The Green Bay Packers

[Lament]

Absolutely terrible loss.

If they win the next two weeks they'll still get a #2 seed at 12-4. Arizona and Seattle both have the tie-breaker over them, so #1 is pretty much out of the question. If Seattle wins against Arizona next week, everyone has to go through them again, and the Packers will be able to point to today's embarrassing performances by the offense and special teams as the reason why. I can't see this team winning on the road against Seattle.

This could end up being every bit as big of a squandered opportunity as when they blew chances to get byes with bad road losses late in 2012 and 2002.

[verb_to_trust]

Olivia Munn's fault. Clearly.

[spike]

Absolutely terrible loss.

If they win the next two weeks they'll still get a #2 seed at 12-4. Arizona and Seattle both have the tie-breaker over them, so #1 is pretty much out of the question. If Seattle wins against Arizona next week, everyone has to go through them again, and the Packers will be able to point to today's embarrassing performances by the offense and special teams as the reason why. I can't see this team winning on the road against Seattle.

This could end up being every bit as big of a squandered opportunity as when they blew chances to get byes with bad road losses late in 2012 and 2002.

RELAX

[Lament]

Do you really think this team's chances to get the Super Bowl aren't dramatically changed by having to go on the road versus being at home?

[spike]

Of course I do; I want no part of Seattle.

[Lament]

Well, losing today dramatically increases the odds of them having to go through Seattle if they want to get to the Super Bowl. That makes it a pretty big loss in my eyes. Without home field, they're no longer the favorite (at least to me).

Here's hoping Arizona can beat Seattle next week. Having to go to Arizona is waaaay less intimidating than going to Seattle.

[spike]

hey lament, i hope this makes you feel a little better:

The team Arizona doesn’t want to see have the same record? That’s Green Bay, which could win out and claim the top seed even after losing to the Bills on Sunday. If the Packers finished tied with the Cardinals at 12-4, they would win the tiebreaker by virtue of their superior record against common opponents. The Cardinals would then finish second, retaining a first-round bye in the process.

So, ideally, the Packers want to see the Seahawks beat the Cardinals and the Rams prevail over Seattle in Week 17. If the Packers get those two results and win out, they’ll finish with the top seed. They would beat the Cowboys in a tiebreaker by virtue of their superior record in conference games, and if the Cardinals make it to 12-4, Green Bay will pip them to the top spot because of a better record against common opponents.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-n ... -playoffs/

[Lament]

I suppose it does. I can't see Seattle losing at home to St. Louis though, so I still want Arizona to win this weekend. I'm ok with Arizona being the #1 seed. I'm pretty comfortable with Rodgers squaring off against a 3rd or 4th string quarterback in a dome if it comes down to that.

[4/5]

I suppose it does. I can't see Seattle losing at home to St. Louis though, so I still want Arizona to win this weekend. I'm ok with Arizona being the #1 seed. I'm pretty comfortable with Rodgers squaring off against a 3rd or 4th string quarterback in a dome if it comes down to that.

I doubt Arizona wins a playoff game this season, regardless of who they play. Dallas, Philly, GB, Detroit, Seattle would all be favored @ Arizona.

[nyquillyn]

I suppose it does. I can't see Seattle losing at home to St. Louis though, so I still want Arizona to win this weekend. I'm ok with Arizona being the #1 seed. I'm pretty comfortable with Rodgers squaring off against a 3rd or 4th string quarterback in a dome if it comes down to that.

I doubt Arizona wins a playoff game this season, regardless of who they play. Dallas, Philly, GB, Detroit, Seattle would all be favored @ Arizona.

With a third-string QB, I won't fight you too much. One thing I will say, is that defense plays out of its fucking mind at home and it could be enough to carry them if they get a home playoff game. Peterson shut down both Dez and Megatron once this year already.

[Lament]

With a third-string QB, I won't fight you too much. One thing I will say, is that defense plays out of its fucking mind at home and it could be enough to carry them if they get a home playoff game. Peterson shut down both Dez and Megatron once this year already.

I don't doubt that the defense would put up a great fight. But there's a good chance the outcome of that game would come down to one of the two quarterbacks having to make a few big plays in big spots. I'm not saying the Packers would blow them out, but I am comfortable in Rodgers being able to make the plays he'll need to make, and not comfortable in thinking whoever is under center for the Cardinals will be able to.

[@SkitchP]

It feels counter intuitive, but in some respects wouldn't the Packers benefit from playing in places like seattle or detroit or arizona as opposed to home? A pass heavy offense, with significant defensive concerns?

A bad weather game against any of those 3 defenses feels like it could be something to be concerned about.

[Lament]

I would say that in a bad weather game the Packers passing game is better equipped to deal with the weather than anyone else's due to the familiarity with those conditions, and Eddie Lacy is a strong enough runner to make sure they get adequate chances to take shots downfield.

Isn't Seattle just as likely as anywhere to have shitty weather? Rain has to be worse for the passing game than cold (or snow).

But yeah, Arizona and Detroit being dome teams makes them seem less intimidating opponents on the road. Rodgers' numbers in domes in the playoffs are obscene (vs. Arizona in 09/10 and vs. Atlanta and Pittsburgh in 10/11)

[Chris_H_2]

Well, that and the fact that Aaron Rodgers hasn't thrown an interception at home since 2012.

[spike]

[Lament]

Four straight NFC North titles and eight in the thirteen years the division has existed.

The NFC North's nickname should be changed from "The Black & Blue Division" to "The Green & Gold Division" until someone else strings together a few first place finishes.

[Lament]

Special shout out to the Chicago Bears for bringing up the rear with a solid 5-11 finish.

[EJ]

Special shout out to the Chicago Bears for bringing up the rear with a solid 5-11 finish.

Shanahan will fix Cutler just like he did in Denver. Right? Right?

[Green Habit]

Special shout out to the Chicago Bears for bringing up the rear with a solid 5-11 finish.

Shanahan will fix Cutler just like he did in Denver. Right? Right?

I'd be far more confident of him fixing Cutler than I would of him fixing the defense.

[Kaius]

Special shout out to the Chicago Bears for bringing up the rear with a solid 5-11 finish.