Why week one is so important.....

[MadtownPacker]

The bears game is crucial for many reasons:

1. Defeat a hated rival that swept the Pack last season.

2. Take back home field advantage.

3. Get M3 his first W as a HC.

4. Be in first place in the division for the week (confidence).

5. Shut lovie the hell up!

All these things can propel the Pack to be a surprise team in 2006. Well a surprise to all the "experts" at least. If they can take down last season's NFC North champ then I say the Pack starts off 3-2 at the worse and maybe even 4-1. Look at the schedule, is there really any team that is unbeatable?

week 1 - bears -W
week 2 - saints - W
week 3 - lions - L
week 4 - eagles - could go either way
week 5 - rams - W

[havanother]

2-3 with losses to the Saints, Rams and Eagles, but we will be 2-0 in our division.

[MJZiggy]

I can't argue with any of those numbered points, might I add

6. Put a chink in the GD Bears confidence making them an easier target for the second game later in the season.

7. Remind the rest of the conference that we're still here and they'd better be on their game when we come to town.


And how do you have the Lions beating us? I'd sooner expect to be beaten by the Saints (if Bush lasts 'til week 2--how is their o-line?)

[TheRaven]

Week 1 is important to just about every team. Im surprised though that you have us losing to the Lions in Week 3.

[MadtownPacker]

Week 1 is important to just about every team. Im surprised though that you have us losing to the Lions in Week 3.

Because of who they play it is even more important to the Packer. Week 3 is @ detroit so losing there aint so far fetched.

[TheRaven]

Week 1 is important to just about every team. Im surprised though that you have us losing to the Lions in Week 3.

Because of who they play it is even more important to the Packer. Week 3 is @ detroit so losing there aint so far fetched.

I agree that it isn't far fetched. It isn't far fetched to lose to anyone to be honest with this team. But I still have a hard time imagining losing to the Lions. That's just my personal bias I am sure.

I don't think though that our game against the Bears is more important to us than some other team's first game. Everyone wants/needs to start off the season with a win. Doesn't matter who you are playing. I think it can make it more exciting for the fans, but for the teams themselves, its all the same opportunity to start off well.

[GBRulz]

Also, a good smacking of the Bears w/ Favre throwing 4 TD's takes him a big step closer to breaking the all-time TD record. As much as he says he doesn't care about records, something like that has got to get the guy even more fired up.

[Bretsky]

Most likely I'll be at that game trash talking the IL group wearning those d@m Urlacher jerseys. Every division game is huge; this one would be a nice tone setter for the season and probably means more to GB than Chicago in terms of morale and the future.

GB always sucks in Detroit so a loss there wouldn't surprise me. However, if we can't beat Detroit it'll be hard to beat more talented teams like St Louis or Philadelphia.

[Badgepack]

Heck yeah beat the Bears in game # 1, get the cofidence going and ride the momentem to be the suprise team of the season. It happens to a team or two each season. Very important to get Favre and the youngsters thinking they are a playoff caliber team right from the start.

[GBRulz]

Heck yeah beat the Bears in game # 1, get the cofidence going and ride the momentem to be the suprise team of the season. It happens to a team or two each season. Very important to get Favre and the youngsters thinking they are a playoff caliber team right from the start.

I agree. I'm tired of the slow starts over the past few seasons.

[chewy-bacca]

Beating the bears is big, esp. at home.

If its hot (like its been) do you think they might use the white jerseys? As far as I know home teams can pick. I think its a good idea to put the bears in black, and the saints too. I was in Miami a few years ago and they made the Pack use the green "home" colors and they got shut out in the 2nd half after leading the 1st. they all just melted in the Fla. sun. Just a thought.

[MadtownPacker]

Heck yeah beat the Bears in game # 1, get the cofidence going and ride the momentem to be the suprise team of the season. It happens to a team or two each season. Very important to get Favre and the youngsters thinking they are a playoff caliber team right from the start.

Thats what Im saying!!! KILL THE BEARS!!

[Partial]

I predict week one they pound the ball 40 times at least. I don't think that will be the Brett Favre show as much as the show that we're gonna play smash mouth football show.

Plus, that is going to minimize turnovers against their ridiculous pass rush.

Run, run, run and a ton of bootlegs with a screen into the flat.

[Astonishment]

I usually don't put alot of stake in one game, but I believe that this game will tell alot about the teams imediate future.

[Partial]

I usually don't put alot of stake in one game, but I believe that this game will tell alot about the teams imediate future.

Me too. A divisional win like that is going to be huge for momentum. I believe McCarthy came in and set that they intend to restore the lambeau field mystique. What a better way to show your players you mean business then coming in with a much better game plan and well-prepared team against the division champ in his first game at Lambeau.

With that said, as I mentioned above, the way they will beat the bears is commit to the run game as much as they ever have. They don't have the OL to stop their pass rush, especially if Cliffy is out, but i think with their running scheme they could have some success there.

I figured out last year about half way through the year the way to beat the bears is to be patient and play the field position game. Take the sack for example, rather than throwing the ball up for a turnover.

That game will be all about keeping the ball in their hands and grinding it out. The defense shouldn't have too many problems with their offense. Hell, I think they can force a few turnovers if they go after Grossmen with some serious pressure. I think they've got the horses in the secondary to go one on one man coverage for third down and bring some heat.