4-0 - Still Pessimistic

[Fandom]

Another great win.

Favre is playing brilliant, mistake free football all around.

The defense is playing well enough to keep us in games.

Special teams is solid.

But I'm still worried about the running game and how much longer we can remain one dimensional. My god, 4-0; the best start since 98' and I'm still worried about this team.

Am I alone?

[MickeyDavis]

For God's sake, calm down and enjoy the ride. Being undefeated does not mean we are perfect. A few plays that don't go our way and we're 2-2 or worse. But that's the way it is in the NFL. Hell last year there were losses that could have easily been wins.

We're playing solid football but I think McCarthy will make sure to keep the players grounded. We can't just show up and expect to win. Every game will be a battle. The running game will come around. And the short pass is virtually the same thing.

The Bears have been horrible and are injured but that means nothing in this rivalry.

I'm sure when we lose some games (and we will), there will be a lot of doom and gloom around here.

[LUKE23]

How we play on offense will be predicated on who we play. Against strong defensive fronts we are going to pass 80%+ of the time. Against weak DL's I'm sure we will be running the ball more.

Favre is absolutely on fire right now, ride him as long as you can. It doesn't matter if you pass all the time if it's low risk passing. That is what this offense is based on.

[crkone]

They should work on that middle screen some more. It seems like they are just one block away from breaking a long one every time they throw it. That is another step in the right direction for trying to run block.

[paulpressey25]

This is a little like the 1998 start of 4-0.....we aren't dominating teams and if you get a few bounces the other way we could be 2-2. You can tell the team isn't a Super Bowl team but more an 11-5, 12-4 type.....

That said, the 1998 team was on the down curve....this one should theoretically only get better if guys stay healthy.

[Newz]

I dunno, I think the Packers can beat just about anyone in the NFC besides the Cowboys.

We beat the Eagles who just played horrible, the Giants who are just horrible, SD who isn't playing well (They just lost to KC, yikes!) and now Minnesota who's offense is miserable (Apparently their coach is mentally (Please Use More Appropriate Word) as well, who doesn't give the ball to Adrian Peterson more? That guy is amazing). But 4-0 is 4-0!

All in all though, we have won the games. Favre is an early season MVP candidate and the defense seems like it is good enough to compete in the playoffs.

If it comes down to a Packers vs. Cowboys showdown in the NFC championship game (Which it looks like judging by records) then I would say we are an underdog, but I wouldn't say it's impossible to win... We do have one of the best QBs of all time on our side.

[smacks1]

I dunno, I think the Packers can beat just about anyone in the NFC besides the Cowboys.

If it comes down to a Packers vs. Cowboys showdown in the NFC championship game (Which it looks like judging by records) then I would say we are an underdog, but I wouldn't say it's impossible to win... We do have one of the best QBs of all time on our side.

I would think Romo still has to be a Packer fan right??? That doesn't leave your blood, even if you are the cowboys QB.

[Newz]

-= original quote snipped =-



I would think Romo still has to be a Packer fan right??? That doesn't leave your blood, even if you are the cowboys QB.

He'll probably just forfeit to Favre for an autograph.

[El Duderino]

I don't think the defense has played anywhere near dominant,teams are moving the ball on us,but for the most part they are keeping teams out of the end zone and forcing field goals.I'm still waiting for Hawk to make some plays.

Kudos to McCarthy.He's called games brilliantly for the most part this season,not being stubborn and trying to force a run game that isn't ready yet to carry it's share of the load.

Have Sherman calling plays with this roster,we aren't 4-0.

[LUKE23]

Agreed on the D. We gave up 382 yards to a bad offense today, granted a lot of that was in the prevent when we were up 2 TD's. Would like to see us stop the run better and force more TO's. We're a good D right now, not great.

[Simulack]

the Giants who are just horrible

The Giants aren't a bad team and beating them in NY might be our most impressive win of the season thus far (considering San Diego just got beat by the Chiefs).

After dominating the Eagles tonight, the Giants will be 2-2 with both their losses coming against teams who are currently undefeated. They've also been the only team who were even competitive against the Cowboys.

As for the subject of the thread, it really depends on the perspective you look at things from. If you expect the Packers to be the 2nd best team in the NFC and measure them against some of the other unbeated teams, its hard not to notice some of the teams flaws: the obvious lack of a running game, a defense that hasn't been quite as dominating as some have hyped it up to be, etc. You'd also expect us to beat a team like Minnesota more convincingly.

But if you look at the Packers as a very young team that was just 4-12 two years ago and wasn't expected to do much this year, you definitely have reasons to be optimistic.

Other than the Cowboys (or maybe Seattle), there aren't really any NFC teams that look particularly scary.

[eagle13]

I don't think the defense has played anywhere near dominant,teams are moving the ball on us,but for the most part they are keeping teams out of the end zone and forcing field goals.I'm still waiting for Hawk to make some plays.

Completely agree. They were thrashing our DLs and LBs running. Hawk was invisible. Had MN been smart enough to run more it could have gotten ugly.
As for DBs-
Jarrett may develop but he needs to. He's so not ready yet.
Bigby is our best S. Collins?
When before have we seen both Harris and Woodson look like Ahman Carroll with all those penalites?
IF Holcomb had not overthrown 1st qtr - that was a TD and a couple other completions.

Best thing about D today was pass rush. KGB looked fresh. Kampman is awesome. Cory Williams is for real.

[El Duderino]

-= original quote snipped =-



Completely agree. They were thrashing our DLs and LBs running. Hawk was invisible. Had MN been smart enough to run more it could have gotten ugly.
As for DBs-
Jarrett may develop but he needs to. He's so not ready yet.
Bigby is our best S. Collins?
When before have we seen both Harris and Woodson look like Ahman Carroll with all those penalites?
IF Holcomb had not overthrown 1st qtr - that was a TD and a couple other completions.

