Playoff reality

[ND72]

I'm not sure what happens, but to get to 7-4, with all 4 losses coming on last second field goals and some REALLY questionable officiating with a skeleton of a roster, I think that getting into the playoffs will be a hell of an achievement. Winning a game will be seriously over achieving. TT has done a great job in maintaining a roster that can continue to fill spots and MM & DC have done a great job coaching with so many pieces. NOT the year I was hoping for, but I have really enjoyed the team scrapping for what they can get.

Speaking of...did anyone else think yesterdays officials were horrible? I'm usually not one to say refs were deciding, but wow, bad calls, especially the guy on the Packer sideline.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Speaking of...did anyone else think yesterdays officials were horrible? I'm usually not one to say refs were deciding, but wow, bad calls, especially the guy on the Packer sideline.

They really only called the blatant stuff. They pretty much let the teams play. I like those kind of officials.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I didn't think they were too bad yesterday. Definitely some home field advantage stuff: HORRIBLE spot in the first quarter on third down, benefit of the doubt to Gonzalez but not to Driver on 4th down, personal foul for a stiff arm (what the fuck was that???), and as always, a lot of holding on the GB pass rush. Im also concerned why there was reportedly a lag in the video feed which prevented GB from seeing a replay after the Gonzalez "catch" on 4th down.

[Guiness]

Glad to see the Vikings won today. If they don't pack it in, they could give the Bears trouble in the dome. Bears have lost 4 out of their last 5 there, and even the 1 win was by 3 points in 2006 when the Bears were a much better team. Go get 'em Gunslinger!

Minnesota could make things miserable for a few teams. They're a pretty talented roster, and if they all get pulling in the same direction, they can win some games. They could make life miserable for three of the teams they have yet to play, Chicago (go Vikings!) Philly and NYG.

If Frazier gets the defense playing well, and just hands the ball to his RB's 30 times a game, they could easily win 3 of their last 5 games. Let's just hope one of those is against the Bears!

[denverYooper]

Minnesota could make things miserable for a few teams. They're a pretty talented roster, and if they all get pulling in the same direction, they can win some games. They could make life miserable for three of the teams they have yet to play, Chicago (go Vikings!) Philly and NYG.

If Frazier gets the defense playing well, and just hands the ball to his RB's 30 times a game, they could easily win 3 of their last 5 games. Let's just hope one of those is against the Bears!

The funny thing is that is how the Vikings are supposedly built to play and how they had moderate success before last year: pound the ball and play D. They're not eliminated yet and they know they have nothing to lose, which makes them more dangerous. I'm glad the Wilfs did GB a solid by waiting until after they played the Packers to change coaches.

[bobblehead]

Speaking of...did anyone else think yesterdays officials were horrible? I'm usually not one to say refs were deciding, but wow, bad calls, especially the guy on the Packer sideline.

we were marginally on the short end of the calls, and I squak loud when I think it cost us...yesterday we got beat by the falcons though, they are very good.

[bobblehead]

I didn't think they were too bad yesterday. Definitely some home field advantage stuff: HORRIBLE spot in the first quarter on third down, benefit of the doubt to Gonzalez but not to Driver on 4th down, personal foul for a stiff arm (what the fuck was that???), and as always, a lot of holding on the GB pass rush. Im also concerned why there was reportedly a lag in the video feed which prevented GB from seeing a replay after the Gonzalez "catch" on 4th down.

Yea, not showing the right angle pissed me off a lot. If they show it we challenge. The stiff arm? I saw hester do it 3 seperate times the very next game without being called. But again, those didn't cost us this game.

[ND72]

I didn't think they were too bad yesterday. Definitely some home field advantage stuff: HORRIBLE spot in the first quarter on third down, benefit of the doubt to Gonzalez but not to Driver on 4th down, personal foul for a stiff arm (what the fuck was that???), and as always, a lot of holding on the GB pass rush. Im also concerned why there was reportedly a lag in the video feed which prevented GB from seeing a replay after the Gonzalez "catch" on 4th down.

There is always a "lag" when the call could go against the home team. Lambeau won't show anythign in that instance.

[MichiganPackerFan]

There is always a "lag" when the call could go against the home team. Lambeau won't show anythign in that instance.

I wasn't referring to the lag on the scoreboards, i understand how that works. I believe there are television feeds to the box where our coaches sit, and reportedly there were abnormal delays there as well.

[red]

its really amazing that 2 days ago we were in a game that many thought was for home field advantage in the NFC, now with one loss if the playoffs were to start today we wouldn't even make it.

NFC is pretty tough (except for the west) and a lot of teams are bunched up around the top. looks like 2 good teams are gonna be missing the playoffs. it would suck if we were one

[vince]

The myth of needing to run in December/January in Green Bay (while it sounds good) has been thoroughly debunked by both Holmgren and McCarthy in numerous seasons. McCarthy's teams have run it more and better than Holmgren's teams on average.

The playoff reality is that Green Bay controls its destiny to the #2 seed and a bye. So long as they make up a game on Chicago, including the game in which they go head to head, they'll likely take the North. It will probably go down to the last week, with the winner of the Bear-Packer game taking the division and the loser a wildcard, unless the Bears or Packers tank, which it doesn't look like either is going to right now.

[denverYooper]

The myth of needing to run in December/January in Green Bay (while it sounds good) has been thoroughly debunked by both Holmgren and McCarthy in numerous seasons. McCarthy's teams have run it more and better than Holmgren's teams on average.

Yes! In fact, I think there is quite an advantage to being able to pass well in cold weather for northern teams with outdoor stadiums. Rodgers, like Favre, is supposed to have abnormally large hands that make handling a ball advantageous in colder weather. The Patriots are also quite good at passing in cold weather.

[rbaloha1]

The Packers better find a running game. AR can only take us sofar.

[Bossman641]

I wasn't referring to the lag on the scoreboards, i understand how that works. I believe there are television feeds to the box where our coaches sit, and reportedly there were abnormal delays there as well.

I read this as well. If true, that is complete bullshit. From what MM and the coaches said, there was a delay on the coaches broadcast and they didn't even see a replay until after the Falcons had run the next play. And I'm not referring to the second replay that clearly showed it was a drop. Because of the delay, they didn't even see the first replay until it was too late.