(Image Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
BY KAVEH KAGHAZI
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN
Will they ever lose?
The Packers continued their quest for perfection on Sunday in a last second win against the New York Giants. Green Bay is 12-0, and Don Banks of Sports Illustrated doesn’t expect them to let up.
“This is a Green Bay team I think that kind of welcomes the challenge. They welcome getting everybody’s best shot each and every week. And I think they’re really kind of motivated by their chance at history and their chance to put their name in a record-book situation and possibly 19-0, never been done before.”
Sunday’s win made it 18 straight for the Pack, dating back to last season. If Green Bay wins out, they’ll break the NFL’s longest win streak of 21, set by the Patriots in 2004. But Willie McGinest of Fox Sports says a healthy team is more important than going 16-0.
“I don’t know if they would want to risk it. I think once they cinch the division and they get that first round bye, and they got everything just smelling like roses going into the playoffs, do you risk getting your quarterback hit? Because some of those D-lines that they play--the Bears and the Detroit Lions, they’re aggressive, they’re going to get after him and they’re going to want to hit him.”
Health will be a key for the Pack as three players went down Sunday, including All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson. The pressure is mounting on Green Bay’s pursuit of perfection. But a writer from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says head coach Mike McCarthy won’t let it get to his team.
“The week-to-week blinders remain on. McCarthy doesn't allow his team to look back or look ahead. It's conservative, no-bull precision.”
Are there any weaknesses on this Packers team? With 37 touchdowns and only five interceptions, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having an MVP-caliber season. But a writer for Yahoo Sports says Rodgers performance has masked some of Green Bay’s major flaws.
“The Packers are immaculate right now, but they are far from impervious. On Sunday, the Packers couldn’t play defense...they couldn’t really run the ball...and they couldn’t catch as the drops showed.”
But, after surviving one of the biggest tests of the season, many are asking: what will it take to beat the Packers? A writer for ESPN says Green Bay can only beat themselves.
“What we saw Sunday was the most impressive installment yet in what has the makings of a historic season. I'm ready to say it. This is a 16-0 team. Whether they do it is entirely up to them.”