Right before the start of the game Sunday at Lambeau Field, Bears coach Lovie Smith seemed to be caught by a Fox camera fighting off a yawn. Apparently, Lovie knew what was coming. If the Bears had been more effective in the red zone, they could have beaten the Packers, 50-0, instead of just 26-0.
The Packers have been playing season openers since 1919. Sunday marked just the fifth time that the Packers have been blanked in one. On each of the previous four occasions, the Packers went on to have a losing season and the head coach was gone by the time the next opener came around.
In 1949, the Bears shut out the Packers in Green Bay, 17-0. The Packers would finish 2-10 in Curly Lambeau's last year as coach. In 1953, the Browns trounced the Packers, 27-0, at County Stadium.
Coach Gene Ronzani didn't last the season and the Packers would end up 2-9-1. In 1970, the Detroit Lions pounded the Packers, 40-0, at Lambeau Field. My most vivid memory of that game was Lions quarterback Greg Landry leaning forward on a quarterback sneak and then lumbering 76 yards. The Packers finished 6-8 and Phil Bengston was replaced after the season by Dan Devine. In 1987, the Rams beat the Packers, 20-0, in Green Bay. The Packers would finish 5-9-1 and Forrest Gregg left after the season for SMU.
You know one of the most painful things about Sunday for a Packers fan? The Bears are good.
Yes, good enough to be considered a Super Bowl contender in the NFC. As impotent as the Packers' offense looked, the Bears' defense is probably the best they'll face all season. Defensively, the Packers are slow at several key spots. Special teams figure to be a problem all season for Green Bay.
I thought the Packers would lose, but I thought they would be more competitive. After the Berrian touchdown early, did you really have the feeling the Packers would win? It just goes to show you how wide the gap is right now between Chicago and Green Bay. I predicted a 7-9 season for the Packers and I'm certainly not going to change after one game. But, even I know this: you have to score before you can win.
Dennis Krause joined OnMilwaukee.com as a contributor on June 16, 2006. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year and a regional Emmy-award winner. Dennis has been the color analyst on home games for the Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network for the last 10 years. He has also been involved with the Green Bay Packers Radio Network for 16 years and is currently the host of the "Packers Game Day" pre-game show.
Dennis started his broadcasting career as a radio air personality in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee.
He spent three years as a sportscaster at WMBD radio and television in Peoria, Illinois before joining WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee in 1987 as a weekend sports anchor. Dennis spent 16 years at Channel 4, serving as its Sports Director and 5 and 6 pm sports anchor from 1994-2003.
Dennis grew up in Hartford, Wisconsin and attended UW-Oshkosh. He lives in Thiensville with his wife and two children. He serves as the Community Resource Director for the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
