NFL seasons are very precious. As fans, we only get to enjoy 16 games throughout a season, and maybe more if we are lucky.

Our Packers are 4-3. Two of those losses have come against 'Ol Man River which hurts even more, but regardless, the Vikings are an elite team and we have witnessed the Packers unable to overcome elite teams before (Cowboys of the mid-90's). However, I truly believe this is a playoff team. Look around the rest of the NFC; our main competition are now the Bears (they will beat themselves before we get the chance), the NFC East (Eagles, Giants, 'Boys), and the Falcons.

We don't have to worry about the Saints and the Vikings anymore. The Vikes are behind us, at least on the schedule. This stretch of our schedule will allow us to sneak under the radar for four weeks with games at Bucs, vs Boys, vs Niners, and @ Lions. I have faith that we can sweep those teams.

If we win the next four weeks, we will be 8-3 just in time for the toughest part of our schedule. Three of those games are winnable (Seattle, Chicago, and 'Zona). Let's restore some faith and cheer our Pack on. I am not ready to say "Better luck next year" yet and I refuse to cash my chips in.

+1

Thank you

Clearly anybody ready to give up at this point doesn't have a realistic understanding of the NFL.

The Packers are a good team when they have it together -- they just need to find their rhythm and play to their strengths.

The best news to me is that AR is still taking sacks trying to make things happen. This might sound weird, but it says to me that he's the kind of guy who has zero quit in him and is willing to count on his teammates even when they're letting him down. If the Packers are going to find real success at any point this season, that's going to be a key aspect of it.

Looking at the schedule I would say that pack would be favored in all but the PIT, CHI, and AZ game. Of course they could drop some of the 'supposed to win games, but like you point out could win some fo the toughs games as well.

All is not lost, but clearly GB is not an elite team right now. Still 2 years ago when GB was 12-4 they had massive O line problems the first half of the season that as well. Then Grant came on out of no where and the team adapted. Hopefully this team can adapt again, so there is some precedent for hope.

I'll be surprised if they are favored to beat Baltimore

They're going to have to beat TB (road game), Dallas, SF, Detroit (road game) & Seattle then win one of @ Pitt, Baltimore, @ Chicago and @ Arizona to be 10-6

Looks like a major task right now

GB was favored at home against MIN, and Baltimore has the same record as GB does right now. I would put my season win total estimate at exactly 9.5. That said I would not be terribly surprised to see 8 loses, nor would I be shocked to see 11 wins.

The reason I say this is like I posted earlier there are reasons to believe GB can get better over the next half of the season. Just like the prediction of wins though it cuts both ways, I could see GB bombing out as well...

JMO

The way the Cowboys have played of late gives me reason to doubt we beat them.
Therefore I see losses to

Cowboys
Pitt
Balt
Chi

Ariz - if they have the Div clinched might rest some players. Otherwise, that could be tough as well.

Is 9-7 enough for the WC? If we beat the Boys that will be a leg up on them.

So, if we are a good team I believe we go 9-7. If we are a team that some here feel we are which is can only beat the dreg's of the NFL we will go 7-9 (Tampa, Det, Seattle).

We will know after the Dallas game who we are, IMO. If we dont improve the Oline they could have 10 sacks.

I see them losing two of those should win games (TB, SF, Detroit and Seattle), SF and Detroit on Thanksgiving are tough. Plus there is always that shoulda win which doesn't happen. At best, I see them winning only one of the tougher teams (maybe Chi or Zona).

So that will be 4, possibly 5 more wins. 8 - 8 or 9 - 7.

If they improve in all the known aspects of the game (sacks, penalties, etc) which continue to hurt their chances, maybe 10 or 11 are possible.

While there has been progress is some of these deficient areas (went from 8 sacks to only 6 sacks in the second game against The Vikings), I just don't see the significant improvement happening to propel them to 10 or 11 victories.

I guess I need to see us beat a good team to believe we can make any kind of run in the playoffs, much less even get there.

What good is it to be optimistic when we can't win our own division--which is apparent?

I've followed pro football since the early '60's, and this team has me lower than a snakes navel. It is clear there's some talent there, but the folks pulling the levers don't appear to be able to put it all together.

Even if the team made the playoffs, it is very clear Minnesota would beat Green Bay another time, and commentators who have seen both teams were saying the Saints are even better than the Vikings!

7-9. Especially is Rodgers is out for awhile.

You nailed it. If we beat Tampa, which we should the combined record of teams we beat this year is like 3-28. And other than Chicago the only teams we will have beaten in the last 17 games would be STL, Det, Tampa and Cleveland. And its not an easy fix.

i haven't jumped ship yet (not much of a swimmer). we're still very alive in the wild card race, along with:

Cowboys
Eagles
Giants (one of these is in as a division winner, of course)
Cards/Niners (ditto)
Bears
Falcons
Panthers

luckily we get to play 4 of those teams. hopefully the East teams keep beating up on each other (Cowboys have 5 division games left) and/or the Giants collapse continues. i would pencil in at least one of the three to be a wild card, and the other probably comes down to us or the Falcons.

Keep the optimism.

if we can figure a way to protect Rodgers we have a realistic shot at winning every remaining game on the schedule.

i believe that "if" should be in size 48 font. mods, please fix.

I'm gonna go out on a relatively sturdy limb and say that if we beat Dallas we will make the playoffs and if we don't we won't. We can afford to lose at Pittsburgh and against Baltimore but Dallas is in direct competition for us in the wildcard.

Dallas seems to have had our number since the Ice Bowl though.

It's going to be an exciting finish to the year. Each week will bring new suspense. Can't wait to see how it unfolds. I still have faith that the Pack can pull it together and make a deep playoff run.

Never Jump Ship!!!

The Packers are the most storied franchise in the NFL. Packer fans are Packer fans thick and thin.

While some may express displeasure with decisions (coaching and front office) or less than stellar play at times, they should be offered and read as fans who none-the-less support their team.

The Yet is unnecessary in this title.

Fair weather followers, and love-ya-only-when-you're-hot bandwagoners may be an entirely different matter - Packer fans DON'T jump ship.

Although I am a very good swimmer, jumping ship is hardly an option for me. I had predicted the Packers would be 7-0 at this point, so the fact that the offense still isn't clicking and the team has dumped 3 games has me bummed.

I AM done standing-up for MM and some on his staff (Campen, Slocum) ... he hasn't cleaned anything up yet, and seems OK with penalties and predictable playcalling. I LOVE the Packers, and think that there's enough talent on the team to do some damage in the playoffs, but I'm realizing that MM won't help them get there. We still have on the schedule: TB, Seattle, Detroit and da Bears, so we'll (hopefully) get at least to .500, but my high-hopes have been dashed.

Been a fan since Lombardi. Why would I or any fan jump ship?

Me too. Been a fan for 40 years. Always will be .Criticizing yes. Blind faith in management? No.

No but we are fans of the team above any players or coaches.

Yes. Good fans here. The best in the country. In any sport.