Divisional Round: Packers @ 49ers - Saturday, Jan 20th 7:15pm (Fox)

[HarveysWBs]

4 minutes ago, yourout said:

So you're saying he's the next Kirk cousins?

😁

It’s funny, but the Cousins comp probably is just about Love’s floor…

[Sixtolezcano]

1 minute ago, adambr2 said:

Funny how we went into this season turning the page....and the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. 

Could be worse. At least Rodgers was isn’t our QB.

[yourout]

Just now, Sixtolezcano said:

Could be worse. At least Rodgers was isn’t our QB.

That I will agree with.

[wOOgiE22]

Love really needs to work on end of game, under 2 minute situations. This year he failed every 2 minute drive with a chance to win. Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and now San Fran. Threw a pick in all ending situations minus Atlanta.  Just felt like he was trying to do too much instead of taking what the defense gave him. Hopefully this is just a growing pain and not a trend going forward. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

Specific to the game plan in general, one thing I noticed was how much the Packers were in the gun - guessing it was necessary to try and limit how fast the 49er pass rush got pressure, and the Packers did some good things running the ball from the gun with those perimeter pitches to Jones to try and get him catching the ball running full speed already off tackle - but not having Love under center working play action took away something that had him red hot the last few weeks.  He was excelling at play action from under center and then throwing deep outs or deep ins into zone holes created by the run fake coupled with receivers running deep to stretch the safeties out.  Those are slow developing plays, but if they're blocked up well enough they wind up being 15-25 yard chunks with every completion. The shotgun play action in this offense just isn't as effective and winds up alot of times with shorter throws in front of coverage instead of behind/between it.

[HarveysWBs]

6 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Specific to the game plan in general, one thing I noticed was how much the Packers were in the gun - guessing it was necessary to try and limit how fast the 49er pass rush got pressure, and the Packers did some good things running the ball from the gun with those perimeter pitches to Jones to try and get him catching the ball running full speed already off tackle - but not having Love under center working play action took away something that had him red hot the last few weeks.  He was excelling at play action and then throwing deep outs or deep ins into zone holes created by the run fake coupled with receivers running deep to stretch the safeties out.  The shotgun play action in this offense just isn't as effective and the timing was off.

Indeed, the one time I remember Love under center in this game was when Myers stepped on him, picked up a holding call, and Jones fumbled the pitch all in one play. I’d have probably been scared into the gun after that, too.

[yourout]

Caping off the perfect evening after sneezing for a while this afternoon I have now testing positive for covid again.

[bigred]

3 hours ago, yourout said:

Caping off the perfect evening after sneezing for a while this afternoon I have now testing positive for covid again.

You'll be ok. 

[HarryDoyle]

Am I the only one that noticed Tom Rinaldi's report of MLF saying he prays during Carlson field goal attempts? That pretty much speaks volumes.

[adambr2]

The problem with the Packers approach to roster building (and don't get me wrong, most of their approaches are very good), is that they treat every position like a damn developmental spot. 

Kicker is NOT that position. It's ok to get rid of a kicker who can't make kicks, because there's no shortage of next men up. 

Not every single position on your roster is worth being patient and taking your lumps at in hopes of a payoff in a couple years. 

It's like they're afraid to lose out on the next Justin Tucker. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Anders should have been off the team in October. They absolutely should have been trying guys out until someone stuck. It wouldn't have been hard to find a guy who can make PATs.

He's 26, he's not developing. He's never been accurate. Cut ties and move on. Tbh I think they still lose the game if he makes it, they needed to put the ball in the end zone on that drive, but it doesn't change that the guy absolutely sucks and they shouldn't be leveraging entire seasons hoping he can "figure it out". I assume the Super Bowl is now the goal, this guy is not the kicker for them. Or anyone. 

[jjgott]

8 hours ago, young guns said:

I'm not even mad.  Just where we were to begin the year we had no business being in this game.  But they played like they belonged.  They did basically choke in the 4th, but it is a young team.  I'm still very proud of the year they had and am looking forward to the hopefully Joe barryless future.

This is where I'm at.  This team reminded me of a mid major basketball team that pulled off the first round upset but eventually the luck (no pun intended) ran out.  We very much could've won this game but I don't know how much further we would've gone.  Also not sure what would've been worse: losing to the Niners like we did or losing to either the Lions or the Bucs next week.

