The Packers have had a pretty good record this decade playing against teams that were in the super bowl the previous year.
I remember in 2001 they beat both the Ravens and Giants

Make no mistake about it, this will be a hard fought game. If the Packers can start fast like they did against Chicago, and score on their first two drives, it may deflate Pittsburgh enough for the rest of the game. I see GB doing a lot of running in this game, which will allow GB to keep eating up the clock like they have been doing in previous contests. Wear down their defense right away, and keep Ben’s offense on the sidelines and getting cold. I was mostly pleased with our special teams outing last week, with the exceptions of Crosby’s field goal miss, and Nelson not getting much on returns. I guess what I’m saying is, I’m glad they didn’t allow a long return by the Bears at a critical time in the game. Let’s hope Dallas loses Saturday night to get our guys pumped up even more for Sunday. If they can taste a playoff berth, they may play their hearts out.

Not much argument forthcoming regarding the PIT game, we should be favored. Both teams injured, but PIT in much worse shape. Contain their run, go after Big Ben, etc., etc. He is by far the toughest guy to bring down that we’ve faced, but we can keep him in the pocket. He has WRs, again, tough as nails.
Should be a repeat of the CHI game, as to how bad we want it. Another learning experience going against the SB champs no matter how banged up they are. Pride factor going for them. They were really embarased last week.
I agree with Larry in that this season is a success insofaras the installation of the new D. I would give Capers the house to keep him – he is the DC king.
Interesting quandry, come April. I’d bet upcoming is a very heavy O draft for us; like maybe 5-2 O. RB, OT, Returner, Kicker(?). Not sure about DET, but MIN will have worse position than us and CHI doesn’t have many picks. We’re ready to fill in a few holes since it looks like we’re set with starters for a while, especially on the D.

Hate to jinx us but I’m not sure really how good the Steelers are…they lost to KC, Cleveland, and Oakland. Truly the bottom of the NFL barrel. The game is in Pittsburgh but frankly I view SF and Chicago as better.

My recommendation is that MM show the Tampa game 24/7…both teams can play badly and both can play well…it’s just that Pittsburgh has played badly more often…

Pittsburg is a head scratcher. Just look at their stats. Toward the tops in the AFC. They’ve lost games eerily similar to how the Pack lost them last year. To beat the Steelers in Pittsburg would be a major achievement. Tomlin, with a team that has had 10 days to get ready, is going to have his team ready to regain some respect. But, I think Capers will have the defense ready. Return to Pittsburg for MM and Capers should be interesting.

I would agree that the Steelers won the superbowl last year and were a great team last year. With all that being last year I would say they kind of suck this year and not even play off calibur. In any case you can still loose to a sucky team. Does Tampa Bay ring a bell? So we do need to take the Steeler’s seriously just like every other team. Still tho the Pack is expected to win this game, it would be nice to see 10 wins on our record. 11 would be soooooo much better the week after!

I think somebody opined this in the last thread so it’s not original material on my part, but I subscribe to the notion the Steeler’s problems begin and end with the absence of Troy Polamalu. The guy is everywhere on defense – runs and covers like a corner and hits like a linebacker. He appears to be the heartbeat of their team – without their leader they are very beatable. Since he’s not playing again this week, I like our chances and Jermichael Finley should have a field day against Tyrone Carter / Ryan Clark!

Given the Polamalu situation, I’m also going to agree with the premise that TT needs to address the Nick Collins contract – he’s too important to risk angering with the non-capped six-year free agent provision! I had previously been against paying Nick Collins in excess of the $3.85M he’s making this year, but can’t justify paying NC less than the $5M+ given Brandon Chillar. I really like Chillar but that contract is still a head-scratcher to me…

The Steeler’s have lost 5 straight they are the same calibur that the Pack was last year. This is this year. I don’t care if it’s injuries or what it is they just are not that good right now and the Pack is the better team right now and it is expected that the Pack win.

And yes Nick Collins needs a long term contract. We need all of Bigby and Collins, we don’t want to have the next guy on the list as a starter, whether it be injury or contract, long term or short. We need all of Collins and Bigby, now and into the future.

