2021-22 NFL Divisional Playoffs: Packers vs. 49ers Preview and Prediction

Well, here we go, Packers fans: the Divisional Playoffs! After having the lone NFC bye week by virtue of their #1 seeding, the Pack meet up with the San Francisco 49ers this evening at storied Lambeau Field. We welcome the warm-weather visitors to Green Bay for a night game...in mid-January...where there could be a bit of snow in the air...the game time air temps in the low teens or single digits...and with the wind chill perhaps even dipping below 0 degrees. Have a nice visit!

The Preview

Not really sure how much of a preview to even bother with. The Pack last played in Detroit two weeks ago in a game that meant nothing in their standing, and resulted in a loss. Big whoop. Still finished with a tied-for-league-best 13-4 record.

Some players that had seen limited action this season will be available tonight, among them Za'Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus who will boost the Pack's pass rush capability and QB sack potential. Also available will be offensive tackle Billy Turner and possibly CB Jaire Alexander, although the later is listed as questionable on the injury report, as is LT David Bakhtiari. The only player on the Packers' injury report listed as doubtful for the game is WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. However, WR Randall Cobb was activated off IR, so QB Aaron Rodgers will have one of his most trusted receivers available to him, especially in the slot.

For the Niners, two of their top two defensive players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner — both injured in last week's win over the Cowboys — are cleared for play. QB Jimmy Garoppolo will start once again despite his right thumb and shoulder issues; it will be interesting to see how well he holds up if the Packers can shut down the Niners running game and force him to have to pass to win. Would rookie backup QB Trey Lance see playing time tonight? Possibly. The Packers defense should have prepared for both this week, with Jimmy G the primary consideration at QB. 

But the Packers also have to be concerned about holding phenom WR/RB/Everything Deebo Samuel in check. He's going to get some yards, one way or another. But the Pack can't let him be the difference in the game.

If the Packers defense — line, linebackers and secondary — play to their capability, they should be able to generate a turnover or two. And when they have done that in the past, they typically come away with a win.

Still, we hope (and pray) the Packers special teams don't give the game away. With the special teams' overall league performance at the bottom of the barrel, we're at the time of the season where breakdowns and mistakes just can't happen. Because if they do, even one such instance can be the difference between a win and a loss.

While Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will be wearing the home green jersey,

he will still be signaling that the Packers are Number 1

after they beat the 49ers at Lambeau Field tonight.

(Photo by Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports)

The Prediction

This game and how it concludes is all within the Packers grasp. They worked hard to get the number 1 seed, the bye week, and the home field advantage. They have the MVP leading not just the offense but the entire team. They have the winningest head coach in NFL history through his first three seasons. They have talent on both sides of the ball. Yes, the game still has to be played and the weather conditions will be brutal for both sides. But the Packers have something to prove this season after two consecutive losses in the NFC Championship Game. They need to come out fast — something they typically haven't done after bye weeks — and force the Niners to pass. Turnovers will come if they are able to do that.

My good friend Billy Da Bearz Fan even called earlier today to give me his prediction: 28-27. He wouldn't say who comes out on top because, as a Bearz fan, he would spontaneously combust if he said the Packers would win ... but I know what he meant: Packers. Of course.

My brother-in-law (and 49ers fan) texted me with his call: 28-20 Packers. Remember, this is from a Niners fan.

The Packers are favored by 5-1/2 points at the time of this writing. In a game such as this, not being a betting person, I don't care about whether the Packers cover the spread or not; I care that they win the game.

We're calling it Packers 27 - 49ers 24. Hope it's not that close but, again, just get that win. Get to the NFC Championship Game and make the third time (in a row) the charm.

Go Pack Go!!!

It's been a while. But with the 2021 Packers season upon us ...

Hello, Packers fans ... and all who wish they were.

We've had a looooong hiatus...since just before the Packers vs. Bucs NFC Championship Game (the horror ... the horror ...). And there's a lot to catch up on. So we'll ignore such things as the Aaron Rodgers drama, the draft, comings and goings, cut-downs, final roster, etc. You have better things to do with your time now anyway.

Let's just get to the important matters of the moment: the season prediction. We'll do the prediction for Sunday's opener against the Saints (in Jacksonville) in a separate post.

The Season Prediction

Since the start of this blog in 2005 (16 years ago ... crikey!), we have looked at the season preview not game by game but more quarter by season quarter, so to speak. Of course, now with a 17th regular season game, we'll come off with quarters plus one extra. You're smart. You'll figure it out. Home games are in green. Be aware, of course, that the NFL may flex various game times, especially later in the season, so the days/times shown here are as they are now indicated.

QB Aaron Rodgers: the "last dance"???

(Photo by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

1st Quarter of the Season

Week 1: @ Saints (in Jacksonsville) - Sun 09/12 · 3:25 PM CDT

Week 2: Lions - Monday Night Game - Mon 09/20 · 7:15 PM CDT

Week 3: @ 49ers - Sunday Night Game - Sun 09/26 · 7:20 PM CDT

Week 4: Steelers - Sun 10/03 · 3:25 PM CDT

We think it's likely the Packers lose one of these first four games. Despite the Pack being one of the odds-on favorites to make the NFC Championship Game, and, Packer nation hopes, the Super Bowl, and having a loaded roster, we really don't know how it's all going to come together, or how soon. With Rodgers back at QB and the weapons on offense, even if they happen to be a bit out sync, they will still put up points. But in the first year of new defensive coordinator Joe Barry's defense, despite good to great personnel in some spots, we'll have to see how that new scheme gels. Of these first four games, the one that worries us most is the 49ers game. Still, it wouldn't surprise us to see the Pack come out of this sequence 4-0. But 3-1 feels like a safer bet.

