Amen Bro..
We need Dallas to beat the teams we are competing with for the division AND the wildcard.
Go back to 2 byes and the Thurs games are teams coming off byes. Use this until the NCAA championship weekend has been played and then play Saturday nites.
it could work. Computers could figure it out. They are not going to give up the money.....players, owners and TV.
the problem with not making the playoffs and being something like 6-10 is that we are barely top 20 in the draft...maybe a little higher in the draft. this is a bad year to be bad - for draft purposes - man the life boats, let's do this thing.
What we want out of Dallas is hard to say as it's conditional and depends on results of what's happening with NYG, Tampa, Washington, and Detroit.
Tampa and Washington having lost unequivocally helps. The Giants loss today on the other hand helps in that hey, maybe we can pass them up, after all we got a tie-breaker on them sort-of way. On the other hand it hurts in that Dallas is closer to clinching, and Dallas plays a bunch of teams that we want to lose.
The tiebreaks are always a cluster****, and I don't think it's too clear, or maybe I'm just too lazy to run the comparisons on crap like common opponents, but who knows how it goes down if there are 3 teams tied for a wildcard slot. It looks like a one-way tie with Tampa isn't likely to break our way.
It looks like it's pretty hard to get in at 9-7. It's hard, but probably not quite as hart to miss the playoffs at 10-6.
Week 13 was a good week generally, but week 14 will do a lot to clarify the picture.
My biggest fear is that before Dallas plays the Lions, Prescott, Elliott, Beasley, and Bryant all go down with injuries and are out for the season. With the Dallas offense out of the way, the Lions beat them and the season ending game with GB is meaningless.
DET finishes vs CHI, @ NYG, @ DAL, and vs GBP. I don't see them winning both @ the Giants and Cowboys. Weeks 17 for the north.
Run the table.
H5 you just hit on a truth. We need only be within ONE game when we play the last week. Win, and we've got head to head tie breaker. Beating the Seahawks is the only thing that matters now. I'm rooting for the Gmen to beat the Cowboys next week so Dallas is massively motivated when they play the Lions.
Dallas will only have urgency if they lose to NYG and Seattle keeps winning. They have yet to lock down HFA, so they need to win 2 of their next 4 to secure it. If they beat NYG and Tampa then maybe they ease off the gas against DET, but considering NYG and TB are fighting for wildcard slots I don't think we will see them enter week 16 with HFA locked down. They will have some urgency to beat Detroit because they don't want to end up having to go to Seattle in January.
I just hope the vikings are eliminated before the regular season ends.
mrtundra posted:I just hope the vikings are eliminated before the regular season ends.
That would be awesome.....
They are trending that way.
Seattle's Thomas is out for the season. Hopefully softens up the Seattle D backfield a little.
mrtundra posted:I just hope the vikings are eliminated before the regular season ends.
They do what they do
While I understand the sentiment of Seattle's Defense being at less than full strength, I think that beating or playing a team at their best would have them most benefit for the Packers. The Packers need to be mentally tough and facing a good team at full strength will put them to the test. Sometimes facing a team with an injury or injuries works against the other team because they let up rather than attack.
So you're saying Seattle will be asleep at the wheel in GB on Sunday?
Quite frankly...
Nobodies underdog.
Backs against the wall, since week 10.
Run the table.
December football.
I'm not convinced that the Giants have one of the wild cards locked up. Their December schedule is brutal. It's very possible they finish the season losing three out of their remaining four. And that would put another wild card spot in play. With that in mind, a Giants' loss isn't the worst thing.
I could see where Dallass could reach a point where they might rest Elliott for a game (providing he's not chasing incentives).
It's harder to see Prescott sitting for a game; he needs the experience, and his body hasn't/doesn't take a beating like a RB or WR.
I'm sure Bryant doesn't want to sit under any circumstance. He craves the spotlight too much.
I'm sorry to be Debbie Downer, but I am not sure it's going to happen. We still have lots of problems on defense, and we didn't exactly romp against Philly and Houston. Normally I'd have lots of confidence that we will beat Minny and Detroit, but right now I think that's a stretch. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see us running the table. I think 2 losses for Detroit is very possible, but I don't see us passing them. Minny has a very soft schedule, and I'm afraid they or Detroit will win our very crappy North this year.
