Week 2 was decidedly more fun than Week 1: Packers get back on track against the Bears.

Well in fairness to Ryan Poles, he never said WHEN he planned to take back the NFC North. He could have meant this year, he might have meant next year, maybe the same year as the next Olympics, maybe the next leap year. We have no idea what the Poles Era will bring to Chicago, but one thing he was very savvy with was being vague with a timeline for his goal. It’s honestly a lesson every kid should learn early in life: Commit to nothing.

Anyway, THAT felt more like it didn’t it, Packer fans! Admittedly I was a bit skeptical about this year’s Week 2 going like last year’s Week 2. After getting SMOKED by the Saints in Week 1 last season, the Packers dropped 35 points in a comfortable home win against a division opponent in primetime. But last season you had a little more offensive line consistency and Davante Adams in the mix. There are a few more unknown variables in play this season, which is why I stayed FAR away from the Packers -11 gambling line.

But lo and behold it went just about the same way. The Packers had some self inflicted wounds in the 3rd quarter that kept the game close, but just about everything looked tighter across the board on Sunday.

• Health was a big factor as well yesterday. Getting Elgton Jenkins back at left tackle was figuratively and literally huge. Jon Runyan Jr. returned as well as Allen Lazard. Lazard only had two catches but one was for a touchdown which led to what I am already crowning the touchdown celebration of the year in Week 2:

The ayahuasca T(ea)D celebration!

• In addition to Lazard making a few plays, it was nice to see Sammy Watkins get more in the mix with 3 catches for 90 yards, including the dagger 55 yard catch in the 4th quarter. If he can stay healthy and give you 45-55 catches and 800 yards this year, it will go a long to way to buying some time for Doubs and Watson to get more comfortable.
• Every single time Randall Cobb hauls in a catch against the Bears I think of this kid/Bears fan:

Poor kid. Randall Cobb has been picking up key first downs against the Bears just about his entire life. Has an NFL wide receiver every single handedly put someone into therapy? Cobb might.

• Step 1: Get Aaron Jones the ball. Step 2: Profit. It’s that easy! The ONE thing the Packers had cooking in Week 1 was the run game. But for some reason they didn’t feel like utilizing it. LaFleur said after that game that Aaron Jones only getting 9 touches was on him. Well say what you want about LaFleur, but his week-to-week adjustments are as strong as his jawline. 18 touches for Jones, 170 total yards (9.5 yards per touch) and 2 touchdowns. And AJ Dillon got you those grind-it-out yards in between the tackles. Overall 203 yards on the ground at 5.3 ypc. Not too shabby.
• Look, did Justin Fields get into the end zone on that 4th and goal? Maybe (probably). But we just didn’t get a clean look at it! It’s a damn shame! Because I, for one, am all about the integrity of the game. I want the correct call made even if it’s against my team. And I believe most Packer fans feel the same way! I just WISH there was a better camera angle on that play. Really unfortunate.
• In all seriousness, the fact that the NFL hasn’t put a microchip in the football that syncs up with the goal line is wild. Soccer has been doing to for years. The only logical explanation I can come up with is that they want to preserve the conversation/arguments that can happen the next day without it. For instance: 670 The Score out of Chicago has been complaining about that call for three hours this morning. ESPN and NFL Network have had multiple segments on it. How would those hosts kill time if microchip technology were implemented??
• Two 3rd quarter plays kept this game a LOT closer than it should have been: The botched exchange between Rodgers and Dillon (which Rodgers copped to) and whatever the heck happened on the Josh Myers snap that hit Christian Watson while he was in motion. Clean those up and this is probably a 41-10 game.
• I’m not going to say that the special teams are fixed because it’s only Week 2. So this is me not saying that last night might have been the most complete special teams performance in a decade. Kick coverage dropped the Bears inside their own 25-yard line twice, Amari Rodgers actually had a 20 yard punt return, and nothing was bungled on the field goal or extra point operation. Again, not saying it’s fixed, just stating facts.
• Cherry on top after the game had been decided was the Jaire Alexander pick of Justin Fields. Fields taking the baton from Trubisky who took the baton from Cutler. Same ol’ Jay.

So that was precisely what the Packers needed. A get-right game before an early season showdown with Tom Brady and the Bucs in Tampa this Sunday. And it might be a great time to get them. The Bucs are 2-0 but haven’t looked great in either win. And I’m not one to discuss another man’s personal life/marriage, but all indications are that Brady’s family is NOT too pleased that he retired and then unretired two seconds later this past offseason. Now he’s the GOAT so it wouldn’t shock me if he throws 4 touchdowns on Sunday, but he seems a little ‘off’ at the moment.

PS: If you’ve never done it, 670 The Score after the Packers beat the Bears is just a delight. I’ve toyed around with just streaming their station for the entire B93 morning show on those mornings.