Regular Season First Quarter Preview

The NFL is a constantly changing league in which last year’s cellar dwellers can become this year’s contenders. It’s a league with parity unlike any other sport, which is a major part of what makes the NFL great. One downside is that it becomes exceedingly difficult to predict the quality of play from year to year. Every fan naturally wants to look at his/her team’s schedule and make predictions about who they will or won’t beat. The fact is, strength of schedule (based on last year’s records) is not a useful tool for prediction. That being said, I’d like to do a quick preview of the first quarter of the 2012 regular season for the Pack, as I believe we can know with some level of accuracy what our opponents will look like one to four weeks from now.

The Packers’ schedule starts off with a bang this year, as they face last year’s NFC championship contenders in the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners’ game plan is an obvious and revered one, mainly running the ball to set up play action, and playing hard-nosed defense. Nobody can deny the tenacity of this defense, which returns almost entirely intact from last year. They rush the passer, tackle with ferocity, cover well and generally pound the shit out of whatever offense they’re matched up against. There’s really no good time to face a defense like this. Although they’re pretty one dimensional on offense (thanks to sub-par quarterback play from Alex Smith), they do have some weapons beyond Frank Gore. Vernon Davis is as tough to cover as anyone down the middle, and they added a talented asshole named Randy Moss this year. We’ll see if his old bones can still go deep, but don’t count on them running to his side. Blocking has never been his thing. This will no doubt be a tough test for the Pack, but one I believe they’ll stand up to. It’s strength versus strength when the Packers have the ball, and I honestly feel we’ll be just a bit more crisp.

Week two is a home game against the Bears. These games do usually end up as ‘throw the record out slugfests,’ but there will really be no records to throw out. Both teams put their best feet forward for this matchup. There’s been a lot of talk about the Bears improving during the offseason, and Brandon Marshall is apparently Jesus Christ if you ask the media. I’m not buying it. Who is starting along the offensive line? You don’t know? Well I wouldn’t feel too bad because they don’t know either. Mike Tice is running the show and that guy is a clown. Their defense is old as dirt and they just can’t cover our weapons. I’m way less worried about this game than I am about the Niners.

Week three is an away game against the Seahawks, which could turn out to be a trap game because the Hawks suck. ‘The Link’ is a notoriously noisy stadium which puts added pressure on the offense and can lead to pre snap penalties and bungled adjustments at the line. That being said Russell Wilson is allegedly starting at quarterback, and this will be his third game as a starter. I lost interest in this matchup when Matt Flynn lost his starting job. Mike McCarthy and his staff are not one to overlook anyone, so let’s just hope the players follow suit.

Week four is a battle of offensive juggernauts as the Saints visit Lambeau field for the second time in as many years. This matchup could really go either way, as evidenced by last season’s week one track meet. Don’t look for much defense in this one as both offenses return mostly intact. Sean Payton may be watching from home (probably eating fried butter and pickled cheating), but Drew Brees will still be under center. This team will be playing with a chip on its shoulder thanks to the hefty Turkey-Neck Goodell suspensions, so let’s just hope the adrenaline inducing anger has worn off by week four.

There’s no denying that this is a tough first quarter of football for Green Bay. They could easily go 1-3 to start the season. That’s how this league works. You better not get complacent or you will be passed up in a hurry. Week one against the Niners is an opportunity to set the tone for the season, and will be a great challenge for a team with lofty expectations. Of course I’m predicting a 4-0 start, but I’m a moron.