With their stunning loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday combined with explosive performances by the Cowboys and Giants the Packers all of a sudden are faced with winning their last two games to make the playoffs. The Giants whipped the lowly Redskins and the Cowboys get the same opportunity to do so next week. The Giants then have the 6-8 Panthers in New York and the fading fast Vikings in Minnesota the final week of the year.
Our best hope is beating the Seahawks next week and hoping the Eagles can win the NFC East by beating the Cowboys in Dallas the final week of the season. All of a sudden the Cardinals are in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the NFC so they will likely play their starters against the Packers to close out the season, and we all know what a good passing team can do to the Packers.
The Packers’ problems are obvious. They can’t run the ball on offense when they need to and pass protection, while better lately, is still not good enough. On defense they can stop the run effectively but can’t get home on the blitz regularly enough and outside of of their two starting cornerbacks can’t cover anybody. Yes I’m talking about Jarrett Bush and Josh Bell. Opposing tight ends have also given the Packers fits this year. How the Packers are still number two in defense after getting “debacled” in Pittsburgh is beyond me (thanks Emmitt).
I do think yesterday’s game was a great learning experience for the young Packers, whose best years are yet to come I think. They do need to get a taste of the playoffs this year though to keep that edge sharp. Aaron Rodgers is improving game by game and it would benefit him to get a playoff game or two under his belt. It’s a learning process for a QB and Rodgers is well ahead of the curve.
The Packers lost a heartbreaker, that is sure, but they did show a lot of heart in the fourth quarter and should have gained some confidence in what was a furious comeback until the final play. Not to mention they were playing the defending Super Bowl champions fighting for their lives.
Confidence is medium. I would rather the Packers just win out and be done with it, but it would also be nice to locked in next week. The Packers should be fired up for the Seahawks after such a tough loss and Lambeau will be rocking. Go Pack! Go Panthers! and Go Redskins!