The Green Bay Packers are back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus and unlike that 2007 Packers’ team this unit is entering the playoffs on a roll, going 7-1 their last eight games. Their opponent is the same one the Packers have pummeled twice already this year, granted neither game meant anything in the standings with one coming in the preseason and one yesterday’s meaningless season finale.
The Cardinals took the option of resting players and game plans to prepare for playoff game next week while the Packers choose to play it out for the most part and maintain the momentum they built up the last eight games. Which way is best is is yet to be determined and even the results of next weeks game really won’t answer the question. Both teams did what they wanted to do neither way is necessarily wrong.
For the Packers I think it was essential to keep the ball rolling. If you have a veteran team like the Cardinals, you can rest guys and not skip a beat when you suit it up the following week. The Packers don’t have that luxury, so they played their starters until late in the game and the results were obvious.
The thing is, the Packers’ starters dominated the Cardinal starters in a 38-10 first half in the preseason and on the game’s opening drive Sunday the Packers methodically marched right down the field. I think the Packers provide some matchup problems for the Cardinals and the Cardinals might have some self-doubt in their heads after two beat-downs.
Of course, Arizona may also turn the tables completely and issue a beat-down of their own when it really counts. That is what Philly is hoping for against Dallas and what the Packers would be hoping for if they get another crack at the Vikings.
While the Cardinals laid down the Packers didn’t exactly reveal their entire game plan during the game, especially on defense. The Packers didn’t blitz hardly at all and ran their basic stuff pretty much all game. Of course Arizona has been studying the Packers’ game film for the last two weeks so it wasn’t like the Packers were really hiding anything. Quite the chess match we have going on here.
As far as the regular season is concerned, you have to like the way the man I wanted fired eight weeks ago turned this ship around. Mike McCarthy stayed the course and proved me wrong in the end. I’m sure things changed behind the scenes but publicly McCarthy stuck to his guns and his football team and the results since Tampa have been impressive. An 11-5 record in the NFL is nothing to sneeze at and coming after such a trying 2008 season is even more impressive. Of course when you have Aaron Rodgers to build around it makes the task a little easier.
This is going to be a fun week. I’m scared to death about the actual game, but will enjoy being back in the national spotlight again. The Pack is back!
If Jarrett Bush has a monster game the Packers win for sure.
Schedule of Awards:
January 6 (morning): defensive rookie of the year.
January 6 (afternoon): offensive rookie of the year.
January 7 (morning): comeback player of the year.
January 10: MVP.
January 13 (morning): defensive player of the year.
January 14 (morning): offensive player of the year.
January 15 (morning): All-Pro team.
January 17: coach of the year.
Al ……… Watch out for the bones ……….
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/zonepirate/Stuff/EatCrow.gif
If I was a Card’s fan and had paid to watch them lay down Sunday, I might have a slightly different opinion on the “rightness” of resting players, but I suppose that’s just part of the fan-game.
Win and you’re a genius. Lose and everybody will wonder. I do think you’re right about it being situational. The Cards made their run last year, so they know they can do it. I’m very happy our starters were able to play until the game was secure without major injury.
The jobbing of the Packers has started. Brian Cushing AP rookie of the year. S Byrd of Buffalo 2nd. Again no respect for Matthews.
” The jobbing of the Packers has started. Brian Cushing AP rookie of the year. S Byrd of Buffalo 2nd. Again no respect for Matthews. ”
No doubt……… I don’t have a problem with Cushing winning it because he is worthy but for CM3 to only receive 3 votes is crazy ……… IMO, the Pack will have to be satisfied with ‘teams accolades’ compared to individual awards this year …….. Only a few pundits even mention AR in the MVP race & that’s just barely ……….. The real travesty will be if somehow, someway Woody is denied the DPOY award ……… That may cause a few bar-room brawls somewhere …………….
I dont have a problem with Cushing but really 26-3 ??? Really You think Houston actually won a game that mattered.
NFL.com Power rankings 5 of 7 Experts put the Cowgirls ahead of the Pack. ??? I guess shutting them out for more than 59 minutes doesnt count.
Best playoff scenario. Eagles beat the ‘pokes and Saints. We beat the Cards and Vikes and play at home in the Championship. Just as likely as any other outcome. I’d love to see McNabb try that big play stuff at -20 degrees. We could do the same thing to them the Giants did to us . Stop the run and see if an aging brittle McNabb can beat us with their over reliance on the pass. The hard game will be the Cards because the Vikes pass rush and defense is failing and our tackles are better now. Maybe just dreaming. More likely we’ll have to go through the Cards, Saints and Cowboys.
