“Woah, we’re half way there, Woah, livin’ on a prayer” – is the what the lyrics on Bon Jovi’s hit song, Livin’ on a Prayer says. We are half way through this strange NFL season. The Packers are sitting good heading into the home stretch of the season. It also feels like the team has a second bye week and it has come at the right time.

Last season, in head coach Matt LaFleur’s first season, the Packers were 7-1 through the first 8 games. This year, the team is 6-2 through the first 8 games. The team has enduring more injuries this year than the did a year ago, but I think they understand the offense better and have more depth.

The extra time that the Packers have this week, due to playing on Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, should provide them the time to heal up from their injuring and manage their current COVID issues that have popped up. The Packers currently have 5 players on their COVID list, running backs AJ Dillon and Jamaal Williams, linebackers Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes, plus rookie quarterback Jordan Love.

With the extra weekend of rest, the hope is that not only can these players get healthy but also the players that have missed time, which includes left tackle David Bakhtiari, receiver Allen Lazard, cornerback Kevin King and linebacker Christian Kirksey, and cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Not only is rest in the middle of the season good thing for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the break will allow the coaching staff to change up and the defense and make improvements.

On the defensive side of the ball the team needs to work on shoring up fundamentals and work on the mental side of the game. The mental side is believing in their teammates and system, doing their job, beating their blocks, gap control and being in the position they are suppose to be in.

The defense isn’t generating the sacks or turnovers that they were last year at this time. But those things will not happen until the team takes care of the fundamentals and buy into the game plan.

This extra weekend off came at the right time for the team and will hopefully allow them to get their minds and bodies right for the home stretch of the season, where games will become more critical.

Go Pack Go!

Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag