When head coach Mike McCarthy was hired the first thing he said was that he was more worried about how his team would handle success than he was about not being successful in Green Bay. From the midpoint of his first year to the end of 2007 the Packers handled success fairly well. Last year, not so much. However, the Packers have now won five games in a row and in the NFL that is never an easy thing to do. But the road ahead gets a little tougher.
The Packers can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Steelers Sunday and may even know that fact going into the game if Dallas loses Saturday night. If the Packers win Sunday they could also qualify Monday night if Washington beats the Giants. Not saying any of that is going to happen but who would have thought five weeks ago the Packers could clinch a playoff spot with two weeks to go in the season?
The Packers upset the Dallas Cowboys and never looked back. The season hung in the balance against Dallas – a loss and the Packers would have been under .500 and a playoff afterthought. The Packers were able to stun the Cowboys with a stifling defense that has carried the way to four more wins. A defense that is looking more and more like the real deal each week.
The Packers could not be facing a defending Super Champion at a worse time. The Steelers have lost five games in a row and are for all intents and purposes are out of the playoffs. The Steelers clearly overlooked the lowly Cleveland Browns in their last game and were thoroughly embarrassed. This after losing to the Raiders in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are reeling and I think the Packers will extend that losing streak, even though the Steelers will not be overlooking the 9-4 Packers.
The Packers the last two weeks have shown a new maturity not seen since at least the Sherman playoff years. What I loved about the win over the Bears was the way the Packers just kept going about their business when the tide turned against them. Against Baltimore the Packers led 17-0 at halftime and watched the Ravens jump right back to 17-14 early in the second half. The Packers led the Bears 13-0 and watched the Bears take the lead early in the second half. However, on both occasions the Packers clamped down on defense and neither team scored another point.
It was like the Ravens or Bears couldn’t do a thing on the Packers, then for two drives couldn’t be stopped, then couldn’t do a thing again. The defense adjusts and that is that. The Steelers have the best quarterback the Packers will have faced since Tony Romo but Romo doesn’t have two Super Bowl Rings like Ben Rothlisberger does. The Steelers problem is they simply can’t run the ball anymore and they have a hard time protecting the QB. Kind of plays right into the Packers’ hand, doesn’t it?
It’s only Tuesday, and confidence is neither high or low. Leaning upward. I like the McCarthy going home aspect, always worked for Holmgren, all but once anyway. Capers has ties to the Steelers too, I can’t imagine how much a victory would mean to those two. Damn! It is nice to be back in the mix. Packers-Vikings III is still a possibility.