Is this the Cowboy team the sports guys left for dead after the Pack beat them? They have rebounded nicely, but you’d think the Saints may still be the team to beat.
The records now are 0-0. Anything can happen…I just hope special teams can play at least average ball and the Cardinals don’t throw at Bush. These Cardinal receivers can make Bush look like Terrell Buckley against Michael Irving. I really hope I get to eat some crow but there are some weaknesses that I hope the Cards are not able to exploit. Sorry if spelling is off.
Al,
I agree, it is exciting to see us on a roll and back in the playoffs! No one saw this coming after the horror of the Tampa Bay loss, and even those saying we could get in the playoffs weren’t thinking 7-1 from that point, I’m sure.
I also agree, MM deserves credit since if we’re going to rip him when we lose we have to give him credit for holding the team together at a point at which this season could have easily slipped away. I’m not sure if “staying the course” would be the terminology I would use though. We got in trouble with this long ball passing game in the early part of the season, but it seems like we’ve gotten back to more of the traditional West Coast play calling during this winning streak. There was a time this season where we were bitching about the lack of the slants and quick hitters and letting the receivers put up the YAC but that has changed the second half of the season.
Also, I still have reservations about his challenges and our proclivity to let teams back in the game (specifically the Niners and Ravens) although we’ve certainly kept our foot on the gas pedal the last two weeks. These are quibbles when you’re winning, thorns when you’re losing, so right now they’re quibbles and we’ll leave it at that.
I’ve given up trying to predict any of these games the last month. The bottom line is we’re hot and have a defense that creates TO’s, so all things are possible. I agree that from what I’ve seen we match up well with the Cardinals, but basing that on a pre season game (look what happened the first time we all did that) and last week’s game (they sat on their hands) is a little dangerous. Especially when you factor in how great the Cardinals have demonstrated they can look at times. Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if we kicked their ass or got our asses kicked at this point. If we can continue to create TO’s, we’ll win. It’s probably that simple.
I won’t be devastated by a loss, but a big win and maybe we can really rattle some cages this post season. These kinds of chances don’t come around every season, and we are on a big time roll. So let’s keep it rolling, and GO PACK GO!
Dear PB,
you are one windy SOB.
But, this week I love all Packer fans, windy or not, so…
Thanks for your comments…
LOL
One thing is certain, if we advance through the POs we will have earned it. There are no weak teams left in the NFC at least. Some are weaker, some tougher, than mid season; the way it always is.
I’m not sure how our youth will play out at this point – will we make younger player mistakes, or will our youthful exuberance roll over the aged veterans?
One factor I think that is being overlooked is the D. The O can play with anybody, any day, now that the 4.5 sacks have been reduced to 1.5 on average. But it is just that, an average so how much does it mean?
The D is probably as good as any of the teams in recent past that have won with JUST defense.
One thing I’m sure of is that there will be no collapse in ’10 like there was in ’08, provided we keep Capers happy. Best basic talent, although in different positions (ie no REGGIE because of the scheme) since the mid ’90s. AND, now that youth is starting to work for us.
PP,
You should talk to me in person sometime–LOL. My Nobel Prize acceptance speech currently clocks in at 17 hours 50 minutes. I call it the “filibuster.” It’ll be the first time in history an award winner’s speech notes are carried to the podium in hard cover, approximately the thickness of “War and Peace.”
LT,
Most of our key players have been here before. I don’t think the experience factor will be our undoing. As long as O line can mantain what they’ve been doing the last several weeks, I think the key to beating the Cardinals is simply to win the TO battle, which shouldn’t be that much to ask as we were the best in the league at it and they’re the worst at it of any team in the playoffs.
I agree it would be a surprise to see a relapse to 08 form in 2010, but then again I was shocked to see us sitting at 4-4, so I wouldn’t rule anything out. Does seem very unlikely though, without a rash of injuries. But let’s worry about that when the season’s over. Until then—GO PACK GO!
What I’m particularly impressed with is the growth of the O line and defense. From an avg. of 4.5 sacks per game to 1.5 per game is huge for AR (also we’re running so much better). The injuries to AH and AK at least occured early enough in the season so that the LB (Jones) and DB’s have 5 or 6 games under their belts…and the reps have certainly helped their game.
and then there’s Findley…
Al, I have to admit that I was wrong about MM, the Packers and TT as well. Following the Tampa loss, they really turned it around. Dom Capers and the defense deserve a lot of the credit and accolades. The #2 ranked defense in the league in 2009. Pretty impressive if you ask me.
Each of you know the old saying, “DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIP’S”. The Packers defense has been playing lights out over the last 8 weeks, except for the Steelers game when they couldn’t stop Pittsburgh on the final drive of the game. Woodson, Matthews, Jones, Barnett, Raji have all been outstanding. Charles Woodson better win NFL Defensive MVP and if he doesn’t, they need to stop giving out MVP awards.