Don’t get your point, Roy. We were a 5-5 team before the skid. This year we were 4-4 before the surge, but 3 of our losses are to Div leaders. Interesting thread is that we lost to BUCs twice in a row. Go figure.

Well, Larry, he sure qualifies as the speed back I’m looking for but he has been so damned injury prone. Kinda does the same stuff as Grant tho, up, zip, gone! Has he ever finished a season?
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What are the odds that the Packers and Cardinals will play each other two weeks in a row?

Odds of Arizona and GB twice are good..although it may depend on who wins game 16. By that time we will have locked the 5 seed but Philly and Ariz will have to settle the 3/4 seed over the next few weeks. I’m betting Arizona for game 16 and playoff.

You might ease up a bit, Pete H; while you might not like it its by design. There are two ways to run out the clock. While I tend to agree that we’re generally TOO conservative on O w/ the lead, I sure prefer what we’re trying to do as opposed to that stupid Prevent Defense. Better to do it MMs way, but put in a wrinkle now and then.

LT – Pete H addressed his concerns regarding the OFFENSE, namely that MM’s playcalling is akin to hooking a thoroughbred horse to a milkcart. Pete wants the horse to run unencombered!

You respond with, “I sure prefer what we’re trying to do as opposed to that stupid Prevent Defense. Better to do it MMs way, but put in a wrinkle now and then.” What does that mean? Are you of the opinion that aggressive offensive playcalling with the lead AND an attacking defense are mutually exclusive?

Per one of the articles on the main page, the Packers haven’t scored an offensive TD in the opening possession of the third quarter since 2007 and are averaging 2.8 points in the third quarter over that span. Pete’s absolutely right – the second half slow-downs (leading into melt-downs) killed the Packers last season and if not corrected, could cost them again this year! Please MM, let the horse run!!!

Number one, iccy, the subject was protecting a lead, not game strategy. Number two point was that MM is too conservative in play calling after he gets a lead, which I subscribe to. Number three is that we were talking about late in the game not the opening of the third quarter.
Your second paragraph makes no sense whatever, in that aggressive AND attacking are one in the same.
The problem is not that MM starts the second half exactly the way he starts the first half; the problem is that the other coaching staffs seem to make the adjustments, whereas it seems like MM never does. Exclude Capers; he now has the talent in the places he wants so that he makes changes on the fly. I think he does a better job of opposition analysis than MM does. He is a top flight DC worth every penny, but is not HC material.

Nothing to argue about in the 10:49 in my opinion. Cannot understand why we have no fire (usually) in the third quarter. Sure would like to know what goes on in that locker room during the half time break. I think the break is to be used for assistants making adjustments and implementing scheme changes not for resting, although I’ll allow some taping adjustments, OK?

Who is the leading receiver for the Packers in yards per catch? Its Spencer Havner. In the redzone Why not use 2 and three TE sets? (LeRoy Butler is asking the same question). MM learned to coach under Shottenheimer. This garbage holding the ball etc all goes back to Martyball. No innovation at all, Capers is still rolling out new packages. We have 3 fullbacks maybe use a two FB set? MM still doesnt realize the type of RB Grant is. Of the top 20 RBs in the NFL Grant has the lowest average. He is a feast or famine back. He isnt elusive, and everyone in the league knows it so handing him the rock up 2 scores isnt a smart move. Play action Mike! Havner maybe?
Releasing Sutton still haunts us. Can you imagine defenses trying to chase that guy around especially in the 4th quarter. TT doesnt escape culpability here as well, He was on those Bum Phillips teams that couldnt beat Oakland or Pittsburgh. He has put a good not great roster together. The lack of killer instinct is very bad, no Cutlers and Staffords will be in the playoffs to help out.

Good running teams like the Jet & Dolphins even the Cards have someone with an O line Background as their “running game coordinator” Hmmn but we need Two new tackles at least and a back that has some moves. I have never understood MM Philbin and obviously Campen. Good thing about this week we wont have to worry about getting a big lead. Also we better not even attempt an FG hat Heinz period.