[adambr2]

- Defensively, just did not do enough, particularly on the last drive, to disrupt Purdy. The pass rush was close numerous times throughout the game, but this was a game where you just have to get home on the QB.

- Zach Tom's injury definitely correlated to Jordan Love becoming more uncomfortable and erratic later on in the game. That one hurt. O-line depth still an offseason priority. 

- I hope they can keep Aaron Jones around for another year or two, it's constantly obvious how much he brings to the offense. 

- When Anders missed the kick, I think 90% of Packer nation could smell the wind blowing 24-21. Unfortunately it's been really 10-15 years of playoff heartbreakers.

- On the plus side, this team in the last couple months has beaten Detroit, beaten Kansas City, beaten Dallas, and went toe to toe with the 49ers, improving every step along the way and giving a lot of hope for the future. It was a fun ride and it could have been bigger, but this team should be in a Super Bowl within 2 years. But they have to actually get it done in crunch time, on the field. Unfortunately in this one their youth was obvious in crunch time. Can only hope these will be valuable learning experiences that help them not come up short next time. 

[adambr2]

8 minutes ago, jjgott said:

This is where I'm at.  This team reminded me of a mid major basketball team that pulled off the first round upset but eventually the luck (no pun intended) ran out.  We very much could've won this game but I don't know how much further we would've gone.  Also not sure what would've been worse: losing to the Niners like we did or losing to either the Lions or the Bucs next week.

If we would have won this game I think we were steamrolling to a Super Bowl. And I think that would have been the general sentiment.

No way is a Packer team that is coming off of road wins in Dallas and San Francisco in any way afraid of Detroit or Tampa Bay. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

25 minutes ago, jjgott said:

This is where I'm at.  This team reminded me of a mid major basketball team that pulled off the first round upset but eventually the luck (no pun intended) ran out.  We very much could've won this game but I don't know how much further we would've gone.  Also not sure what would've been worse: losing to the Niners like we did or losing to either the Lions or the Bucs next week.

The problem with this is, by the end of the season, it is where they were at, whether or not fans expected it in September. 

Do you think after last year's run, Eagles fans thought they'd run it back and lose 32-9 to Tampa in the first round?

This assumption that the Packers just ascend is just that, an assumption. The fact is they were in position to win last night, should have, and would be playing a very beatable opponent to get back to their first Super Bowl in 13 years. And instead they're where they always are, done, lamenting a handful of chokey plays. 

I just can't be positive with this team anymore. They've made a master class of blowing it when gifts are dropped in their lap.  

[homer]

when you're playing with house money you can't be upset when the house wins

[adambr2]

7 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

The problem with this is, by the end of the season, it is where they were at, whether or not fans expected it in September. 

Do you think after last year's run, Eagles fans thought they'd run it back and lose 32-9 to Tampa in the first round?

This assumption that the Packers just ascend is just that, an assumption. The fact is they were in position to win last night, should have, and would be playing a very beatable opponent to get back to their first Super Bowl in 13 years. And instead they're where they always are, done, lamenting a handful of chokey plays. 

I just can't be positive with this team anymore. They've made a master class of blowing it when gifts are dropped in their lap.  

I think a little bit of the elephant in the room in Philly is that Jalen Hurts just probably isn't the world class QB that the Eagles thought they had. Not that he is to blame solely for the Eagles' collapse obviously. 

I tend to flow more toward the pessimistic side but on this playoff loss I'm a little more willing to chalk it up to the youth and the 49ers playing with house money and feel like -- we should be back. We were playing with house money on this one. In Rodgers' later years we had no such excuses for our playoff losses. 

But it is true that each opportunity is unique and each time you don't get it done is an opportunity lost. Maybe we're better next year, but maybe we run into this year's version of ourselves NEXT year and they finish the job. Like we did in '10-'11 and the Giants did the following season. Sometimes it isn't the best, but the hottest team, and we were that team this year and had a chance for something special and came up short. 

I still remember after the Panthers lost the Super Bowl and most people said about Cam Newton, "he'll be back for sure." 

It just doesn't always work out that way. 

 

-

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The Packers have been making youthful mistakes with old guys for 13 years. Youth excuse works this year by coincidence. They got hot at the right time and had a great opportunity. I can't as easily assume they will "be back." 

And I'm usually glass half full rational. But I just can't stand the way this team continually loses in January - specifically the ways in which they do. I'm not kidding when I say that my mindset after the Jones run was that they had to get 6 or they were 100% going to lose. It is just built into my DNA at this point.  You just know they won't finish. 

[yourout]

3 hours ago, bigred said:

You'll be ok. 

I've had it before a couple of years ago and and vaccine boosted and it doesn't feel like much more than a mild head cold right now.

[adambr2]

The black lining in this little mini run we made was that it looks like MLF is going to use it to justify extending Joe Barry, which is sickening. So get ready for another talented defense which is also ranked 20 something in most defensive categories.

[homer]

31 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

The Packers have been making youthful mistakes with old guys for 13 years. Youth excuse works this year by coincidence. They got hot at the right time and had a great opportunity. I can't as easily assume they will "be back." 

And I'm usually glass half full rational. But I just can't stand the way this team continually loses in January - specifically the ways in which they do. I'm not kidding when I say that my mindset after the Jones run was that they had to get 6 or they were 100% going to lose. It is just built into my DNA at this point.  You just know they won't finish.

I don't think things that happened 13 years ago under the last coach are applicable to the current coach 

[LouisEly]

1) I really hope people aren't blaming Carlson for this.  I can easily think of seven worse plays off the top of my head (bad Love decision for INT, bad Love throw for INT, two dropped INTs, not converting on 4th and less than 1 in the red zone and coming away with nothing, bad missed tackle by Savage on McCaffrey's first TD, bad tackle attempt by Owens on McCaffrey's second TD) that were responsible for this loss if not more.  And even if he makes it, the game goes to OT - and what are the chances of winning on the road in OT, especially the way they were playing in the 4th with a gassed DL/edge rushers?

B) It looked like on that FG attempt that the snap was a little behind the holder and he had to reach back for it.  Then on the placement it didn't look completely vertical - looked like the ball was tilted to the left which is the direction the kick curled.  In order for a kicked football to go straight, the football has to go end-over-end completely vertical.  If the top of the ball is tilting in any direction the ball will curl in that direction.  To me, it looked like the snapper and holder were at least as much responsible for that miss as Carlson if not the main reasons for the miss.  Bad snaps/holds happen in the rain.

3) The list of teams that have given up a one-score lead on the road in the playoffs to a #1 seed is not a short list.  SF was the #1 seed for a reason.  They're a better team right now.  But not a much better team.  Yeah, they had their chances - but they also forced SF into making a lot of mistakes that made the game close. 

[adambr2]

If he makes the FG it changes that last drive entirely. We're playing for a FG attempt being WORST case scenario in that case and aren't in desperation mode as much. Good chance Love never even makes that throw, good chance we run the ball more with multiple timeouts. 

For sure there's a lot of plays that could have still turned the game in our favor, but it's tough defending Anders. 

[Sixtolezcano]

25 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

If he makes the FG it changes that last drive entirely. We're playing for a FG attempt being WORST case scenario in that case and aren't in desperation mode as much. Good chance Love never even makes that throw, good chance we run the ball more with multiple timeouts. 

For sure there's a lot of plays that could have still turned the game in our favor, but it's tough defending Anders. 

Exactly, Carlson didn’t miss 13 kicks this year due to other players mistakes. Another example of the Packers ignoring another obvious flaw of their team and missing out on another SB appearance. Remember when they had another Super Bowl appearance lost when the 49ers block that punt. You cannot continually ignore a weakness, especially one that is as easily correctable as replacing a kicker.

[Sixtolezcano]

2 hours ago, adambr2 said:

The problem with the Packers approach to roster building (and don't get me wrong, most of their approaches are very good), is that they treat every position like a damn developmental spot. 

Kicker is NOT that position. It's ok to get rid of a kicker who can't make kicks, because there's no shortage of next men up. 

Not every single position on your roster is worth being patient and taking your lumps at in hopes of a payoff in a couple years. 

It's like they're afraid to lose out on the next Justin Tucker. 

This observation is right on target. Fix the easy problems right away instead of throwing away 3-4 games a season.