2nd Quarter of the Season

Week 5: @ Bengals - Sun 10/10 · 12:00 PM CDT

Week 6: @ Bears - Sun 10/17 · 12:00 PM CDT

Week 7: Washington - Sun 10/24 · 12:00 PM CDT

Week 8: @ Cardinals - Thursday Night Game - Thu 10/28 · 7:20 PM CDT

With three away games in this four-game sequence, including two back to back and the last on a short week after the only home game, we again think the Packers will drop one of these. Expect the Pack to come out of these four games with three wins.

3rd Quarter of the Season

Week 9: @ Chiefs - Sun 11/07 · 3:25 PM CST

Week 10: Seahawks - Sun 11/14 · 3:25 PM CST

Week 11: @ Vikings - Sun 11/21 · 12:00 PM CST

Week 12: Rams - Sun 11/28 · 3:25 PM CST

If you get the sense that the away schedule for the Packers seems to dominate the early part of the schedule, yes, yes it does...including two back-to-back series of games. Take a look at Weeks 5 through 9. There's one home game in there. One. Playing back to back against the Cardinals and then the Chiefs...not going to be an easy stretch of games, to say the least. We could see the Packers going 2-2 in this part of the season.

Week 13: BYE

4th Quarter of the Season (+ 1)

Week 14: Bears - Sunday Night Game - Sun 12/12 · 7:20 PM CST

Week 15: @ Ravens - Sun 12/19 · 12:00 PM CST

Week 16: Browns - Christmas Afternoon Game - Sat 12/25 · 3:30 PM CST

Week 17: Vikings - Sunday Night Game - Sun 11/28 · 3:25 PM CST

Week 18: @ Lions - Sun 01/09 · 12:00 PM CST

Depending upon the health of the team going into these last five games, three of which are at home, the Packers could again drop two, to come out 3-2 here.

Summary

Looking back at our predictions, we have the Packers going no worse than 11-6. (Many projections have the Pack going 13-4. We hope they are right and we are wrong.) They should handle their NFC North competitors and win the division. We'll worry about the playoff scenarios much, much later on. Lot of ball game left, as the saying goes.

As always, GO PACK GO!!!

2020 Season NFC Championship: Packers vs. Buccaneers

I took a deep breath as I began writing this preview and prediction, Packers fans. Because while we have all shared dreams of heading to the Super Bowl this season, and winning it, of course, there remains one little detail that needs to be taken care of first: beating the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a really good defense that dominated the Pack in the teams' first meeting earlier this season. (Deep breath...)

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and his offense will need to up their game today against

a Buccaneers defense that dominated them in the earlier meeting this season.

(Photo by Mark LoMoglio, AP)

Obviously, the main storyline is that of quarterback Aaron Rodgers vs. quarterback Tom Brady. And this will no doubt play itself out throughout the course of the game, perhaps down to the very last play.

In the first meeting, Rodgers threw 2 of his 5 interceptions during the regular season, including a pick-6. He was sacked, if memory serves, 4 times, and was under pressure most of the game. And that was with LT David Bakhtiari. Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles had the Pack's offense out of sync. It was unquestionably the Pack's worst game of the season.

Hopefully, lessons will have been learned. The Packers also need to take advantage of being at home in Lambeau Field. Granted, there may only be a fraction of the number of fans present that would otherwise be there in non-Covid times, but you can be sure all those present will represent Packer fans around the world who are there in spirit today.

In addition to a stout defensive line, the Bucs linebackers are fast. Hopefully, the slower turf — especially in the winter weather of Green Bay — will slow them down a bit.Thankfully, the full complement of the Packers running backs will be available, as will the receiving corps. When opportunities for runs and especially catches are present they need to be made; no drops or turnovers that could take the momentum away and flip the game to Tampa's favor. The Bucs defense is a takeaway machine and, in last week's win over the Saints in New Orleans, their 3 takeaways wound up leading to 21 points ... and, ultimately, the win. The Packers can't allow that to happen today or they could be this weekend's Saints.

As for the Packers defense against the Bucs offense, the defense must hold down the rushing game that serves to open up the passing game for Brady. He doesn't really need any help in that regard, does he? The defense also needs to get to Brady...quickly. While Rodgers is known for how quickly he can get the ball out, Brady is no slouch either. The Pack will need to get pressure on Brady and keep it on, while the D-backs and linebackers will need to be as tight as glue on Tampa receivers.

The Packers defense has been getting better and better over the last half of the season. They've got some mojo going. And a few days ago, Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine made the entire defense watch the replay of last season's NFC Championship game loss to the 49ers, where they played more like the Little Sisters of the Poor than the Green Bay Packers. The effect on those who were part of that defense, which was nearly all of those present, was as desired, according to reports: they were embarrassed, upset...P-O'd. Good. Perhaps that will be a motivator today.

