Something to consider.

[Smidgeon]

OK that's the question, and it's a complicated one with no silver bullet answer. I admit it's tempting to take the easy path because we demand answers, but suggesting or thinking the answer is simple is fundamentally misunderstanding the nature of the game in my opinion.

In my opinion, the simplest and biggest reason for their coming up short in the NFC Championship this year was their injury depleted pass defense, predominantly their corners but throughout the defense to some extent. Had Shields been healthy this year, not only may they well have matched up far better against Atlanta, they may have been playing them at home, which is also a huge factor. Failure to cash in on the first two sustained drives also played a role, etc. etc.

There are a lot of possible reasons, and plenty of room for a diversity of opinion. You can look at the receiver situation the year prior, The Doink the year prior... Again none of those are THE reason but probably rank high among them.

The Packers have had their opportunities, which is way more than half the challenge. Then it might be about health, match-ups, home field, turnovers, ball control, game planning, a big play at the right time, etc., etc. The other teams are pretty good too when you're playing at the championship level.

Boiling all that down to coaching is such a gross oversimplification and misunderstanding of a complex situation that it's unrealistic. Bad coaches don't go to the playoffs year after year. Bad coaches don't sustain winning programs. Good coaches lose games, particularly when they're overmatched in certain areas and/or when one individual's execution (or lack thereof) in one or a couple plays so often determines outcomes at the highest level.

Then you have people stating that the GM doesn't even want to win, or the coach is dumb, or in general make claims that are so far out in lalaland that there's just nowhere to go with them.

Regarding QBing/Coaching/whatever, I was looking at playoff records, super bowl appearances, etc since 1992 focused on Favre, Rodgers, Brady, Roethlisberger, Brees, and both Mannings (to cover very recent super bowl successes and the Favre-Rodgers comparison). Interesting to me, but nothing newly conclusive (Brady is head and shoulders above the others in career except in Playoff Appearances where Rodgers is hot on his tail), so not quite worth sharing overall.

But one thing that leaped off the page was when I backed off to the NFC/AFC comparison. Since 92 (25 years), the NFC has seen 13 one-appearance QBs in the super bowl. The AFC has only seen 7. Which means the NFC is more competitive (independent of competitive vs AFC).

Since Brady took over in 2001 (16 years), the AFC has only two one-appearance QBs (Gannon and Flacco), whereas the NFC has 10 (Brad Johnson, Delhomme, McNabb, Hasselback, Grossman, Brees, Rodgers, Kaepernick, Newton, Ryan). Only three have appeared in more than one SB at two each (Warner, Eli, Wilson). In that same time, the AF had three QBs with more than one appearance, and they all had 3+ (Roethlisberger, Peyton, Brady).

Since Rodgers took over in 08 (9 years), the NFC has only one QB that's been in the game more than once (Wilson), whereas the AFC has only one QB that has appeared only once (Flacco).

I don't know if there are definite conclusions to draw from this, but it's a pretty stark divide nonetheless.

[vince]

That is interesting. I considered putting out the idea/opinion that the NFC has had more higher quality teams competing than the AFC in the last decade but didn't have the time to research whether that was in fact the case.

EDIT: As I look back PB did make a good argument that the level of competition in the AFC has been lower.

[vince]

In the last decade, the NFC led in Super Bowl titles 5-2 before New England eked out 2 and Denver handled Carolina to tie the series up 5-5.

[woodbuck27]

Woody you're missing the point altogether. I'm not demeaning Bellichick or suggesting that I think his legacy is due to some mystical trait, luck or anything like that.

People are using one or two Packer NFC Championship losses - while ignoring the win and subsequent Super Bowl title - and blindly comparing McCarthy to Bellichick to claim de facto evidence that McCarthy doesn't have what it takes to win NFC Championship games. That's nonsense.

We cannot possibly compare MM the HC to Belichick the HC because Belichick the HC is also Belichick the GM.

Noone in the NFL works any harder than Bill Belichick.

Here is something I just discovered to illustrate his dedication and resolve. I have edited the original to cover the important points:

" Coaching is the second-best job Bill Belichick does. As amazing and meticulously prepared as he looks on the sidelines, he’s even better as the Patriots' de facto general manager. Anyone who has ever witnessed his work ethic will attest to the truth here.

A Belichick team is built ruthlessly. He watches more college tape than any other coach; attempting to unearth the next Julian Edelman or Tom Brady. And when those no-names blossom into bona fide stars, he erases their names from his vocabulary. Why? It only enhances their on-market value if he praises them publicly. Think about TT and the spot he has found himself in and Clay Matthews.

Imagine that kind of antagonist sitting across from you at a negotiation table. Wes Welker had no chance when he asked for a new deal; Belichick had a price in his mind, and he wasn't going to overspend. That same strategy has sent countless other stars—the Randy Mosses and Richard Seymours and Asante Samuels of his dynasty—out the door.

