Wild Card Week: They Might Be Giants

[gbgary]

Four or five years ago I floated the concept of dedicated, professional full time refs. I was then Patlerized, i.e. dressed down in a gentlemanly, albeit clinically precise fashion, as to the reality of such a notion. I even received a Patlerized stamp (haven't seen that for a while) from others on the board. So I'm preemptively throwing myself on the mercy of the kangaroo court.

lol

[pbmax]

Packers on Scout @PackersOnScout
#Packers Favre Picks Packers in NFC

https://t.co/al9n3oc9KK

I believe, quite seriously, that he would prefer Rodgers not to get a second Super Bowl win. And probably not a third MVP. And this kind of goofy prediction from nowhere, is his way of sticking a needle into his Ted and Mike voodoo doll.

[beveaux1]

Packers on Scout @PackersOnScout
#Packers Favre Picks Packers in NFC

https://t.co/al9n3oc9KK

I believe, quite seriously, that he would prefer Rodgers not to get a second Super Bowl win. And probably not a third MVP. And this kind of goofy prediction from nowhere, is his way of sticking a needle into his Ted and Mike voodoo doll.

I agree with this. Favre doesn't want another QB to take his place as 2nd best Packer QB ever.

[Fritz]

Well, let's face it, the D is shaky at best. In a single game, they can look good some quarters, and other quarters look like they'll collapse at any moment (a la against Seattle in the playoffs when we had that game won and blew it). However, the one hopeful thing is that I recall feeling the same way about our D when we last won the super bowl. Then, I just thought we were too young and needed maybe another year to get better. I now feel that none of that really matters as much in the NFL today. All that matters is getting hot when it matters. Doesn't matter if you have a lot of rookies or not. In fact, you need some young guys to have the energy and ability to not even know or care that they shouldn't be in the super bowl yet.
However, now, it's more that we seem decimated rather than just young, but maybe there's a chance they can all (including the Offense) still catch fire here.

I don't see any parallels defensively to 2010. That year, they held the Bears to a measly 3 points in the last game to squeak into the playoffs. The defense won that game, since the offense scored only ten points. I don't think this defense is capable of winning a game at this point.

And defense wins championships.

There are other problems too. The Giants' running game is emerging, and I still don't understand why the Lions abandoned the run in the second half of that last game. Zenner, no All Pro, was ripping through the middle of the Green Bay line, and the Lions were only down by three points in the third quarter. If the Giants show more patience running the ball, that will probably gash the Packer defense, which does not have to manpower to match up against the Giants' top two receivers in terms of passing offense. And unfortunately, the usually "meh" Eli Manning seems to turn it up a notch in the playoffs.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have a very, very deep secondary. I'm afraid we're all going to revert back to "Why can't any of these Packer receivers get open, for Chrissakes?" mode. Rodgers can scramble all he wants, but we all remember what that looked like earlier this season when the receivers couldn't get open. Or last year.

[Zool]

I agree with this. Favre doesn't want another QB to take his place as 2nd best Packer QB ever.

Too late for all that. Imagine if they could somehow give the '95 defense to Rodgers for a few years?

[ThunderDan]

I don't see any parallels defensively to 2010. That year, they held the Bears to a measly 3 points in the last game to squeak into the playoffs. The defense won that game, since the offense scored only ten points. I don't think this defense is capable of winning a game at this point.

And defense wins championships.

There are other problems too. The Giants' running game is emerging, and I still don't understand why the Lions abandoned the run in the second half of that last game. Zenner, no All Pro, was ripping through the middle of the Green Bay line, and the Lions were only down by three points in the third quarter. If the Giants show more patience running the ball, that will probably gash the Packer defense, which does not have to manpower to match up against the Giants' top two receivers in terms of passing offense. And unfortunately, the usually "meh" Eli Manning seems to turn it up a notch in the playoffs.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have a very, very deep secondary. I'm afraid we're all going to revert back to "Why can't any of these Packer receivers get open, for Chrissakes?" mode. Rodgers can scramble all he wants, but we all remember what that looked like earlier this season when the receivers couldn't get open. Or last year.

Eli is not super human in the playoffs. In 2011 he was, the rest of the years I'd take Dilfer.

2005 - 10/18 113Y 0Tds 3Ints - 1 and Done
2006 - 16/27 161 2 1 - 1 and Done
2007 - 72/119 213.5 YPG 6 1 - In 4 games, won Super Bowl
2008 - 15/29 169 0 2 - 1 and Done
2011 - 106/163 304.8 YPG 9 1 - In 4 games, won Super Bowl

[pbmax]

Someone cruel, I mean with a REAL mean streak, would list all the playoff disappointments from the Wolf/Holmgren era and we could tally up how the true gut punchers stack up.

[hoosier]

I don't see any parallels defensively to 2010. That year, they held the Bears to a measly 3 points in the last game to squeak into the playoffs. The defense won that game, since the offense scored only ten points. I don't think this defense is capable of winning a game at this point.

And defense wins championships.

There are other problems too. The Giants' running game is emerging, and I still don't understand why the Lions abandoned the run in the second half of that last game. Zenner, no All Pro, was ripping through the middle of the Green Bay line, and the Lions were only down by three points in the third quarter. If the Giants show more patience running the ball, that will probably gash the Packer defense, which does not have to manpower to match up against the Giants' top two receivers in terms of passing offense. And unfortunately, the usually "meh" Eli Manning seems to turn it up a notch in the playoffs.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have a very, very deep secondary. I'm afraid we're all going to revert back to "Why can't any of these Packer receivers get open, for Chrissakes?" mode. Rodgers can scramble all he wants, but we all remember what that looked like earlier this season when the receivers couldn't get open. Or last year.

