A Peek Down the Road

As Packer fans lick their wounds after the Monday Night disappointment, we may take some solace in what lies ahead for our team.

First, a bye. I generally don't like such an early bye week, but it's better than a short week after an emotional loss. Also, we clearly have some things we need to fix. Perhaps the extra week will provide a kind of back-to-the-drawing-board opportunity for the coaches and players. And, too, we're pretty nicked up. I'd like to think that we'll be healthier the next time we have to take the field.

Happily, when we do take the field again, we proceed to two very winnable games. We host the Lions on October 18th and then we travel to Cleveland on October 25th. If we can't come out of October at 4-2, then we may as well just throw in the towel.

The Vikings, meanwhile, get the next best thing to a bye this week -- they play the Rams. Now this does have the potential to be a "letdown" game for Minnesota. We can only hope. My expectation, however, is that they will progress to a 5-0 records, while we languish at 2-2.

The next week, however, the Vikings have to host the Ravens, which should mark the end to their undefeated season. And the week after that, they travel to Pittsburgh, which should notch another "L" in their heretofore unblemished record.

Meanwhile, the Bears face a few challenges of their own. They have to travel to Atlanta, where I can imagine them losing. And then they head to Cincinnati to face a Bengals teams whose toughness we can endorse.

In the end, the Packers' October is much more favorable than the Vikings' or the Bears'. And so my hope is that we shall head into November with (a) an improved team and (b) an improved standing within the Division.