Season’s over. Packers win.
In case you missed it, the fledgling NFL race came to a dramatic and sudden halt Monday night in Green Bay. The Packers not only pummeled the Philadelphia Eagles, they also beat every other team that tuned in.
Everybody’s playing for second.
“It’s too early to tell,” coach Mike Holmgren said.
“We still have a long way to go,” defensive end Reggie White said.
“I’m not ready to say we’re the best team,” quarterback Brett Favre said.
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It was too early in 1994 when the San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Raiders 44-14 in their opener. They went 13-3 and won it all.
It was too early in 1992 when the Dallas Cowboys upset the defending world champion Washington Redskins 23-10 in their opener. The Cowboys went 13-3 and won it all.
It was too early in 1991 when the Redskins walloped the Detroit Lions 45-0 in their opener. The Redskins went 14-2 and won it all.
It was too early in 1985 when the Bears waxed the Redskins 45-10 in their fourth game. The Bears went 15-1 and won it all.
It’s too early now after the Packers trounced the Eagles 39-13 and are only 2-0. But it doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination.
The Packers have more than they need, and they didn’t need that much after finishing second to the Cowboys in the NFC last year. Playoff disappointment is another common denominator that seems to catapult teams like the Packers to greater things. The ’85 Bears and ’94 49ers also were coming off losses in the NFC title game. The ’92 Cowboys and ’91 Redskins were coming off divisional playoff losses.
Everybody knew the Packers had Favre and White and Robert Brooks and Keith Jackson and Edgar Bennett. What nobody knew was how much the Packers had improved. They are so much better than they were a year ago that it does take imagination to see anybody catching up.
Five second-year players are starting–wide receiver Antonio Freeman, guard Adam Timmerman, fullback William Henderson, linebacker Brian Williams and cornerback Craig Newsome. Five more are playing key backup roles–running back Travis Jervey, defensive linemen Darius Holland, Shannon Clavelle and Bob Kuberski, and linebacker Bernardo Harris. Five third-year players are either starting or playing key backup spots–left tackle Gary Brown, guard Aaron Taylor, fullback Dorsey Levens, defensive end Gabe Wilkins and receiver Terry Mickens.
This phenomenal haul from General Manager Ron Wolf’s drafts is only part of the developing story. It doesn’t account for the addition of free agent defensive tackle Santana Dotson from Tampa Bay, the presence of tight end Jackson for an entire year, the health of defensive tackle Gil Brown, the acquisition of free safety Eugene Robinson from Seattle or the addition of punt and kick returners Desmond Howard and Don Beebe.
It also doesn’t include the attitude, the confidence, the turnovers, the momentum that invariably accompany a magical season.
“I’ve said this all along. We have a good football team,” Holmgren said. “Now how good, and how far we can go, if we’re fortunate with injuries, and we keep focused, and the leaders keep pushing the way they’re pushing . . . we have a good team.”
“I can get better, I really can,” Favre said. “We all can. It’s kind of a scary thought.”
After 36 touchdown passes and four interceptions in Favre’s last 12 starts, it sure is.
“We believe we can line up against anybody and beat ’em,” White said. “We just have to keep lining up and when it’s all over, we’re hoping we’ll celebrate.”
Packer fans respectfully disagree. They’re not going to wait until it’s over to celebrate. They don’t have to. Besides, they already have been waiting 29 years.