The opportunities to play in championship games with the right to go to the Super Bowl on the line doesn't come along that often. The Pack will have now played in 2 in a row, the fifth in Rodgers career with only 1 winning trip to the Super Bowl to show for all the effort.

With Aaron Rodgers having one of his best season's ever and likely securing his third MVP award, and at age 37, we don't know how many of these opportunities will be there in the future for a Rodgers-led team. As the late Hall of Fame LB and Packers coach Kevin Greene said to a young Clay Matthews during the last Packers' Super Bowl win, "It is time." Indeed.

The Prediction

The Packers have received roughly the home field advantage spread of 3-1/2 points. The over-under has gone up from 51 to 52 or 53 depending upon your info source.

We don't expect the weather to be that much of a factor in today's game. Snow has already fallen this morning. No snow is predicted during the game. Temps will range from about 29° F at kickoff to 25° F at the end of the game. Winds are expected to be light and not a factor. Brady played all his career except this year for a cold weather team, and played his college ball at Michigan, so this weather will have no impact on his game. We can only hope it might have an effect on some of his teammates.

We expect this to be a hard-fought game by the two top teams in NFC. The Packers have experienced heartbreak in their last three trips to the NFC Championship with Rodgers at the helm. With the bad taste of last year's loss in mind (made fresh by Pettine's video session for the defense), and with knowledge gained from the earlier loss in Tampa, we expect the Packers to continue their winning ways today.

We're calling it Packers 31 - Buccaneers 27.

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFL Draft Day! What will the Green Bay Packers do?

Welcome back, Packers fans. It's Day 1, Round 1, in the 2020 NFL Draft!

And, yes, we have taken an extreme hiatus since our last post (before the NFC Championship Game). Didn't quite work out the way we had anticipated. At all. Sent much of Packerland into a season-ending funk that has lasted months. Of course, the COVID-19 thing has certainly not helped moods, either, has it? Stay well and stay safe out there, friends. That's the most important thing. After all, if you aren't physically on the planet any longer to go to the hair stylist, favorite pub, beach or whatever...none of those things really matter, do they? Be smart. Lots of stupidity happening out there in some circles. Don't be a future Darwin Award winner!

OK, now that that's all out of the way...

A few early thoughts on the Packers first pick

Here are just a few comments we made in a response to Twitter post early today. Take 'em for what they are worth ... which is basically as good — and as bad — as anyone else's thoughts on the matter. We've expanded on them a bit in case you caught our original comments @packfansunited on Twitter.

Wide receiver seems to be the position most are hoping will the Pack's pick at #30, including some involving a trade to get up to #20 for Justin Jefferson (LSU). Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has 10 picks going into this draft, so he has the options to package things to move up if he so chooses. Wide receiver, an impactful one, is certainly an area of need for the Pack and it will be addressed. The question in this draft is when, as this is a deep draft at receiver.

WTMJ-620 radio in Milwaukee had a conversation this a.m. that reminded us not to forget about needing a solid O-lineman. Josh Jones (Houston) may be available at No. 30 as well as Austin Jackson (USC). Wouldn't be the sizzly pick fans would hope for. But getting a tackle to learn from Ricky Wagner for a year wouldn't be the worst idea, would it? Gutey could then possibly grab WR Laviska Shenault (CO) in the 2nd round. He could add a bit of that pizzazz the receiving corps needs.

Defensive line and linebackers are also top needs, as all Packer fans know. Given depth in this draft at WR, unless Gutey has totally fixated on "his guy", he could pop in this group, too. Because D-line help is also deep in this draft, we'd expect him to not use his 1st round pick here.

Naturally, if Gutey feels he can still address a need with one of his targets by dropping back a bit into the top or middle of the 2nd round, and acquiring even more picks, he could do that, as well. And, again, given the depth at a couple of the needed positions, depending how this draft falls, that could be what transpires. We wouldn't be surprised.

A few of the other positions that have been mentioned as possible picks at #30 are quarterback and running back. We don't see those as realistic options this early given other more pressing needs.

Anyway, if we have a change of view as the day goes on, we may have more to say. Or not. Love NFL Draft Days, don't you, Packer fans?!

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers - Preview & Prediction

Quick review: The Packers beat the Seahawks in Green Bay in the Divisional round of the NFC playoffs last weekend, 28-23. It was a battle, as was expected. The Pack played one of their better games in all phases of the game. And they closed it out by never giving the ball back to Seattle late in the game due to timely and needed third down conversions. Packer fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Of course, that was temporary. Because next up, for the NFC Championship, was and is the San Francisco 49ers who the prior day had dispatched the Minnesota Vikings.

Which brings us to today.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will need to be "in a Superman cape", according
to former Niners QB Steve Young, for the Pack to have a chance to win today.
(Photo: Stan Szeto, Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)

Preview by way of review

Outside of Packers fans, of course, not many are giving the Packers a chance today. The Niners are favored by 7-1/2 points going into the game. Much of this, or at least a good deal of it, has to due with the Week 12 blow out that the Niners won by 29 points on their home turf, 37-8.

