Thread: Thoughts on our first two games. Colts & Green Bay at Lambeau

Originally Posted by Evernight

Advantages mean squat in a Packer/Bear game. One team could have a 60 point advantage and it could still go either way.

I didn't use the word advantage. I said the Pack has a 3 point statistical edge playing at home and that's true. If it wasn't then the guys who set sports betting lines would automatically give it to every home team in every NFL matchup. If you don't see it that way OK, but I do.

The home crowd, not having to travel, familiarity with the surroundings are worth 3 points and in some battles where weather or altitude are factors it might even be more. Of course if the visitor comes into the game as a 13 point favorite that 3 point edge the homies get isn't likely to do much good is it?

Any NFL game could go either way. "On any given Sunday", you know the routine. My only point is that playing at home in a nationally televised night game with a short week to prepare give the Pack a small advantage and I believe it does. Maybe you don't but that's why they make vanilla and chocolate flavors.

I'm sticking with my flavor. The Pack has an edge and they will be the favorites in that game.

One thing for sure. This game will be hyped to the max. Thursday night. Early in the season. All the drama and the rivalry. The high powered offensive changes for the Bears, complete with the new OC. Battle for supremacy in the Division. Two possible Super Bowl contenders in a heavyweight battle...

And I'm loving it.

Honestly, if we lose, as long as it's close and we don't lose anyone, i'll not feel too bad about things. With that said, GB, def. has the advantages that matter. The Bears do have bigger star power at every position that's not QB, but on offense, the Pack have more known commodities. On D, of course, the Bears have the advantage, and against that offense, the best you can realistically expect is to keep them in the 20 point range. Hopefully the Bears O keeps Matthews at bay, and Marshall outplays Woodson easily.

Our offense needs to help us win the TOP war. Rodgers can't score when he's on the sideline watching our "O" eat clock time up.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I'm going out on a limb and say the Bears will win it.

I was going to say we would be 1-1, but based on the surprise factor - GB may not have our WR corps number yet. Especially if our x-factor (Hester) asctually plays like he practices. I know he does wonderful every pre-season, but something tells me this year he may do it.

Bennett, Marshall and a good Hester would be hard to defend. That doesn't even account for any rookies that may break out. I think we have a chance.

Offensively, I'll bet they're beginning to craft the game plan for that 1st Green Bay game right now - at least at the Tice/Bates/Drake level. Publicly Lovie may downplay the importance of that game, but privately he knows the Division Championship goes through Green Bay. A win there early would be huge on several levels. It's a "statement game" that pumps the team going into the season, it is a barometer of where this new team is at for the 2012 season, it will be a true "report card" on how well the offensive line has done since last year, we'll know if this defense of "old guys" is still flying at a high level, it will show Tice's pay calling ability in a BIG game, etc etc etc.

I don't buy that old saying that "a win is a win" and if we lose "there's a lot of football left to play"....bull....this game sets the tone for the season.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Offensively, I'll bet they're beginning to craft the game plan for that 1st Green Bay game right now - at least at the Tice/Bates/Drake level. Publicly Lovie may downplay the importance of that game, but privately he knows the Division Championship goes through Green Bay. A win there early would be huge on several levels. It's a "statement game" that pumps the team going into the season, it is a barometer of where this new team is at for the 2012 season, it will be a true "report card" on how well the offensive line has done since last year, we'll know if this defense of "old guys" is still flying at a high level, it will show Tice's pay calling ability in a BIG game, etc etc etc.

I don't buy that old saying that "a win is a win" and if we lose "there's a lot of football left to play"....bull....this game sets the tone for the season.

I don't know whether or not this is applicable to pro football, but at least years ago during the Woody Hayes/Bo Schembechler years of the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry, the two teams would prepare for each other every week of the season, figuring that if they could stop the other team's offense or defense or ST from dominating the other, they could beat anyone. Maybe that's the case with the Bears with regards to how they approach their opponents. Somehow, though, I doubt this is true because some teams run the ball more than the Packers do.