PACKER INSIDER'S FIRST ROUND OF PREDICTIONS

[Bretsky]

Ready or not, here come the predictions
Posted: June 14, 2006


Richard Pufall
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The beauty of making bold, somewhat sketchy predictions in June about the Green Bay Packers' 2006 season is that they might be forgotten by the end of December.

And folks, we can only hope so.

At this point, anyone's guess is good. And bad. It probably comes as no surprise to you that sportswriting is not an exact science. Or do you think we spend a lot of time agonizing over and researching this? Actually, we just throw a lot of stuff at the wall and hope some of it sticks. Yup, that's the secret sauce in our forecasting recipe and were not letting go, no matter the consequences. But shhhhhhh . . . don't tell anyone.

Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers begin and end the 2006 season against the Chicago Bears and linebacker Brian Urlacher.

But as a job, it's not packing and lifting and someone has to do it. So here we go:

Sept. 10, Chicago at Green Bay: After wresting the NFC North title from the Packers last season, the Bears and their fans are full of themselves. They believe they are the bull-goose loonies of the division; the team to beat that can't be beaten.

Mike Sherman had a winning record in six seasons as Green Bay's head coach, but he somehow lost the Packers' dominance and edge at Lambeau Field. Mike McCarthy can return some pride to the home turf and win a lot of friends by opening his head-coaching career with a victory over the Bears.

This should be a battle of very good defensive teams.

Chicago's overconfidence and Green Bay's edge on offense should make the difference: Packers 24, Bears 10.

Sept. 17, New Orleans at Green Bay: Reggie Bush brings his awesome talents to Lambeau and he should be enough to make this a close game, not the 52-3 rout that Green Bay enjoyed last season. And everywhere that Bush goes, A.J. Hawk is sure to follow. Drew Brees at quarterback makes New Orleans better, too. But again, Green Bay's defense prevails: Packers 20, Saints 17.

Sept. 24, Green Bay at Detroit: You can't win 'em all. The wheels will come off in the Motor City where Green Bay always seems to sputter: Lions 23, Packers 20.

Oct. 2, Green Bay at Philadelphia: It's Monday night in the city of brotherly loath. Green Bay must show it can win a game in this venue before earning the edge. Eagles 27, Packers 20.

Oct 8, St. Louis at Green Bay: Green Bay will prevail in a battle of teams that aren't what they used to be: Packers 34, Rams 17.

Oct. 22, Green Bay at Miami: Even if Daunte Culpepper isn't healthy enough to play quarterback, Miami will be tough at home: Dolphins 17, Packers 14.

Oct. 29, Arizona at Green Bay: The Cardinals are dripping with talent, but Dennis Green will find a way to lose this one: Packers 31, Cardinals 30.

Nov. 5, Green Bay at Buffalo: Beating Buffalo on the road? Why not? Who could call this an upset? Packers 28, Bills 16.

Nov. 12, Green Bay at Minnesota: Historically, the Packers have struggled at the Metrodome. And it's another painful history lesson for Green Bay. Vikings 21, Packers 17.

Nov. 19, New England at Green Bay: A few years ago this game would be a lot tougher than it is now. Look for Green Bay to play the home card. Packers 30, Patriots 27.

Nov. 27, Green Bay at Seattle: Mike Holmgren has been waiting forever to get Green Bay in Seattle. He gets his wish and a victory on Monday night. Seahawks 24, Packers 17.

Dec. 3, New York Jets at Green Bay: You can't win 'em all at home, either. New York shouldn't win this game, but will find a way: Jets 17, Packers 16.

Dec. 10, Green Bay at San Francisco: Nothing about San Francisco says, "win this game," even on the 49ers' home field. Packers 40, 49ers 14.

Dec. 17, Detroit at Green Bay: The Lions always lose in Green Bay. It's in the NFL rule book. You knew that, right? Packers 37, Lions 17.

