Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
Ken from Long Beach, CA
Guys, in the past you have stated the difference between winning and losing is slim. Week 1 which was the “best team to lose” and the “worst team to win.”
There are no tears allowed nor apologies necessary in the NFL, but the road efforts of the Colts and Texans in close defeats stood out. Seattle’s home win didn’t impress me.
Eric from Greenville, WI
Now that Week 1 is in the books, what is the best/worst overreaction you've seen?
The beating the Browns are taking is a classic case of building them up to tear them down. It was a 15-13 game late in the third quarter.
Will from Green Bay, WI
I saw that Rashan Gary played only six snaps against the Bears. While that isn't shocking for a rookie in his first ever game, can we expect to see more of him (especially on passing downs) against Minnesota?
I think so, for a couple reasons. One, I don’t expect the Smiths to continue to play 99 and 92 percent of the defensive snaps, respectively, every week. Two, the last play I highlighted in WYMM.
Jason from Olive Branch, MS
Saints and Patriots are similar to Packers in their star QB is elite. Saints and Patriots, offensively, both seemed to be more cohesive in their first game than the Pack. Do you think it’s scheme-related, more practice, or those other teams didn’t face an offense-wrecker like Mack?
It wasn’t Mack, it was the whole Chicago defense, which was the best in the league last year in a number of key categories and brought back almost everyone. The transition to a new offense is part of it, yes, but I don’t think anyone else in the league is facing two tougher defenses in the first two weeks than the Packers.
Joe from Ashburn, VA
I was watching both the New England and New Orleans games and noticed that Brady and Brees are able to get the ball out of their hands so fast they hardly get hit and always seem to have open receivers. My question is, as good as Aaron is at reading defenses, why aren't we seeing more of this from GB? Is it that our receivers are not able to get separation, does Aaron just prefer to play sandlot football, or has he lost his confidence to throw the ball in rhythm before the receiver is open?
It was one game in a new system. Let’s give it some time.
Grant from Plymouth, MN
I just noticed, with the Bears at 0-1, the Lions at 0-0-1, and the Vikings at 1-0 just like the Pack, whoever wins this week's game will be 2-0 and hold the lead in the NFC North no matter what happens with the other teams.
The winner of this game will be the early-season darling of the division, for whatever it’s worth.
Matt from Waukesha, WI
With the Packers opening the season last Thursday, do the coaches use those extra days to get a head start on reviewing film and prepping for Minnesota? Advantage Packers?
I don’t know. LaFleur said the coaches were grinding away most of the weekend while the players were off, but they still didn’t have Minnesota’s Week 1 film until late Sunday.
Bill from Bloomfield Hills, MI
Not that guys like Cousins, Flacco, Rivers, Dak and Stafford aren't deserving and capable of big games as better-than-average starters, but it seems like the Packers’ schedule is missing games against most of the top-five tier of league QBs this year. Mahomes is the only one. No Ben, Brady, Wilson, Brees, Ryan and a few more (until the playoffs?). Did we catch a break and how might it work in our favor?
Wentz, Newton and Carr are no slouches in my book when healthy, and you’re selling Rivers a little short. I think the AFC West, top to bottom, has the best quartet of QBs in that conference (Mahomes, Rivers, Carr, Flacco) so no one in the NFC North got a break with the division pairings this year.
Sean from Las Vegas, NV
With all the concern about the field condition in Canada in the preseason, how is the baseball field the Raiders played on any better?
It’s not.
Shane from Bourbonnais, IL
So watching the Monday night game and how it ended got me thinking. When there were six seconds left, and New Orleans had the timeout, could the defense have not touched him and let time expire when he dropped down? I mean, you know he's going to do a quick hit. They should have protected the outsides and let them have the middle and not touch him.
A popular query. I addressed this on yesterday’s “Unscripted.” If the offensive player gives himself up, the offense can call timeout. He doesn’t have to be touched for the play to be over.
Dave from Germantown, TN
I saw that in Sunday's game, Minnesota ran the ball 39 times and only threw 10 passes. Can the Packers control the run game with Raven Greene at the second inside linebacker or are the Packers going to need to turn to Ty Summers or B.J. Goodson for a large number of snaps?
That’s the million-dollar schematic question for this game. I think Pettine would love to see his unit stop the run as it did against the Bears, with Martinez as the only true inside linebacker on the field, because it helps with both coverage and pass-rush options. But if it can’t, he’ll have to adjust.
Richard from Canton, GA
Was the Detroit-Arizona tie the first when both teams scored in overtime?
When the Packers and Vikings tied in 2013, both teams scored in OT, but the extra period was still 15 minutes then.
Blaine from Fennimore, WI
Did you see the Falcons don't play a single division game until November? Is that a blessing or curse?
That’s crazy. They have five division games in a row from Weeks 10-14, starting right after their bye. I’ve never seen a schedule look anything like that.