Week Two -- A Look Ahead

I admit, it's very early. Still, the Packers emerge from Week One exactly where we want them to be: undefeated and at the top of their division. And Week Two looks promising.


Bengals at Packers

I believe that the Packers stand an excellent chance of going 2-0 as they host the Cincinnati Bengals this week.

The lingering question mark after Week One is which Packer offense is the real one: the efficient machine of the preseason or the Keystone Cops of the Bears game.

I read a story years ago about an unspectacular college player that Bill Walsh had drafted during his halcyon days with the 49ers. The player turned out to be a star in the NFL. When asked how he was able to see the potential no one else saw, Walsh referred to one particular play he had seen the player make in college. That play, Walsh said, showed him what that player was capable of doing.

Well, I believe the preseason showed us what our offense is capable of doing. And both the preseason and Week One showed us what the defense is capable of doing. So I'm still a believer, even after last week's losing effort (see post below). I pick the Packers to beat the Bengals, who still seem to be trying to find themselves, but have become perennial underachievers.


Minnesota at Detroit

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings also stand an excellent chance of improving to 2-0 as they travel to Detroit. The Lions were the worst team in the league last year, and I doubt that they have improved enough to beat a loaded Vikings squad.

In a sense, Minnesota should feel a certain pressure to be 2-0, for the schedule can't get any easier than playing the Browns and the Lions.

Peter King of SI.com, meanwhile, is going against conventional wisdom and picking the Lions to upset the visiting Vikings. Detroit did play Minnesota close last season, and goodness knows that anything can happen in the division.

Still, unless Detroit can arrange for Adrian Peterson to miss the team bus, I think the Vikings win this one.


Pittsburgh at Chicago

In Chicago, things are going from bad to worse. Playing in Lambeau on Week One was a tough start. Losing a close game is painful, and losing Brian Urlacher is disastrous. And now they have to host the defending champion Steelers!

On the other hand, Pittsburgh's debut against the Titans was not altogether impressive. They won, but without much of a running game. They needed Big Ben's heroics to pull out the victory, and they didn't show much ability to protect him against a good defensive line and scheme (which the Bears also have). Also, they'll have to face the Bears without the benefit of their best defensive player (Troy Polamalu).

I hate the Steelers enough that I will be happy with either result, but the Packer fan within me will naturally pull for a Chicago loss.

Around the League

Elsewhere, there are some other games that have no immediate impact on the Packers, but which promise to be interesting match-ups.

The Patriots at the Jets doesn't quite have the same soap opera quality now that Mangini is gone from New York, but it's still a divisional rivalry, so it's important. Also, the Jets looked considerably stronger in their Week One win than the Patriots did in theirs.

If one cares about the NFC West, then the Seahawks' visit to San Francisco will make for interesting viewing. Both teams are coming off significant Week One victories, and the winner of this game takes the early lead in the divisional race.

And, on the other side of the NFC, the Giants travel to Texas to face the Cowboys. Both teams are 1-0, and it should be an instant classic. This game is the coming out party for the Cowboys' fabulous new stadium, and you know the Giants would love nothing more than to spoil that party. It's the Sunday Night game on NBC, and it should be one of the best games of the weekend.