Chance for a high at the bye

The thing I hate most about the bye week in the NFL is the week before the Packers have a bye. Lose and you suck for two weeks, win and everybody is in a great mood for two weeks. At first glance it would appear that the Packers would have a hard time generating that good mood for two weeks because of the opponent they face Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts all of a sudden “found their stride” while beating the lowly Baltimore Ravens for their first win their new stadium and third overall. This after overcoming a 17 point deficit in the final five minutes at Houston the previous week.

Like the Packers, the Colts have beat a bunch of sissies in the Vikings, Texans and Ravens. Pretty much the same as the Packers’ trio of Vikings, Lions and Seahawks. The Colts and Packers are very similar to each other this season. Both have been hit with injuries and both have gotten off to slow starts as a consequence. Both teams have no problem passing the ball, the Colts are seventh in the NFL and the Packers tenth, both struggle running the ball, the Packers are 21rst and the Colts are dead last at 32nd.

On paper this game is dead even, the Packers are 20th on defense and the Colts 21rst, the Packers are 14th on offense and the Colts are 17th. It is hard to even pick a paper champion in this game. The Colts are the exact opposite of what the Packers faced last week in Seattle. The Colts can pass the ball but simply cannot run it. On paper, this plays right into the Packers’ hands. You would think the Packers defense would be able to stop the Colts running game. Of course the Colts are looking at the Packers and thinking this might be the week they can finally get some yardage on the ground. To me, this is where the game will indeed be won.

I think Aaron Rodgers will be able to keep pace with Peyton Manning in a shootout if it comes to that. I doubt either defense will be able to really stop the other. However, if the Packers can muster just enough of a running game to keep the chains moving a few times and keep Manning off the field, things would be much easier. Ryan Grant appears to be healthy, carrying the ball 33 times against the Seahawks, so all we need now is that breakout game he had so many times last year. Sunday would be great time for Grant to have his first 100-yard rushing game this year.

I guess I am nervously confident the Packers will prevail. Going to come out with the early prediction and say 27-24 Pack. Can’t wait to take me seat.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Al Davis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Newer Comments →
  • snyz

    I’m seeing a (temporary) flash of brilliance from the run game. 35-30 pack.

  • snyz

    And I must be high as a kite… ’cause I have zero confidence in them.

  • paul

    Colts 42 Pack 10. I love the Pack but am realistic and hope I am wrong. However, I have yet to be wrong in my posts.

  • zach

    [paul]However, I have yet to be wrong in my posts.[/paul]

    Boy, how humble you are. I can tell you that your 4-12 prediction will be wrong.

    Pack 31 Colts 24, tis my humble prediction.

  • Cody

    Pack 35 Colts 28
    Grant keeps Manning off the field long enough. It will be 28 all, and Woodson will get a Pick 6 when Manning tries to rush things at the end of the game. That is how it will be.

  • TRIP

    Al’s optimism is weird. lol

    I’m thinking Colts 24 Packers 14.

    I obviously want a win, entering into the bye. But you guys that somehow EXPECT this team to beat the Colts have weird thinking, in my opinion. And I do not believe in Grant either, until he gives me solid, dependable reason to.

    If we win this game, it could be a turn-around for the season. But I won’t lie to myself and say I wouldn’t be surprised by a victory over Indy.

  • Larry

    I hate to use a negative for them into a positive for us, but their RBs and OL are in worse shape than ours. Comes down to which QB/WR combination is the sharpest (ie experience vs. home field in this case I guess). Wow, what a shock for the TT haters, we were a gnats behind hair close to getting Gonzolez(?) but did we really need him? Obviously, I’m a draft best and buy need guy but the next player union agreement is sure to throw the Player Designation rule into a cocked hat and there may be less and less oportunity to get FAs. As far as the Dal/Det deal goes who cares? I’m more confident going into Sunday than I was because I think the secondary back-ups are stepping up and giving me more faith in our depth. Still need the OL to get healthy. What will happen to the naysayer’s posts if Harrell wows ‘em Sunday? This could get down right comical if he gets 6 tackles, 2 hurries, and a sack.

  • AllAboutThePack

    Larry, I certainly hope you’re right man… I’m really looking for a win here but as I explained in the previous blog, I think these two teams are so closely matched that it will come down to turnovers. The team that forces the most turnovers I think wins this one.

