Packers Fans I want you to win tomorrow and think you will, but…
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are up against the Grim Reaper this Sunday. If the Packers win, they have a great shot at making the playoffs. They need the Lions to lose two games, including the head to head matchup in week 17. The Packers have won their last two games which is encouraging, but hardly tells us anything, because of who they played.
The Packers beat the Texans and the Eagles. Osweiler may be the worst QB in the league. He is the new Matt Flynn, but instead of the coaching staff realizing he can’t play before the season, they have started him all season long. Osweiler beat the Patriots last year with a good performance including another game or two. So the Texans decide to give Osweiler a massive contract, and in return the Texans now have the worst yds/attempt of anyone in the league as well as 30th in Net Passing yards/Game.
The Packers also beat the Eagles who are 2-7 in their last nine games. Pro Football focus ranks Philadelphia’s receivers as #29th in the league. Which, explains why the Packers were able to win that game handily. The Packers secondary looked abysmal against teams with good receivers. The prior 4 weeks they had given up at least 31 points and lost 4 straight.
The Packers’ defense was too hurt to compete, but are getting healthier by the week. This week will be the test whether or not the “Pack are back”. If they are back I agree that no one will want to face them. We know Aaron Rodgers is incredible and when the Packers are playing well together they can beat anyone on any given Sunday. But…if that defense is still giving up 31 points to teams Death will visit them Sunday.
Red in the Shawshank Redemption tells us, “Hope is a dangerous thing, hope can drive a man insane”. Since week 6 when the Packers were chewed up by the Cowboys they have been on life support holding onto hope.
Mythology also tells us that the Grim Reaper visits to sever all ties between the soul and the body. The Seahawks come to town this weekend to sever any hope that the Packers had of making the playoffs. I feel each football season has a soul and The Grim Reaper is taking the 2016’s Packers’ soul and delivering it to Hades.
It is not unheard of though, for people to avoid the Grim Reaper. We know Bill & Ted did it in their excellent adventure, but hope seems dim. The Lions are winning more than expected and with a Packers loss tomorrow their death is imminent. My advice to Packer fans, is to let 2016 go with a loss on Sunday, but don’t let it destroy your enjoyment of the NFL season. It’s ok to enjoy watching another team after your team’s soul is gone, football is too short to only enjoy 13 weeks of it. Find some other players you like and cheer for them. You aren’t cheating on your team, but rooting for players. The distinction is important. There is no one more fun to cheer for and root for than Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Khalil Mack. Aside from this Thursday (everyone knows Thursday night games suck) they are the best watch in the NFL.