The Packers are back from their bye, and the rooting begins for us on Thursday night again this week.
The Bears travel to Miami to play the quarterback-less Dolphins on the NFL Network. Chicago (as we unpacked in an earlier post) is our chief competition in the NFC North, and so we are Miami fans this week. It’s a short week for both teams, and so the Dolphins’ home field advantage might be magnified a bit. Also, the Bears are perfectly set for a letdown game after that triumphant at-home performance against Division-rival Minnesota. On the other hand, the Dolphins are reeling after watching their first and second-string quarterbacks go down last Sunday, one of them for the rest of the season. Added to Miami’s woes is that Chicago is a top-flight run defense, and so the game will rest heavily on the arm and performance of their 3rd-string quarterback.
Still, Miami has a highly-ranked pass defense, and you know that Mike Martz and Jay Cutler want to pass the ball. I’m counting on the Bears to turn the ball over more often that the Dolphins, and that is my basis for giving Miami at least a little hope.
Meanwhile, we’re beginning to pay more attention to other teams around the Conference, conscious of the imminent Wild Card race and playoff seeding methods.
Specifically, this week we’ll be rooting for the surprising Rams to upset the visiting Falcons. That’s somewhat unlikely, but it’s more likely than the Seahawks upsetting the Saints at home. We’re also hoping to see the 49ers prevail over the visiting Buccaneers.
The Giants at Philadelphia should be a great game this week on Sunday Night Football. They are coming off dramatically different Week Ten performances against Division foes. Since we haven’t played New York yet, it’s hard to say which way to lean on this one. My own inclination is to root for New York so that the Eagles will be suitably focused when they travel to Chicago the following week.
The Colts in New England will also be a fascinating game. It has no impact on the Packers’ fate, of course, but it has become a regular season classic.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Lions go to Dallas to play the Cowboys. Both teams are wallowing at 2-7, but the Cowboy fans will likely be welcoming their team like conquering heroes this Sunday. I’m guessing they’ll keep Jason Garrett’s record perfect.
Finally, and most importantly, the Packers head to Minnesota this Sunday afternoon. While I am not worried that the Vikings will overtake us in the Division this year, I am worried that they will beat us this week and thereby give the Bears another leg up on us in the NFC North race.
We have the advantage of the bye week, of course, and I think we’re more suited to playing in a dome than we used to be. Also, the Vikings are a mess with little to play for. Plus, there has to be such disarray and lethargy in a locker room where everyone knows that neither the coach nor the quarterback will be there next year.
On the other hand, they’ve got talent. They probably have pride. And I’m guessing that they hate the Packers enough to get up for this game.
As I mentioned earlier, I think the key to the game for us is to get up early on the Vikings. If we can get them demoralized, I believe the part of them that has nothing to play for may take over and give us something resembling the Cowboys’ effort of a couple weeks back. So I’ll pick the Pack, though I’m very nervous.
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