Meaningful games

How were week 1 and 17 any bigger or smaller than the other weeks, most of which they won? The Giants were a better team than the Packers last year on that day as well.

Señor Jon - I think you speak for the fan base in your frustration. I will say that I think part of the equation that never ever gets discussed is that everyone is always gunning for the Packers. Whether that be regular season or playoffs, if you can't get up for GB than you should be playing in the CFL. Beyond that, anyone's opinion is probably valid. I think TT continues to stock the roster with credible talent capable of competing with any team in the league. I personally like MM and his approach to not only motivating his squad, but also managing the game. No coach is perfect.
That leaves us with the players and their determination to win.? Is it any less in Green Bay vs MN vs Washington vs Denver? I think in the end probably not. I do believe there is s lot to be said about a team coming together and gelling at the right time. I think success on the offense can breed success on the defense and on special teams if the chemistry is right. The issue is that we as fans are at the mercy if the teams we cheer for. We've got a dog in the hunt starting Saturday and lets hope they're more hungry than the poodles to the North.

It's all on the line.

Giants were not the better team. That was a Packer team that eff'd itself in every manner possible. And then did it again and again to ensure the better team lost. They made every mistake possible they never made all year.

McCarthy needs an aggressive gameplan. No deferring the kickoff if you win the coin toss. Lineup Jennings, Cobb, Nelson, Jones and Finley on that first drive. Dare them. Put the fear of God in these mofos.

Blitz 21 at least once on their first possession.

I think the Packers are a really good team and have a great shot at making a Super Bowl run. There doesn't seem to be the one or two teams that are clearly better than the rest of the field this year. That said....

...You can only play the schedule your dealt. But, What is the Packers signature victory(s)?

Bears twice - non-playoff team.
Saints - sub .500
Texans - most would probably say the Texans are overrated...as evidenced by their December record.
Vikings - win at home but lose on the road
Titans - total dismantling, but the Titans are not that good, especially with only a week left in the season.
Seahawks on the road in Primetime - I guess the Packers signature win may actually be a loss in the standings.

I'd like to see them come out a play some really good football against some quality opponents. Hopefully that starts NEXT Saturday night!

The games when GB showed up make this team that more impossible to figure out. Texans game. Bears. Titans. Seattle at Seattle. First game with Minny when we spotted them 14. First half at Indy.

I want Green Bay to bring their best. For the next 4 weeks. Is that asking too much?

When they've shown so far they can't consistently, than perhaps it is.

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Originally posted by njs III:
How were week 1 and 17 any bigger or smaller than the other weeks, most of which they won? The Giants were a better team than the Packers last year on that day as well.

Week 1 was a statement game. Week 17 was for a bye week. They played far better and about as worse in between with nothing that would indicate how, why, or when.

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This team is better than every team in the playoffs. They are. Go through every position in all 12 rosters. TT has done his job. Even with the injuries.

I think you have to go down to position groups and on the offensive line outside of Sitton and the entire LB corps outside of Clay they're average at best and mediocre at worst. 3-4 simply can't work with the LBs we put on the field no matter how good the DL plays.

Having a big time safety is a big time advantage too. We just don't right now. Burnett and Jennings/McMillian are not difference makers. They're sometimes good but neither has turned in a great performance in a game this season.

Losing Bishop and Perry really killed the run defense. Two big physical guys.

I think Lang may end up being the offense's Hawk for the next few years. A guy that does enough to stay on the field but you wonder why he gets paid so much. He hit free agency at a very advantageous time for himself. The Packers were already thin there and needed him. Losing Sherrod and Bulaga really set the team back.

Crazy to think this team is playing without its last 3 first rounders due to injury. Not sure another team in the league is trying to overcome that and it hurts even worse when you're drafting at the bottom of every round, which we'll be doing again...

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Originally posted by Tavis Smiley:
I do believe there is s lot to be said about a team coming together and gelling at the right time.

Agreed. The Packers proved this in 2010. They had some disappointing losses that season, but they got some injured players healthy and went on an historic run.

Every team suffers "off" games when it matters. If not, then Houston would have home field advantage, and the Giants and Bears would be in the playoffs. You can argue that the Texans and Bears are overrated, but the Giants have won two recent Super Bowls....yet they're done for the season.

TT has assembled possibly the best roster in the NFL, and they have as good a chance as anybody to win it all. Doesn't mean it will happen. I can't imagine the Packers losing to the Queens this weekend, but I couldn't imagine them losing to Eli in the playoffs last year. It happens...and that's why I drink. Or at least that's one of the reasons.

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Burnett and Jennings/McMillian are not difference makers. They're sometimes good but neither has turned in a great performance in a game this season.

Our first game vs. Minnesota, Burnett had 2 INT's yes? I'd classify that as a great performance. I think Burnett is underrated & growing. It generally takes 3-4 years for a safety to play at a pro-bowl level.

