Green Bay, WI. It happens to every NFL franchise from time to time. It’s very hard to put your finger on it, and even more difficult to explain. The team is really good, loaded with talent across the board, but somehow experiences various things that leads to what is a lost season. That could very well be what is currently happening to the Green Bay Packers. They are 2-3 now after throwing away a big lead against the Colts, and “losing” a game on the final play versus Seattle. This Packers team that most fans predicted would win the NFC North is now in some serious trouble. It is still early and there is time for them to rebound, but 2012 already has the makings of just being one of those years for Green Bay.
The perfect storm of crazy situations seems to be hitting Green Bay all at once. First, a few teams in their division are playing extremely well, as Chicago and Minnesota are both looking very good so far. Some folks envisioned the Bears being a threat to the Packers this year, but almost nobody saw the Vikings as anything but cellar dwellers this year. 5 weeks into this season, both teams are above the Packers in the standings and playing with a lot of confidence. Second, the “loss” against the Seahawks was just simply a joke, but in the record books, it is an “L” and not a “W”. If losing in that fashion is not a clear indicator that it is just not your year, I don’t know what is. And thirdly, now key injuries are derailing this once potent offense. Greg Jennings has been hampered by a groin injury that may not completely go away very soon, and now Cedric Benson may be out for the year with a foot injury. Tight End Jermichael Finley is dinged up with a bad shoulder now as well. As good as Aaron Rodgers is, he still can only do so much. Throw in the fact that Jordy Nelson has underperformed after a breakout 2011, and it seems there are plenty of reasons why there should be legitimate concern for this offense for the rest of this season. This Packers roster has a lot of pride, and several veterans who know how to circle the wagons, but at some point doesn’t it just become obvious that it may be a lost year? 2012 is shaping up that way for the folks up in Wisconsin, as the coming weeks will really clear all of this up. After facing Houston this week, the Packers then play St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Arizona. If anything but victories occur against those last three squads, then Green Bay will undoubtedly be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
There is still plenty of time to salvage this strange beginning to 2012. There are enough key contributors on this Packers team who know what it takes to win games. But sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. In future years, the Packers and their fans may look back at this season and wonder where it all went wrong. That “loss” in Seattle could potentially be the answer to that question, and what also set in motion one of the strangest seasons in Green Bay Packers history.
Denver Sports by J Simp
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