Well, here we are once again, on their home turf in Santa Clara. But while home field is important, typically 3 points to the favor of the home team, that doesn't explain the dismissiveness with which the Packers are considered in this game. Frankly, the Pack just didn't show up at the earlier game. They were lethargic, playing-calling was mediocre, and they allowed themselves to get beat in every phase of the game. Yes, there were some horrible penalty calls that didn't help matters, as well as turnovers that set up the Niners in great position to score. And they did. When the Niners had to go a long ways they usually did so passing to receivers who had no defenders within the same zipcode. It was horrible defense and the offense did nothing to help mitigate the damge. By all measures, it was a throw-away game.

But the Packers learned from that loss. The defense had a closed-door players-only meeting after they returned to Green Bay from that game. They wouldn't be as porous or soft in a game since. And the Packers haven't lost since, either. They tightened up. And with the Packers offense finally getting more in sync, albeit still not seemingly firing on all cylinders for lack of receiving threats other than Davante Adams, the team learned how to battle for a full 4 quarters, right down to the wire. In the end, a 13-3 record was the result...the #2 seed...only missing the top seed by virtue of about 12 inches and a TD on a stop in a game in which they were not participants. Oh, and their opponent is also 13-3. Seems pretty even doesn't it?

Not if you listen to the pundits. They emphasize the strength of the Niners defense, particularly the front four, who were able to dominate the Packers O-line in the last outing, a line which, by the way, lost RT Bryan Bulaga early on and had to replace him with Alex Light who was an unmitigated disaster in a backup role. Bulaga is back and is also now backed up most capably by veteran lineman Jared Veldheer.

The Niners offense will have its trio of running backs — Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert and Matt Breidain — in gear. They ran and ran on the Vikings last week and wore down that defense. The Pack's defense must find a way to minimize the Niners rushing attack in order to force young QB Jimmy Garoppolo to beat them. Given time and porous coverage, Garoppolo can certainly do damage; he's got a good arm and, admittedly, a winning record in his young career. His offensive line has protected him well, which accounts for a good deal of his success; defenses this season, with few exceptions, haven't made life difficult for him in the pocket. Somehow, someway, the Packers defense has to make him uncomfortable. A few sacks and lots of pressure by the Smith Brothers, Kenny Clark and others would go a long way to making a Packers win more of a possibility. That, and somehow also finding a way to tackle TE George Kittle when he gets the ball in his hands. He could single-handedly do some big damage if left unchecked. Not going to be easy to do.

The Packers offense, has shown signs of being on the same page in the last six games or so. Even QB Aaron Rodgers has said, “The last six weeks, I’ve felt really locked in on the preparation, and I think that’s helped us on offense to really be on the same page.” What else has helped are receivers and tight ends stepping up and making clutch catches instead of drops. Having a solid running game behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams is going to be key to opening up the passing game for Rodgers and keeping the Pack in the game. Special teams also needs to come up big. The pick up of Tyler Ervin and his insertion as returner and occasional running threat has been a boost, as well.

Bottom line: all the pressure is on San Fran as no one expects the Packers to win. But the Packers can match up with the Niners.

The Prediction

This game will not be a reprise of Week 12's blow out loss for the Packers. This will be a 4-quarter game, likely down to the wire as has been the case for the Pack throughout much of the season. The Packers have nearly perfected into an art form this season the "bend-don't-break" defense. They should be able to get at least one turnover that will be converted into points. We think they'll also give up more field goals than touchdowns today. Finally, in a close game, who would you rather have with the ball: Garoppolo or Rodgers? Yeah, us too.

We're calling this game Packers 27 - 49ers 26.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers 2017-18 Season Prediction

Well, Packers fans...we've avoided making any posts during summer training camp and preseason. We've been slacking, no doubt. Sorry about that. But we'll try to do better as we are now at the start of the regular season.

One of the things we've done since the beginning of this blog -- quite a while now -- is to make a season prediction as to overall record. Lots of places give game-by-game predictions for the season and that's certainly a worthwhile pursuit. We do game-by-game predictions, too, but do them week by week as the season goes along; just too many factors that can affect things.

What we do at the outset though is use a game itself as a model. In short, we break up the season into quarters and give predictions for each quarter of the season. OK, yes, because of the bye week there are really 17 weeks to the season not 16...so how can we do quarters??? Hey, it makes sense to us and since this is our blog, well, that's all that matters. So here go...

First Quarter of Season - Weeks 1-4 (Sept. 10-28)

The Packers start off with the Seahawks at Lambeau Field, followed by a game at Atlanta, then at home versus the Bengals and Da Bearz. That's two tough games against likely NFC Conference contenders right off the bat. With three out of these first four games at home, the Pack's traditionally slow season starts might be mitigated. We see them taking three out of these first four games. Overall record: 3-1.

Second Quarter of Season - Weeks 5-8 (Oct. 6-29)

The Packers begin this part of the season at Dallas, then another away game at Minnesota before returning home to take on the Saints. Week 8 of the season is the Pack's bye week and they will no doubt rejoice in the week off after a very challenging first half to the season. We see the Pack going 2-1 in this stretch. Overall record: 5-2.

Third Quarter of Season - Weeks 9-12 (Nov. 6-26)

The schedule has a bit more symmetry to it in this stretch, with home-away-home-away: the Lions, at Chicago, home against the Ravens and then at Pittsburgh. We'd like to see this stretch go 3-1 but...OK, let's say it's 3-1. Overall record: 8-3.

