Packers fall short in NFCCG

NFC Championship
January 22, 2017 - 2:05 p.m. - FOX
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia

Packers 21 - Falcons 44

The Packers ran out of steam in the NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons.  With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the Packers just didn't have enough to top the red-hot Falcons.  It's possible injuries finally caught up to the team.  It's also entirely possible the team was just exhausted.  The NFC Championship game was the fifteenth consecutive week of football for the Packers, as their bye week was Week 4.  Critical mistakes were made in the first half including a missed field goal by Mason Crosby and a fumble lost near the goal line by Aaron Ripkowski.  The Packers trailed the Falcons at halftime 28-0 and the game all but over.  The defense got shredded.  And that is being kind.

It was a great run by the Packers.  From 4-6 to winning the final six games of the regular season and securing the NFC North division crown.  To beating the Giants and shocking the Cowboys in the playoffs.  The Packers won eight consecutive games to play to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  Unfortunately, we came up short, again.  Time to reload and recover and take care of business next season.  The Super Bowl is in Minnesota.  Now wouldn't that be sweet.  Go Pack Go!

Packers start slow, finish strong in Wild Card matchup

NFC Wild Card Round
January 8, 2017 - 3:40 p.m. - FOX
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 38 - Giants 13

The Packers started extremely sluggish in their Wild Card matchup with the New York Giants.  Fortunately, that changed at the end of the first half.  Rodgers connected with Davante Adams for a score with 2:20 left in the first half that gave the Packers a 7-6 lead.  Rodgers added to the lead completing a Hail Mary to Randall Cobb on the last play of the first half.

The Giants didn't have an answer for Aaron Rodgers or the Packers in the second half.  Rodgers finished the day with 362 passing yards and four touchdowns.  Randall Cobb exploded catching three touchdowns with 116 receiving yards.  Adams played well again hauling in eight receptions for 125 yards.  The Packers defense held their own keeping Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. in check.

On to the NFC Divisional Round in Dallas.

Note: Jordy Nelson suffered a rib injury and his status for future playoff games is uncertain.

49ers knock Packers out of playoffs again

NFC Wild Card Round
January 5, 2014 - 3:40 p.m. - FOX
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 20 - 49ers 23

For the second consecutive season, the San Francisco 49ers have knocked the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs.

The Packers started extremely slow in this football game.  The Packers started the game with three consecutive 3-and-outs and managed only six yards of offense in the first quarter.  Give credit to the 49ers, the offense was so out of rhythm, they did not even complete a pass in the first quarter.  The last time that happened to the Packers was in 2004.  Despite the struggles, the Packers only trailed the 49ers at the conclusion of first quarter by a pair of Phil Dawson field goals.  The 49ers moved the ball well against the Packers defense.  However, the Packers, who are famous for their 'Bend-Don't-Break' defense, didn't break in the red zone and held the 49ers out of the end zone.

Photo credit: packers.com

Early in the second quarter, Colin Kaepernick had the 49ers moving the ball again seeking for an early dagger in the Packers.  On a second and seven from the Packers 29-yard line, Tramon Williams intercepted Kaepernick on a pass intended for Vernon Davis.  The turnover was crucial as it fired up the crowd and the Packers offense.  Aaron Rodgers, with the help of Eddie Lacy, dinked and dunked the Packers down the field for a 14-play drive ending with a Jordy Nelson touchdown.  Thanks to the defense not breaking in the first quarter, the Packers somehow had the lead 7-6.

The 49ers responded quickly.  Frank Gore found the end zone capping a 5-play drive for the 49ers giving them the lead right back 13-7.  Kaepernick gashed the Packers defense for a 42-yard rush and brought back nightmares of last year's playoff game in San Francisco.  Rodgers lead the Packers right down the field again, but the drive stalled inside the red zone and they settled for a Mason Crosby field goal cutting the 49ers lead at halftime to 13-10.

The third quarter was a defensive battle in the trenches.  Neither offense could find a rhythm.  The 49ers and Packers combined for a total of five punts in the third quarter.

The Packers opened the fourth quarter finding the end zone.  John Kuhn pounded it in from 1-yard out to complete a 12-play drive giving the Packers the 17-13 lead.  The drive also consisted of an unbelievable fourth down conversion as Rodgers escaped a sack and found Randall Cobb.  Once again, the 49ers responded quickly.  This time, the 49ers only needed four plays to get into the end zone to recapture the lead 20-17.  Twice in this football game, the Packers took the lead, but gave it up minutes later.  The Packers went on another long drive.  The Packers had a first and goal from the 9-yard line.  Sadly, just like the regular season, they could not find a way to get into the end zone.  A Crosby field goal tied the game with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

Photo credit: 49ers.com

The Packers never got the ball back.  The defense could not find a way to get off the field.  A third and ten, Kaepernick found Michael Crabtree for seventeen yards.  A critical third and eight, Kaepernick escaped the pocket and rushed for eleven yards and another first down.  A third and three to preserve time and give Aaron Rodgers a chance, ended with a Frank Gore 3-yard run.  49ers kicker Phil Dawson hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired and the Packers season was over.

