Friday, December 13, 2024

Benster and D Pick Your Games-------Can The Packers End Seattle Nightmare Edition?

 The last four times the Packers have traveled out to Seattle, the best thing that happened was a very frustrating defeat. And in the case of the other two, I will never watch any highlights of those games. 

It's a frustrating place to play. But it's been a while since the Packers have been there and the team they will face is very different.

The Packers lost week because of their mistakes, and not because of the refs. Some of my fellow Packers fans need to admit that. They didn't play well enough on defense on the last drive, and I also thought that they started too slowly and gave the Lions enough momentum early on. 

I agree with that, too. Is this the dawning of a new, more sensible Benster? Read on to find out!

I am feeling the HYYYYYPPEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work. 

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-2.5) vs. Seattle Seahawks The Packers are going to be healthier coming off the mini bye, but there is danger in this trip out to the Pacific Northwest. The Packers haven't won in Seattle since 2008. For reference, that was Aaron's first season as the starter. The Seahawks are very much in the thick of the NFC West race, and already know that the Rams got a key divisional win this week. What I want to see from the Packers is a fast start, and for Jordan Love to continue to take care of the football. What gives me hope is that the Packers have won games this year in both LA and Nashville, which were cities in which they have historically struggled. Packers 33, Seahawks 21.

Seattle is a pretty good team, but not a great team and certainly not the Super Bowl contender that the Packers have faced in previous trips to the PNW. Geno Smith is a solid quarterback the Seahawks have offensive weapons, but I have a better feeling about this one, especially since Seattle's primo running back Kenneth Walker likely won't go. Packers will score enough to win. Packers 28, Seahawks 20.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+7) vs. Minnesota Vikings I was very disappointed to see the Vikings fans boo Kirk last week. Kirk didn't trash the Vikings, and both sides simply moved on. The Vikings have a good chance to get right back in the mix for the NFC North given that the Lions are in a coin flip game at Buffalo. The Bears played the Vikings tough in Chicago, but this is going to be in Minnesota. As much as you would think that this is the stage for a classic Vikings letdown game, even I am not delusional to say that it will happen. Vikings 43, Bears Still Suck 21.

Da Bears got boat raced last week by a team that looked dead in the water yesterday. I would be very surprised to see the Bears put up much resistance on Monday night. Williams is going to be a problem in the future, but the Vikings will figure out ways to get to him this time and I think Sam Darnold is going to be shouting "show me the money" after this one. Vikings 35, Bears 17.

And now, time for some thoughts on the Hoodie going to coach in college. I certainly didn't see that coming. What I am going to be curious to see is how he handles recruiting and NIL, given that we haven't seen the Hoodie in the college ranks. The Tar Heels aren't the top football dogs in the ACC, but I think that it will be interesting to see how the Hoodie coaches college kids and he could get them to 10 wins. 

It's an interesting experiment to be sure. Basketball is king in Chapel Hill, so while there will be some pressure it shouldn't be onerous. The college game is quickly morphing into a quasi professional Wild West floating crap game and since everyone who plays wants to be in the NFL, having one of the most successful coaches in NFL history will get the attention of recruits. The ACC just got more interesting.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

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