Fourth Quarter of Season - Weeks 13-17 (Dec. 3-31)

In this final non-quarter-like quarter of the season (five games not four), the Pack has two home games and three away. They start at home against the Buccaneers, then are away at Cleveland and Carolina, home against the ViQueens, and finish the season on New Year's Eve day at Detroit. This has the feel of a 3-2 stretch, although it goes without saying (but we're saying it) that a lot here depends upon the health not only of the Packers but their opponents. Overall record: 11-5.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is set to take the team back to the Super Bowl.
(Photo: Jim Matthews / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wi, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Aaron Rodgers said this week that the way he looks at the season you win all your home goes and then split on the road. In other words, 12-4. He thought that would put the team right there in the mix. We'd feel more comfortable with that as well.

Given the offensive weapons the Packers have this season, they shouldn't have any problem scoring. The question mark, as it has been for seemingly too many seasons, is the defense. The Pack has concentrated several consecutive drafts on beefing up that side of the ball. And just this week, GM Ted Thompson added some free agents to the mix.

We have to agree with Rodgers that this is a good, very good, Packers team in terms of talent. But all the pieces still have to come together. Given that they got to the NFC Championship game last season with a glued-together defense, even an incrementally better defense could get them back to the Super Bowl.

This might be the thinking of a lot of pundits who have selected the Pack to be one of the favorites to go to the Super Bowl this season. We agree.

Please check back tomorrow (game day) to see our Packers vs. Seahawks game prediction.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory in NFC Championship

Fans of the Green Bay Packers witnessed a game yesterday that will go down in Packers' lore...for all the wrong reasons. The team played 56 minutes of good, not great, football against a Seattle Seahawks team they had on the ropes, waiting for a knockout punch that never came. In the end, the beaten and bruised champ rose from the canvas (or turf, in this case) and wound up delivering the sucker punch that ended the game and the Packers' season. The Packers lost in overtime to the Seahawks, 28-22.

The post-mortem on this game will go on and on. For Packers fans, it will live forever. There is no way of setting this monumental collapse aside. It was (insert hashtag here) an epic fail. The Pack all but had their ticket punched to the Super Bowl in Arizona. But unlike in recent weeks where they could close out a game in the waning minutes, the Packers let Seattle hang around, let them back into the game, and then could not hold on for the win. As a result, Seattle is going to its second straight Super Bowl and the Packers are going home for the off-season to ponder what could have been.

What went wrong?
Where do you start to list the series of apparently little things that all added up to the loss? Here's just one writer's list:

• Mike Daniels' 15-yard taunting penalty after Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix's first interception. Instead of first and goal from the 4-yard line, it was first and goal from the 19.
• Failure to punch the ball in on two runs from the 1-yard line.
• Head coach Mike McCarthy settling -- twice -- for field goals on fourth-and-goal rather than going for the touchdowns.
• Getting only six points off five Seattle turnovers.
• Giving up a touchdown off a fake field goal to reignite the Seahawks' hopes.
• Giving up a third-and-nineteen pass completion for a first down.
• Morgan Burnett's interception with about five minutes remaining when he went to the ground rather than pick up, possibly, another 15 yards of open field and field goal range.
• TE Brandon Bostick's decision to not follow his assigned blocking role on an onside kick but rather to attempt to make a play on the ball instead, leading to a recovery -- and quick go-ahead touchdown -- by Seattle with about 2 minutes left in the game. Oh, the designated "hands" on that side of the field and position was Jordy Nelson. Bostick was supposed to block so Nelson could get the ball.
• Giving up 15 points in 44 seconds to let Seattle take the lead late in the game.
• Allowing Seattle to drive 87 yards in six plays for the winning touchdown in overtime.

These are just a few of the miscues that came back to haunt the Packers.

Lost in all this was the exceptional performance of kicker Mason Crosby who went 5 for 5 on the day, keeping the Packers in the game, including a tying 48-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining to take the game to overtime. Had the Packers won, Crosby should have been the game's MVP.

Epilogue
A great season for a very good Packers team came to a crashing -- and crushing -- end. The Packers were the better team for most of the game. Or so it seemed. But all those little things that they did or didn't do added up in the end to a loss to a team that was ripe for the picking. Hats off to the Seahawks for never giving up, despite dismal play most of the day. Their coach played to win, the Packers coach played not to lose. We know the rest of the story.

As Wayne Larrivee, radio voice of the Packers noted on radio this morning, anywhere from 25 to 33 percent of this Packers team will be changed for the coming season. That's how it works on average, he said. Some of those players we've come to know and like -- or not -- will be gone. New players will take their place. Whether that new combination will have the makings to be as good a team as this one came to be over the course of the season, only time will tell.

But as Larrivee also noted, the windows of opportunity in the NFL for a Super Bowl run aren't based upon careers, they are based upon seasons. This was a season in which the Packers could have made it to Arizona for the Super Bowl. They would have had a rematch against the New England Patriots, a team they handled in the regular season. A Super Bowl win was perhaps in the cards. But...not.

The Packers, in the end, handed that opportunity to the Seahawks, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Packers 2013 Season Preview

On the eve of the Green Bay Packers first regular season game of the 2013 NFL season against the team many believe will not only be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl but its winner, the San Francisco 49ers, we take a look ahead to the entire season.

