Well said. I agree completely. With just one addition. Quinten Rollins make that interception possible, playing in the slot fighting for the ball!

Certainly there is a lot to be positive about regarding the Packers after one week but I think many fans are still suffering a hangover from last year and hangovers never leave a person feeling good.

I agree on most points except for the "Lacy looks much quicker." My eye test tells me Lacy has packed about 15lbs back on, after losing about 20lbs or so in the offseason. John Lynch and others can talk about Tony Horton and P90X all they want, but it appears to me that #27 looks eerily similar to the 2015 version. Perhaps that's why the Packers are still bringing in RB's for workouts?

I felt at the time the schedule was released the first 2 games of the season were 2 of the toughest, maybe tougher than the Seattle game in Green Bay later in the season. Excessive heat in Week one on the road is a difficult challenge, especially against a Top 10 offense. As the Preseason wore on I became even more concerned simply because the Packers Offense was hardly on the field and at times it showed in week one. A win is a win, and the Packers are 1-0 which brings me to week 2.

I was hoping the Packers weren't the team to "Open" the Vikings new stadium. The crowd will trying to be the loudest ever to attend a NFL game. The Home Team will be charged up to show the world last season wasn't a fluke, AND they'll be hanging their "Division Championship Banner" from 2015 because, well because they have NOTHING else to hang! Despite ALL of that I think the Packers Offense will be better than week one. Eddie Lacy ALWAYS has big games against Minnesota, and Aaron Rodgers isn't Marcus Mariota. I like Mariota but AR he's not. Rodgers won't gift wrap 2 turnovers to let the Vikings back into a game. The Packers will be just as jacked up as the Vikings because they'll be coming back to claim what's theirs, the NFC North, even if it's only week 2. Nothing will quiet a bunch of Swedes and Norwegians (I'm Swedish and Norwegian) than Rodgers to get back to normal (QB rating over 100) and Eddie rushing for over 100 yards. Lacy has run for over 100 yards in 4 of the 6 games vs the Vikings, and 2 of the 3 games in Minnesota including 125 yards in 2014, 100 yards in 2015, and 94 yards in 2013, all Wins for the Packers.

I always look forward to Wednesdays to see what Michelle writes. Another great article Michelle!

I thought for the first game, which was on the road against a team they haven't faced since 2012, and a team that is ascending, i thought they played well.

For the first game of the year, to play in that heat, I thought it was a good start to the year.

Happy for the win, but, we all are looking for signs that our criticisms/worries of the past are finally over. Until we see dominance, we're going to keep worrying. Why? Because though GB won the first 6 games last year (we heard the 'win is a win' mantra then too) many saw some serious vulnerabilities, and by week 7, so did other OCs and DCs.... and so wins weren't just wins. The initial wins just masked weaknesses.

So last week (forgive our negativity please), but understand that we see Jax receivers making big plays with high yards per catch. GB had pretty modest yards per catch. Nor did the run game alter the Jax defensive plan. We're just not seeing dominance on offense. Rogers was hurried too much. We're tired of so many games won with the clocking winding down on a too-close-comeback attempt.

When we start seeing GB shut down comeback attempts, or better yet, make them hopeless by early 4Qer, then we might not lack so much confidence after wins. Until then, we just have the nagging doubt that GB is really good.

Yards per pass

We were worst in the NFL last year @ 5.7 yards per pass. First game, again 5.7 yards per pass. Good article in Saturday's Wall Street Journal of all places discussing this statistic. No team since the merger in 1970 that finished last in this stat in a year made it to the SB the next year.

Given that, what does it portend and what to do about it. Stats point out good things or bad things. I am guessing that if you average 5,7yards per pass, that the safeties play up closer and limit your options and/or more defensive players are in the box so to speak, again limiting you options. The defenses just don't think you can throw deep consistently..

This out for discussion - any ideas or nothing to worry about, now that you are aware,

Just asking.

You can't stop the doom and gloomers. Lacy is still fat, Davonte can't catch, lane Taylor will never be josh sitton, ypc sucks, what else did I miss? It's a football game, what's the actual point of being negative? I prefer to leave the negativity to the Viking sites and their trolls on this one, but I hate to say, this one has been trending that way lately.

you left out weak punting

Scully,
That's the most perspective based comment on this thread so far. I don't get it either. Perseverate and worry.... what's the point. Not one here plays, could play, or could coach. Isn't it better to enjoy the season. This blog is starting to feel like ESPN, analysis upon analysis for the sake of....analysis. I sure hope that more fans are actually enjoying and appreciating the games than it seems here?!:( Makes me just kind of feel sad.

It's like the difference between a MINI and a BMW. We expect the BMW and, if we're honest, have sort of been promised it, but we've been getting the MINI. Nice car, gets you places, and is even fun. But it's not the same. Now maybe, we need to admit that the BMW isnt realistic...except they're both made by the same company out of parts that do the same thing. So why do our parts always add up to a MINI why the guy across town gets the BMW?

