Mike McMarthy’s Packers Put Road Success to the Test
By Chris Havel
The Green Bay Packers are 8-3 on the road since Mike McCarthy became the head coach. The Kansas City Chiefs are 21-4 at home in games against the NFC since 1995.
So what gives? On Sunday, something has to and many in the national media believe the Packers are going to succumb to the Chiefs. They point to the Packers’ short work week after a 19-13 overtime victory at Denver on Monday Night Football, and to Kansas City’s coming off their bye weekend.
Perhaps it will be so. The old adage, “It’s not who you play, but when you play them,” has been prominent in the Packers’ quick start.
In the season opener, Green Bay got the Philadelphia Eagles in quarterback Donovan McNabb’s first game after major knee surgery. In Week 2, the Giants and quarterback Eli Manning was a beaten and battered bunch. In Week 3, the San Diego Chargers were struggling to adjust to first-year coach Norv Turner.
So it has gone for a Packers team that has led a charmed existence in what has been an enchanted season thus far.
Now comes a sojourn to Arrowhead Stadium, which may be THE LOUDEST outdoor venue in the National Football League.
After a slow start, Kansas City (4-3) has found its footing. The Chiefs hold a precarious spot atop the AFC West and look to start quickly after their bye.
At first blush, the Chiefs appear to be the smart pick for the reasons listed above. Beyond that, I find the national media struggling to get a handle on the Packers. They look at the 6-1 win-loss record, furrow their brow and wonder, “How is that?”
The simple answer is, “They have Brett Favre!”
Surely, Favre has been exceptional thus far. He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,046 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has been a leader, a playmaker and a calming presence for the NFL’s youngest team.
But Favre is only one reason the Packers have been successful.
The other easy, popular answer is, “They have a really strong defense.”
True enough. The Packers’ defense has been limiting opponents to fewer than 14 points per game, which should be good enough to win most weeks. Then again, the Packers’ defense isn’t ranked among the NFL’s best teams in terms of yards allowed, and it certainly hasn’t dominated.
The Packers’ persona, unlike the Bears in recent years, isn’t defense-oriented.
The fact is there are many ways to win, and lose, in the NFL.
The Packers’ formula for success has been an intriguing blend of a lot of little things that add up. Favre’s presence and the defense’s proficiency have been critical, but no more than McCarthy’s leadership, a more athletic and focused roster, and improved special teams play.
The Packers are doing the little things it takes to win. That’s because the big things—Favre’s experience and the defense’s solid play—allow the little things to win the day. For example, the Packers’ lack of a consistent and reliable running attack in the first six games was disconcerting, but it wasn’t disastrous. The Packers didn’t run well, but they didn’t turn it over, either. They also didn’t stubbornly and misguidedly try to establish the ground game, or lose because of a disparity in ball control.
Their defensive line depth enabled the defense to stay fresh. Their impressive ball security didn’t set up their opponents with great field position and easy scores. Their short passing game replaced the running game.
In short, the Packers found ways to win in spite of their limitations.
The NFL features two perfect teams—New England and Indianapolis—and even that will change when they play this weekend.
Meantime, the Packers are far from perfect, but perfectly capable of beating any team anywhere. That includes the Chiefs in Kansas City. The Packers’ greatest concern going into this game should be whether defensive tackle Ryan Pickett plays. He is hampered by a sore knee and may not be able to anchor the run defense.
But even Pickett’s absence shouldn’t be enough to tip the game in Kansas City’s favor. The Packers have everything it takes to run their record to 7-1. It’s up to them.
Chris Havel is a freelance writer, best-selling author and host of northeast Wisconsin’s top-rated sports radio talk show, Sports Line, heard Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sports Radio 107.5 FM and 1400 AM THE FAN. He writes a weekly column exclusively for Packers Fan Tours’ Website throughout the 2007 season.
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