2005 Packers Schedule - Road to Ruin
Actually, it's not that bad. If they would have had this schedule in either of the last two years they'd have locked up the division nice and early instead of sweating it out.Unfortunately, the nice schedule coincides with a deep decline in personnel and expectations, and also an upgrade in coaching. They've got 3 Monday night games and one Sunday nighter.
My take:
Sept. 11 at Detroit Lions - You never want to start the season against a weaker divisional opponent. They've got all off-season to prepare for this game. A tough start for the Pack.
Sept. 18 Cleveland Browns - Things get better in week 2, they get to host the bottom-feeding Browns.
Sept. 25 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The Suckaneers suck their way into town for week three. Sports talk show hosts will feel good about the Packers 2-1 record.
Oct. 3 Carolina Panthers - Monday night. A winnable game based on matchups.
Oct. 9 New Orleans Saints - The Saints blow.
Oct. 16 Bye week - A week of rest before the losing begins.
Oct. 23 at Mike Tice Vikes - The vikequeens don't need an owner or a coach to beat the Packers this year.
Oct. 30 Cincinnati Bengals - Another gift from the scheduling gods? Bengals have been slowly approaching respectable. Too close to call.
Nov. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers - Let's hope for a sophomore slump to hex big Ben. That's our only hope.
Nov. 13 Atlanta Falcons - Annihilation. The best the Packers can hope for is that Ron Mexico keeps his bumps to himself.
Nov. 21 Minnesota "Someone buy me" Vikings - Monday night. Everyone gets to see the Packers get beat.
Nov. 27 Philadelphia Eagles - A shortened week to prepare for the Eagles. Like a full week would make any difference. At least it will give me something new to complain about that week.
Dec. 4 Chicago Bears - It's odd that the lowly Bears don't make their first appearance until December. Fortunately, like real Bears, they go into hibernation in early November at the latest.
Dec. 11 Detroit Lions - Sunday night. A national audience will see the Packers get revenge on the Lions, who will have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
Dec. 19 Baltimore Ravens - If someone tells Jamal Lewis that running for 200 yards is NOT a crime, he'll be less likely to do it. Failing that, the Packers will have their hands full.
Dec. 25 Chicago Bears - Will the Bears play any better this time? No.
Jan. 1 Seattle Seahawks - If the Seahawks need this game to get into the playoffs, expect them to lose. The Packers may get the opportunity to serve up the last loss for Holmgren in Seattle. What sweet revenge for some. Hmmm, I think some of us (guilty) will be calling for a new coach right about then. Maybe ...?
My temporary prediction: 8-8. I'll revise before the season actually starts.
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