On to the Games that Count!

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We don't need to spend much time on the final preseason game before moving on to the more interesting developments of this past week, and the start of the regular season this week.

The Chiefs beat the Packers, 33-21, in another sloppily played game.  It was more entertaining than the Raiders game, at least in the first half, but ultimately any game where you leave 40% of the players likely to make the final roster at home is not going to be must-see-TV. 

But off the field, last week was a momentous and active week.  On Wednesday, the Packers signed Rodgers to a massive 4-year contract extension, making it more and more likely that he will finish his career in Green Bay.  Meanwhile, the same day, they traded Brett Hundley to Seattle for a sixth round pick, which is a bit remarkable since it amounts to turning nothing into something.  Surely the Seahawks must have suspected that the Packers would end up releasing Hundley, so they paid a pick to guarantee that they got Hundley rather than another team.  This paved the way to the Packers keeping all three remaining QBs in the final cutdowns: Rodgers, Kizer, and Tim Boyle.  The Packers obviously like Boyle enough that they are not prepared to take the risk of putting him on the practice squad, at least for now.

Then on Saturday, the Packers made their initial cut-down to a 53 man roster.  Among the cuts that were somewhat surprising to me was Aaron Ripkowski.  If he doesn't re-sign in a few days or get replaced by another fullback, this may mark the end of the recent fullback era in Green Bay, with John Kuhn and Ripkowski both gone.

On defense, it was mildly surprising that Wisconsin native Vince Biegel was cut.  He was a 4th round draft pick last year, but he was not that productive last year, and didn't look to be making the next step in the preseason this year, either.

Of course, the biggest story on defense was, like the old fish story, the one that got away.  After the Raiders' Khalil Mack has been rumored to go to Green Bay for weeks, alternating with other rumors that he was going to Chicago, or that the Raiders would eventually re-sign him, on Saturday Mack signed with the Bears, who gave up two first round draft choices to get him (along with exchanging some later round draft choices), and then signed him to the largest defensive contract ever.  Why the Bears?  One can certainly make an educated guess that the first rounders that the Bears will give up will be higher picks than the two the Packers might have offered.  Maybe, maybe not, with the addition of Mack to the Chicago roster.  And then the joke goes, the Bears had a trump card to offer that the Packers could not - the likelihood of having most Januarys and Februarys off.

I had mixed feelings about whether it was worthwhile to spend what it would take to get Mack.  But he certainly would have been the biggest impact player the Packers have had on defense for some time.  All that is moot now.  I just hope he is not yet in game shape for Game 1 of the season.

I was watching Good Morning Football on the NFL Network this morning.  The reporters at the desk predicted the Super Bowl combatants and winner this year.  Of the eight teams predicted to be combatants, the Packers were not even mentioned as a participant, much less the winner.  (Peter Schrager did predict that Rodgers wins the NFL MVP, however.)  And yet the Packers should obviously be better than they turned out to be last year.  If Rodgers is healthy, and if the new and improved defensive backs make a difference, last year will be just a bad memory.

The problem is that other teams in the NFC North should also be improved this year.  The Bears, because of the continued development of Mitch Trubisky, and now because of the addition of Mack.  The Vikings will benefit from the return of Dalvin Cook, and might benefit from having their QB situation firmed up with the addition of Kirk Cousins.  I am skeptical about that one, but we will see, although I can't see them winning 13 games again, like last year.  And finally, I think the Lions' new coach, Matt Patricia, will bring some new ideas with him from New England, which will result in more success for the team.  They took steps to improve the running game, including the signing of LeGarrette Blount, and the drafting of the aptly-named Kerryon Johnson.

Which brings us to Sunday Night Football this week.  The Packers will open what they are now calling their 100th season on Sunday night against their ancient rivals, the Bears.  The league could not have made a better choice.  After 196 games over the years, the Packers finally lead the series, 96-94, with 6 ties.  It will be great if the Packers can add a couple more victories to their totals this year.  One Bear has already produced some bulletin board material, saying that the Packers can't block Mack.  Maybe the Packers can use the lack of "respect" being shown as motivation this year.  It all starts Sunday night, with a win over the Bears.