We have now taken the two hardest games on our schedule - GB in GB and CIN in CIN.
Two of the top 5 teams in the NFL this year, and in their own houses. Those two games were always going to be the hardest, and we took them on at our least prepared.
In GB we were simply not ready to play. The O line was all over the place, D lacked fire, Offensive playcalling was a joke - and no matter who you are, you will never do well in Lambeau against someone as good as Rogers nonetheless. We were completely outcoached and showed up unready. Even if we did show up better, that still would have been the hardest game on our sked.
CIN has been a rising star for the last few years, and it seems this year they actually believe it, and are playing up to it. I expect them to dictate the AFC.
In the CIN game we finally showed some offensive capability. Solid drives, actual legitimate offensive touchdowns. Good play on the defensive side until lat in the game. Then the coaching went south - too much 'try not to lose' too early in the game - there was still way too much time in that game to let off the gas on a team that good - and again - in their own house.
With the noteable exception of the decision to stop playing the game early, CIN was probably the best game we have played so far.
Build on that, and don't friggin give up, and we got it.
What have we lost? control of the NFC. That is solidly in GBs hands. I still expect us to win the division and go to the playoffs, but because we were not prepared for the first four games this season, we have given up total control over our destiny.
CAR will be hard, but we can take them, and a hard home game is the right time to grab the right attitude to drive for the rest of the season.