I am jacked about the game on Sunday. The Cardinals will come out ready to play unlike this past Sunday. If we stop the run and do not give up the big play to Fitzgerald or Boldin and get pressure on Warner, I like the Packers chances for a big victory. But, if this game turns into a shootout, I do not know if the Packers can score enough points. We all need to remember that the Cards were in the big show last year, and IMO, should have won against Pittsburgh.
Also, maybe I need to be careful what I wish for, but I am wishing that the Packers get another shot at Favre and the Vikings. That would be so awesome to knock Favre and the Vikes out of the playoffs. But, first things first – concentrate this week on Arizona, beat them on Sunday, and lets see what happens after that.
GO PACK GO!
Oh, I’m very optimistic. The fact that three (Finley, Matthews, Raji, and/or Jones) of our playoff untested newbies could start is off-set by the fact that they are four of our best players. Some problem. Thats why its so hard to tell how they’ll do. I think very well, because each has developed as a team guy, even Finley.
Warner has great receivers, but what catches my eye is their defense.
They just are not that great and we match up well against them. We are now well schooled going against the 3-4. They are not very big. Other than Campbell, who is relatively new, they have experience but until last year they sure didn’t set the league on fire. And, last year it was mostly all offense. Their big names on D are Rolle and Cromartie, but they’ve been hurt most of the year.
I have to kick myself to not look beyond this game!
I hope Capers can come up with some pressure scheme on Warner. No way can you give him too much time to throw. If they have to blitz and risk single coverage, that’s what they have to do.
Keep kicking yourself LT, this is far from a gimmie. It’s a road playoff game for starters.
I also read something about how in the last 13 playoffs games that were replays of the season finale, the record of the winner of the finale game was 5-8 in the rematch.
Obviously, I don’t know the particulars of all 13 of those matchups. But just as it would be foolish for a Jets fan to be overly confident based on last week’s outcome, I think it would be foolish for us as well.
Do we get the Cards from last week or the pre, or do we get the team that kicked the hell out of the Vikings a few weeks ago? I wouldn’t discount the motivation from last week’s ass kicking either. Starters watching visitors wreak havoc in their own house, whooping it up, while feeling like their own hands are tied could lead to an incredible desire for revenge. I also read that Whisenhunt is a little resentful towards McCarthy, as he feels MM game planned for the pre game and rubbed salt in the wound last week after halftime.
For my money, piss on how Whisenhunt feels, and MM needs to do what he feels is best for his team. But I am not expecting a pushover come Sunday. My feeling is we present problems for them that they have no answers for, but that is based primarily on pre and last week, so we’ll see how real it is come Sunday.
Win the TO battle, we win the game imo. But I’m expecting a real tough game.
Roy,
I’m sure Capers will have a few surprises to flummox Warner come Sunday. We’ll have our share of pressures.
The key is whether we also give up a ton of yards and big plays ala the Steelers game.
I agree on the pressure scheme – if we give Warner time, we’re done. Sure we’re going to get burned a few times. Better that than to spend the game getting surgically dismantled. Best to figure on needing 30 points to win this one anyway.
Warner’s an old guy – I’m not suggesting we try to take him out, but he’s the kingpost on that team. It makes sense to make his day as rough as possible. They aren’t going to outscore us running the ball, so I figure if we can beat their O-line, we can beat the Cards.
After reading this column, sounds like ol’ Whisenhunt has his panties all up in a wad…
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/8515/the-packers-are-in-ken-whisenhunts-head
I guess I forgot that this is NFL football and when you show up, you show up to play football… interesting concept I think… When you read this you might begin to think a little differently about the Cards head coach… he seems like a whiner to me…
Definitely whining. Especially given that most of the Card’s starters played most of the game. He just (wisely in my opinion) pulled Warner early.
My guess is he’s playing it up to goose his team – make sure they don’t look past us. I know a few Cards fan who already have this chalked as a W.
I don find it interesting that Vegas has us as 3-3.5 point underdogs, so apparently they don’t read much into our first two games with AZ, either. Personally, I think we’re going all the way this year in four hair-raising shootouts in a row against the Cardinals, Saints, Vikings and Chargers. It will be a playoff run for the ages. I am completely serious, by the way.
This game sets the tone for future success. Warner is an elite QB with a good offensive line. They have a good defensive line and some quality back 7 players and the game is in a dome. Should GB win it proves we can kick butt anywhere else as well.
A win goes a long way to validating our optimism!
