One step closer to the Number One Draft Pick...the Green Bay Packers did just that yesterday with yet another painfully close loss, 20-10 to Pittsburgh at no-longer-so-intimidating Lambeau Field.

Once again the Packers defense, which was supposed to be the team's weakness heading into the season, did relatively well, holding the Steelers to 213 total yards and allowing them only one offensive touchdown.

And once again it was the injury and free agency depleted offense that came up woefully short. Tony Fisher, Green Bay's third string running back who was filling in for injured first stringer Ahman Green and injured backup Najeh Davenport, was not able to play. So the Packers had to turn to a totally untested guy named Sam Gado, who managed to score a touchdown behind the pathetic Packer offensive line and generally did well considering he was a longshot to ever play in the NFL to begin with.

The Packer offensive line, I repeat, is totally pathetic. They have not done nearly well enough all season either in terms of creating space for the Packer running game or protecting Brett Favre and giving him time to make plays.

The Green Bay receivers also leave much to be desired, with many dropped balls including one that Donald Driver could not catch that ended up being picked off by the Steelers. Not Brett's fault at all.

I have to wonder what is going through Old Number Four's mind right now. I hope he still has the desire to play at least another season after the fiasco of 2005 has run its course. Knowing him, he will probably want to give it at least one more shot. At this point he is about the only thing the Packers have going for them on offense, and what can he do when a) the receivers suck, b) the running game sucks, and c) the offensive line sucks???

In happier news, Michigan women's basketball won their second and final exhibition game. Although it is never easy to know what to make of the results of exhibition games, I just get a really good feeling from what has happened. I believe more and more that this will be a season of definite progress for the Wolverine women. They will at least get back to better than .500 overall, at least get close to .500 (and maybe better than it) in the Big Ten, and they will at least make the postseason NIT (and maybe the NCAA). This is a team with a lot of talent and potential and they will show it...starting immediately.