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At 1-7, it’s time to be worried
By R.C. Weich III
Well, now I’m scared. I really thought the 1-6 record wasn’t anything to worry about.
The Green Bay Packers again choked in a game that they could have won. Without their starting quarterback and one of their running backs (Jerome Bettis), the Pittsburgh Steelers looked like the underdog in this game.
In the beginning of the game, the Packers looked pretty good. They held the Steelers in the red zone to field goals twice. However, they couldn’t avoid mistakes on offense.
Down 6-3 with the ball on the three-yard line, the Packers ruined any chance of gaining momentum from the Steelers.
On first down, Brett Favre overthrew Bubba Franks in the end zone. On second down, the Packers gained a yard to the two yard line. On third down, the Packers committed two false start penalties forcing a third and goal from the 12-yard line. Favre was sacked at the 23 and lost the ball, which was scooped up by the Steelers and returned for a touchdown.
Instead of making the score 10-6 and gaining momentum, the Packers gave the game away. How can you not score a touchdown with a first and goal from the three-yard line? Somehow, the Packers managed.
The Packers got themselves in a big dilemma here. Both Chicago and Minnesota picked up victories today and left the Packers without much hope of winning the division.
Plus, Green Bay’s schedule does not get any easier. Next up for the Packers is an away game against Michael Vick’s Falcons.
If Green Bay can somehow beat the Falcons and then beat Minnesota at home, they will hope for the misfortunate of Detroit and Minnesota. If Detroit falls to Arizona and Dallas and Minnesota falls to the New York Giants and to the Packers, Green Bay will be tied for second in the NFC North.
This is still possible, but things are becoming more complicated. Let’s just hope the Packers’ reserve players can play like the injured starters used to play.
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