More Banjo: Week 14 vs Seahawks

[Rutnstrut]

I'm kind of ok with McGinn on that too. Seattle plays the right way. I'm a big believer that football is won by the team that's the best combination of discipline and violence. Seattle beats up, and intimidates. I would coach that way too. Lang mentioned after the game Seattle likes to intimidate and bully, so you have to match that and fight back. I do think that was a key to the game. We went into that game with a fuck you mindset that they weren't going to push us around and we were going to do the pushing. That was big.

So to put it simply. For once they didn't go into a game with a soft, pussified attitude.

[pbmax]

Mike McCarthy:

111 Wins: finally, he changed something!
61 Losses: See, he stinks out loud!
1 Tie: This stinks out loud too!

Mike McCarthy, only successful the 111 times he doesn't do what he always does (35.8% of the time).

[RashanGary]

Mike McCarthy:

111 Wins: finally, he changed something!
61 Losses: See, he stinks out loud!
1 Tie: This stinks out loud too!

Mike McCarthy, only successful the 111 times he doesn't do what he always does (35.8% of the time).

Maybe meant for McCarthy thread?

[Fritz]

I think people are aching for a trip to the Super Bowl now. Even getting to the NFC Championship game will result in fans calling for heads to roll if that game didn't result in a victory.

[pbmax]

Maybe meant for McCarthy thread?

Might fit, but that was for Rut. Forgot to quote.

[3irty1]

How much confidence is really appropriate after this win?

The way the league is set up its one thing to get good, as Seattle did, its another thing to stay good... as we and the Patriots do. The league's parity measures will help you reach the leagues peak, but they work against teams trying to repeak. This gets taken for granted. What I'm saying is I think our trouncing of Seattle might say more about Seattle than it says about us. They really sucked. Being on their end of that ass-kicking probably felt a bit like when we were blown out by Denver last year.

Their offense was a cartoon of self-sabotage. If Doug Baldwin rewatches that film he'll get PTSD. Before this game I viewed Earl Thomas as the straw that stirred the drink in their defense; now he seems more like the glass. The only thing that kept the drink from being a puddle. He made it viable to start a linebacker at safety.

Sucking less that seattle, even 28 points less, doesn't make me feel like our own struggles are over. Its not a great year for the NFL but being in the playoffs still means beating relatively good teams, and the next time we do that will be the first this year.

[Patler]

How much confidence is really appropriate after this win?

The way the league is set up its one thing to get good, as Seattle did, its another thing to stay good... as we and the Patriots do. The league's parity measures will help you reach the leagues peak, but they work against teams trying to repeak. This gets taken for granted. What I'm saying is I think our trouncing of Seattle might say more about Seattle than it says about us. They really sucked. Being on their end of that ass-kicking probably felt a bit like when we were blown out by Denver last year.

A good recent example is the 49ers. It was just a few short years ago that many on here feared them over anyone else in the NFC. How many times were the Packers, TT and MM compared to the 49ers? Many come and go to the playoff scene, but only a few remain in it for prolonged periods.

[run pMc]

A good recent example is the 49ers. It was just a few short years ago that many on here feared them over anyone else in the NFC. How many times were the Packers, TT and MM compared to the 49ers? Many come and go to the playoff scene, but only a few remain in it for prolonged periods.

I'm actually not surprised the 49ers fded -- they lost too many solid players to retirement or free agency. Their OL was almost like Dallas's this year. I will begrudgingly give Harbaugh some credit for being able to coach them up as well. Baalke and Co. haven't been able to acquire/draft and develop the talent to replace all the losses. Plus, that's still a tough division IMO.

[hoosier]

How much confidence is really appropriate after this win?

The way the league is set up its one thing to get good, as Seattle did, its another thing to stay good... as we and the Patriots do. The league's parity measures will help you reach the leagues peak, but they work against teams trying to repeak. This gets taken for granted. What I'm saying is I think our trouncing of Seattle might say more about Seattle than it says about us. They really sucked. Being on their end of that ass-kicking probably felt a bit like when we were blown out by Denver last year.

Their offense was a cartoon of self-sabotage. If Doug Baldwin rewatches that film he'll get PTSD. Before this game I viewed Earl Thomas as the straw that stirred the drink in their defense; now he seems more like the glass. The only thing that kept the drink from being a puddle. He made it viable to start a linebacker at safety.

Sucking less that seattle, even 28 points less, doesn't make me feel like our own struggles are over. Its not a great year for the NFL but being in the playoffs still means beating relatively good teams, and the next time we do that will be the first this year.

