But let’s pull out the Packers schedule and try to predict the future. Based solely on the results of Week 1, and being completely superficial and pessimistic, Green Bay may have a long road ahead.
Let's go game-by-game:
NEW ORLEANS
The Saints have Reggie Bush lining up all over the field, run Deuce McAllister at you, and now Drew Brees launches the football. A tough win by New Orleans at Cleveland to kick off the season -- do I hear two in a row on the road? Sold! (L)
AT DETROIT
The Lions got into it with the defending Super Bowl bridesmaids from Seattle. It was a ho-hum 9-6 field goal fest, but a renewed toughness on defense could cause Favre and his offensive line fits. (L)
AT PHILADELPHIA
Prime time Monday Night game with the Eagles, Donovan McNabb enjoys playing again with T.O. gone. Did you see McNabb play-action the Texans to death? Get ready, Charles Woodson. (L)
ST. LOUIS
The Rams don’t have the Greatest Show on Turf any more, but they won a slugfest with Denver, and that’s saying something. If Steven Jackson gets a head of steam, it could be a long day at Lambeau. (L)
BYE WEEK
If they lose those four games, the natives will be more than restless.
AT MIAMI
The Fish lost at Pittsburgh, but had the lead into the fourth quarter against the Super Bowl champs. Nick Saben will fix the problems, and the defense is pretty solid to begin with. It’s in Florida, the Packers will wilt in the sun, which by now, is on winter break back in Wisconsin. (L)
ARIZONA
The Cardinals are no longer the doormat in the NFL, and they don’t play on one either back in Phoenix. This game takes place in Green Bay, but if the Cards confidence has been established this late in the season, they’ll keep it rolling on the road. (L)
AT BUFFALO
This looked like a gimme game, but then the Bills went in and nearly upset the Patriots in Foxboro. They can run the football and play some defense. At home, they might do enough to edge the Pack. (L)
AT MINNESOTA
Vikings win on the road in DC, Ryan Longwell boots the game winning field goal. This is a team that grabbed the hottest assistant coach on the market, while Green Bay took a flyer on someone with potential. It’s in the Metrodome -- need I say more? After the game, Koren Robinson drowns his sorrows at a few old Twin Cities haunts, then tries to drive back to Green Bay ... but gets busted in Eau Claire. (L)
NEW ENGLAND
The Patriots are not the team they used to be when they won just about every Super Bowl, but they are still damn good. They find ways to win, and they are boring to watch, but that’s Bill Belichick ... boring but productive. (L)
AT SEATTLE
On the road, against the Seahawks and Mike Holmgren on Monday Night Football. Forget it! (L)
NEW YORK JETS
Another team that looked like a slam dunk win for the Pack, the Jets go into Tennessee and beat the Titans. Everyone had Chad Pennington producing little, but he wants to keep his job. We’ll give this one to the home team, but not by much. (W)
AT SAN FRANCISCO
Be careful here. The 49ers are still bad, but it’s on the West Coast, and in December, both teams have nothing to play for. In toss up games like this, the guys at home get the nod. (L)
DETROIT
We gave the Lions the win at home under the protection of the Ford Field roof, the Packers take this one in the mud in Green Bay. (W)
MINNESOTA
This one will play up big, since it’s slated on a Thursday night in prime time. Sure, the Frozen Tundra will be frozen, but my guess is, Minnesota will be fighting for a wild card spot, while the Packers will be looking to see who wants a job next season. (L)
AT CHICAGO
Time to ring out the old year on the final day of 2006. Chicago could be playing for a home field slot in the playoffs, and will use the listless Packers as postseason tune-up fodder. The Bears pounced in Week 1, and should do the same in Week 17. (L)
Final record: 2-14.
It seems far-fetched and hard to fathom a season worse than last year.
Maybe I’m wrong ... I probably am.
But after the shutout to kick things off, isn’t it a very real possibility I’ll be right?
Bob currently does play-by-play at Time Warner Cable Sports 32, calling Wisconsin Timber Rattlers games in Appleton as well as the area high school football and basketball scene. During an earlier association with FS Wisconsin, his list of teams and duties have included the Packers, Bucks, Brewers and the WIAA State Championships.
During his life before cable, Bob spent seven seasons as a reporter and producer of "Preps Plus: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel High School Sports Show."
And the joke is, Bob has a golf shirt from all four Milwaukee television stations. Sad, but true: Bob has had sports and news anchor/reporter/producer stints at WTMJ, WISN, WDJT and WITI.
His first duty out of college (UW-Oshkosh) was radio and TV work in Eau Claire. Bob spent nearly a decade at WEAU-TV as a sports director and reporter.
You may have heard Bob's pipes around town as well. He has done play-by-play for the Milwaukee Mustangs, Milwaukee Iron, and UW-Milwaukee men's and women's basketball. Bob was the public address announcer for five seasons for both the Marquette men and women's basketball squads. This season, you can catch the starting lineups of the UW-Milwaukee Panther men's games with Bob behind the mic.
A Brookfield Central graduate, Bob's love and passion for sports began at an early age, when paper football leagues, and Wiffle Ball All Star Games were all the rage in the neighborhood.