The game vs. the Texans this year. Everyone thought the Packers were done. They were 2-3 coming off a real tough loss to the Colts. A game they certainly should have won. They were +6.5 point underdogs IIRC. They were playing a 5-0 team in their house on Sunday Night & nobody gave them a chance (right Pakrz?).

They shredded that Houston defense. Took 'em apart. This is exactly what Chilijon is talking about. Why does it take the team to be placed with their backs against the wall before they respond?

Well, their backs are against the wall the rest of the season. Let's see how they respond. They have no excuse to lose this game. NONE!

Good point Boris. Those were his only two of the year though, yes?

Sure could use two more this week

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Originally posted by ChilliJon:
The games when GB showed up make this team that more impossible to figure out. Texans game. Bears. Titans. Seattle at Seattle. First game with Minny when we spotted them 14. First half at Indy.

I want Green Bay to bring their best. For the next 4 weeks. Is that asking too much?

IMO, its on the defense, those guys have got to step up their game especially at LBer and DB's, those guys got to make tackles and get takeaways when handed to them.

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(right Pakrz?)

X4 never forgets.

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They shredded that Houston defense.

Yes, but they were playing indoors, which allowed Aaron to wear his favorite shoes.

Get the HOF'r back on the field...everything will get a little easier.

I actually think our OL is in order now. I worry about our ability to stop the run. I think we will get by Minnynoplace but the Niners have a great OL and solid back in Gore. They are physical on both sides of the ball. I wish we had them at home. Maybe AR steps up big time and carries this team on it's shoulders in SF.

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Originally posted by Iowacheese:
Get the HOF'r back on the field...everything will get a little easier.

Donald Driver?

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I actually think our OL is in order now.

Did you watch last week's game?

Yes, clearly the offense sputtered and lost the game because they couldn't score.

Did you watch the game piggy?

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Originally posted by The Crusher:
I actually think our OL is in order now. I worry about our ability to stop the run. I think we will get by Minnynoplace but the Niners have a great OL and solid back in Gore. They are physical on both sides of the ball. I wish we had them at home. Maybe AR steps up big time and carries this team on it's shoulders in SF.

I may be mistaken but the Pack had them at home AND IF they would have beaten them then they could have them at home again.

1...2....3 Whitehouse!

Our Achilles heel is linebacking outside of Clay. The rest don't rush, they don't tackle, and they don't defend the pass. Jones, outside of this past week, has actually been pretty good, but Walden and Zombo have been big nothings, with Moses only slightly better. At least he gets some push and puts forth great effort. I'll save my Hawk rant. No I won't, watch the film, he's either being pushed into the third row, as he was on the play everyone ripped Tramon for, running head down up Picket or Raji's ass, or flat on his face even before a blocker gets to him, as he was on Peterson's touchdown run. He makes the occasional tackle at the line if someone runs into him, but he can't make a tackle on the edge because the other teams refuse to wait for him to get there. He's the slowest and weakest linebacker in the league, thrown around like a rag doll by fullbacks, tight ends and even running backs, and if you want to argue that than name a team that would rather have Hawk than the middle linebacker they currently have.

Bishop was a monster loss, and losing Perry was almost as bad. He hadn't torn up the league yet, but he was strong, set the edge, and was better than what we have now. Without him, we're basically back to last year with Clay doubled and the rest doing nothing. Remember last year, league's worst defense?

Next year, Bishop and Perry back, draft a snot nosed middle linebacker who can run, and trade Hawk and a fourth round pick for a seventh round pick (which is what it will take to get rid of him) and with these young corners another year older we'll have a top five D.

I only wish that when MM showed courage in benching Saturday because of his poor play he would have done the same to Hawk. MM and TT can't possibly be watching the game film and thinking Hawk is a real linebacker. End of rant

This season, I feel like the consistency of the offense, especially early in games, has been the biggest and most frustrating aspect of their play this season. They fall behind way too often, even in games they win. When they get out in front early, it is usually a blowout win.

The team to me is set up to get leads and attack when you have to throw. But they have gotten into far too many grinders this season. Now that its do or die time, it's time to catch their offensive strid in the first quarter. They can ride tha all the way to the Super Bowl I they do..

It's the story of injuries. Enough depth to win against average teams but just not enough to win against healthy, top tier teams. As incredibly frustrating as some of these losses have been it really does speak to the character and building of this team to finish 11-5 with all the injuries, especially on the oline. It's been a season of some serious **** luck.

Do I believe this team can make it to the Superbowl? They will need a spark in the weaker areas (pass rush/oline) and some serious, unique game planning to disguise the holes.

It's just one of those years. Think about what this team can do with healthy players and another TT draft. Here's to hoping the team gets a serious bug up their ass and goes on a tear. Just don't get knocked out by the ****ing vagines.

It's been a weird year to say the least.