    Would be a real treat to see Harrell come out and man handle the opponent. Would give me goosebumps I think. If he plays to his potential I think he could have a huge game against the subpar OL of the Colts.

    I predict a win in a close one that may end up being won in OT.

  • Matt Hayton

    31-17 Colts over Packers. #18 will get it done with a beat up team. That is the difference between #18 and #12. #18 will figure out a way to win with a banged up team not clicking on all cylinders. #12, won’t, he’s just not that guy. #12 Is a good player, but in a game between a good QB and a great QB, the great one usually wins. If #12 can win this game, then he takes a huge step from being good to being great in my book. I would love to see that happen, but I doubt it will. Come on Aaron, prove me wrong kid!

  • paul

    Zach,
    I have said “yet to be wrong.” We have not won more than 4 yet. However, as I continue to state, I hope I am wrong…so wrong that it makes me happy. I go with what I have seen not blind optimism. I bet if I gave you guys 10,000 dollars to bet on the game anyway you wish, you would put your money on Indy. There is your blind optimism. If you put your money on the Pack at this stage, the chance of losing your 10,000 grand would be likely….and you know it.

  • AllAboutThePack

    Well Matt, I have to disagree with you on the good QB usually winning over the great QB. Time and time again we see the new kid on the block winning over the veteran great. I really don’t think the QB will be the factor in this game unless it comes down to a tie game with 2:00 minutes left. I’ve seen Manning pull out some amazing last minute wins. If the game is as close as I think it will be, we’ll just have to keep the ball out of his hands at the end of the game. I don’t think this game comes down to the QB’s putting the teams on their shoulders, I think this game comes down to the defense stepping up and playing lights out, getting a turnover or two and putting pressure on Manning. He’s not good with pressure in his face, give him time and he’ll kill you, but put pressure on him he makes bonehead plays and forces things. AR has been playing the best part of his young NFL career under pressure so I think he’s actually beginning to strive under pressure.

    But I do agree, I hope AR proves you wrong… :)

  • Michael Legat

    I someone gave me $10,000, the last thing I would do is bet it on any NFL game these days. Would you have put $10,000 on Washington, NY Giants, and Dallas last weekend?

  • AllAboutThePack

    10,000 Paul? What’s the spread? What’s the over under? Who’s favored and by how many? I might bet on Indy against the spread but if it were to bet on the winner of the game I’d always go with the Packers – that’s why I’ve lost the office pool a number of times cause I always go with my team to outright win. But against the spread, if it’s greater then three points, I’ll take Indy (if we’re favored by more than 3 points at home). If we’re only favored by 1 or it’s even, I’ll take Green Bay. I think this game will be won by three points or less.

    OH, but I need that $10,000 first – you can wire it to my account… :)

  • Larry

    Last Sunday proved, once again, that any team can win on a given day. Thats why the ball is shaped the way it is, to give it that crazy bounce. I’d take the 10Gs and buy a car, better investment. In any case I (optimistic me) think the D comes through and the DBs prove the difference. Might be a shoot-out with a late INT determining the outcome. Got to be a nail biter (on paper, of course).

  • RayL

    Once again TT fails to pull the trigger and get a deal done. We should have drafted Greg Olsen at # 16 instead of JH. And it takes TT this long to realize that we need a quality TE and he still doesn’t get it done…what a great job TT, you are the man! We want you out of GB…you are incapable and incompetant.

  • paul

    Mikey,
    You are so difficult. The senario was if you had 10,000 dollars that you could only use to be on the Pack/Indy, who would you bet on. And yes, I would have lost my 10,000 on the Giant, Redskins, and Cowboys. Just like I hope I lose my hypothetical 10,000 grand with a Packer win. But if you are honest with yourself….where would you put your money head to head, no line, no points (same thing, I guess)? Go Pack!!

    PS. I always lose my office pool also because I cannot bet against the Pack.

  • Cody

    Paul, I get what your saying. My mind would tell me to put the money on the colts, but my heart wouldn’t allow it.
    GO PACK!