Dec. 21, Minnesota at Green Bay: It's a Thursday night before Christmas and all through Green Bay's house not a creature is stirring in the Minnesota offense: Packers 28, Vikings 9.

Dec. 31, Green Bay at Chicago: This game could decide the NFC North champion. And it looks like Da Bears wear Da Crown. Bears 16, Packers 14.

And there you have it. A 9-7 finish. That's a lot better than 4-12 and a winning season is a winning season.

The Packers will return to toughness at home, going 7-1, but will struggle on the road at 2-6. And that 9-7 record might even be good enough for a wild-card ticket to the playoffs.

[Partial]

I think he's on the money considering what we know about the NFL teams today give or take a game. Injuries are going to be a huge factor so we'll see how it turns out.

[mmmdk]

9-7 sounds great.

I'm a wee bit of a Trekkie so I'll say 7 of 9...I mean, a 7-9 record for 2006. It could go either way though (U don't say, Mike!?).

[hurleyfan]

9 & 7 sounds great, but can't see the Pats losing to the Packers... also don't see the Jets beating the Packers..

Hey wait, that still equals 9 & 7 !

I sure hope they regain the Lambeau Mystique! Teams need to "not want to play" in Lambeau again! This is OUR HOUSE

[b bulldog]

I agree with Hurley!

[red]

i also don't think we beat the pats and lose to the jets.

thats just screwey

[pbmax]

i also don't think we beat the pats and lose to the jets.

thats just screwey

What Hurley, bulldog and red said. DITTO.

I can't believe I am endorsing a 9-7 record in June. Clearly I need to take a vacation.

bulldog, didn't Jessica's law pass?

[Fritz]

That's the whole point, PB. You can say anything you want in June.

[bbbffl66]

Don't we always seem to lose to the Jets and beat the Pats? I agree it would be odd, but GB always seems to jump up and take care of the Pats and will again.

[Murphy37]

I will be pleasantly suprised to see 9 and 7 after last year's 4 and 12, and a full coaching change.

[K-town]

Don't we always seem to lose to the Jets and beat the Pats? I agree it would be odd, but GB always seems to jump up and take care of the Pats and will again.

The Green Bay Packers, with Brett Favre at QB, have NEVER lost a regular season game to a team coached by Bill Belichek (Browns, 1995; Patriots 2002). Extra credit - we defeated New England, coached by Pete Carroll, 28-10 in 1997, and 28-10 in 2002, when the Pats were coached by the nattily clad Bill Belichek.

Conversely, the Pack has lost in 2000 to the Jets (Lambeau opener, 20-16) and in 2002 (45-17, away).

[Tony Oday]

With urlacher on the bench with nagging injuries the Pack shut down the strong running bear offense and demolish their ineffective passing game headed up by greise. Pack 27 Bears 6.

[wist43]

I don't see any hope of getting to 9-7... The Packers don't even belong on the same field as the Patriots, and I fully expect them to struggle mightily out of the gate due to the new coaching staff, and the new blocking scheme.

IMO, Minnesota and Chicago are both much more talented teams - Childress is a wildcard in Minnesota, but I think their talent will win out against the Packers. Chicago is very solid defensively and they have continuity on their side... Green Bay should be an underdog in all 4 of those games.

I'll stick with my prediction of "one game either way of 7-9"... that's as optimistic as I can get. If my true nature carried the day, I'd say 5-11 is much more likely.

[Green Bud Packer]

i'm stickin to my 10-5-1 with the tie at seattle.holmer won't beat the pack but he won't lose this time either. fuck, still 43 more days till training camp.

[packerpete]

Minnesota with more talent than GB???
WTF???

What roster have you been looking at?

QB = Brad Johnson
RB = Chester the molestor
TE = Wiggins
WR = ??? crack pipe boy seattle reject

Defense = nobody home

you are nuts, the queens are certainly not loaded, and are not prohibitive favs over the Pack. GB isnt packed with all-pro guys anymore, but we still match up favorably with the purple queens.