And just to torture the metaphor even more, what's more, we seem to be able to afford the BMW, but we always buy the MINI straight off the lot with hail damage and missing floor mats and then repair it in our garage.

OK...yeah...I'm done here.

I don't know. It was the first game of the season. I saw: Packers defenders flowing to the ball, lots of energy, a Jag team that appeared to be MORE gassed than the Packers in the heat, Rodgers making the type of play only he can make, etc. I liked most of what I saw. It's early, but I really enjoyed the game (especially since they won!). Let's wait a few games before running up the white flag people! Peace.

Week 1 in the NFL has become a week of over reactions no matter what the results. If your team loses "the season is doomed". If your team wins "they didn't do this or they should have better at this". It's not just Packer fans, it's all around the league. Packer fans want/need to see dominance from their team. In fact 2011 was the last season when our offense was consistently dominant. We need to go back to the Holmgren days 95-97 to find a Packers team dominant on both sides of the ball. This era of the NFL has been purposely arranged to prevent dominant teams. The league does not want one or two dominant teams and the CBA, free agency, salary caps and rules changes all work to prevent dominant teams from evolving. The NFL's last true "dynasty" were the Cowboys teams of the early '90s which is almost 25 years ago. The Pats of the early 00s were efficient but not dominant. They were one play away from losing their SBs. Over reaction is a matter of managing expectations. If you expect your team to be dominant every week you are likely to be disappointed win or lose. I prefer to enjoy the Packer victories for what they are. A good team which finds a way to win while overcoming the flaws and weaknesses in their roster. Thanks, Since ' 61

I just want to echo most of what has been said. Perfectly stated by Michelle and the commentors.

The biggest issue I see is the passing game. Not a lot of long completions or over the middle attempts. It may be just getting Cook and Rodgers on the same page.

The defense looks good to me. Perry and Jones worked great and the DBs will play better w/ or w/o Shields.

I think it is total spoiled fandom for the Packers. They are winning 10 + games per year and going to the playoffs 7 years in a row but with only one Super Bowl win the spoiled fans want heads rolling.

Get rid of Thompson, fire McCarthy, trade Lacy, buy every free agent that's out there. These fans want to see something like this happening. The spoiled ones make it sound like winning the Super Bowl is easy and all you got to do is: insert their favorite theory here.

Just read the "there is no accountability" comments here. These people want firings for making the playoffs but not the Super Bowl. There will never be any way to make these people happy.

A win is a win.
We made the playoffs 7 years in a row.
We win our Division as often.
We get double digit victories.

We have the best QB, supposedly, in the NFL. These ' achievements' are expected and the norm for any top 5 QB. It's what is achieved beyond that that is being dismissed by the thinking of the previous. The play in week one is again being accepted as more than it should be allowed.
Acceptance of mediocrity is the path to, dare I say it,....excuses.....something that this team has excelled in that leads the fans to accepting the previous mentioned as successful seasons.
Hail to Ceasar!
Hail to the Packers!
Every week and every month until our Ides of March in January, when the ignorance of complacency appears with dagger in hand.
: )

"We have the best QB, supposedly, in the NFL. These ' achievements' are expected and the norm for any top 5 QB."

Tell that to Drew Brees, stuck on a low-talent, shallow team, dealing with 25% of its cap in dead money (after cutting CJ Spiller yesterday).

Do or die, my Packers are my team, Living in NM but still continue to follow. Die hard Green & Gold live & die forever, never to jump off the ship. 1966 until today they are my team, love em' support em' good or not so good. GO PACK !!

Way too much criticism after 1 game, it was a road win in tough weather conditions , against a team on the rise , Blake Bortles is better than any QB the Vikings have , plus if you compare defensive stats from last year for the Packers and Vikings they are pretty close . I think the Packers win by 2 scores on opening night which will be a nightmare for Vikings fans which is well deserved .

It's all about perspective for this style of managing.
1) The pack is one of the youngest teams every year. It is a "new" team.
2) McCarthy has been there for ten years and should be responsible for missed fundamentals? See point #1 about new players.
3) See Since 61's comment about Cap era
4) Name one other team to have the success the Packers are having excluding Patriots.
5) Two Overtime losses and a walk off field goal in the playoffs = Accepting a mediocre team?
6) Young teams need the full season to hit their stride. Get hot at the end. Go on a run. Hopefully get a ring. That's good enough for me.

A "W" Sunday night in the brand new "Glass Green House" to the West (with emphasis on the Green) will go a long way toward putting all of the pessimism to rest.