The strength of this team by far is the passing game led by Rodgers and the WRs/TEs. It is elite and only a handful of teams are anywhere close to what the Pack is in that area. It covers up many of the not as strong areas on the team which tend to get exposed when they are facing other teams with elite talent in certain areas (i.e. 49ers offensive line, Giants offensive line, Adrian Petersen).

It's kind of amazing that 2 of the key fundamentals in football, blocking and tackling are things the Packers just aren't all that great at. It shows just how elite the passing game really is that they can win as much as they do while being ordinary in fundamentals.

We'll have to see how the defense responds in the playoffs. One major key to that 2010 team was that the defense pretty much showed up to kick butt every week particularly once Matthews came back from injury. No matter how the offense was doing, that defense kept the Pack in the game. This year the D just isn't quite at that level, and it has definitely hurt the Pack in the 49ers, Giants, and Vikings games to be sure. It's a pretty good defense, but the 2010 defense was a VERY good one and a step above what this year's defense is.

Perhaps getting Woodson back will be the final piece in this defense stepping it up a notch to get closer to 2010. That's probably wishful thinking, but you never know. In the meantime, if the defense has another stinker or 2 like they did in those 49ers, Giants, or Vikings games, we'll just have to hope the offense has a perfect day because that's almost what it seems to take for a win when the Packer D has one of their bad days.

If we look back to '10 which we're all fond of doing, it was the defense in the playoff run that stepped up, particularly in the 4th quarters of games. They made plays when they had to. Personally I think they have yet to play a solid 60 minutes off football this year, except maybe for the Houston game. They've looked convincing at times, and inconsistent more often than not.

The passing game SHOULD be there to lean upon, but a semi-reliable running game and slightly above average special teams and defense can get this done. This team simply can't shoot themselves in the foot like they have numerous times this season. Avoid the back breaking plays, like such as AP bustin out, and they can beat any of these other 11 teams.

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Originally posted by ChilliJon:
Going back to the Giants playoff game, SF in week 1, and Minnesota last week. Green Bay has shown a maddening Cybil like ability to play out of character when games matter. Turnovers, effort, and mental lapses they normally don't make. None of these tendencies showed up in the run in 2010 starting with the Giants game in week 15 for 6 straight weeks. If it did, 2010 would have never happened.

I don't know if I agree with this statement. For starters, there have been some significant games since the playoffs where the Packers have played pretty well. Folks mentioned the Houston game, but how about the season sweep of the Bears? Going into Chicago with the divisional title at stake and winning was a big deal. Ultimately the Bears finished 10-6...lose that game, the Bears win the division and perhaps the Packers are sitting home (don't know the tiebreaks that would have applied).

I'd also note that even during the dominant run of 19 straight wins in 2010-11, they didn't necessarily hit on all cylinders in each of those games. Somtimes they struggled offensively -- the playoff clinching win against the Bears in 2010 stands out. Far too often, they struggled on defense (last year's Saints, Giants, Chargers games).

The only thing that can really stop them offensively is that o-line. They are basically starting back-ups at both the tackle positions, and if teams can generate pressure without blitzing, it makes it awfully tough for that explosive passing attack to work. That's what makes the 49ers, Giants, and Seahawks especially dangerous match-ups...those teams can bring heat with four.

On defense, I think in the entirety of Dom Capers Packer career, they have an ability to shut down mediocre QBs but get burned by elite passers. Until they get another consistent pass rusher opposite CM III, it's hard to see that trend changing. Fortunately, of the NFC playoff field, there's perhaps one elite passer (Ryan) and one very dangerous passer who is banged up (Griffin III).

Going into the playoffs with two poor Offensive Tackles doesn't exactly raise the confidence meter. Good news is that the Pack has the other 9 positions filled by top level talent, or very capable talent at worst. The weak links (Barclay and Newhouse) will be tested at some point during the playoffs, hopefully McCarthy overcomes his stubbornness to give them help.

People complain about tackling for the D. The numbers are out there... we were 2nd in the league in missed tackles (34 I believe) and 2nd in that statistic. Fifteen of those missed tackles were against Adrian.

Not that bad, other than the fact we have to face the queens again. Getting Woody back, as I surmised in a past thread, could be strategic. Hell, I am rather confident that Dan Compers did not show much last game because it was reasonable to win without showing much... and it took a couple of missed INTs and a unable-to-be-reviewed catch for the queens to win, with a last second field goal.

Any negative nancy's and chicken littles can gnaw on the growing skin tag on my ball sack.

This game is meaningful.

More to them than any of us pontificating ponderers can conceive to these kids playing for our team.

Dominance is imminent.

And will be more savory and sweet than honey on... oh nevermind.

The only thing I get from these results is the Packers are not head and shoulders better than the rest of the NFL.
I believe they have elites at QB, rush LB and coaching. They have weakness in talent/experience at a number of spots that coaching/planning has done wonders to hide or minimize.
They are enough better than average to regularly secure a playoff spot. But the other playoff teams are better than average as well.

I try to savor the journey most.

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I try to savor the journey most.

Amen.