WE need Ryan Grant to be a beast this game. Carolina and SF gained a ton of yards on the ground vs this team. Favre couldnt puncture their pass defense. And if you look at their playoff run last year (especially Delhomme’ 6 ints) most teams tried to pass on them and failed except the Steelers. They kept an extra guy in to block Jared Allen.
The also dropped back into a zone and dared Favre to go deep. They are a soft group also. A marginal SF team physically destroyed them twice. If SF can beat them with our old fried Mark Roman in the secondary we should be able to hold together pretty well. GO PACK!
Against MN, the cards were able to stop AP cold, but Favre passed for almost 300 yards and two TDs. If favre can do that without Harvin, I think we should be able to do a little better with our guys.
I think our secondary does a much better job than the Queens’ too.
But I really think we have to get the rush on them. Either that or settle in on scoring 40+ points again.
Add me to the list of looking past this game. Cardinals haven’t been that good a team. They play in a pitiful division. So they beat the Vikings. Bears also beat the Vikings down the stretch.
If it was a defensive game and it came down to punters and FG kickers, I’d be worried. But, I don’t see them stopping us.
This is hands down the best team the Packers have had since Reggie. The defense can actually stop teams. This isn’t the 2007 defense of bend but don’t break (and count on turnovers).
Only way I see us losing this game is if it comes down to a flag festival. Even then, their CB that came in to replace Cromartie looks like he’ll draw quite a few.
Unless last week’s game was a trap played by their coach, the Packers should roll the Cardinals in a big way.
When did Dennis Green turn white? Whining must come with wearing Cardinals colors. Green said the exact same thing about the Bears a few years. Cryng about the preseason game. If the Packers lose this one I will be extremely dissapointed as the Cardinals are half the team the Packers are. I won’t be crowning their ass anytime soon.
How ignorant Al. In what way are the Cards only half of what the Packers are? They have elite receivers, QB, running backs, and a defense that stopped the Queens, something the Packers could not do…twice. I live here in AZ and see a lot of coverage re: Cards.
I think this will be a high scoring game, I would put my money on the Packers but it will come down to coaching, game planning, and if our special teams still suck, that could be the difference. I also hope they don’t watch the tape from the Pitt game…Bush covering Fitz, Q, Breaston….oh my…..Go Pack!!! 38-34.
Sammy, I’m always amazed at the support the Packers have in Phoenix. A couple of times I thought there were more Packer fans in the stands than Cards fans. I expect this to be a good high scoring game. Turnovers, which gave the Cards their great run last year and special teams might be the difference. Warner has really been unsettled by pressure but it better be well disguised. Maybe a fake off a corner with Hawk on a slight delay up the middle.
Mark, I agree with everything you said. The Packer fans will be out in force again this week. Tickets are going for less than 100 bucks also.
All this optimism ………. After scouring several blogs/forums, many think this game has already been played with GB winning handily ………. Better be careful ……… Most playoff games are usually decided by 2 to 3 significant plays …….. If these few significant plays go against you, you lose…… even if you may have the better team ……… I’d be happy with a non descript victory along the lines of 20-19 ….. Score & margin of victory mean little in the playoffs……..
Boldin & Rodgers-Cromartie both missed practice today ……… Maybe Wisen-Heimer should have played to win last Sunday.
Per Dan
” This is hands down the best team the Packers have had since Reggie. ”
Can’t help but agree……… Even though a couple of Sherman’s teams finished the regular season at 12-4, those teams never appeared to peak late in the season …… They were pretty much ‘used up’ by the time the playoffs arrived ……… This team has better skilled players along with youthful exhuberance ……… The 2009 Packers are about the team & not focused on any one individual player …… Finally……..
The best part of this is ……… It’s likely that the 2010 version & beyond will even outclass the 2009 version …….. GB has many players who have yet to hit their prime.
Rocky, I have to disagree with you about not being focused on one player. He may not be a prima donna but the team is all about Mr. Rogers. I can’t think of another QB on any team that could survive the terrible O-line play we had and deliver the performance he did.
Sure you you can, Mark, Favre did it several years. Tausch and Cliffy didn’t exactly set the world on fire when they came up. What AR and BF have in common are those enormous hands. What separates them is the decision making, experience, and AR’s better legs.
If the ARI were not trying to win that game, three starters probably would not be limping today. Warner cannot do it alone.
” He may not be a prima donna but the team is all about Mr. Rogers. ”
No doubt if you have a QB who plays at AR’s level. the focus of the offense will always be on him & it should be ………….. I was referring more to the emergence of the defense ………. Before this season, you have to go back all the way to Reggie before you can talk positively about the defense ….. That’s a long time between superior defensive teams.