The Green Bay Packers are heading into Week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season. This, for the Packers, is almost the halfway point of the season. Truly, it really does go by fast. Kinda scary fast, honestly. Speaking of scary, this week is Halloween, so it got me thinking: what are some of the scariest realistic scenarios that the Packers could experience throughout the rest of the season? I decided to answer this question in hopes that none of them actually happen.
Warning: the following article depicts horror beyond on all measure of realistic-scary situations that Green Bay could actually experience the rest of the way. Reader discretion is advised.
In this list, no injury possibilities will be mentioned, as I think that would be a cop-out. So, without further ado, these are the top five scary scenarios that could actually happen to the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers Number Five Scary Scenario
My number five scary scenario that could happen involves once again, the kicker. Last week, against the Houston Texans, newly-acquired kicker Brandon McManus hit a game-winning field goal for the Packers. Every Packers fan breathed a sigh of relief and told themselves the horror was finally over. Green Bay finally has their kicker.
But what if they didn’t find their kicker? What if that kick was a one-off? What if Brandon McManus is bad? This scenario is quite possible, because although McManus has proven to be a good kicker throughout his career, he is only fifty percent beyond 50 yards. All I’m saying is that we may not have seen the end of the Packers terrible kicking situation.
We have only seen McManus kick three extra points and a game-winning field goal. That’s not enough data to show that the kicking game has been fixed.
Or, what if there is any even scarier scenario here? What if he is good but his legal issues pop back up? *Shivers* I hope not.
Number Four
Jordan Love has been playing well this season. I mean, he has thrown for the second most passing touchdowns this season, behind Baker Mayfield, and has played two fewer games. However, that isn’t what the media has begun to focus on. No, they have instead chosen to focus on the negative. Typical. They have begun to talk about the interceptions.
This, of course, is completely annoying because they, the media, are only looking at the stats and not looking at the game in its entirety. It is quite annoying and I fully expect Jordan Love and Green Bay to reign those interceptions in. However, what if that doesn’t happen? The number four scary situation is what if Jordan Love continues to throw interceptions this season and does in fact throw the 19 interceptions that ESPN is projecting?
What if some of those interceptions cost the Packers a few games? Oh, please no!!!
The Packers Number Three
Green Bay is having a good season so far and is definitely looking to compete for a Lombardi Trophy in February. So Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur, and Mark Murphy decided to break norms. I mean, this will be Mark Murphy’s last chance at winning another Lombardi as president of the Green Bay Packers. So, because all of this, the Packers become active during the trade deadline and they trade for Myles Garrett. They have to give up a hefty amount of draft capital to get it done, but they do.
They are going for it.
So far, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Damon, this sounds great! How could this possibly be scary?”
Well, I haven’t said the scary part yet. What if the Packers finally make a big trade splash at the deadline just for it to blow up and fail? That isn’t just scary for the fans. That would be an absolute nightmare for Brian Gutekunst and Company. Imagine the dread. Green Bay gives up so much draft capital for a player, just for that player to bust. I feel like puking thinking about it.
Especially since Green Bay is hosting the draft. That makes it even worse!
Number Two
This one gives me chills even just thinking about it. The Packers defense has been so much better under Jeff Hafley. Worst case scenario and quite possibly one of the scariest scenarios, what if Jeff Hafley’s defense has been a sham and it’s still just around the corner from showing it’s true form? What if it’s just Joe Barry incarnate?
Green Bay’s defense has been elite and quite honestly has won most of the games for Green Bay. The scariest thing that could happen is for the Packers defense at this point to regress into a Joe Barry-style defense.
This would be even scarier if it happens right when the offense finally puts together a complete game. Nothing worse than complimentary football not complimenting…
Finally, the Packers Number One Scary Possibility
The number one scary possibility: Green Bay still finishes the season fairly well and has double-digit wins! How is that scary? That sounds amazing! Well, there is a chance that it doesn’t end well at all, which is far and away the scariest outcome of this season.
I used to coach cross country. I know this seems out of left field, but follow me on this one. In cross country, my runners would compete in the district meet to see if they would be able to go on to the state competition. To do this as an individual runner, the athlete would have to place in the top fifteen. If they earned 15th place or better they would get to attend the state meet. Well, as a coach, I’ve seen my runners have all sorts of success. I’ve also seen my runners have a great season just to finish in 16th place at the district meet.
That’s the scary scenario for the Packers in this one. They have a great season and finish with a minimum of ten wins but still miss the playoffs. This scenario gets even scarier if they find themselves being the only NFC North team not to make the playoffs.
This would be the doomsday scenario and absolutely the most terrifying. Oh, and it is entirely possible. Every game matters! So, as Al Davis of the Raiders used to say, “Just Win, Baby!”
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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