  • AllAboutThePack

    RayL, not sure how much help a receiving TE would have done us. I think it’s more important that we have a good blocking TE then a receiving TE. We have plenty of good receivers already that stretch the field. Have a TE to replace our 5 wide set wouldn’t prove anything. Besides, the Gonz wouldn’t have been acclimated to our offense yet so he would only be able to play sparingly for the first few weeks anyway. It would have been a waste of cap money at this point. I like our TE’s for blocking, they’ve done a pretty good job. Donald Lee has done a good job of receiving when the ball goes his way. So I really don’t think TE is a glaring need right now – just my opinion.

  • Michael Legat

    Hi Paul,

    Just having some give and take on a message board. Really, I’m a pretty agreeable dude on the whole. You are right though, if things go as one would reasonably expect them to go, the Colts are the better pick at this point in time.

    On a separate note, why am I not surprised to see some grousing about Tony Gonzalez. I detect a pattern among some Packer fans. I have heard of this player on another team = We must have him!

  • Larry

    How can one accuse TT of not pulling the trigger? Sounds like his was the highest bid and Peterson closed the auction. Even Gonz was dissapointed.

  • Reid

    I would bet on the Packers and Chuck Norris to beat a team of Steven Segal, Bruce Lee, Jean Calude Van Dam, Wiley Coyote and the Indianapolis Colts.

    Rumor is that Justin Harrell has been working out on a Total Gym and that is what has gotten him healthy, not the surgeries or any of that other witch-doctor stuff.

  • Oconomowockid

    Ted wants to do it his way. He would rather take that 2nd round pick that it would have taken to get Gonzales and trade it for a 3rd and 5th round pick next year. He is also worried about bringing in an older player with some experience. We love that title of being the youngest team in the NFL. It buys you the rebuilding title without ever saying it.

  • Pete H

    Look, I have not been the biggest TT supporter here, but what would Gonzalez really have brought to the table? Lee and Humphrey do exactly what Gonzalez does, just a little worse….and I mean little. The Packers just don’t use the TEs that much….haven’t since Jackson..Chmura. I will say that to the contrary of some opinion here, he is a good blocker. I just don’t see the benefit. Of all of the things we have discussed this season as their issues, he doesn’t address any of them. As far as this week, they had better score early and often. Sorry, but I don’t see our young DBs being able to hang with Wayne, Harrison, Gonzalez, and if Bigby isn’t playing, Dallas Clark is going to eat them alive, and as has been said, they seem to have found their groove. That D better get some heat, and Ryan Grant HAS to run like a professional football player…..

  • Oconomowockid

    Lee and Humphrey are just, just, just a little worse. When was the last time we used tight ends – Jackson and Chmura?? How were we doing then?? Lets start to give our offense every weapon we can instead of saving up for some unkown 3rd round pick next year. Finally, this goes to play calling get the tight ends in the scheme!!

  • Larry

    Oconomo get real. Point is, none of the other 30 teams thought he was worth a #2 either. Again, get real, we didnt have the “great wideouts” we have now when Jackson and Chmura were here. Not even when we had Bubba.

  • JeffN

    Who cares about Gonzo he is going to be washed up in 1 or 2 years if not already. Gonzo wouldn’t help us win football games.

    What’s going to help the Packers win football games is to get better at what they are already doing with the guys that they have.

  • JeffN

    One more thing… TT doesn’t trade for OR free-agent-sign big name veterans. He just doesn’t do that. Just accept it already, it’s how it is.

    One thing TT will do is extend the contracts of Rodgers and Jennings, I guarentee you that will happen.

  • Larry

    Jeff because some on this site live only for today. We have the “explosive” offense we have because of best player drafting, WRs case in point. What we need is the OL healthy and just maybe, Harrell to be healthy. He (Harrell) didnt look bad to me when he was in there last year.

  • JeffN

    Agreed Larry, I commend you Larry for your good Analysis. I think TT bashers are getting a little nervous that Harrell might actually play good once he get’s on the field.

    Although I have to admit I’ve also been critical of Harrell, he has to get on the field and play some real football now and show us what he is made of.

  • Reid

    IMO – It’s highly unlikely that TT would trade a 2nd round pick. From watching over the years, he values the 2nd round the most. From a financial perspective, it makes sense. Pick a guy at position 33-64 and you get a guy who may be very marginally “worse” by grade than a guy at 16-32, and you pay him 1/2 of the money, and you can find GM’s to give you 2 or more of theirs for 1 of yours. It’s all an educated guess and there are no guarantees, why not have more picks, spend less on your draft picks, and have the $$ left over to sign the guys who pan out (Jennings) to longer contracts and keep them?

