posted 11/16/2007
packers.com
It’s been all over in the media this week, how this Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is a classic “trap” game.
The Packers have won four straight since their only loss this
season and are coming off their most complete, dominant performance of
2007 to improve to 8-1. The Panthers have lost three straight to fall
to 4-5 and have all sorts of injury problems at quarterback.
The Packers have a huge two-game road trip looming, beginning with
a Thanksgiving visit to Detroit – the second-place team in the NFC
North – followed by another Thursday tilt in Dallas – with whom the
Packers are tied for the best record in the NFC.
So the circumstances clearly exist for the Packers to get caught
looking ahead and not focusing on the team they have to face this
Sunday at Lambeau Field.
But Head Coach Mike McCarthy
and the players are determined to not let that happen. They’ve been
saying so all week, and their very awareness of the pitfalls makes a
letdown all the less likely.
So to reinforce the players’ comments this week regarding their
focus on the task at hand, here’s a list of thoughts to ponder. As the
Packers aim for there ninth win, call it the nine reasons they
shouldn’t, and won’t, overlook their Week 11 opponent.
1. Carolina’s road record: The Panthers have struggled in
Charlotte, going 0-4, but they’re 4-1 on the road this year, the best
road mark in the NFC behind Dallas (5-0) and Green Bay (4-0), and 14-6
on the road over the last three seasons. One of their road wins this
season was a 16-13 nailbiter in the New Orleans Superdome, just before
the Saints ripped off four straight victories.
2. Steve Smith: The diminutive (5-foot-9) but dynamite
playmaker has 45 receptions for 590 yards and six touchdowns this
season catching passes from a carousel of quarterbacks. He’s
questionable on the injury report this week with a sore shin, but if
he’s able to play and get into any kind of rhythm, he can be downright
scary. And don’t think a little chilly weather will affect the Southern
California native. Back in January of 2006, he torched the Chicago
Bears for 218 yards on 12 receptions, including touchdowns of 58 and 39
yards, in an NFC playoff upset at Soldier Field.
3. Too close for comfort: Last Sunday’s 34-0 blanking of
division rival Minnesota was impressive, but that type of victory has
been the exception rather than the rule for the Packers this season.
The wins over the Eagles, Chargers, Vikings (the first time), Redskins,
Broncos and Chiefs all came down to the final two minutes, and every
single one could have gone the other way. The Packers have shown when
they don’t play their best football, victories are far from a sure
thing.
4. Crazy like a Fox: Carolina head coach John Fox knows
McCarthy as well if not better than any opponent the Packers will face
this season. A defensive coach by trade, Fox went head-to-head with
McCarthy seven times while McCarthy was the offensive coordinator of
the New Orleans Saints (2000-04) – once as defensive coordinator of the
New York Giants in 2001 and six times as head coach of the Panthers in
twice-yearly NFC South matchups from 2002 to 2004. Fox was 5-2 in those
seven matchups.
5. Must keep pace: If the race in the NFC ultimately whittles
down to two teams, the Packers and Cowboys, the showdown in two weeks
won’t mean much if the Packers can’t keep pace. The Nov. 29 game in
Dallas will be the Cowboys’ third straight at home, so the schedule
sets up nicely for them. The Cowboys’ two home games prior to Green
Bay’s visit are against NFC East rival Washington and on Thanksgiving
against the 1-8 New York Jets.
As far as the NFC North goes, the Packers can guarantee themselves
at least at two-game advantage heading into the Thanksgiving showdown
in Detroit by winning on Sunday. A loss to the Panthers coupled with a
Lions win over the Giants, and suddenly Detroit could tie Green Bay
(and technically take over first based on the head-to-head tiebreaker)
by beating the Packers on Turkey Day.
6. Julius Peppers: The Panthers’ star defensive end has gone
to the Pro Bowl each of the last three years, compiling 34 1/2 sacks
and eight forced fumbles in that time. This year, he has just 1 1/2
sacks through nine games, and he’s been answering questions all week
about why he isn’t playing as well and whether or not he’s fully
healthy. Sometimes that’s all the motivation a previously dominant
player needs to return to form.
7. Hanging with the big boys: The final score was 31-7, but
the Panthers were must closer than that to throwing a scare into the
then-unbeaten Indianapolis Colts three weeks ago. Carolina started that
game with an 18-play drive that took 11 minutes, 1 second off the
clock, scoring a touchdown for a 7-0 lead. The Panthers then held the
Colts to a three-and-out on their first possession, but a muffed punt
and an interception in the end zone later in the first half prevented
them from extending the lead. Then, down 10-7 at the half, Carolina
lost quarterback Vinny Testaverde to an Achilles injury, and a
banged-up David Carr was forced to finish. The game got out of hand
late, but Carolina won’t be intimidated coming in to face the
once-beaten Packers.
8. Wounded and dangerous: The Panthers have lost three
straight and have some injury issues, but a wounded team can be a
dangerous one, just like the Chicago Bears were back in Week 5, coming
into Lambeau and rallying from a 17-7 halftime deficit to beat the
Packers, 27-20.
9. Still in the hunt: Despite their 4-5 record, the Panthers
are just one game behind Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South and
have plenty to play for. Only two games separate all four teams in that
division, so it’s wide open with seven games to play, and the division
champ gets a playoff berth and a home postseason game, no matter what
the records of the wild card teams.
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