If anybody wanted a true test of who the Green Bay Packers really are, it was yesterday in Lambeau Field. What I thought was a clearly inferior team, the Falcons, came into the Packers’ house and put a whopping on the them. So now one has to look the Packers and wonder how good this team really is. They did not look like the better team yesterday, especially on defense. In fact, this is without a doubt the worst defense in head coach Mike McCarthy’s three years here and since the middle of last season is one of the league’s worst defenses.
Offensively I think the Packers will fine. Ryan Grant showed some improvement Sunday and Aaron Rodgers has been excellent at quarterback. His second-half interception yesterday not withstanding. However, like the Packers of the early 80s, scoring 30 points a game doesn’t guarantee wins, like those teams I think this team is headed to 8-8 at best.
I don’t have a clue how the Packers can go about fixing the defense at this late stage. This is what training camp is for. I don’t know of any players out there that could help the Packers and nobody who has a good defensive lineman is going to trade him unless it is an offer they can’t refuse. Highly unlikely.
The Packers simply now have to go into every game knowing they need to score 50 points to ensure victory. If that means the run-and-shoot and or more gadget plays, whatever it takes. McCarthy has to adjust his coaching to his team and the Packers simply need to open up the offense early and often. Even with a sore shoulder Rodgers has proven more than up to the task, and with Grant still feeling his way back from injury, it only makes sense.
The Packers get no favors from the schedule makers, nor should they, this is the NFL, but with a trip to Seattle and then the Colts at Lambeau, two-and-five-at-the-bye has a real ring to it. Pray for the best but prepare for the worst.