Now, unlike some bloggers and pundits who will analyze every game and give you their win-lose score for each of the upcoming 16 games, yours truly takes a different approach. One which has served well over the past seasons. We break the season down by quarters and see how things could go. Each season has an ebb and flow to it based upon more than just the opponent. There's also the overall schedule to consider, the order in which a particular team will appear as the opponent, who the Packers play away and who the team plays at home. That sort of thing.

Now, do I take a look at all sorts of stats to arrive at my prediction? Nope. Don't have time to do that. Nor the inclination. This prediction is far less science than art...and that's using the term "art" quite loosely. "Guess" might be more accurate. Which, if you really think about it, dear reader, makes what you are about to read just about as good as anyone else's prediction.

So, without further ado, here we go.

2013 First Quarter: Sept. 8 - Oct. 6
This actually covers the first five weeks of the regular season, as the Packers -- quite atypically compared to recent years -- have their bye week in Week 4...not great.

Anyway, the sequence of teams for this quarter of the season is:

• Sept. 8 - 49ers - Away
• Sept. 15 - Redskins - Home
• Sept. 22 - Bengals - Away
• Week 4 - Bye Week
• Oct. 6 - Lions - Home

Looking at this portion of the schedule, the Packers will go 3-1. The most likely loss will be the first game of the season against the 49ers. The Packers, at this writing, are 4.5-point underdogs. Everyone is figuring that the Niners have the stronger roster across the board and that QB Colin Kaepernick will do the same thing to the Pack he did last season in the playoff game. The Packers are tired of hearing about that, as much as they may claim that that was all last season and this is a new season blah blah blah. The Packers defense has had all off season and training camp to prepare for Kaepernick. If they can generally make him work more out of the pocket than scamper they will be in the game...if the Pack's reconfigured offensive line can open a few holes for Eddie Lacy and also protect Aaron Rodgers, that is. In some ways, while there are many unknowns on both sides of the ball at this stage of things, this might be the best opportunity for the Packers to beat the Niners. If. Lots of ifs in this first game. More on this in our game preview which we will post tomorrow. So check back for that Sunday before the game.

As to the other games, especially if the Packers lose the opener, I'd expect three wins, with two of the three games played at Lambeau Field.

That's how we get to 3-1 for this portion of the schedule.

Second Quarter: Oct. 13 - Nov. 4

• Oct. 13 - Ravens - Away
• Oct. 20 - Browns - Home
• Oct. 27 - Vikings - Away
• Nov. 4 - Bears - Home

In this portion of the schedule, it seems more than likely that the Packers will go either 3-1 or 2-2...in the latter scenario, which two games will be wins and which will be losses is almost a toss up, with the exception of the Browns game which will go in the win column.

Third Quarter: Nov. 10 - Nov. 28

• Nov. 10 - Eagles - Home
• Nov. 17 - Giants - Away
• Nov. 24 - Vikings - Home
• Nov. 28 - Lions - Away

Note that with the exception of Da Bearz, the Packers will have played both the Vikings and Lions twice at this point of the season. That part of the division competition will be complete, with only the final game of the season against Da Bearz in Chicago remaining.

We're figuring that Packers will go 3-1 in this third quarter of the season, with the Giants as the more probable loss.

Fourth Quarter: Dec. 8 - Dec. 29

• Dec.8 - Falcons - Home
• Dec. 15 - Cowboys - Away
• Dec. 22 - Steelers - Home
• Dec. 29 - Bears - Away

The league saved some of the best -- and most difficult -- of the games for the final quarter of the schedule. At this point of the season, without a bye since Week 4 of the season, the Packers will either be healthy and pretty much a lock for the playoffs or a tired and beat-up patchwork bunch trying to squeak in. But many teams, including perhaps all of the opponents in these four games, will be in the same boat.

The expectation here is that the Pack will go 2-2 in this final stretch of the season although, again, which games will be wins and which losses...too hard to say at this point. Check back for each game preview as the season goes on.

Bottom line: Packers 11-5 or 10-6
I know, that's a bit of a fudge factor there, but at least it's reasonable...or at least honest. And you can judge for yourself how the Packers will fare through each quarter of the season.

At 11-5, the Packers win the NFC North division and are into the playoffs as a division winner not as a wildcard. If they go 10-6, the Pack will still win the division but will not have as favorable a route through the playoffs.

Still, I'm projecting the Packers and Seahawks meet in the NFC Championship.

However the Pack gets there, though, that brings us to...

The Super Bowl Prediction

In reading and listening to all the various prognostications and at how the oddsmakers are setting things up at this moment, it seems as if the favorites in the NFC are the 49ers, followed by the Seahawks, followed by the Packers.

Well, it may be a bit of a homer thing, but the prediction here for the Super Bowl teams are: the Packers and the Denver Broncos. Winner? What are you, goofy? The Green Bay Packers!!!

Football season and the road to the Super Bowl starts for the Packers in less than 24 hours. Go Pack Go!!!

Packers training camp restores balance to the universe

Does that headline seem a little over the top? If you are a true Green 'n' Gold fan of the Green Bay Packers...nah, nothing but the truth in that statement.

During the offseason, Packer fans find themselves doing anything to distract themselves from the reality that things are just not right. How could they be? There's no Packers football for Pete's sake! Or anyone else's sake for that matter. We have to "entertain" ourselves with (shudder) basketball, baseball (well, OK, I guess), golf (fine to play and also a good way to get a nap in if watching on TV), soccor (don't dare call it football or futball...I don't care if you are European!), tennis (c'mon, who cares really?), or who knows what else?

