Game 15: Saints @ Packers- Monday, Dec. 23rd 7:15 PM

[SeaBass]

I care very much about not being swept by the Vikings and playoff seeding has nearly zero to do with it. 

"You play to win the game!" - Abraham Lincoln probably

[SeaBass]

2 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Nobody will want to have to beat this Packers team in the playoffs - if Love plays well and Jacobs is healthy they're the most dangerous team in the league.  

That isn't me being a homer, they are that talented offensively with a pretty solid defense.  

 

I've seen a lot of scoring TDs early and then either taking their foot off the gas or ineptitude after that. That works fine when you're playing N.O. and Seattle with their 2nd string QBs in the game but I'm not as excited to see it against good playoff teams at their late season version of full strength.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

1 hour ago, SeaBass said:

"You play to win the game!" - Abraham Lincoln probably

Seems to be a good summary of Pres. Lincoln's critical commentary of Gen. George McClellan's command of the Army of the Potomac.

[adambr2]

If nobody wants to face us and we can beat anyone anywhere, we should be able to go into Minnesota and win, no?

And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with desiring a more favorable draw. We can think we are as good as we want, but the logical reality is that going into Philly, Minnesota and Detroit and winning 3 games in a row is a really tall order no matter how we are playing. That’s not just a skill versus skill to win all 3 of those. There’s some luck involved too. Even when we won if all, our draw wasn’t terribly difficult. The Bears were a really weak 2 seed that we were favored on the road against and Philly was a pretty even matchup. Atlanta was the only really tough test. This year’s NFC field is so much better than that one was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CheezWizHed]

I don't care about seed... Let's beat MN now!

Beyond my perfectly rational hatred of all things purple, there is an element of beating a good team.  We have a good and talented team - as much talent as anyone.  But we still need to learn the art of winning.  That is especially true of Love... The team needs to know how to make clutch plays, when to take a shot and when to check down, how to adjust to someone beating them 1on1, etc... 

Love is improving, but that 3-and-out by taking multiple big shots after the fumble yesterday was an indicator of poor judgment when ball control and clock-killing should've been the focus. (He did the smart thing when he had a shot later for Watson, but took the easy 1st down with Kraft underneath).

[homer]

9 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

People can talk all they want about being the best team in the NFL, which I don't think they are at all, but the fact is this team hasn't proven they can beat any of the big boys we're going to be seeing in the playoffs (0-4 against Minnesota, Detroit and Philadelphia) so of course you would like to see an inferior team in the wild card round first.

then they arent going to the super bowl anyway and I don't care if they win a playoff game and lose in the next round. Super Bowl or bust 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

10 hours ago, homer said:

then they arent going to the super bowl anyway and I don't care if they win a playoff game and lose in the next round. Super Bowl or bust 

Right. 

There isn't really a "best team" IMO. It was Detroit, but they will have a lot to overcome.

[Fear The Chorizo]

16 hours ago, adambr2 said:

If nobody wants to face us and we can beat anyone anywhere, we should be able to go into Minnesota and win, no?

And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with desiring a more favorable draw. We can think we are as good as we want, but the logical reality is that going into Philly, Minnesota and Detroit and winning 3 games in a row is a really tall order no matter how we are playing. That’s not just a skill versus skill to win all 3 of those. There’s some luck involved too. Even when we won if all, our draw wasn’t terribly difficult. The Bears were a really weak 2 seed that we were favored on the road against and Philly was a pretty even matchup. Atlanta was the only really tough test. This year’s NFC field is so much better than that one was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, of course they can walk into Minnesota and win - they did just that last new year's eve and embarrassed the Vikings in their building when both teams had to get a W to think about making the playoffs.

Last year's Packer younger and less experienced team got on a late season roll, embarrassed the 2 seed Cowboys (who were also rolling and had been pounding teams at home) in round 1, and frankly should have beaten the 49ers on the road the following week in the divisional round.

All I'm saying is with how the NFC playoff field is shaping up, none of the teams hosting any playoff games would want to face a potential 13-win wild card Packers team that appears to be peaking and healthy, when their only 4 losses were coin flip 1 possession games came against the best teams in their conference with the exception of that 2 possession loss in the rain against the Lions months ago.

worrying about a potential playoff draw that includes a bunch of good teams doesn't make much sense to me, when I don't think there's a team on paper that is undoubtedly better than the Packers (exception maybe being the Eagles at this point with a healthy Hurts) - with only 1 team getting a bye and that likely coming down to either an injured Lions squad or an overrated Vikings team, to me that's just 1 less week for either of those teams to get exposed by a quality playoff opponent.

[Fear The Chorizo]

18 hours ago, SeaBass said:

I've seen a lot of scoring TDs early and then either taking their foot off the gas or ineptitude after that. That works fine when you're playing N.O. and Seattle with their 2nd string QBs in the game but I'm not as excited to see it against good playoff teams at their late season version of full strength.

This also isn't late 1990 college football where style points count more than wins and losses - at times I get the feeling the Packers are using actual games they have in hand due to their opponents' circumstances to have glorified practices, and not just sticking with what is obviously working in a game plan to build multiple score leads, too.

Win the game, stay healthy at this point...and honestly the order of those two isn't as important as staying healthy before the playoffs with their current position.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I don't think the Packers care what I think, but as a fan there is just a mental block for me as far as going into Minnesota and winning at the end of the year, and then having to sustain that level for a month, especially if it's hard fought game that leaves more guys banged up. I would almost rather just lose the game holding a few guys out, then recharge when it matters in the Wild Card and put your best foot out there. 

And I think Minnesota is the least threatening of the 3 teams ahead of us, and play indoors...so I would rather have them end up #1 than Detroit and certainly Philly.