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| The blogger and Packer Great Donald Driver - thanks to the magic of a green screen. 8/2/2019 Associated Bank photo |
Judging the four practice games when none of the starters play is hard. I can't say the preseason games help the team more than the practice, but I can watch the games.
I do remember some years where the offense looked sharp and the defense powerful. The 1996 team looked good before the games counted, it won Super Bowl XXXI.
Looking at this year's schedule - Green Bay plays three of their first four and 5 of the first 8 at home. They better get off to a good start, because there are only 3 games in Lambeau in the second half of the year. The first eight games look tough on paper - thankfully, that's not where the games are played.
You never know how it's going to go; that's why they play the game.
Here's my slightly educated guess on the Packer season, four games at a time.
First Quarter:
@ Chicago - Thursday, Sept. 5
This is a battle of the oldest rivalry in the National Football League, Green Bay leads by two: 97 wins, 95 losses, and 6 ties. The Packers won at home last year after Aaron Rodgers was hurt in the first half. He engineered a second half comeback to win that game, but those injuries affected him the rest of the season.
Soldier Field will be alive as the league opens its 100th season. Green Bay has a new head coach, new offense, three new players to help the defense, and questions on its future. A win would be huge. I think it will be tight, but my guess is the Bears win. (0 - 1)
Vikings - Sunday, Sept. 15
The home opener is a salute to Bart Starr as the other division rival comes to Titletown. They tied in their first game last season while Minnesota won the second.
If they beat the Bears - this is where Green Bay builds momentum. If they come in with a loss - it better be where they bounce back. Packers win while widening the margin as the game ends. (1 - 1)
Broncos - Sunday, Sept. 22
I believe most Packer fans, especially those old enough to remember Super Bowl XXXII, want to beat the team that denied them back to back Lombardi trophies.
This game might feel like a let down after two tense division games. But for the Pack to get where they want to go, they need to win. I expect the Packers win again then quickly prepare for the next game in four days. (2 - 1)
Eagles - Thursday, Sept. 26
There are two good things about this Thursday night game; it's at home and it's early in the season. The Eagles expect to fly to the top of the NFC East, but if Green Bay is healthy this is a game the Packers win then get three extra rest before game five. (3 - 1)
Fearless Season record 3 - 1
Second Quarter:
@ Dallas - Sunday, Oct. 6
A big question about this game is if the Cowboys are returning to championship form. Green Bay will see Randall Cobb on the opposite sideline after they let him leave.
He may make them regret it, Cowboys win with a score in the last minute of the game. (3 - 2)
Lions - Monday, Oct. 14
Last season the Detroit Lions beat the Packers twice - like they did in 2017; Detroit had not beaten Green Bay twice in consecutive seasons since 1982 and 1983. That streak has to end. The Lions are improved, but this Green Bay squad steps up. Packers win on Monday night. (4 - 2)
Raiders - Sunday, Oct. 20
The cross conference games this year line up the NFC North with the AFC West. After playing the Broncos in week 3 - the Pack faces the other three teams over the next three weeks.
The two played in the preseason, but neither team had their starters in the game. Oakland, in its final season before moving to Las Vegas, scares the Pack early, but the Packers win a second straight game. (5 - 2)
@ Kansas City - Sunday, Oct. 27
Green Bay hosted the Chiefs for the final game of preseason, but neither team put its starting quarterback under center. If both Aaron Rodgers and wonderkid Pat Mahomes lead their teams out of the tunnel for this one - it may be an aerial display for the ages.
Kansas City came close to the Super Bowl last year and feel it is their time. The Chiefs win in a close game decided by the last possession. (5 - 3)
Fearless Forecast for the 2nd quarter is 2 - 2.
Third Quarter:
@ L.A. Chargers - Sunday, Nov. 3
The Chargers are waiting for their new home to open. For the second straight year they are playing in a bandbox where opposing teams' fans can outnumber the Charger fans. I look for fans in Green and Gold to make their presence known as Green Bay's running game puts on an impressive performance as the Packers win. (6 - 3)
Panthers - Sunday, Nov. 10
Dynamic QB Cam Newton can throw and run his team to a win almost any time out. He has some strong offensive weaponry at his command.
I expect the Packer offense to get a lead and capitalize on turnovers forced by the Green Bay defense as the Packers win again. (7 - 3)
Bye
When Packer fans get a week off for their home team, they schedule the projects at home that were put on hold during previous game-days. I expect to see a lot of Packer gear in yards pushing mowers and raking while other fans climb ladders to pull gunk out of eaves.
Green Bay rests and prepares for their six game push to the finish. Seven wins at this point means Green Bay needs at least 3, if not 4 wins to return to the play-offs for the first time in three seasons.
@ San Francisco - Sunday, Nov. 24
A two game road trip starts out west with another marquee match-up of quarterbacks as Rodgers faces Jimmy Garoppolo. The head coaches used to be on the same staff so the two teams may appear to be stuck in the mud for much of the game.
This will be tough, but I expect a Packers win. (8 - 3)
@ New York Giants - Sunday, Dec. 1
If the season for the New York football Giants goes the way most folks expect, they may be playing for a high draft choice as the season winds down.
This is another match of big-name QBs as Eli Manning and Rodgers are on the same field. It is possible Manning may be backing up the rookie first round draft choice at this point. Either way, this is the kind of game that's tripped up Green Bay in the past.
It would be a bad sign if they do, Packers win (9 - 3)
Third quarter Forecast (4 - 0)
Fourth Quarter:
Redskins - Sunday, Dec. 8
Washington could be playing a rookie at quarterback by now like the Giants. In Lambeau Field, that's bad news for the visitors as the Packers win. (10 - 3)
Bears - Sunday, Dec. 15
It's been 13 weeks since they lost on opening night to Chicago, and Green Bay is prepared to return the favor. Mike Pettine's defense plays its best game of the year and the Packer safety who played for Chicago last year gets a pick six for the winning score, Packers win. (11 - 3)
@ Minnesota - Sunday, Dec. 23
On a six game winning streak, Green Bay prepares to rob US Bank Stadium and position itself for a first-round bye in the post-season. That's not in the cards as the Vikings win. (11 - 4)
@ Detroit - Sunday, Dec. 29
It only seems like the Lions and Green Bay play the final regular season game every year. This year it goes down to the wire in an up and down affair. Rodgers drives Green Bay into field goal range as the clock winds down and Mason Crosby kicks the winning field goal as the Packers win to return to the play-offs. (12 - 4)
Final quarter, Green Bay goes 3 - 1.
There is a definite green and gold tinge to this forecast, but it is possible for Green Bay to do this if Rodgers stays healthy; the offense gels; and the defense forces turnovers.
It can happen - I can't wait to see if it does. Go Pack, Go!
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