Did Seattle look terrible because they suck or was it because the Packers made them look that way? A drubbing of a team that has had Seattle's success and was 8-4 going into the game is a quality win no matter how you look at it.

[run pMc]

How much confidence is really appropriate after this win?

Their offense was a cartoon of self-sabotage. If Doug Baldwin rewatches that film he'll get PTSD. Before this game I viewed Earl Thomas as the straw that stirred the drink in their defense; now he seems more like the glass. The only thing that kept the drink from being a puddle. He made it viable to start a linebacker at safety.

Yeah, I think the D benefited from good fortune as much as anything else with lucky bounces/ricochets. It just seemed like one of those games where it snowballed out of control for SEA. They haven't been beaten that badly in a long time, so I'd call that a mulligan. They're a crappy road team besides.
I do think it was a confidence boost for a team with some young players thrust into key roles, and certainly helps from a momentum standpoint. Those things can be important for a "we can run the table" situation. The worry is overconfidence facing a CHI team with nothing to lose at home on a crappy surface in bitter cold weather. Seems like a low scoring, Jordan Howard getting 25+ carries kind of game. I worry about the Packers not having the kind of running game you need for this -- December is Eddie Lacy weather.

[3irty1]

Did Seattle look terrible because they suck or was it because the Packers made them look that way? A drubbing of a team that has had Seattle's success and was 8-4 going into the game is a quality win no matter how you look at it.

The Packers did their part, and yes any 28 point win against an NFL roster is a quality win. Figuratively speaking, when an opponents perfect pass goes through their hands, off their facemasks, and into your lap, a good team takes advantage. But its charitable to suggest the Seahawks needed the Packers to look as bad as they did. The Seahawks were bad and we made them look bad.

The Packers have had football alzheimers for long enough now that it feels dangerous to get too excited about one lucid moment.

[Patler]

I'm actually not surprised the 49ers fded -- they lost too many solid players to retirement or free agency. Their OL was almost like Dallas's this year. I will begrudgingly give Harbaugh some credit for being able to coach them up as well. Baalke and Co. haven't been able to acquire/draft and develop the talent to replace all the losses. Plus, that's still a tough division IMO.

But that's just it, EVERY team goes through similar changes. The Packers lost their very formidable line of Clifton, Wahle, Rivera and Tauscher, too. First with Colledge and Spitz moving in, then Sitton, Bulaga and Lang and now Bakhtiari and Taylor. At center they went from Flanagan 10 years ago, to Wells, Dietrich-Smith, Linsley and Tretter. Driver and Jennings became Nelson and Cobb, now Adams in the mix, too. Some teams handle the transitions, others do not. The Packers have handled constant evolution while remaining competitive. The Packers began building a playoff caliber roster 25 years ago, and have maintained it mostly ever since. The 49ers built a playoff caliber roster, held it for a few seasons, then faded away.

[Fritz]

The Packers did their part, and yes any 28 point win against an NFL roster is a quality win. Figuratively speaking, when an opponents perfect pass goes through their hands, off their facemasks, and into your lap, a good team takes advantage. But its charitable to suggest the Seahawks needed the Packers to look as bad as they did. The Seahawks were bad and we made them look bad.

The Packers have had football alzheimers for long enough now that it feels dangerous to get too excited about one lucid moment.

I thought Seattle would lay the wood (or is it pipe?) on or in the Packers. But clearly I was wrong. But in my quest to make reality fit my pre-conceived notions, I saw all those passes bouncing off Seahawk chests and into Packer arms as mere good luck. Thus, I am prone to believe your post.

[pbmax]

Seattle is vulnerable, but those vulnerabilities show up on the road. Which hurts their mediocre or worse O line and slows down the normally excellent D line.

They will be different in Seattle, but not invulnerable as the Packers have showed 3 times in a row.

Here's what should keep you up at night: Giants are going to make the playoffs as a wildcard team. Which means if both Packer and G-men are in, they would play at Lambeau.

[ThunderDan]

Seattle is vulnerable, but those vulnerabilities show up on the road. Which hurts their mediocre or worse O line and slows down the normally excellent D line.

They will be different in Seattle, but not invulnerable as the Packers have showed 3 times in a row.

Here's what should keep you up at night: Giants are going to make the playoffs as a wildcard team. Which means if both Packer and G-men are in, they would play at Lambeau.

Nope, not true. Even though the Packers beat the Giants if the Giants have a better record they get the home playoff game.