So, in referencing back to my 2019 Green Bay Packers predictions up to this point, I’d like to think that maybe I am one game off (I had projected a Packers loss to Kansas City, and a tie to Carolina, as well as a win to San Francisco.) Bits and pieces of this season have also played correctly into my predictions – whereas I had been sold on the fact that while the Packers would be a lot better in 2019, there are still a flaw here and there that prevents them from coming across as being one of the top teams in the NFC.

Inexperience and missed blocking assignments – even from veterans Corey Linsley & David Bakhtiari

Last night, those flaws were exposed in a 37-8 drubbing by a revamped and motivated San Francisco 49ers team, where the Packers, who were fresh off of a bye, came back out west to California and were outplayed from the first whistle. It was safe to say that after last night’s defeat, the Packers were definitely not among the NFC’s elite (San Francisco + Seattle, and maybe Minnesota at this point) – where costly turnovers and the inability to win the battle in the trenches with San Fran’s front four showed without a doubt the struggles that this team still had. Beyond Davante Adams & Aaron Jones – the Packers lack that true other playmaker on the offense and show that after a top lineman (Bulaga) goes down early in the game, inexperience and missed blocking assignments hurt Aaron Rodgers’ chances of distributing the ball to the offense. Jimmy Graham continues to be that disappointing free agent signing – where GM Brian Gutekunst elected to throw money at a washed up tight end who hasn’t lived up to expectations – and let Aaron Rodgers’ go-to-guy, Jordy Nelson, walk. And can we get a good special teams unit please – in perfect conditions, J.K. Scott had his worst game of the season – not turning over the field position all that well with short punts and poor hangtime. Plus our punt return game has netted (-11) yards on returns this season – Yuck.

Watching the game last night (I had to turn it off because of how ugly it was) – reminded me of a team that had a similar formula and bodies on paper – the 2015 Green Bay Packers. Note, this was the team that allowed the Minnesota Vikings to march into Lambeau Field in Week 17 and steal the NFC North crown from them, granted Minnesota had home field advantage in the Wild Card Round and still missed a chip shot field that send Seattle to Carolina in the Divisional Round. This Packers team in 2015 started off 6-0 before a date in Denver with the Broncos, where in a game like what we watched last night, all impurities were exposed and the team just flat out stunk. 

After that drubbing in the Mile High City in 2015, the Packers would drop their next two games, on the road at Carolina, and at home after a missed field goal by kicker Mason Crosby to Detroit. Another game that was hard to watch was in Week 16 down in Arizona, where a banged up offensive struggled to protect Aaron Rodgers in similar fashion. Yes, the Packers still made the playoffs, but fans had to watch on pins and needles as they went into Washington D.C. in the Wild Card Round and defeated a quarterback who struggles in big games in Kirk Cousins, then have hearts broken in Phoenix yet again, as the Packers couldn’t use two deep shots to Jeff Janis to escape the desert and head to Carolina with a date with Cam Newton and the eventual NFC representative in the Super Bowl that year, in Carolina. 

At this point in the season, where could I see the Packers going? Right now, I’d say these are very winnable games ahead of them in the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. Not to mention the next three games against the NFC North, which are no easy games by any means. I like the Packers to beat the Bears at home still, as Chicago’s inconsistencies on offense and on special teams exposes who they really are, which is at best an 8-8 team. The game in Minneapolis on Monday Night will be the biggest game of the year by date – perhaps the NFC North Championship – in a venue where the Green & Gold has struggled, not to mention a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, where the Lions always give the Packers trouble. If I had to give an eye test right now, the Packers will be 11-5 at the end of the year.

Their ceiling? Easily 13-3. Floor? 10-6.

I can no longer confirm or deny whether or not that this team takes the division, but I think that the NFC will run through the NFC West with either San Francisco or Seattle. Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur and his assistants were outcoached last night – and the defense showed signs that are not good if this team wants to make a deep postseason run. 

Please change my mind, Packers Nation. Was this early season success a fluke? 

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