Best thing about D today was pass rush. KGB looked fresh. Kampman is awesome. Cory Williams is for real.

I didn't go back and watch the carries by Taylor,but Peterson wasn't running through really big holes.He got alot of his yards simply on his great skills.If say Brandon Jackson was given the same carries as Peterson had,i doubt Jackson would have had half the yards Peterson got.

Teams are picking on Bush and he gives alot of cushion,but i'd assume that if the coaches felt Blackmon or Walker would do better,they'd be in the game.

Harris had a penalty,but i thought he played very well overall.They threw some deep passes at him and Harris was there each time.Quite impressive for a guy with back spasms and he got hurt a few times on top of that today.

From what i saw watching a chunk of the game a second time,it was Bush and the linebackers who had the poor game.

As for Williams,i agree with you.I know the team invested a first round choice on Harrell and eventually they are going to play him.I just hope that doesn't stop the team from paying Williams,inside pass rushers aren't that easy to find.We have still nearly 13 million in cap space,they could frontload alot of money to Williams so his future cap number isn't high.Better than letting the cap space vanish.

[Fandom]

Okay I had a night to let this latest win soak in.

Screw it, we're 4-0 - I have no reason to complain.

I'm just going to enjoy the ride!

[rilamann]

This is still a very young team and a very well coached team that will continue to get better week after week and clean up the mistakes.

The fact that as of right now this Packers team can make some mistakes and not play great football for 60 minutes and still win games has me pretty optimistic.

Maybe its just me but I sense from watching the 4 games so far that this is the type of team that is going to just get better and better week after week.I think you can realy sense this team picking up more and more momentum & Confidence with each win and that if they where to lose a game at this point they would just shake it off and win another 3 or 4 in a row.

Part of the reason I feel that way is take yesterdays game vs the Vikes for example,the Packers didn't play a great game by any means they played well don't get me wrong but I think we all could agree they could have played a better more mistake free game.

Yet the Packers still won on the road vs a team that was pumped up to play them.

Also if you go back in the game and clean up a mistake here and a mistake there we could have very easily seen a score of something like 38-9 in favor of the Pack.

You can also see that this Packer team is the type of team that maybe doesnt play great football for 60 minutes because of its youth but has the ability to overcome mistakes and the has the ability to make the big plays WHEN THEY HAVE TO.

These games the Packers are winning now while not playing great football for 60 minutes are huge.

Reason being if the Packers do end up building a lot of momentum over the course of the season these wins the Packers are getting now could very well mean the NFC playoffs go through Lambeau field come January.

Im not making any predictions its still too early but if im an NFC team with Super Bowl hopes & dreams the last thing I would to have to do to reach that goal is to play a Packer team with a high level of confidence and momentum lead by Brett Favre at Lambeau field in January.

The only team that kinda scares me if thats the scenario would be Dallas but then I remember that Dallas is coached by Wade Phillips and then im not so worried anymore.

[ReasonablySober]

I can't believe I'm looking at the Packers schedule and thinking to myself, "Well, that should be a win, so should that one..."

Obviously injuries will be a monumental factor in the successes and failures of this team. I like the depth at QB, WR, TE, RB, and DL. An injury to an OT, LB, or defensive back and we're hurting.

But if you're looking at the rest of the schedule, based upon the first 4 games of the season, is there any game outside of the one in Dallas that really makes you pause?

Denver is going to be tough, but they're a very up and down team with a young QB. Arrowhead is typically a tough place to play, but like Denver, they're also up and down. Carolina should scare no one, especially when they're on the road. St. Louis is a mess, Chicago will be out of it by December, I like our shot at Oakland in Lambeau.

I hate making predictions so far out after being so incredibly wrong prior to the season, but this is a team that could very well win 13 games. The game in Dallas may end up being huge in terms of playoff implications.

[Isocleas2]

Trap games:
10/14 Washington (emotional let down after crushing the Bears)
10/29 @Denver
11/4 @KC (Short week, AFC road trip)
11/22 @Detroit (division implications = big hype, thanksgiving game so short week)
11/29 @Dallas
12/23 @Chicago (healthier angrier Bears playing spoiler)

12-4 looks right.

[Flames24Rulz]

Trap games:
10/14 Washington (emotional let down after crushing the Bears)
10/29 @Denver
11/4 @KC (Short week, AFC road trip)
11/22 @Detroit (division implications = big hype, thanksgiving game so short week)
11/29 @Dallas
12/23 @Chicago (healthier angrier Bears playing spoiler)

12-4 looks right.

Disagree about Denver seeing we have a whole extra week to prepare for them. We'll be ready for them.

I do agree on the rest of those though.

[Comet]

We won't get to the Super Bowl as Bob McGinn says, but I think we have the division wrapped-up.

The Vikings suck, so basically our only competition is the Bears and the Lions. The Bears have the worst offense in the league and an injury-devastated defense. The Lions have a high-octane offense, but their defense and special teams suck.

I mean, we're 4-0, we are the best team in the division, and we're full of confidence. Isn't that enough reasons for you?

[Ayt]

We won't get to the Super Bowl as Bob McGinn says, but I think we have the division wrapped-up.

The Vikings suck, so basically our only competition is the Bears and the Lions. The Bears have the worst offense in the league and an injury-devastated defense. The Lions have a high-octane offense, but their defense and special teams suck.

I mean, we're 4-0, we are the best team in the division, and we're full of confidence. Isn't that enough reasons for you?

We're also the youngest team in the league with a lot of young guys being key players.