#1 SEEDS-- WHICH IS MOST LIKELY TO FALL IN THE PLAYOFFS AND WHY ?

[Scott Campbell]

I really don't like our chances this year...the defense is just awful at being able to get pressure on the QB, and our offense hasn't been the machine it was the first half of the season. The defense is going to have to force turnovers if we are going to repeat.

Agreed. We haven't looked as good as we did down the stretch and in the playoffs last year since the game before Tampa this year. My hope is that we are getting a lot healthier, and start playing better football in the playoffs because of it.

[Smidgeon]

Our chances are better than they were last year when the Pack squeaked into the playoffs with significant outside help...

[sharpe1027]

How many yards were given up in the blowout games where the entire fourth quarter is a joke and starters are pulled with significant time left? How many yards were given up on drives that only yielded a field goal or turnover? Why are yards important, unless they lead to points?

http://twominutewarning.com/guestcap4.htm

"It would seem reasonable that a team that gains the most yards would also score the most points, all things being equal. Likewise, the team gaining the fewest yards would be expected to score the fewest points. But, of course, all things are not equal. And there is rarely, if ever, a direct correlation between yards gained and points scored, or yards allowed and points allowed, for more than just a handful of teams."

[Tarlam!]

I think we should all light novena candles and pray Collins can come back in 2012.

THIS!!!

[Freak Out]

The Packer D is going to step it up the playoffs. Rodgers, M3, Capers and the gang have this thing figured out. I don't care who comes to GB in the next couple of weeks they will not beat Rodgers and the Packers. This isn't about stats now...it's about Talent, heart and will.

[Tarlam!]

The Packer D is going to step it up the playoffs. Rodgers, M3, Capers and the gang have this thing figured out. I don't care who comes to GB in the next couple of weeks they will not beat Rodgers and the Packers. This isn't about stats now...it's about Talent, heart and will.

Anyone going into Lambeau will bring their A+ game with them. If the Packers reach the Show, I think they go in as heavy favourites, because they really excel in domes. They need to get there first and I predict it won't be as easy as some might think

[gbgary]

#1 SEEDS-- WHICH IS MOST LIKELY TO FALL IN THE PLAYOFFS AND WHY ?

either one could go down but i think ne will go down first. it's about what defenses can do to brady, and/or rodgers, that will determine things. both are masters in the air but it's rodgers' legs that separate the two. i think the defenses in the afc are better than what's left in the nfc also. brady will have the tougher road to travel.

[ThunderDan]

The Packers, as defending Super Bowl Champs, have taken everyones best shot this year. Teams get up to play the Super Bowl winners. We have beaten every team in the NFC field except SF, who we didn't play.

I like our chances a lot better than any other team in the NFC or AFC. Apparently, Vegas agrees will me. Of course that being said anything can and does happen. The Packers are just better equiped to deal with it.

[Tarlam!]

Apparently, Vegas agrees will me.

I take heart in this, it is very encouraging.

[denverYooper]

Quote all the yardage statistics you want. The Packers are 15-1, a great accomplishment when everyone is gunning for you because you're the Champ. Bottom line is, the Packers know how to win. Opposing QB's have a 80.6 rating against the Packers, which is 9th best defensively. They just beat a playoff team without their starting quarterback, best receiver, best pass rusher, best cornerback, starting running back and and starting kick returner. Name me another team that could have done that.

This. Most of those rankings are yards. I won't argue that the D hasn't disappointed but they're better than this assessment indicates.

[denverYooper]

The total yardage stats make the list questionable. While it is not what it was last year, the Packers pass defense is not 32nd in the League. Much work as been done to point out the flaws of this stat, but the NFL simply doesn't listen when it ranks teams.

I think they know but are choosing to play up the yardage stat to make a better story for the playoffs. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that they had an intern dig up a set of metrics that would support an alternate ranking of teams.

[Upnorth]

Our pass defence gives up a lot of yards, but we also faced a lot of good passers. Brees, Newton, Stafford twice Rivers and Manning.
6 of our games were against elite qbs responsible for a disproportionate amount of yards. We were 6-0. We had 16 picks. I am less concerned when I think of it this way.

[KalamazooPackerFan]

Collins is also known to take bad angles at times. I wouldn't call him the greatest tackler though. He's sufficient.

The poor angles he takes are really the weakest part of his game. On pass plays his speed allows himto recover but he's missed a fair number of tackles taking the bad angle on a RB or WR inthe open field.

[gbgary]

Our pass defence gives up a lot of yards, but we also faced a lot of good passers. Brees, Newton, Stafford twice Rivers and Manning.
6 of our games were against elite qbs responsible for a disproportionate amount of yards. We were 6-0. We had 16 picks. I am less concerned when I think of it this way.

that is a good way to think about it.

[ThunderDan]

Here's a theory that I know is total crap but I'm going to fire it out:

Dom Capers after seeing the Packers put up 42, 30, 27 and 49 points in the first 4 weeks of the season shut his D down. He knew playing average vanilla D the rest of the way would be fine because of our offensive firepower. Now that the postseason is going to start he is going to unleash his D again. Look for some 38-10 games in the next few weeks ahead.