Those 70's games will color my perspective until my dying day.

My optimism in this game, however, and admittedly, stems from the way we have played division opponents, (except for the stinking 9r's), in recent years and NOT because I think we've solved all the problems you list. Which leads to the 'bigger' issue that encompasses most of the topics debated on this board lately.. how our WR's are playing, their true 'talent' level - the QB situation - Fisher - and on and on...

Progress, that's the issue. It appears to me the D is showing some... and that's a very big thing for me because with the change of personnel this year I wasn't so sure there weren't going to be some big, if not major, steps backwards. On offense I think the WR's are showing some progress. The OL as well. NONE of that 'good enough'... but it gives me hope. - JamesJM