I just want the Pack to pound the living shit out of a team from kick off to the end in a Nationally televised game. A win so convincing there can be no doubt as to their "identity". And I have been teased before. Can they do it this Sunday? I can see that based on some of what I saw last week they can. ESPN even put them at no. 1 on power ranking. (I think Pats or Steelers could be more deserving). Stop the dumb penalties, improve the communication, and make tackles. Do that perfectly on Sunday and no one will doubt who is on top. I just hope this year's version of the Packers has the fortitude to get it done.

The Packers won a road game in the NFL. I am never going to be mad about how they did that.

Now if you want to discuss a problem - whos playing corner for the Pack this week? Shields is dinged, Hawkins is watching practice with a hammie, Dorleant was placed on IR. So we are ready to roll with Rollins, Randall and Gunter? Hyde will have to end up playing corner some. Or is there a move off the PS coming?

Bortles dropped back to pass 42 times. 35 times there was no pressure. Some concern, but then we were in nickel a lot.

On defense, we have one new starter, Martinez. One could argue that Perry is a new starter, but he's played that position for quite a while. We might see another starter down the road at NT or DE. The D is pretty young overall. On offense, new starters are Taylor and Cook. Both at least are veterans. I expect to see more of Monty, who is new-ish.

The offense looked a lot like last year's offense. AR's back must be getting tired. Lacy did look quicker, though he doesn't look 235. Overall, Lacy looks like he can establish the run. Definitely a Plus over last year. WRs didn't look any better than last year. So, we need Nelson to be elite, or Cook to develop into a weapon. Taylor's play overall was encouraging, but GB did give him help in pass pro about 55% of the time. We will see if the coaches continue to think he needs that much help. Most thought he could run block without much drop off from Sitton. The defense looked pretty good against an easily above average offense.

So, some pluses, some minuses, but it was a win on the road against a decent team, one good enough to beat us.

Serious?

Yeah, serious.

Have people forgotten how 2014 ended?

So there was a mulligan year last year due to Nelson getting hurt. But, the seasons are running through the hour glass. Too many seasons with guys getting fat, too many seasons pushing sideways with injuries (Rodgers, Nelson), and too much insistence on trying to be the NY Giants of the last decade instead of utilizing the talent of arguably one of the best QB's in NFL history. I wasn't against making such a shift in theory, but McCarthy isn't a Coughlin, much less a Belichick.

That's what's so serious. The Packers in the Favre era made too little out of the regular season abilities that turned into playoff berths only to fade away with many embarrassments. We seem to be riding the same train the last decade. I REALLY try and enjoy the ride, but it's been five years - going on ten before we know it - since the last Super Bowl.

I can take the endless youth movement, I can take different philosophies than mine, I can take making bold moves, but it gets hard to look at the last 24 years and see SOME ultimate success, but certainly not commensurate with the potency at hand, year in, year out. There's MAYBE three years left in the Rodgers bottle, including this year. Two-thirds of the time since 2010 is already gone with one NFCCG collapse to show for it. Each season is its own story, but there's a big picture as well, and I don't want to reach 2020, with almost THREE DECADES of one of the top 2-3 regular season teams and only three SB appearance and two wins. The longer it takes, the greater each season becomes, and the greater each game within each latter-end season becomes. Sorry if I'm big picture guy turned small picture, but it's how to be philosophical in the long run and not get constantly worked up. But it eventually has to give way to a reasonable expectation of success of the ultimate kind. The Packers already lag behind the Patriots and the Steelers and now the Broncos for accumulating long term success. They have as much ultimate success as the slightly above mediocre NY Giants over the last few decades.

There was a lot of sloppiness in that game on Sunday. Sloppiness is what killed the 2014 season. I see a LOT of potency, but consistency seems elusive. McCarthy has been quick with the "we'll fix that NEXT year" line the last half-decade, and to his credit they usually do. But then SOMETHING ELSE gets deathly out of whack to become this year's "thing to fix for next year". Enough with "next year", my expectation is get it fixed THIS YEAR. An in-flux, mis-communicating offense - with a bend but don't break D yet again - doesn't get things off with a bang.

AGAIN, certain powers-that-be have 2014's collapse to answer for. A "we're so good we can cruise through the pre-season and get things tight by October" attitude isn't comforting. Seems to be a lot of room for the "we'll fix that NEXT YEAR" line to be invoked yet again when things are still too loose in late November. Pretty soon you run out of "next years".

We're likely within a few short years of having a consistently frustrating team to watch again. The likelihood we get ANOTHER HOFer QB is slim to none. Watching McCarthy make decisions like he's got Jerome Bettis in the backfield and the '00's Pittsburgh defense, instead of a back that can keep the passing lanes honest for a guy possibly better than Peyton Manning and a bend-but-don't-break D, is getting really old. I don't want to watching a 4-12 team come 2021 and shaking my head at what became of the previous decade. Watching clips of McCarthy babble about "next year" and "pad level" isn't going to do it for me. Watching a couple more "America's Games" on top of 2010 is what I'm looking for.