Yes, it really is a cultural wasteland, isn't it?

But that's about to change this week, Packers fans! After new Packers' shareholders get to attend their first meeting inside Lambeau Field, the players will return to St. Norbert College and the Packers' training facilities for the start of camp. Yay! (By the way, if you are curious about St. Norbert College's connection with the Pack, check out this brief article for more.)

What's the outlook?
We are well aware of the fact that the Packers are, at least according to the early line in Vegas, favorites to not only win the NFC North and NFC Championship, but to also win the 2013 Super Bowl. It's good to be favored. But as we also know, even going 15-1, as the Packers did last season, is no guarantee of bringing another Lombardi Trophy back to where it rightfully belongs: Green Bay -- TitleTown USA.

There are some question marks, of course. First among them: things haven't started yet so who the heck knows what will happen? An injury in training camp or early in the season to a key player and the outlook changes dramatically. Beyond that, the sieve that was the defense last season has got to be improved. It was the team's Achilles Heal last season and prevented them from going to the big game. A couple of the new draft picks will be expected to step in and perform almost from the get-go. With Nick Collins now gone in the secondary, someone else will have to pick up the slack. There are a number of candidates, but all are unproven at this point. Getting a pass rush will do a great deal to help the secondary.

On offense, the line will have to gel after some key departures. Again, the Pack seems to have a number of players that can fill the gaps. The question is: how well? There are no questions at QB where we have the best player in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers. We also have the best receiving corps in the league, loaded at wide receiver and tight end. The question mark is at running back. Ryan Grant is unsigned and may or may not see another snap as a Packer. James Starks is slotted as the starter, with second-year player Alex Green coming off injury as his primary back up. Another second-year player, Brandon Saine, also stands to get a chance at showing what he can do. It will likely be running back by committee especially in this pass-happy offense. Fullback John Kuhn will likely resume his steady roll, although he might not be ready for training camp even after six months of rehab from his MCL injury...so that slot may wind up being a bit more wide open than expected, too.

Bottom line?
What all this translates into is apparently what the oddsmakers see: a talented and well-coached team that, despite some issues, looks like the best bet to go all the way. Granted, there's a long way to go especially when things haven't started yet. But, really, who would you rather put your money on right now?

Yes, with training camp almost here, balance to the universe is once again restored.

Say it with me: it's great to be a Packers fan!!!

Packers beat Bears 21-14 to go to Super Bowl

It was pretty at the start, ugly inbetween, and finally, thankfully, final. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 21-14 at Soldier Field to capture the Halas Trophy. Next up: Super Bowl XLV and the Lombardi Trophy.

A game re-recap and comments will follow...later. Tonight...tomorrow...whenever. Early clue: defense wins championships and it was the defense that saved the day today.

But for now, let's just say the dream of the Packers winning the NFC Championship for the first times since 1997 and heading to the Super Bowl has come true.

Great job, Packers! From management, coaches and staff to the guys on the field.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers vs. Da Bearz Championship - A Dream

This is the day. Finally! The day our beloved Green Bay Packers send the Chicago Bears back to hibernation. The Pack then gets ready for Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. For those who haven't yet read my preview/prediction of yesterday, I am -- shocking! -- picking the Packers to beat Da Bearz, 24-17.

But perhaps like many fans, I didn't sleep really well last evening. Kept tossing and turning. Was very calm until then, apparently. But the excitement builds consciously and subconsciously, right? Like many, my blood pressure will start to go up as game time approaches. And I'll probably be hyperventilating throughout the game until I hear the radio voice of the Packers, Wayne Larrivee, declare, "There...is...your...dagger!"

Anyway, in my somewhat agitated sleep state of last evening, a dream came to me. And in it, I have to say I see a premonition of what's to come today. So take a look, and see if you agree...



The clues to a win for the Packers are many here: the bear is scared and up a tree; a more advanced mammal aims to take it down; a knockout shot is delivered; the bear bounces and lands on the ground with a thud (obviously representative of Jay Cutler getting sacked over and over); the bear being hauled away by a strongman (a Clay Matthews-like avatar); the reference to years of therapy being needed by the bear (referring to Bears' fans at any point in time, really) and lastly, the 6-pack comment by whats-his-name the announcer...what could be more Wisconsin?

So, that dream pretty clearly seals the deal, don't you think? The real dream, of course, begins after today's win. It's the dream of heading to the Super Bowl again and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to where it belongs: Green Bay, Titletown, USA!

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers vs. Da Bearz Championship Preview and Prediction

This time tomorrow, we will know the outcome of the NFC Championship Game between our beloved Green Bay Packers and...those other guys...um...Eagles! No, beat them already. Umm...Falcons! No, beat them too. Let's see...I knew it a moment ago...oh yeah...the Chicago Bears. And, yes, the Pack will beat them, too. Shocked, I know, to see yours truly predicting that.

But what else can I do? The Packers are favored. Seemingly at least two-thirds of all the pundits out there are picking the Pack. But are these the only reasons? No. I'm picking the Packers to beat Da Bearz because they are, as ESPN's Jim Rome stated on his show yesterday, not only the hottest team but also the better team.

