I am having a hard time believing that the Redskins are all of a sudden this amazing team that all the experts are picking to beat the Packers. Here are the Redskins last 5 weeks:
Week 1- Beat Miami 16-13 (OT)
Week 2- Beat Philly 20-12
Week 3- Lost to NYG 24-17
Week 4- Bye
Week 5-Beat Detroit 34-3

First, beating a pathetic Miami team isn't impressive whatsoever. Then, they beat a Philly team that the Packers also beat, while losing to the same NY team the packers beat the week before. Again, does not impress me at all that the team came out 2-1 after those 3 games. Then, their big win came against the way overrated Lions AFTER a bye week. Teams should win after their bye week, especially while playing a team like Detroit at home. Their defense got all this praise for shutting down a one-dimensional offense created by the offensive-genius known as Mike Martz. Again, not that impressed.

Are the Redskins a good team? Maybe. But I see no reason why these so called experts are picking this Redskins team over the Packers at Lambeau. I just hope that MM doesn't try to implement anything new in this game. The Packers can win this game by just doing what they do best: quick passes, that will move the ball down the field. On defense, just put pressure on the QB while playing the same coverage they always have.

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Originally posted by CUPackFan:
Their defense got all this praise for shutting down a one-dimensional offense created by the offensive-genius known as Mike Martz. Again, not that impressed.

Aren't we a one-dimensional offense????

More so in the beginning of the season, pickers pick the "hot" team based on what they did the previous week. The Redskins looked great, the Packers less so. It doesn't suprise me at all that the majority is going with the 'skins.

Last week, the whole country saw a young team fall apart at home. Those kinds of mistakes have a way of spilling over. It's not so great the Redskins, it's so [???] the Packers. Momentum and confidence favor the Skins.

The Packers need something big to happen early in the game, IMO. A run back, special teams TD, anything at all, even something lucky. Get the swagger back and the crowd into it.

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Originally posted by PackerRuss:

quote:

Originally posted by CUPackFan:
Their defense got all this praise for shutting down a one-dimensional offense created by the offensive-genius known as Mike Martz. Again, not that impressed.

Aren't we a one-dimensional offense????

Very true, but I think our offense is better than the Lions. I just think the Lions got too much credit for putting 34 points up in the 4th quarter against the Bears and then the Skins got too much credit for beating this overrated Lions team at home after a bye. But you are right DH13, the media just bases all picks on the previous week.

And despite the below average running game by the Packers, I still see their problems as easily fixable. I think this game will tell us which team the Packers are: the solid team we saw against the Giants and Chargers, or the flawed team we saw against the Vikings and Bears. Hopefully its the former

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Originally posted by CUPackFan:
...all the experts are picking...

Just for fun, I did a very simple analysis. What if I just picked the favorite in every game so far this season? What would my record be?

My record: 52-24

OK, now compare that with the "experts" from a couple of sources, ESPN and Yahoo! Sports:

Average record: ESPN 51-25, Yahoo! 47-29

The two best pickers thus far (Tom Jackson and Emmitt Smith of ESPN) only managed to do one game better (53-23) than a strategy of simply picking the favorite in every game. That probably tells you everything you need to know about how much significance to attach to expert picks.

quote:

Week 1- Beat Miami 16-13 (OT)
Week 2- Beat Philly 20-12
Week 3- Lost to NYG 24-17
Week 4- Bye
Week 5-Beat Detroit 34-3

I am not at all impressed with the Dolphin game.

I am more impressed with the Redskins victory over the Eagles than with the packers victory over the Eagles. The game was in Philedelphia and they won by 8. The Packers were gift-wrapped their game, it was at home, and they still needed a last second FG to win it.

The Redskins gave away the game to the Giants, who have been coming on. I wouldn't put too much into that.

And then they demolished the Lions.

I think on the basis of the schedule, they rank close to Packers.Pack gets extra kudos for Chargers, but the Redskins appear to be an up and coming 3-1 team.

the packers will have their hands full with this team.