Bill Belichick has no problem walking away from a fan favorite.

He also has no problem walking away from freak athletes. Take Jamie Collins or Chandler Jones, two freak athletes the Patriots shipped off to other teams in 2016. Belichick made both calls; he can only tolerate so much freelancing away from his scheme before he breaks ties. In came cheaper bodies, like Kyle Van Noy and Chris Long. And in came another Lombardi Trophy.

Bill Belichick the football czar in New England already has a salary in mind for all of the current crop of FA's. Bill Belichick the HC/GM already knows what is necessary to win Super Bowl LII."

[vince]

NFL executives predict next year's Super Bowl matchup
John Clayton, ESPN

I asked five NFL front-office executives to predict the Super Bowl LII matchup, and three teams in each conference received votes.

AFC
Patriots 2 votes
Steelers 2 votes
Chiefs 1 vote

NFC
Packers 3 votes
Falcons 1 vote
Seahawks 1 vote

What NFL executives said:

"I would imagine [general manager] Ted Thompson will be a little more aggressive in free agency. Ted disdains using free agency and loves to build through the draft and undrafted players. But you can sense a lot of people are getting in his ear and suggesting filling some of the holes by signing a few extra veterans."

"Aaron Rodgers was the game's best quarterback down the stretch, and he should carry that over into next season. Think about it. They were 4-6. Rodgers was in a slump that went back into the 2015 season. Rodgers ran the table until the Atlanta game. He should play the whole season at that high level. Watch out."

"The Packers need help at running back and on defense. Well, guess what? It's a great draft for running backs and a very good one on defense. That should work in their behalf."

[woodbuck27]

This highlights all that Bill Belichick is (Click on the LINK below).

https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2017/02/07/bill-belichick-no-days-off-chant

As Packer fans we are now used to wondering where TT is, as habitually he's not visible for days upon days ....into weeks? For a Green Bay fan the slogan:

" Have you had a Ted Thompson sighting? " ... is now common.

I bet it is like this a lot:

Anyone: " Hey Mike (Mike McCarthy) have you seen Ted lately?"

MM: " I don't know where in hell he is."

[ThunderDan]

Well, the day after GB lost to ATL, he was at the Senior Bowl practices scouting players.

[woodbuck27]

Well, the day after GB lost to ATL, he was at the Senior Bowl practices scouting players.

Yes he is really good at practising for his next job.

That cannot happen soon enough.

[Rutnstrut]

Yes he is really good at practising for his next job.

That cannot happen soon enough.

The problem is Murphy doesn't have the balls to get rid of Ted.

[vince]

The problem is Murphy doesn't have the balls to get rid of Ted.

You know he'd love to, but he's afraid.

[bobblehead]

2010 was a magical year. That was six years ago and they haven't been back since.

Let me list all the other teams other than NE who haven't won 2 superbowls in the last 6 years.

the end.

[bobblehead]

Brady>Rodgers
Not even a debate.

Brady isn't a better QB than Rodgers so what is the difference in number of championships? .

You realize you look like a tool when you do this right?

[Upnorth]

So tt sucks and has done nothing to help arod? I'll be the first to admit he isn't the greatest, I think he has done a good job.
The biggest argument is he has arod and and is wasting his career.
Arod is definitely one of the greatest qbs in history, but there are many great abs currently.
Compare the recent performance of the following teams with great was to the packers:
New Orleans
San Diego
Dallas
Arizona
Carolina
Atlanta
Seattle
Pittsburgh
Indianapolis

Only Pittsburgh Seattle and maybe Dallas (if you really stretch it) can compete with greenbay over the last 5 years for consistency.

Consistent teams without a star qb are kc and Denver. So to me tt is on the top teir of competitive teams in a grouping of 6 out of 31 teams (yes I meant 31)

[Pugger]

Ted's problem is he hasn't done nearly as well assembling a defense compared to the offense. The offense is pretty good outside of AR. We have a serviceable stable of WRs, a TE who works well with our QB if we resign Cook and one of the top O lines in the league. The only position on O than needs to be addressed is RB and if we resign Lacy, use Monty out of the backfield we can draft another one this spring.

With our offense we don't need an elite defense. Just a average or slightly above average will do the trick. If Ted can shore up the corner position and give us a more consistent pass rush that might be good enough. We were okay stopping the run most of the time. Atlanta didn't have an elite defense so perhaps that will work for us.

[Fritz]

New England is head and shoulders above everyone else in terms of results. There is no question. There is New England, then there is a tier of teams that compete nearly every year and have a legitimate shot. Green Bay is one of those teams. Then there are the so-so teams who get into the playoffs once in a while and are glad to be there. Then there are the Cleveland Browns.