Rather have the Loins than the Queenies. At least the Viking SuperBowl Homeboys would just go home. 
The one thing we can all agree on is that the B*ars still suck.
RoyalWulff posted:I'm sorry to be Debbie Downer, but I am not sure it's going to happen. We still have lots of problems on defense, and we didn't exactly romp against Philly and Houston. Normally I'd have lots of confidence that we will beat Minny and Detroit, but right now I think that's a stretch. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see us running the table. I think 2 losses for Detroit is very possible, but I don't see us passing them. Minny has a very soft schedule, and I'm afraid they or Detroit will win our very crappy North this year.
The math is Detroit needs to lose one more game, and the Packers win out and win the division.
The thing that makes it hard to get enthusiastic about getting into the playoffs is that the team just isn't playing a brand of football that is consistent and promising. It is possible, albeit improbable, that McCarthy is going into the 4th quarter of the season with a more aggressive approach that will get us all excited. Maybe they're going to start playing winning football and go on a run.
The time is now, and if they beat Seattle perhaps we can get excited...
Getting healthy helps too.
While I would like to see McCarthy adjust his approach when he doesn't have the "right" players available, I once was told that it is players, not plays.
Was very encouraging to see the DBs tackle much better on Sunday than they have in some time.
Randall and Gunter outside put Hyde in the slot, and the conditions made Gunter's lack of speed negligible. Next 3 should be similar with 2 at Lambeau and @ CHI.
I expect us to beat the living crap out of Russell Wilson. Capers, bring the house. I expect 8 sacks. Three from Peppers.
I am not optimistic about beating Seattle. Our offense struggled against them when we were hitting on all cylinders, let alone in the shape it is now with no consistent running game.
I think we lose to Seattle and then beat Minny and Chicago which will put us at 8-7 for the season finale. The Lions could well lose 2 game before that and be at 9-6 (at NYG and against Dallas). It will likely come down to whether Dallas needs to win that game or not.
Disagree about beating Seattle. they scored 5 on tampa Bay. I think we hold them to under 10, and I think if MM and Arod go back to the "pick up the first down" O they showed on those last two drives last Sunday, we'll get 17 points.
Setting aside the division leaders, these are the teams in line for the 2 Wild Cards. If you had to bet, who would you bet on? For me it would be GB and Washington. The Giants do not impress me.
Giants 8-4
Redskins 6-5-1
Queens 6-6 (as if)
Packers 6-6
Tampax 7-5 (not)
Az. Cudinals 5-6 (choke)
If we get either Ryan, Martinez, or both back then I think the D performs well. If not then it could be a long day defending the run as the zone scheme is fantastic at taking advantage of undisciplined players that constantly over-pursue like CM3 and Joe Thomas. If those two are starting, then there will be some serious cutback lanes. The big worry though is Wilson just chucking it deep constantly. If we don't have legit ILBs in there then there will need to be Safety help in the box, that leaves opportunities in the passing game. They may just cut it loose and keep chucking it deep.
Having Earl Thomas out potentially makes this game a lot easier for the O. Without Earl in the lineup vs. TB they allowed Jameis Winston to finish with a rating of 106.2, his average in every other game is 83.7. With Thomas in the lineup Seattle has only allowed a rating of 77.7. If the OLine can give Rodgers time I think we will see him find some opportunities.
I would add needing both Rollins and Randall to be playing near 100% health. It will help us to be on a slower track but at least Randall has the speed to stay with a deep route if his groin isn't gimpy.
Either way I would not count on our D keeping SEA under 10.
I see the problem with the seabags is :
offense:jet sweeps, 34 is a tough mudder, graham across the middle and 3 scrambling so that's basically everything,, and how we combat this? dime. 33 on jimmy graham, or dime. 34 up the gut. its not pretty. now, if we can get our ilb's back in like 50 and 47, they are not legendary but they are miles ahead of where the fill in's are. they can hang with graham, they can hold point and tackle 34, he's not ridiculous fast, so that helps.
defense: that bennett, he's a beast and as far as i can see, he's quite the bellcow for the front. so if he's going to blow up 78, 12 is in for a long day with the back end and lb's being above average.
i still feel about 60-40 just for winter football and the quick hit plays maybe limited and i am hoping for crappy weather, that's our advantage.
Thomas excelled at TE coverage last week. Just sayin'. Two decent games in a row for him.
Graham is an issue, he's a veteran who can find the gaps in zone. It's especially concerning because even young players have been finding gaps in our zones (there's a euphemism in there somewhere?). If Graham is dialed in then Wilson will chew up yardage those zones.
IMO, for whatever's it's worth, I think this is the game to play the Safeties (Haha/Hyde/whoever) deep, Man up on the receivers and TEs, and spy Wilson with Burnett. Gotta play disciplined football against Wilson, contain the middle, contain the edges and force him to scramble backwards...oh and don't miss tackles.
Caveman easy.
Gonna see a steady diet of read options from Seattle. Gotta hit Russ. Often.
Back in that NFCCG we were treating him like a pinata. With that OL, I think we can do it again....
Packers changes just got some help. Jason Piere-Paul is out for the rest of the season, that hurts them big time IMO. He's not been playing at the level he once was, but he's been a nice complement for Vernon (8 sacks on the year) and has 7 sacks on the year. Their next player with the most Sacks is Safety Landon Collins with 3. I expect them to drop their next two (DAL, DET), which would move GB into the wildcard if they win their next two.
Also Vikings Harrison Smith is likely out for the next 4 with a high ankle sprain. That should soften up the back end of that D for Rodgers in a couple weeks.
Pistol GB posted:Setting aside the division leaders, these are the teams in line for the 2 Wild Cards. If you had to bet, who would you bet on? For me it would be GB and Washington. The Giants do not impress me.
Giants 8-4
Redskins 6-5-1
Queens 6-6 (as if)
Packers 6-6
Tampax 7-5 (not)
Az. Cudinals 5-6 (choke)
I'd bet on the Giants and Redskins for the wild cards. The Redskins have a fairly easy schedule and the Giants have a lead and 3 winnable games. Here's some predictions that can be shot down later by the board.
Giants: Dallas (L), Detroit (W), at Philly (W), at Washington (W) 11-5
Washington: Philly (W), at Carolina (W), at Chicago (W), Giants (L) 9-6-1
Vikings: at Jax (W), Colts (L), Packers (L), at Chicago (W) 8-8
Green Bay: Seattle (L), Minnesota (W), at Chicago (W), at Detroit (?) 8-7 +Lions
Tampa Bay: Saints (L), Cowboys (L), Saints (W), Panthers (W) 9-7
Atlanta: Rams (W), SF (W), at Carolina (W), Saints (W)
Arizona: at Miami (L), Saints (W), at Seattle (L), @Rams (W) 7-8-1
Detroit: Bears (W), at NY Giants (L), at Dallas (L), Green Bay 9-6 +Lions
1. Dallas 14-2
2. Seattle 12-3-1
3. Atlanta 11-5
4. Detroit/Green Bay 9-7
5. WC - Giants 11-5
6. WC- Redskins 9-6-1
Playing out your scenarios, the winner of GB/DET wins the north at 9-7 GB or 10-6 DET.
The Packers need the W Sunday. I can see DET winning 1 of their road games @ the Giants or Cowboys. The Giants are banged up defensively and Dallas may have little to play for in week 16.
Hungry5 posted:Getting healthy helps too.
While I would like to see McCarthy adjust his approach when he doesn't have the "right" players available, I once was told that it is players, not plays.
Was very encouraging to see the DBs tackle much better on Sunday than they have in some time.
Randall and Gunter outside put Hyde in the slot, and the conditions made Gunter's lack of speed negligible. Next 3 should be similar with 2 at Lambeau and @ CHI.
While he's been out awhile I wish they would look at bring Richardson back so he could fill the same role Burnett is playing right now. Just a little flexibility in letting Burnett stay deep on certain plays to help the CBs from gettting completely destroyed would be beneficial.