    Larry – good comment that 30 other teams wouldn’t trade a #2 for TG either and there are a lot of teams worse off at TE than us.

  • Reid

    And, regarding TT not signing big-name free agents – Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett may have something to say about that.

  • Oconomowockid

    Yea Jeff, we should all accept whatever TT does because there is always genius behind it. Not trading or bringing in big name veterans has always been a recipe for success. TT pumpers hope that Harrell does something, so the they can try to justify the genius of wasting a number 1 on that joker. Hey, maybe he can punt?? That may help us out!!

  • Larry

    Yeah, I was one not real positive about Woodson. I was going on his rep at OAK, but boy was I wrong. I guess TT really does know more than me.

  • JeffN

    Woodson was the only big name free agent TT signed and that is the excpetion for TT not the rule. Picket was not a big name when he was signed but he has paned out to be one of our better defensive players.

    Ocono, whether you want to accept or not what TT does is up to you, but just don’t have expectations that he is going to sign a lot of free agents. If you do have that expectation that he going to sign guys like Gonzo or Faneca then that expectation is just a recipe for dissapointment. That’s all I’m saying.

  • JeffN

    I blame Al for my bad spelling because there is no spell checker built into this site. LOL

  • AllAboutThePack

    Did everyone see that NFL special on Mandarich? He apologized for being a bust… I wonder who will be next?

  • AllAboutThePack

    When I say apologized, he apologized to the Packers organization…

  • RayL

    Boy, you TT loyalist are really drinking the kool-aid on this one….Just because the other 30 teams didn’t pull the trigger..doesn’t mean that we should not have. I mean I didn’t see the other 30 teams drafting a Justin Harrell at # 16 either. Point being..we It would be a great move for a team that needs a (9 time pro bowl) TE . And the excuse that we don’t need a ball catching TE is ridiculous…and we haven’t used TE’s for catching since Jackson/Chimura..well that’s why we need TG. Duh… and to say that TG would not be an assett the rest of the year…yeah right!!! that’s laughable. You guys are ridiculous

  • AllAboutThePack

    Ray Ray Ray – your hate for one guy is clouding your judgment here. Of course we could use a Pro Bowl TE. But right now we don’t NEED a Pro Bowl TE. We need a Pro Bowl RB. It’s not the passing game that’s the problem with this team. Would he be able to contribute? I’m sure he would, but I doubt the hit we would have to take from a CAP standpoint and from a ‘pick’ standpoint are really worth having another receiver on the team. He really won’t stretch the field much more then Driver and Jennings already do. If we had us PB RB, I think our days of sub 100 yard games would end and our offense becomes more balanced. But I’m a realist here -that’s not going to happen. I haven’t drank any kool aid either – it’s just reality. Would he help next year? I think so, but I wouldn’t hang my hat on him coming in and having immediate chemistry with this team and making a mad dash for the Playoffs just because he’s in the lineup.

  • Reid

    Why do so many people on this site think that every big name free agent and trade possibility is dying to play in Green Bay and it’s all TT’s fault for not signing them? There is a possibility that some of them might not want to live, play, hang out, or any of that in Green Bay no matter how much money we offer them? Maybe they like Florida or California or New York or Texas better and, if the money is close, they would rather go there. There are a lot of reasons they don’t come to Green Bay other than TT not throwing one of his big, Kool-Aid jugs full of money at them.

  • AllAboutThePack

    I like Reid’s sense of humor… and he has a valid point there.

  • RayL

    ALLAboutthePAck – are you serious? CAP standpoint? Just what is TT going to do with the extra $$ remaining? are you jokimg…? We don’t NEED a pro bowl TE? hmm I guess we can win with what we have….I do agree and have stated many times that we could use more depth at RB, and proven talent at O-Line. SO I am not saying that not getting TG is going to devastate our team or future…what I am saying is….this is a pattern with TT and we could, and should have made more moves…even if it is just a couple of key positions and add some more talent and depth. We are paying the price now and it very well may get worse.

    REID – TG said he preferred to play in GB rather than some of the other offers he had on the table…so do your homework….

