My best friend bought me a sweatshirt this year for Christmas.

It is green and it has a little bit of gold. It definitely has a No. 12 on it. It is comfy, cozy and pretty much makes my day when I wear it.

But, it is reminiscent of Christmas Past. It is hard to believe it was more than a decade ago when I was given my first Packers sweatshirt. I was either 11 or 12, I can’t remember if the sweatshirt was placed under the Christmas tree before or after the Packers won the Superbowl in January 1997.

It has been a long time since then. Brett Favre wasn’t even thinking about retirement then, and the Packers have found their leader in Aaron Rodgers, who was still in middle school when I got that first Packers sweatshirt.

Since getting to the Superbowl following the 1997 season and losing to the Denver Broncos in January 1998, the Packers keep trying to get back there. They have come close. But a lot of things have changed since then. I know I have changed. Just look at my picture from Christmas Past, and you know it is true!

The Packers haven’t been back, yet there is no turning from them as my team. I know that Packers Nation had many worse periods in football fanhood history. But my football fanhood history started at the top, and I have wanted them to get back ever since. They have to win today against the Philadelphia Eagles to even inch toward that goal.

So, if things are so different, if the Packers are the same organization but a new team, is fourth-and-26 that important? I feel like the Packers have overcome so much more than fourth-and-26 since that 2004 playoff game.

It has been talked about recently with today’s match up scheduled against the Eagles. Can the Packers overcome that painful moment?

Aaron Rodgers is nodding his head, telling me “Yes.” Not the real Aaron, he better be preparing for the game and not answering my questions. This Aaron is a bobblehead, complete with a Packers helmet in hand.

The Packers have overcome a lot to be in this game. Real Aaron had his concussion and then another one. It seemed like the injury list was longer than the roster. The two-guaranteed wins of the season against the Detroit Lions …. well, the games weren’t guaranteed.

Who knows what will happen? I am predicting the Packers will move past fourth-and-26 and win, 23-10. I hope I am right.  I feel pretty good about the odds. Want to know why?

Bobblehead Aaron just told me I am right.