NFL gives Packers early Christmas presents
By GERY WOELFEL
The NFL schedule-maker gave the Green Bay Packers some early Christmas presents.
Their first gift was granting the Packers a week off. It couldn’t have happened at a better time.
The Packers, who were simply outstanding in their first two games of the season with victories over the Lions and Commanders, are in a major funk.
They lost to the lowly Browns and then settled for a tie against the mediocre Cowboys, two games the Packers were expected to win rather easily.
While the bye week was a godsend for the Packers’ psyche, it should also be good for their physical state. The Packers offensive line has been ravaged by injuries – right offensive tackle Zach Tom and left guard Aaron Banks – have barely played this season – and a lack of cohesion.
The NFL schedule-maker also presented the Packers with a reeling opponent for their next game: the Bengals. Before the season, this game looked like a gem: two highly explosive offensive teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
The Packers still harbor high hopes for a Super Bowl run. The Bengals? Not so much.
Joe Burrow, their phenomenal quarterback, suffered a serious turf toe injury in Week 2 and could possibly be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Without Burrow, the Bengals have imploded They have lost straight games and have been blown out in all of them. That included a 48-10 debacle to the Vikings.
The Bengals offense ranks dead last among the 32 NFL teams, meaning a meager 228.6 yards per game, and their defense is almost as pathetic, ranking 30th and giving up 391.2 yards per game.
Yes, the Bengals are bad.
Real bad.
If the Packers lose this game, a full-fledged investigation should be launched.
WHAT THE ODDSMAKERS ARE SAYING: Packers by 14 points.
GW’S PREDICTION: Packers 34, Bengals 20.
