The funny thing about the NFL is that fans are always optimistic. That couldn't of been on display more than this August in Green Bay. Packer fans were feeling good after watching the Packers dominate preseason football. The irony is that type of success in the preseason was also the absolute worst thing for Green Bay. [url=index.php?name=Pro_News&aid=115]full article[/url].

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Nice article ... a couple things

I'm going to need to watch the MN game vs the steelers but atm my money is on MN. The steelers have been really lacking something this year.

I noticed those same things with the sacks this past week. He definately held onto that one for too long; and at least a couple others the guys run right in (nothing rodgers could do).

As far as the preseason thing; ya quite strange. Everyone really got high on the pack after they beat the cards (the bookies odds didnt change until they beat the cards if that gives you any indication).

And then the lose to cinci and then to MN pretty much designated the packers to the middle of the pack in terms of chances of getting to the playoffs.

Kind of like the cowboys or san fran. Good teams but your not sure if they will make it.

Im just happy our D is much better this year. I think capers is a bit slow on using our guys to their full potential thou. Ie it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out kampman's best role is to rush the passer with his hand down ... I mean heck capers said kampman would play with his hand down 50% of the downs when he was signed but all of a sudden it changed the first 4 games ...
(I followed the capers signing quite closely and I remember all these facts).

Also glad matthews is turning out to be a good ROLB (was hoping we would have someone key to fit the roll there).

IMO we are a solid running back and a decent Oline away from going to the big game this year. Oh and better play calling excuse me ...

Who knows maybe the managment can get this figured out before the season is over (and ya I agree with you - All this should of been figured out preseason).

Seasono is like a broken record. Fix the Oline, Reduce sacks, Get to the Opponent QB...

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Good article Porky, I upped my prediction from 9-7 to 11-5 after pre-season, hopefully next year fans will remember just how worthless pre-season is when it comes to predicting how a team will do in the regular season.

A little warning about this weeks game, The Browns play much better at home than they do on the road, hopefully The Pack learned from The Bengal game not to take any team for granted.

IMHO this is the 2nd of 4 must win games, the season is long, a team cannot win a title in October, but they sure can lose it.

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The pre season gave me excitement in that I saw a team executing well against teams that weren't game planning to stop them. Basically, they played how they should. Defensively they looked aggressive and like ball hawks.

Once Bigby was out of the game, we lost our aggressive nature.

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I think if GB is going to win the division, all four of these games are must win. They can't get swept by Minnesota and win the division IMO. However, losing to the Vikings and winning the wildcard is not out of the question.

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I don't think success during any part of the season is bad. Winning breeds winning imho.

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Thanks for the good article, porky. As usual, I agree with most of your points. One exception is that I did not think the O-line played any better in the Lions game than they did in the previous four games. I don't feel any better about blown assignments than I do about guys getting beaten one-on-one. Also, there were at least five penalties on the O-line. Four on Clifton and one on Sitton. Plus there were several plays where Rodgers had to make exceptional effort to avoid sacks.

Then you have to consider that the Lions' D-line, which was not very good to begin with, was severely depleted by injuries. I guess what I'd like to see is a game where the O-line gives up two sacks or less and opens up some good holes for Grant--something that they didn't do until the fourth quarter against the Lions.

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On the last point made by the author. I think the running game would get going if we hit 15 carries in the first half for our RB, whomever it may be. I bet first half we'd nail something like 50 yards on 15 carries, but 10 more carries in the second half would net us an additional 60-70. 25 carries for around 125. That's clock eating right there. I like that.

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Well I am going with Pittsburgh this week. They are a little like us in that they haven't played that great yet but they have shown an ability to rise up and have a great coach.

At 4-2 and in a dogfight with Cincy in the division the Steelers NEED this game much more than the Vikes who come in on the road, on grass, and not in a dome.

The Vikes can tell themselves over and over how important it is to keep on a roll but the bottom line is they have eaked out three of their wins and Pittsburgh cannot afford a third loss this early.

I think a little seam came loose for the Vikes there in the second half last week when they looked awful giving up 28 points and no doubt should have lost the game at the end. Baltimore did that to them both running it and passing and the Steelers are very capable at both.

I actually think the Vikes get slapped around pretty good and while we have had our reality check it will be interesting to see how they respond. After all they know they are a hail mary and chip shot field goal away from being 4-2 right now. That's about as fine line from being really good and decent as it gets.

It is also unusual to see an undefeated team getting as much as 4 to 6 points. This tells me the books are begging the bettors to get on the Vikings side of this game and they are not biting. I wouldn't either.

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