I tend to agree, Packers don't match up well with this team. Giants will be a tough out, and should probably be favored.

[yetisnowman]

I'm surprisingly optimistic about this game. if we can create one or two turnovers I think we win easily. It's a stout defenses, but we have the best player on the field, and he is focused right now.
Pack 31-18

[texaspackerbacker]

I don't expect it to be an easy game, but I would disagree about the Packers not matching up well. It seems like a team with a mobile QB would be a bigger problem - Newton or Kaepernick or potentially Prescott. Also, a team with a careful QB would be tougher - Prescott or Wilson prior to this season at least come to mind. Eli Manning ranges from a little bit Cutler-esque to a lot that way depending on the week and the degree of pass rush. It might seem that the Packers would be in jeopardy with the high quality WRs the Giants have, but for some reason, we seem to have more problem with lesser WRs - turning average guys into stars. I think Capers will find a way to take away the Giants deep and medium passing game.

The Giants should not be favored based on overall and especially recent performance. And no, defense doesn't always win championships. Decent D and overpowering offense does the job better IMO.

[gbgary]

as the game gets closer it's getting scarier to me. it's our great offense against their great defense...and their poor offense against our poor defense. on The Herd this morning they were talking about the refs and how they work in the playoffs. chris carter said the refs will let more go in the playoffs...so the more physical d will probably win the game. we don't have that rep. if they jam or guys and they can't get open it's going to be a long afternoon. if we play soft again and let wrs run it's going to be a long afternoon. in my mind it's going to have to be a game like our 2nd half of the det game...short, quick, routes and runs. ball control, move the chains, eat the clock, get points, if we're going to have a chance. keep the ball away from their o and exhaust their d.

[Fritz]

I don't expect it to be an easy game, but I would disagree about the Packers not matching up well. It seems like a team with a mobile QB would be a bigger problem - Newton or Kaepernick or potentially Prescott. Also, a team with a careful QB would be tougher - Prescott or Wilson prior to this season at least come to mind. Eli Manning ranges from a little bit Cutler-esque to a lot that way depending on the week and the degree of pass rush. It might seem that the Packers would be in jeopardy with the high quality WRs the Giants have, but for some reason, we seem to have more problem with lesser WRs - turning average guys into stars. I think Capers will find a way to take away the Giants deep and medium passing game.

The Giants should not be favored based on overall and especially recent performance. And no, defense doesn't always win championships. Decent D and overpowering offense does the job better IMO.

Dammit, Tex, that is absolutely unAmerican. Or at least UnTexan.

And if the Green Bay defense doesn't get more physical than they have been, this is going to be ugly. The Packers seemed to be physically tough against the Bears, but against the Lions the defensive backs seemed to push, not hit, and Green Bay running backs (whose initials are Ty Montgomery) did a lot of stepping out of bounds instead of hitting someone.

[pbmax]

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 36m36 minutes ago
CB Damarious Randall (shoulder, knee), T Jason Spriggs (shoulder) and WR Randall Cobb (ankle) all practicing for #Packers.

Charles Tillman @peanuttillman
�� I'm ready to Run the Table if y'all need some CB's @AaronRodgers12 #StillTryingToGetARingInRetirement

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 2h2 hours ago
Jason Wilde Retweeted Charles Tillman
OK, @peanuttillman, settle this for us in the #Packers media corps discussing this Tweet: Were you serious? What if No. 12 gave you a call?

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 21m21 minutes ago
#Packers playoff captains:
Offense ~ Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Lang.
Defense ~ Julius Peppers, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
ST ~ Mason Crosby, Micah Hyde.

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 50m50 minutes ago
Quinten Rollins in concussion protocol; Packers add former WR to CB mix

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 58m58 minutes ago
Packers not practicing; CB Quinten Rollins (concussion), RB James Starks (concussion),... http://es.pn/2iJs0cH

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 3h3 hours ago
Makinton Dorleant to IR

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 3h3 hours ago
Coach Mike McCarthy said the Packers are promoting CB Herb Waters from the practice... http://es.pn/2j5D7ct [/B]

Jordan Raanan @JordanRaanan
Jason Pierre-Paul (core muscle) still not practicing. Everyone else was on field working.

Michael Cohen @Michael_Cohen13 1h1 hour ago
Did not practice for the #Packers:

Rollins
Thomas
Starks
Peppers

Cobb and Damarious Randall both practiced. Perry appeared limited.

Michael Cohen @Michael_Cohen13 3h3 hours ago
McCarthy said Herb Waters' move from WR to CB is a credit to the player and Joe Whitt Jr., the position coach. McCarthy is excited for him.

Michael Cohen @Michael_Cohen13 3h3 hours ago
McCarthy said ILB Joe Thomas will "get started" today at practice to see how his back is feeling. Bothered him for a couple weeks.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Seattle just signed Devin Hester because Tyler Lockett is injured. Dallas just signed FA Jonathan Cooper as OL backup. Why not sign Tillman?

[pbmax]

Seattle just signed Devin Hester because Tyler Lockett is injured. Dallas just signed FA Jonathan Cooper as OL backup. Why not sign Tillman?

In a statement that has never been made before, I feel we must weigh the significance of the poop emoji in Tillman's tweet before we can judge whether he is serious.

Since it doesn't translate on the board as copy and paste, here is a screen shot: