by Bill Johnson (bjohnson@gkbsports.com)

Never has it been so true: It's a marathon, not a sprint.

The Packers have been far from perfect in September. Their defense, while slightly better, still has some issues. Tight ends and running backs still seem to have a free reign in the soft underbelly of Dom Capers' defense. The Packers have forced four turnovers in four games, all against Jay Cutler. Again on Sunday, opportunities for turnovers were not taken advantage of. If the Packers are to contend, some of those tipped balls need to become interceptions.

The Packers' offense looked more like the Packers' offense on Sunday, albeit against a woeful Saints D. While I don't expect Cedric Benson to become Adrian Peterson, the former Bear and Bengal back has given the Packers offense just enough. I'm excited about the way that Mike McCarthy and Tom Clements are using Randall Cobb, although all of those touches in the middle of the field could lead to some large hits from linebackers and safeties. It looks like they'll need to find a way to replace Greg Jennings, who just can't seem to stay healthy.

At this point in the season, the only goal for every team is to survive and advance.

Win today's game, then think about the next one.

It sounds cliche`, but that's life in the NFL in 2012.

The bad teams are too close to the good ones. Everyone has talent. Any team can win on any given Sunday (with or without Steamin' Willie Beamon.)

So proclaiming that a team is of championship caliber, or that a team is not of playoff quality, after the first four weeks.

We have fun making these comparisons, but they are nearly as worthless as the predictions we make on the day the schedule comes out. 

Example: the 2010 Green Bay Packers.

After a week six 23-20 overtime loss to the Dolphins at Lambeau Field, the Packers were 3-3. I can remember many of you very distraught on that Monday. The Packers were never going to win with Thompson, McCarthy, and Rodgers. Brett Favre was right. Scrap it all. Hire Bill Parcells.

As you all recall I'm sure, the Packers got hot at the right time and won SB XLV. 

Six weeks in, no one would've predicted that would happen.

Enjoy the NFL. As Rick Flair would say, it's the best thing going today. WOOO!!!

Just don't try to predict what's going to happen in February based on what's happened in September.