The Packers finish the season 8-8-1.

Aaron Rodgers finished the day 17/26 for 177 yards and a touchdown.  177 passing yards is the lowest postseason total for Rodgers in his career.  Eddie Lacy rushed for 81 yards on 21 carries in his first playoff game in his career.  Jordy Nelson led the team in receiving with seven receptions for 62 yards and touchdown.  Colin Kaepernick played well again against the Packers passing for 227 yards and a touchdown.  Kaepernick hurt the Packers on the ground again rushing for 98 yards.  Frank Gore rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown.  Michael Crabtree had another big game against the Packers hauling in eight balls for 125 yards.

The 'Frozen Tundra' lived up to its name for this postseason matchup.  Kickoff weather conditions at Lambeau Field were a balmy 5 degrees with a wind chill of negative 10 degrees.  With the temperature dropping slowly throughout the game, both teams were playing in one of the coldest games in NFL history.

Photo credit: packers.com

I'm very proud of this football team.  This team easily could have given up weeks ago with injuries left and right.  But they didn't.  And kept fighting.  Incredible resilient team.  I love that this team never gave up.  They never lost hope, even when most people did.  We got to witness the rise of a star in Eddie Lacy.  We got to witness the magical comebacks by Matt Flynn.  We got to witness the comeback from Aaron Rodgers and the remarkable victory for the NFC North Championship.  A lot of people believed the Packers were going to lose to the 49ers because they were on 'borrowed time' anyways.  I have to tell you folks, despite the 8-8-1 record, despite the long list of injuries, the Packers were right there.  A play or two different in this ballgame and the Packers are moving on.

A very disturbing note: the Packers started their playoff history at Lambeau Field 13-0.  Since then, the Packers have suffered playoff home losses to the Falcons, Vikings, 49ers, and Giants twice.  The Packers have lost five of their last eight playoff games at Lambeau Field.  All-time the Packers are 16-5 on the 'Frozen Tundra' during the playoffs.  Have the Packers lost their Lambeau Field intimidation advantage?  Sure seems that way.  No one is afraid of coming to Green Bay in January anymore.  And that is very alarming.

The Packers will be faced with a lot of decisions in the offseason.  Will Dom Capers be back as defensive coordinator?  Will the Packers address personnel depth at the linebacker and safety position?  Which free agents will the Packers bring back: B.J. Raji, Johnny Jolly, C.J. Wilson, Sam Shields, Mike Neal, Ryan Pickett, James Jones, James Starks, Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, John Kuhn, Evan Dietrich-Smith?  Will Ted Thompson sign any outside free agents?

In order for the Packers to return to the Super Bowl, they once again, have to address the defense in the offseason.  This will mark the third straight offseason the Packers have to address defensive woes.  This team could go so far if the Packers actually had a decent defense.

Till next season... #gopackgo

Kaepernick, 49ers run Packers out of playoffs

NFC Divisional Round
January 12, 2013 - 8 p.m. - FOX
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, California

Packers 31 - 49ers 45

It's possible Colin Kaepernick is still running with the football.  The 49ers quarterback rushed for a quarterback-record 181 yards and two touchdowns.  Kaepernick also threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers were knocked out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year in the Divisional Playoff round.

Photo credit: 49ers.com

The 49ers offense and Kaepernick ran a popular play in college called the "read-option" all night against the Packers defense and we didn't have a clue on how to defend it.  As a team, the 49ers rushed for 323 yards.  As a team, the 49ers had 579 yards of total offense.  Dom Capers defense was hammered and the squad had zero answers to even slow the 49ers down.  The 49ers set a team playoff record with their 579 yards on offense.  An absolute embarrassing day for the Packers defense.  Without a game next week, this poor defensive effort will be the talk of the entire offseason unfortunately.

Believe it or not, the Packers actually led in this game, twice.  On the fourth play of the game, Kaepernick threw an interception to Sam Shields and Shields took it 52 yards to the house for a touchdown.  The Packers led early and things looked like it could be our day.  The 49ers preceded to tie the game about four minutes later and the momentum was lost.  The second and final lead for the Packers came after Dujuan Harris capped off an 80-yard drive with a 18 yard rushing touchdown.  From that point forward, the 49ers unleashed their unstoppable read-option plays that left the Packers defense scratching their heads in embarrassment.

