Libertarian Librarian

After watching the Packers suffer injury after injury on Monday night and fall to 0-4 during the easy part of their schedule, I think it is safe to say that this is a lost season for the Pack. I mean, they lost their starting guards to free-agency, and have now lost their starting center and one starting tackle for at least a game or two. And their best wide receiver. And their promising rooking wide receiver. And their pro bowl tight end. And their pro-bowl running back. And their best linebacker. I know, I know, waah, waah waah.

But it is quite sad, considering Brett Favre doesn't have too many seasons left in him, and he is still capable of capturing lightning in a bottle on occassion-- the comeback on Monday Night pretty well illustrated that. But there's just not enough in cupboard to make much more than gruel. So, the Pack wins maybe six games, tops.

And makes the playoffs.

Perposterous, you say? Au contraire. Gym Jim made the case to me that the NFC North is so dreadfully bad, that it is quite possible that the winner of the division may finish 6-10. The more I think about it, the more I agree with him. Seriously. To date, the North is 3-11, and only Minnesota has managed to win a game outside of the division. That was against the mediocre Saints at the Humptydump.

The Bears, Lions, Vikings and Pack are all dreadful. The Bears have a good defense, but their offense is woeful. The Pack still has flashes of their former offensive brilliance, but injuries and lousy coaching means they repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot (sometimes in the head). The Vikings probably have the most talent in the division, but Mike Tice is making a concerted effort at winning the Worst Coach in NFL History title, Dave Wannestadt and David Shula not withstanding. The Lions still have Joey Whinerton at QB, and I can't imagine them winning more than six games until they get a legitimate QB.

Now, it's possible that one of those teams could win seven, or even eight, but I think it's just as likely that nobody wins more than six. Actually, I think there's a small chance, but not an infintisimal one, that three or even all four of them wind up with six wins.

Take a look at the remaining schedules of the four teams, and tell me you think any of these squads is a lock to win six or seven more games (home games are bolded):

Vikings: Bye, Bears, Packers, Panthers, Lions, Giants, Packers, Browns, Lions, Rams, Steelers, Ravens, Bears

Bears: Browns, Vikings, Ravens, Lions, Saints, 49ers, Panthers, Bucaneers, Packers, Steelers, Falcons, Packers, Vikings.

Lions: Ravens, Panthers, Browns, Bears, Vikings, Cardinals, Cowboys, Falcons, Vikings, Packers, Bengals, Saints, Steelers.

Packers: Saints, Bye, Vikings, Bengals, Steelers, Falcons, Vikings, Eagles, Bears, Lions, Ravens, Bears, Seahawks.

The Lions probably have the easiest remaining schedule, with the Cardinals, Brown and Saints, plus the advantage of not playing the Eagles. But are you really confident that they can win six of those thirteen games, much less seven of them? I mean, you can mark down the Falcons, Bengals and Steelers as nearly guarenteed losses. The Saints and Cowboys on the road are no picnic, and neither is having the Ravens and Panthers at home. Plus, you still have to travel to the Humpty Dump and Lambeau.

So, amazingly enough, the four teams in the NFC North may be competing (I use the term loosely-- it is not dead on balls accurate, nor an industry term) all year for two distinct rewards. A playoff berth. And the number 1 overall pick in next year's draft.

Labels: Sports