One additional point to make in my role as Defender. Crosby! Currently ranked #5 NFL and #3 NFC. A cold weather background. 19 for 20 under 40yds, 34/35 PATs (top rated kicker has two missed PATs). Trouble spot is that right hash. 5 for 12 over 40, not good. Most points in NFL history first two years.
For those of you who want a replacement, the latest guy available is a 78% kicker who was fired from his last job for going 2 for 6.
Thanks for the title, iccy, this is going to be easy.
By the way, as an aside, Crosby has a 52 yarder at PIT (Heinz Field).

Wasn’t aimed at you, iccy, it just occurred to me that he isn’t kicking as good as he did in college and seems to be slipping from “07 and ’08. I haven’t checked the details though. It was brought out on this site a while ago that they were tinkering with him – who really knows? In any case his record puts him in the top five I guess.

I just know they tinkered with Crosby in the preseason and he hasnt been the same. He used to get touchbacks. He didnt have a touchback last time we played at Detroit. I would like to know why Slocum is even being kept around. Bring back the glory days of Mike Stock

According to some lines they have the Steelers favored by 1 – normal home field advantage gives 3. So on a neutral field the Packers by 2. This will NOT be an easy win and I believe we have a chance to blow this one in Pittsburgh… I’m hoping to be proven extremely wrong and the Pack blows them out at home. But when the odds are that narrow it makes me nervous – the odds makers see something we don’t even with Palomalou out.

Things I’ve been thinking……….. I was thinking this week how I liked the cheese sticks the fans had a few games ago. Reminded me of the terrible towel. Hope there’s more of that type of thing.
Thinking that the Steeler’s game is not a big deal. They’re a good team, win or lose, as long as it’s a close game it shouldn’t matter, I’d think. And the Pack should have enough wins for the playoffs either way. Then it is a four game season at that point anyway. Just need to stay healthy.
I’m thinking MM has a plan this year…… called “copy of 2007″.
Find it interesting how Jolly’s case can have gone through the court, been dropped and refiled in they same amount of time they have done next to nothing w/the roid boys’ case. Something smelly there!!!!!!!
Think we’ll be missing Kampman in the playoffs unless Jones steps it up a bunch. You could always count on Kampy to be around around the QB in 4-5 seconds if not a little sooner. Will miss Harris as well. No weak spots w/him back there.
Thinking it looks like Collins has earned a new contract as well as a few others. It’ll be interesting to see how that all plays out. Then in the draft, it would seem TT needs to get a stud or two in the right places and we should be good. Kinda got his depth taken care of. Maybe a F/A, if one is out there……….. Pickett and Woodson have been great additions!!!
Last, as I read all the comments everywhere about getting a new kicker, I just have to wonder?????? So who do all these people think we should get. Could they garuntee that that person wouldn’t have a slump or keep an 80% plus FG rate???? I doubt it!!! Better look close, cause while Crosby hasn’t been spectacular, he hasn’t been terrible over the last two/three years either. With a little seasoning he may may become special, then everyone would bitch how TT let him get away!!!!
Guess it’s time for my pick………………. even a close lose is a victory as I see it. Pittsburg will be in a mood and will be coming off a ten day rest. Most of me wants to pick Pitt. for all those reasons, but from somewhere is coming 34-31, Packers win!!!!

Whats that thing about “fear itself”?
I judge by these posts that we “fear” PIT more because of their reputation of tough WRs, Big Ben, and Heinz Field, than what they bring TO the field today. About the only thing they have going for them is the pride of having the most recent ring.
Granted that is a motivator, but its not as great as the motivation to attain one. (ie, a ring) Keep Ben in the pocket and contain their OLBs. They have experience but we have desire (I would think).
Man for man we’re just in better shape; scheme for scheme probably equal, but their losses of starters were greater than ours. This is one game where our “youth” probably works in our favor.
AATP is realistic but as usual I’m more optimistic. We have been overcoming our errors of late and thats what good teams do – overcome. Yesterday, I happened upon a video telecon between Bradshaw, Johnson, Long, and Strahan. All very positive to the extent that Jimmy was even saying how excellently coached we were. Imagine that, after all the criticizing I do. Strange to hear.
They liked the Pack, even Terry!

Ruh Ro Raggy… starting 3 and Out is not a good start – the Pack looks a little tight today so far… AND BUSH DOES IT AGAIN!!!