Green Bay Packers: Today’s ‘What the Hell is going on out here?’
Good morning, Green Bay Packers fans. It’s Bears week, a week when anything can and probably will happen.
For those of us Packers fans who have been experiencing Packers football for the past 50 years, we know what we’re talking about. We’ve seen just about everything in one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports: The Green Bay Packers vs. The Chicago Bears.
It’s a story of David and Goliath played out twice per year on the gridiron … a great series that has entertained, angered and brought joy and sorrow into the lives of the fans of both teams.
But that’s not what I want to talk about …
Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers
Today, I’m here to shout one of the greatest lines from one of the greatest coaches ever: Vince Lombardi …
“What the Hell is going on out here?”
I’ve never been a fan of top 10 rankings and power rankings, but one in particular caught my eye yesterday – Sports Illustrated’s most recent power rankings for the NFL.
I was taken aback when I started scrolling from the top looking for the listing and explanation of where the Green Bay Packers fit on the list.
I scrolled through the top 10 and was highly surprised not seeing the Green and Gold listed. I know they sucked last week against the Detroit Lions, but are they really bad enough to slide out of the top 10? Apparently, according to Chris Burke, the SI writer who compiled the list.
So I continued scrolling through the top 15 – no Packers. Wow.
I continued scrolling until I finally came upon the listing of the Packers at #19. Number 19?!? Wow.
I’ve been around a long time and it’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen the Packers this low in a team power ranking. I mean, I don’t think I’ve EVER seen the team listed this low.
I am not surprised to see this list turned upside down this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals are number one? The Arizona Cardinals are #4?
What the Hell is going on out here?
The San Diego Chargers are #6? The Chicago Bears were #7? The Detroit Lions #9?
What the Hell is going on here?
The Indianapolis Colts are #12 (they have he same record as the Packers at 1-2)? The San Francisco 49ers are #15 (they too have a 1-2 record).
The Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills are rated above the Packers?
What the Hell is going on out here?
It’s amazing what a difference a couple of weeks makes. At the start of the season, the Packers were in the top five. They were continually in the discussion about elite teams and Super Bowl contenders.
What a dive it’s been.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks back to the locker room following a 36-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports photograph
I guess that’s what a bad offensive line and a nonexistent running game will do for a team. Life in the NFL is certainly fickle, especially when it comes to rankings.
So, how do we change this?
Well, the Packers need to straighten out their passing game, get Eddie Lacy some holes to run through and win some games.
Until that happens, I guess the Packers get what they deserve.
It’s all about winning in the NFL, whether it’s a team’s place in the power rankings or their place in the division standings.
But, I still have to ask: What the Hell is going on out here?