I too am not yet sold on the skins.

They lost to the Giants in a somewhat similar fashion as the Pack lost to the bears. The skins were up at halftime 17-3 and lost the game 24-17.

They were unable to put the game away offensively and the defense let the other team back in the game in the second half.

Sounds like last Sunday night to me.

I am hoping though that the run game continues to find success making the run at least a viable threat. Against the skins I don't expect them to have the success they had against the bears in the first half, but it would be nice to see them at least avg 3 yds per carry.

Both of the teams this week are very young and still learning how to put a game away at the pro level.

I would like to see the Packers play with a "chip on their shoulder" this week and play that way from start to finish.

I really believe how the Packers play this week will be the truest indication to this point as to how good, seasoned, savy, this team really is, after coming off the disappointing loss last week.

quote:

Originally posted by Pistol GB:
Last week, the whole country saw a young team fall apart at home. Those kinds of mistakes have a way of spilling over. It's not so great the Redskins, it's so [???] the Packers. Momentum and confidence favor the Skins.

The Packers need something big to happen early in the game, IMO. A run back, special teams TD, anything at all, even something lucky. Get the swagger back and the crowd into it.

Agree completely. The Packers are IMO clearly the superior team in all phases, they just need something to get the taste of last week out of their mouths.

And 25 offensive points against the Lions (minus a safety and INT return) are not indicators of a good offensive team. This is at best a 17-20 pt offense. Packers don't turn it over, they win.

Dear Redskins, Joe Gibbs is way scarier than the team.

To clarify the essence of this thread:

The Packers might win, then again, they might lose. Bank on it.

"All" the experts aren't picking the Redskins, and we are after all a 3-point favorite.

A whole lot of the experts picked up to beat the Bears. Fat lot of good that did us.

The Redskins are good. The game could go either way.

As for the answer to your basic question, "why are many experts picking against us," a lot of people, experts or no, tend to weigh the most recent evidence most heavily. We stumbled and bumbled our way with turnover and penalties to an ugly loss at home, they won in blowout fashion. That's probably your answer, the old what have you done for me lately idea.

And they did it on national television, too.

I think when I made my X4 picks, about 3/4 of the pickers nationwide were still picking the Pack.

The Redskins are as good as the Packers and the Packers are as good as the Redskins.

These two teams are in the same damn spot.

But we don't have a blatantly racist nickname and a munchkin owner. God wants the Packers to win.

And for you athiest Packer fans.....go to Hell.

Should be a great game, I can't wait!

It's called MOMENTUM. The 'Skins have it, the Pack needs to regain it.

Some of these expert picks might be different depending on the parameters of the picks. For example on Mike and Mike Golic took the Skins and the points. If he was picking straight up he may well have taken the Pack.

some people may have picked them because of optimism,after all,its been a hell of a long time since something good has come out of our nations Capital.

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Originally posted by Max:
"All" the experts aren't picking the Redskins, and we are after all a 3-point favorite.

As far as point spread goes, it's always +3 for the home team so, basically, this is a pick-em game.

I understand that. It is, and should be. Doesn't mean people think the Redskins will win, but that our major advantage in this matchup is being at home.

Washington is sort of a weird team to figure out. They looked great last week against Detroit but the Lions still have a lot to learn before they are branded as a great team.

Washington does seem to run the ball well, they have a physical and aggresive defense, and they have decent coaching. I also think their passing game is a little underrated.

Still, if the Packers play a good game they should win. I don't put Washington in the same category as Indy or New England.

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Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
But we don't have a blatantly racist nickname and a munchkin owner. God wants the Packers to win.

Even though the issue is in the courts, due to an activist group, SI did a survey in which 87% of American Indians [off of Indian reservations] do not object to Native American nicknames and/or mascots being used by schools and sports teams. Of those [On the reservations] 67% do not object.
Some see it as an honor.
Among [tribes] who embrace it are the Arapahoe, the Seminole, the Chippewa and the Apache.

....but it all boils down to what the courts say.