The Packers had two crucial turnovers in this game that basically gave the 49ers fourteen free points.  In the second quarter with the Packers leading 14-7, the defense forced the 49ers to punt.  Punt returner Jeremy Ross muffed the return and the 49ers recovered on the Green Bay 9-yard line.  A touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree three plays later would tie this football game.  On the next Packers possession, Aaron Rodgers threw a deep ball to Jordy Nelson that was intercepted by the 49ers Terrell Brown at the San Francisco 13-yard line.  Brown returned the interception to the Green Bay 48-yard line.  The 49ers would capitalize on the turnover as Kaepernick threw a 20-yard touchdown to Michael Crabtree giving the Niners the lead.  The defense didn't play well at all in this football game, but the offense didn't really help the defense out a whole lot.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns.  Rodgers also had one interception and was sacked only one time.  Dujuan Harris ran well in the first half as he rushed for 58 yards on eleven carries and scored a touchdown.  James Jones had a good game catches four balls for 87 yards and touchdown.  Greg Jennings caught a touchdown late in the game in garbage time in what could be his last game wearing a Packers uniform.  Donald Driver, who played a little on special teams in this playoff game, also probably played his last game wearing a Packers uniform.

The season is over.  It's going to be a long offseason.  The season ended with an embarrassing defeat.  Some major changes need to be made on the defensive side of the ball.  In particular, Dom Capers, the defensive coordinator.  Our defense has been shredded several times in the last two seasons with him calling the defensive plays.  I'm not afraid to say, but it's time for a change.  Capers continues to fail to make necessary adjustments in games.  Or maybe he just doesn't know what adjustments to make.  Either way, it's time for a change in Green Bay.  Will it happen?  Probably not.  But it should happen.

Till next season... #gopackgo

Packers advance against Ponder-less Viks

NFC Wild Card Round
January 5, 2013 - 7 p.m. - NBC
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 24 - Vikings 10

The Packers advanced to the NFC Divisional playoffs to take on the #2 seeded San Francisco 49ers after beating the Minnesota Vikings at home in the Wild Card matchup.  This was the third time these two teams matched up against each other, but this one was the most important.

Vikings starting quarterback Christian Ponder did not play in this game.  Ponder suffered a triceps injury the previous week and apparently was affecting Ponder's throwing ability in pre-game warmups.  Backup quarterback Joe Webb stepped in the spotlight and looked like a backup quarterback.

Photo credit: packers.com

The story of the night was the Packers defense.  Without Christian Ponder under center, we put all our defensive focus on stopping Adrian Peterson.  (Disclaimer:  I don't think there is anyway to stop Adrian Peterson; you can only contain him/slow him down.)  The Packers contained Peterson all night.  The defense did not allow Peterson to beat them.  If the Vikings were going to win, it was going to be with the legs and arm of Joe Webb.  Webb was terrible.  The Vikings never really had a chance.  Peterson rushed for 99 yards on 22 carries.  This was a small victory for the Packers defense.  In the two regular season match ups, Peterson averaged 7.4 yards per carry.  Tonight, Peterson averaged 4.5 yards per carry.  Again, you can't stop Adrian Peterson; you can only contain him.


The Vikings took their opening drive down for three points.  After that, nothing for that Vikings offense until late 4th quarter.  Packers led 7-3 after the 1st quarter and 17-3 at halftime.  And the Packers led 24-3 after the 3rd quarter.  Again, the Vikings were never in this football game.

Aaron Rodgers completed 23 or 33 passes for 274 yards and threw a 9-yard touchdown to fullback John Kuhn.  Running back DuJuan Harris rushed for 47 yards on seventeen carries and added a rushing touchdown.  Harris also had five receptions for 53 yards.  Harris reminded me of James Starks back in 2011 against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs.  He was somewhat of an unknown player and played well tonight.  There wasn't very many offensive highlights from this game.

Photo credit: packers.com

In the playoffs, all you have to do is win and move on.  That is what the Packers did tonight.  Was it pretty? No.  Would the game have been different if Christian Ponder played? Most definitely.  But again, it's a win.  A playoff win.  And against the rival Minnesota Vikings.  That is probably the sweetest thing of all.

#OnToSanFrancisco

#gopackgo

Giant Déjà vu at Lambeau Field

NFC Divisional Round

January 15, 2012 - 3:30 p.m. - FOX

Lambeau Field

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 20 - Giants 37

 This game was so frustrating to watch and I really don't want to even write about it.  So I've decided I would post a picture of how we played and my reaction after the game.  We picked the wrong day to play our worst football of the year.  It will go down as a season of "what could have been?"

Photo credit: NFL.com