[G-Man]

You keep telling yourself that tight-fisted general manager Ted Thompson eventually will add a few players this off- season. Then you see that the Green Bay Packers' schedule is tougher than last year's and you wonder how they'll build on those four straight season- ending wins when the roster isn't as good.

Though the draft could change things, here is one guess as to how the Packers' season will go:

Philadelphia: Brett Favre tells ESPN he's learning toward retirement after a 16th season as quarterback of the Packers, then fuels speculation when he blows off still another postgame press conference. Loss.

At New York Giants: Too bad the Packers can't play New York later in the season when the Giants have grown tired of coach Tom Coughlin's act. Loss.

San Diego: First-year Chargers coach Norv Turner will screw up the NFL's most talented team, just not this soon. Loss.

At Minnesota: Fresh because he no longer gets pancaked on first down, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacks Vikings quarterback Brooks Bollinger five times after Bollinger replaces an ineffective Tarvaris Jackson. Win.

Chicago: Even without Tank Johnson, who has joined Pacman Jones in the commissioner's new maximum security jail, the Bears send the Packers to a fourth straight 1-4 start. Loss.

Washington: Favre breaks Dan Marino's touchdown record and George Blanda's interception record on the same day. Win.

At Denver: Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker, angry that the Packers acquiesced to Al Harris' contract demands and not his, burns the cornerback for three touchdowns. Loss.

At Kansas City: As the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals in Game 7 of the World Series next door, the Packers can't make it a sweep at Arrowhead. Loss.

Minnesota: Bollinger is too battered to play, so the Vikings coax T.J. Rubley out of retirement. Late in the game, Rubley audibles to a pass, which is intercepted by the Packers' Terrell Buckley. Win.

Carolina: Favre is injured executing a textbook fireman's carry on Donald Driver, giving Aaron Rodgers a chance to quiet the doubters, which he does. Win.

At Detroit: Rookie wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the surprise first-round draft pick of Lions general manager Matt Millen, catches three touchdown passes. Loss.

At Dallas: Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens also catches three TD passes, the final one amid four Packers in the end zone as time expires, eliminating Green Bay from playoff contention. Loss.

Oakland: Wide receiver Randy Moss catches three TD passes - all from Favre. Win.

At St. Louis: Rookie halfback Marshawn Lynch finally makes Packers fans forget that Ahman Green was allowed to leave. Win.

At Chicago: Having clinched the NFC North title, the Bears let the Packers win a meaningless late-season game for the second year in a row. Win.

Detroit: Favre weeps after playing the final game of his career, but later tells reporters he hasn't made up his mind on retirement. Win.

So there you have it. The Packers will win their last four games for the second straight year to go 8-8 for the second straight year. Unless Thompson finally gets busy, that is.

Great article! I can sense Oates' sarcasm, but this is much more realistic than some of the posts I have been seeing on Packer Chatters. Yes, some of his comments are a reach, but there are is a lot of information in here that could become reality! I particularly like his comments on the NYG, SD, Oakland, and Chicago #2. Your thoughts?

[Heatseeker]

I'd say 8-8 is a much more realistic scenario than some of these 11-5 and 12-4 predictions we're seeing thrown out.

[chamuko]

anywhere from 6-10 to 8-8 seems to be reasonable for this team.

Maybe it will be better a 2-14 that will end TT experiment or a 14-2 that will make clear Teddy and MM are the right guys.

But I see this team heading into mediocricy for a long time, we might end up into a perennial 8-8 team with TT driving the bus..Boring??? yes...

[prsnfoto]

At Denver: Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker, angry that the Packers acquiesced to Al Harris' contract demands and not his, burns the cornerback for three touchdowns. Loss.


I personally guarantee this won't happen our nappy headed ho is gonna kick their nappy headed ho's ass Harris is way too good a cover corner to get beat that bad matter of fact he only gives up that many most seasons. I would say 8-8, 9-7, 7-9 all pretty realistic.

[PTPaQ]

"At Denver: Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker, angry that the Packers acquiesced to Al Harris' contract demands and not his, burns the cornerback for three touchdowns. Loss."

I stopped reading after that.

[VinnieTheShrimp]

At Denver: Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker, angry that the Packers acquiesced to Al Harris' contract demands and not his, burns the cornerback for three touchdowns. Loss.
I personally guarantee this won't happen our nappy headed ho is gonna kick their nappy headed ho's ass Harris is way too good a cover corner to get beat that bad matter of fact he only gives up that many most seasons. I would say 8-8, 9-7, 7-9 all pretty realistic.

LMAOROTF...thanks for the laugh.

I agree..this guy is talking trash. No way...Harris didn't get burned 3 times all last season. I predicted 11-5 but I was stretching it...10-6 more realistic.

[Bruce]

I never understand fans or writers who are willing to right off a season before the draft, before the mini-camps, before the first hit of the season.

At times like that I wonder if the quitters ever strapped on the Pads????

I am not in the prediction business, but my expecations are that his young team will fight, develp and improve. More importantly, I expect that they will never waive the white flag -- like some seem quite quick to suggest.

[PTPaQ]

I never understand fans or writers who are willing to right off a season before the draft, before the mini-camps, before the first hit of the season.

At times like that I wonder if the quitters ever strapped on the Pads????

I am not in the prediction business, but my expecations are that his young team will fight, develp and improve. More importantly, I expect that they will never waive the white flag -- like some seem quite quick to suggest.

I agree, and even if we are 8-8, or even 7-9, I feel we would be a "better" 8-8 than last year. I look for us to compete with the better teams, instead of completely getting destroyed like what happened to us last year. If we can do that, regardless of record, it will mean our team is improving.

[ChicagoPackerFan]

Why does this guy make this pessimistic prediction before the first game. These beat writers are all born to be pessimistic about the teams they cover, hell they do the same thing here in Chicago about all the home teams.

Sorry just because TT has not added a few over priced over the hill free agents does not make a bad year. The coaching staff and players are more experienced than last year, that at least gives us two more games than last year IMO.

[dave in tx]

Oakland: Wide receiver Randy Moss catches three TD passes - all from Favre. Win.

Great article! I can sense Oates' sarcasm, but this is much more realistic than some of the posts I have been seeing on Packer Chatters. Yes, some of his comments are a reach, but there are is a lot of information in here that could become reality! I particularly like his comments on the NYG, SD, Oakland, and Chicago #3. Your thoughts?

So, Oates' is claiming TT is "tight fisted" yet he's including the aquisition of Randy Moss in this fantasy for pessimistic Packer fans. Yo, Froot Loop, get your head out of the cereal box and let some oxygen get into your brain. How can you continue to claim TT is tight fisted if he uses all the remaining available cap after signing the draft picks on Randy Moss???


anyhow, G-Man, I'm suprised to read an 8-8 prediction with Randy Moss, that you're seemingly agreeing with. Wasn't the Randy Moss trade at the very top of your wish list ahead of Julius Jones and the drafting of either Hall or Nelson, which could still happen? And didn't you say you'd give TT an offseason A+ if that happened???

I've read 100's of posts that state that Moss is the playmaker the team needs to send Favre out in style. I'd expect those posters to have been all over Oates' by now saying he's nuts to think the Packers will go 8 & 8 if they spend the bank on Randy Moss. Instead it seems to have brought out some pessimists' praise for Oates' wisdom.

btw...I agree with Bruce and others its way too early to put any stock in predictions. Especially, this so called "realistic" sarcasm by Oates.