2013 NFL Playoffs: No Reason to Make a Big Deal Over Green Bay Packers Just Yet

[SnakeLH2006]

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/01/06/2013-nfl-playoffs-no-reason-to-make-a-big-deal-over-green-bay-packers-just-yet/

(Andrew Weber/USA Today Sports)

Less than one week after missing out on a chance to earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, the Green Bay Packers had no problems against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night during the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers led the way for the Packers as usual by throwing for 274 yards and one touchdown, but when it comes to being one of the top contenders in the NFC–there’s no reason to make a big deal over Green Bay just yet after their first postseason win.

Any team in the NFL could have beaten Minnesota on Saturday considering they were playing without Christian Ponder–who was ruled inactive just hours before the game with an elbow injury–and were forced to start Joe Webb instead. The Vikings may have believed in Webb a couple of years ago when he showed potential, but Saturday’s game against the Packers made it clear he’s not fit to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

In other words–the Packers weren’t as heavily tested Wild Card Weekend as they were in Week 17 considering the Vikings appeared to be a completely different team.

Adrian Peterson single-handedly carried the Vikings to the playoffs this season after rushing for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season and the Packers knew as long as they shut him down on Saturday–they wouldn’t have any issues advancing to the Divisional Round. As for how they’ll perform next weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, it certainly won’t be easy considering how much they struggled earlier in the year–especially on defense when it came to shutting Frank Gore down.

__________________________________________________ ______

Snake sez fuck those bitches. The Pack is healthy and Arod is confident.

[Kiwon]

That said, the Packers looked good.

They handily beat a team that beat them last week. What better result could there be?

Ponder would not have made a difference. He plays 'O' and not 'D'. He couldn't stop A-Rod and the backs from putting points on the board.

It's time for the Pack to go to SF and show that they are the better team. It's how you finish, not how you start, that counts.

[mmmdk]

Packers won; is wasn't super convincing but maybe that's not a bad thing. San Fran is a tough, hard team to play and will be a huge test for every single Packer player. Back to the good thing, Packers know they're not playing 100%...yet and that's the key to a win versus 49ers.

[denverYooper]

The one area I look at is their play on Peterman. That Vikings offense still runs through him and they did a much better job shutting him down. They held a guy, who had gashed them for 409 yards in 2 games to under 50% of his in-season production. Not bad.

Playing this Vikings team was better than a bye for GB. Now they'll go into San Fran tuned up and should jump out front before SF gets rolling.

[gbgary]

our boys looked good until the game was in hand and they decided to coast, mentally, from the 3rd quarter on. it's good to have another team/game to think about other than F'n minn.

[denverYooper]

Here's a brief synopsis:

[Teamcheez1]

The game was not as close as the score indicated. MM took his foot off the gas in the second half. I have no doubt we could have put up at least 14 more points in the game.

[denverYooper]

The game was not as close as the score indicated. MM took his foot off the gas in the second half. I have no doubt we could have put up at least 14 more points in the game.

They went with the fan favorite run-run-pass offense after they were up 21.

[mission]

Ponder does not make the difference since we actually tackled last night given the opportunity. Last week I chalked it up to the Vikings playing more intensely; this week the other way around. Ponder playing just would have left us with the foot on the gas pedal a little bit longer. MM wants to save whatever he can for future games... definitely subscribes to "we should be able to win without it"

[red]

ponder would not have been a big upgrade over webb. and webb was not the reason why we kicked the shit out of them last night

we flat out dominated a team that beat us just 6 days before

period

[Pugger]

Ponder is light-years better than Webb so the game may have been a tad more competitive last night had CP been in there instead. MM tried to eat up the clock after we were up by 3 scores so the game looked closer than it really was. Kudos to Capers and his charges for keeping AP as in check as anybody can.

[King Friday]

GB v SF...probably a battle to reach the Super Bowl, because I think either of those teams can handle ATL/SEA/WASH.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/0...kers-just-yet/

(Andrew Weber/USA Today Sports)

Less than one week after missing out on a chance to earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, the Green Bay Packers had no problems against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night during the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers led the way for the Packers as usual by throwing for 274 yards and one touchdown, but when it comes to being one of the top contenders in the NFC–there’s no reason to make a big deal over Green Bay just yet after their first postseason win.

Any team in the NFL could have beaten Minnesota on Saturday considering they were playing without Christian Ponder–who was ruled inactive just hours before the game with an elbow injury–and were forced to start Joe Webb instead. The Vikings may have believed in Webb a couple of years ago when he showed potential, but Saturday’s game against the Packers made it clear he’s not fit to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

In other words–the Packers weren’t as heavily tested Wild Card Weekend as they were in Week 17 considering the Vikings appeared to be a completely different team.

Adrian Peterson single-handedly carried the Vikings to the playoffs this season after rushing for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season and the Packers knew as long as they shut him down on Saturday–they wouldn’t have any issues advancing to the Divisional Round. As for how they’ll perform next weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, it certainly won’t be easy considering how much they struggled earlier in the year–especially on defense when it came to shutting Frank Gore down.

__________________________________________________ ______

Snake sez fuck those bitches. The Pack is healthy and Arod is confident.

I pretty much agree. A playoff win is a playoff win, but the 49ers are on a much higher level. You have to come out a play a very physical game to beat them.