As the season enters its 4th quarter, a number of the games have a high level of importance for Packer fans. The most significant, of course, is our own game in Detroit, to which we will return at the end.
Other games of interest, meanwhile, begin with the Bucs’ visit to Washington. The Redskins have really become quite a disaster. They have been tromped by both the Giants and the Eagles in recent weeks. They lost to the Detroit Lions. And they were single-handedly humiliated on national TV by Michael Vick. It seems unlikely, therefore, that they’ll do us the favor of beating the Bucs. Still, on any given Sunday…
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Giants travel to Minnesota to play the suddenly rejuvenated Vikings. My logic remains the same as last week: namely, that we want the Vikings to feel invincible when the Bears come to town. Consequently, I’d be rooting for them against almost anyone this week. And all the more so against the Giants, who are part of the NFC wild card logjam.
Also in that crowd are the Philadelphia Eagles, who will play the Cowboys in Dallas in a great Sunday Night Football match-up. Naturally, I’m glad that Dallas was dysfunctional long enough to keep them out of the NFC hunt. But now I am equally glad to see them reborn in time to knock the Eagles down a peg. It should be a fascinating game.
Elsewhere, the surprising St. Louis Rams are clinging to a tiny lead in the NFC West. They have to protect that lead in a tough setting, though, playing the defending champion Saints in New Orleans. Naturally, we’ll be Rams’ fans on Sunday.
The game of greatest interest to us besides our own, of course, is the Bears hosting the Patriots. I really do not doubt that, if these two teams met in the Super Bowl, New England would find a way to win by 14 points. On this week in this venue, however, I have my doubts.
The Patriots are coming off an emotional win against their chief rival in the AFC East. It’s a short week for them, they’re going on the road, and it’s a non-Conference game. It’s the classic set-up for a letdown game. At the same time, I think Belichick and Brady are such professional competitors that they don’t want to lose in December. And so, if I had to put money on the game, I’d still go with New England.
Meanwhile, Brian Urlacher came out this week and said that, while New England has the best record, Chicago has the best team. Big talk. We shall see.
Finally, the Packers head to Detroit to face the 2-10 Lions. On paper, you’d think this would be a cakewalk. But, no…
One indication of the serious threat that the 2010 Detroit Lions pose is their point differential. A few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal highlighted the Lions as the unluckiest team ever because of this dubious achievement: “Never in NFL history has a team that outscored its opponents had such a bad record.”
At that point, the Lions were 2-7, yet had outscored their opponents by a total of 13 points. That scenario has changed a good bit in the intervening three weeks. In addition to losing to Chicago by 4, the Lions were also manhandled by the Cowboys and the Patriots.
Still, they are likely to be a tough out. We only beat them by 2 points in Lambeau Field earlier in the season. And I hate to see Aaron Rodgers in Ndomukong Suh’s crosshairs! I don’t doubt that we’re the better team, but I am apprehensive.
In the end, though, I am expecting a Packer win. And I am also very hopeful about a Bears loss. On paper, this is the ideal week for us to catch up to Chicago. It could be a great football weekend!
On the other hand, a loss in Detroit, and nearly all postseason hope will be gone.
P.S. The Thursday Night game is of no consequence to us as Packer fans, but it’s an interesting match-up for other reasons… On the one hand, you’ve got the Indianapolis Colts. This is the team that is typically flirting with an undefeated season about now. But, instead, they’re wallowing at .500, Peyton Manning has been a disaster in recent weeks, they have a 1-2 record in their Division, and they run the risk of missing the playoffs. Meanwhile, on the other side, you have the Tennessee Titans. The wheels have completely come off for that team this season. And, of course, I am always happy to watch Randy Moss struggle.
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