  • RayL

    And all this Horse Crap about ..if one thinks we should have made a few moves for need in free agancy is picking a fantasy football team is ridiculous. TT’s job is to field the best team. He simply isn’t getting it done. Woodson was a great addition. I give him kudos for that move. But Marquand Manuel was a bust. He waited way too long to cut Ahmad Carroll. He ran Darren Sharper out of town…the guy is a joke! Anyone who has actually listen to his comments and thinks he is a capable GM is lost. I will refer to the statement made in a recent article in the MJS….TT stated that – during practice..he sometimes doesn’t even watch the footballl part…he watches the interaction of the guys coming off the field. Is this odd to anyone other than me? Not only is it odd…it speaks volumes about him…I mean what should he be watching other than the “football part”

  • AllAboutThePack

    RayL, to respond to your CAP question. I believe we have a few key players we need to sign and having a little wiggle room doesn’t hurt going forward. I agree we have WAY too much wiggle room now, but there’s also a few key players we need to resign.
    So no, I’m not joking – I think keeping some of those key players like Jennings and Rodgers is first priority – signing a CAP strap like TG or some other one or two year wonder at this point won’t help us right now so it makes that NOT an immediate need. There are a bunch of things I don’t like about TT but there are some things I do like – I do agree that the “football part” comment was kinda off. Things that make you go hmmmm…

  • Pete H

    Allright RayL, again I have had alot of issues with TT, but honestly I think those that you brought up are silly. You can’t just cut a 1st rd pick until you know for sure that he can’t do it. He had a rookie year, an awful second year, and the beginnig of a third and then he was gone. That’s pretty quick on the trigger. As far as Sharper, he got way overpaid to be a constant part of the perrennially worst pass defense in the league. Yes he can still make a big play, but Collins, Rouse and Bigby are far superior. Yes Manuel blew, as did Roman, but that isn’t going to make Tony G. be able to contribute any more to this team than he could have. I also wish that TT had made more moves, some vet help, but simply put, their offense isn’t designed around alot of TE use. Every year we all call for more TE plays. It’s just not part of their scheme. Sure he would be an upgrade from Lee, but would you pay twice as much for a new house that only has one more closet than the one you have? There just wouldn’t be enough impact for the buck. I would like to have seen them somehow bring a DT in. A DT can learn their part in a scheme relatively quickly, ala Grady Jackson, and contribute. I don’t know if he tried or not, just saying I would have liked that.

  • Larry

    The football part is MM’s job. MM goes to TT and tells TT what he needs. He then tells MM what kind of coaches he needs. TT then works with MacKensie or who ever is in charge with personnel to get the needs. The draft is different but only happens once a year. You might hope a certain player falls in your lap or you go best available and fill in holes later. You’ve got to understand the whole not just the little pieces.

  • Reid

    RayL – the deal was done until 10 minutes to go the Chiefs upped the asking price. Go buy something tonight and right when you get to the counter, tell me how you feel about it when they tell you the price just went up? The Packers’ record since Thompson took over has looked like a good trend to me. Do the math, no NFL team can afford a Pro Bowl player at every position. Let’s see: Sharper, Gonzales, oops, no need to do any more, we’re over the cap and now we can’t extend the contracts of Jennings and Rodgers and anyone else on our current team that we want to keep. Come on over to the dark side, the Kool-Aid tastes great and it’s a lot more fun to support your team than criticize them all of the time.

  • Jeff

    O line and D line

    2005-2007 drafts

    Will Whitticker
    Junius Coston
    Tony Moll
    Jason Spitz
    Daryn College
    Allen Barbre

    Mike Montgomery
    Dave Tollefson
    Johnny Jolly
    Justin Harrell

    There’s not one guy in there who really ranks as an impact player. I confess to having no idea how, but I think we need to do better with our line picks.

  • cali cheeez

    Reid that’s not true, the cowgirls have 13 pro-bowlers. And how many playoff games did they win last year? DOHHH!

  • Larry

    Wolf made a genius move getting Holmgren. He was estremely lucky w/Favre considering the college and ATL reputation he had. And, he had the $ to get Reggie. Beyond that the 90s team was built thru the draft w/ a lot of mid-rounders that panned out. Doesn’t it seem that that is what TT is doing? It worked before and I think we’ve got a leg up on the same situation today; just hasn’t happened yet.

Newer Comments →