - 5 losses - Playoffs
2010 - Year 5   - 10 wins - 6 losses - Playoffs - Super Bowl Winner
2011-  Year 6   - 15 wins - 1 loss - Playoffs
2012 - Year 7   - 11 wins - 5 losses - Playoffs
2013 - Year 8   - 8 wins - 7 losses - 1 tie - Playoffs
2014 - Year 9   - 12 wins - 4 losses - Playoffs
2015 - Year 10 - 10 wins - 6 losses - Playoffs
2016 - Year 11 - 10 wins - 6 losses - Playoffs
2017 - Year 12 -  7 wins - 9 losses - NO Playoffs
2018 - Year 13 -  2 wins - 2 losses- 1 tie - ?????

So, in 12 years, 9 Playoffs, one Super Bowl  Good News
Bad News, 7 years since last Super Bowl!

The biggest concern is, is it Aaron or Mike?  Most people say, without Aaron,
Mike is in trouble.  The eye ball test?  YES!

Watch interviews with Mike McCarthy.  Same "Coach Speak"  Not very inspirational!

This year, the team seems to be uninspired to begin games!

First Half Scores this year?
Game 1 - Bears 17 - Packers 0
Game 2 - Packers 17 - Vikings 7
Game 3 - Redskins 28 - Packers 10
Game 4 - Packers 16 - Bills 0
Game 5 - Lions 24 - Packers 0

The 2 losses & 1 tie, combines to - Opponents 69 - Packers 10!!!!

And penalties?  Of course, we have some controversial ones, but totals?

League Standings - Packers are 4th highest - 43 penalties for 413 yards

Injuries??  The past few years, a LOT!!  Last games against the Lions, of the
53 man roster? - 13 players!!!  YIKES!

If you look at the hot teams, we still have 2 undefeated - Chiefs & Rams

Andy Reid - 19 years, NO Super Bowls - In Playoffs 13 years & in one Super Bowl
Sean McVay - 1 year - No Super Bowls - One playoff

Young & old - Who would the Pack go for, instead of McCarthy?

TIME WILL TELL!!!

Packers Over Bills, A Defense, A Shutout and of Course, More Drama! Packers Win 22 - 0!!

I really did not see this coming!  Did you?

Now we know the Bills are not great!  They have a rookie QB!  BUT, they blew out the Vikings!  And, ALL the NFL experts agree the Vikings have one of the BEST defenses!!  So, kindly explain to me what this means?

Week 3 - Bills  27 Vikings  6
Week 4 - Packers 22 - Bills 0

What does that mean?  We are probably somewhere in the middle, the Vikings D may not be as good as last year and the Packers D may be improving!  Time will tell!

Another measuring stick will be the Packers at the Lions this week with a veteran quality QB up against the Packers defense!

Also, in the Packer news is the fact that 22 points & over 400 total yards was not good enough for Aaron Rodgers!  In interviews this week, Rodgers was not happy!  Also, is there tension between McCarthy & Rodgers?  Short answer, YES!

Now is tension a good thing?  Short answer, YES!  If handled correctly, any relationship has some tension!  My wife & I, at times we have tension (42 years of marriage!), BUT we are still a team & I LOVE that girl!  At work!  I'm retired(YES!), but there were times in my 35 years of education I did not always agree with my boss!  Some of my bosses wanted to understand our feelings & the door was open, others, we never even saw from week to week!

So, week #5, what will be the storyline?

1 - Packer Defense Continues to Improve with a Big Win in Detroit?

2 - Packer Offense Rolls Over Lions?