Granted, the best team doesn't always win. Enough instances of that exist across the league. And, make no mistake, Da Bears are a tough match up. These games always are a slugfest. They have some great players. And it's close enough where an ill-timed penalty, turnover or blown assignment -- or, dare I say, a shanked field goal attempt -- could be the difference in the final outcome. We just hope more of those mistakes occur on Chicago's side of things than on the Packers'.

The Packers are confident and are playing championship calibre football. Da Bearz are probably feeling a bit disrespected and will likely want to take out some of that frustration on the Pack. So it will likely be a tight game, if not throughout at least through the first half.

But if the Pack can get up early on Chicago, bottle up RB Matt Forte, and force Jay Cutler to win the game...that adds up to a win for the Pack.

I normally don't post my prediction until game day. I like to sleep on things and see how things look in the morning. But because many will be heading to the game or viewing parties then, I thought I'd post my prognostication a bit early...while still reserving the right to revise before the game, of course.

Jim Rome predicted the Packers to win 21-17. Peter King of Sports Illustrated picks the Pack 17-16. I think both of those scores for Da Bearz are in the ballpark, although I'm hoping the Pack's defense can hold Chicago to under 17, which they are completely capable of doing. I'm also hoping that the Pack's offense, particularly its running game, keeps opening things up for Aaron Rodgers and the receiving corps. It might not be the long downfield plays given the field and weather conditions. But dink and dunk will work just fine as well, and also not force the O-line into having to pass protect for those long dropbacks and long throws.

Given those assumptions, I'm taking the Packers 24-17 over Da Bearz.

Go Pack Go!!!

P.S. OK, there really wasn't much of a preview here, was there? But really, the whole week has been a preview, hasn't it? Good. Glad we cleared that up.

Packers vs. Da Bearz Championship Week - Part 2

Alrighty then...it's a couple days since the last post and a couple days till Packageddon in ChiTown. The story angles and trash talking between fans of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are ramping up, filling the airwaves and cyberspace.

But it's important to note that the trash talking between players on the two teams has been nil. Nothing but respect given back and forth. No bulletin board material. As St. Vince might say, "What the hell is going on out there?!" Can this possibly be the same two franchises that have spawned some of the most vicious and nasty players and games the NFL has ever seen? Where's the clotheslining...the "hook"...the body slams? Ah, those were the days...when there was a real dislike by the players on one team versus the other. I mean, even the quarterbacks in this upcoming game are friends. Friends! What's the football world coming to??? Holy Johnny Blood McNally, Batman!

Along these lines, the radio voice of the Green Bay Packers, Wayne Larrivee, has a wonderful radio piece about this greatest rivalry in pro football on his "The Back Page" segment on 620WTMJ radio in Milwaukee. Larrivee outlines some bits of Packers - Bears history that many fans might not be aware of. Both teams, at one time or another, for instance, actually helped keep the other afloat. Another tidbit of history: Papa Bear George Halas was an honorary pallbearer at Curly Lambeau's funeral. For better or worse, the Packers and Da Bearz are bound together in NFL history. That's why it's still amazing that these two great franchises have met only once before in a playoff setting (70 years ago!), and never before in a Championship game. It has always been special. Sunday's game takes it to a whole new level. You can listen to Larrivee's commnetary here.

Cutler on Cutler
Speaking of Jay Cutler (how that's for a non-transition transition?), if you haven't seen this yet, check it out. It's what we imagine he might say if administered truth serum. Enjoy.



More on other aspects of this game later on. For now... Go Pack Go!!!

Forecast for Sunday's NFC Championship Game

Last Saturday the Pack beat the Seahawks in the Snow Bowl, "a winter wonderland" as Coach Mike McCarthy called it. Indeed, the temperature wasn't bad and neither was the wind. But the forecasters were all wrong, saying there would perhaps be a half-inch of snow by the end of the game. As viewers were able to see for themselves -- especially by viewing the snow-laden hat of Seattle coach Mike "The Snowman" Holmgren and having to squint at times to see the players through the falling snow -- the forecasters were just a weeeee bit off.

So, what's the forecast for this Sunday's game? Temperature forecasts that range from 8 above to 4 below...and that's not counting wind chill. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "The wind at game time is expected to be about 10 mph from the west. 'It shouldn't be all that bad,' said weather service meteorologist Phil Kurimski, but will be enough to drop the wind chill to about 10 degrees below zero." Some forecasts indicate the wind chill will be colder than that. As Brett Favre mentioned in his press briefing today, whichever team makes the fewest mistakes in these conditions will be the team that comes out on top. He said that everything you do in a game like this, even something as simple as a handoff, needs to be done with thought, with concentration.

Last weekend's game was positively balmy compared to what's expected for this Sunday night's game. But this game will still not compare to the legendary Ice Bowl between the Pack and Cowboys back in the Glory Days of 1967. This could very well be a close second, though. What can we call it? The Frostbite Bowl? The Brrrr Bowl? The Frozen Bits Bowl? (If any of these get picked up, remember I hold the copyright and trademark! You read it here first!) I'm sure lots of creative variations will emerge.

But if you're attending the game, the recommended attire is at least 5 or 6 layers of everything. And no, that is not a joke. What will be funny is seeing 70,000+ fans crammed into the stands all looking like the Michelin Man...except for the guys without the shirts, of course.