Game 9 - Packers @ Patriots - Sunday, Nov. 8th @ 3:25 PM

[CheezWizHed]

So what do you make the Packers this season? They lost a game that they could've easily won against the Lions, then tried to give away a game to the Panthers when they should've just stomped on them.  

If the Brewers were relentless, then the Packers are inconsistent.  Jordan Love leads the league in passing yards while the Packers also lead the league in passes dropped (and not short yardage drops either).  The run game remains atrocious even with half of the team playing guard.  They will put up lots of yards early, but when it comes to crunch time and they need a first down (or a score) the team more often than not punts (or worse)...

Our OL has improved, but still is a bit of a mess.  Zeitler is still MIA.  Banks return was horrid last week.  And JW struggled (not surprisingly) in his first start at center.  

At least the defense seems to be legit.  Unlike Brian Flores, we seem to be able to get a pass rush without blitzing... which allows us to cover more and use surprise blitzes effectively.  And the team is without their two best defensive players (Cooper and Parsons - though I could hear an argument for Williams in there too). 

Micah Parsons has returned to practice and his presence on the field (probably 3 weeks away) would loom large.  He could take a very good defense to being an excellent one by the playoffs. 

It has been a complete cluster of a season so far, yet we remain with a winning record.  If we are able to:

1. 1) Solidify the OL - Get Banks, Tomlinson, and/or Zeitler consistent, healthy time playing at OG and return a healthy Rhyan at center. Fix the OL and the running game is fixed too. Morgan has looked very strong recently (much better than Walker!) and Belton is much improved at the T positions. 
2. 2) Catch the ball.  - Some of those drops have been pretty hard... but many of them are simple concentration.  
3. 3) Let Parson's eat - he will take time to get back to vintage, but that time might be right as the playoffs begin.

Those aren't impossible things to resolve. 

[JosephC]

Big game for LaFleur and coaching staff.  Patriots are a 3-point favorite, since they are the home team that basically means the teams are pretty equal.  This has all the makings of a game where one team shows up and the other one doesn't.  If the Packers play really well in this game, LaFleur will deserve a lot of credit for having the players motivated and ready to go.  If the Packers lay an egg, it will be a direct reflection on him.  Exact same holds true for Mike Vrabel.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

We've been doing the "they could have beat ______ easily if ______ didn't _____" thing for years with this team. It's not bad luck, it's the mark of an average team. The upper echelon win those moments consistently, the lower lose consistently, and the average split them. 

We're average, though I am reserving a smidge of hope for a Cinderella run depending on how impactful Parsons is, because we saw last year he can be incredible. The defense without him is better than last year. But I can't see this patchwork OL doing anything in the postseason, if they are fortunate enough to hold on to a WC seed.

This game feels like more of the same. Teams feel close to equal, so I expect a close game won or lost on a play or two, bad protection sack fumble, failed 4th down conversion, our 12th missed kick, etc.

[JosephC]

32 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

We're average,

I'm not convinced of that.  If they win this game, I'll be pretty convinced that they are well above that.  If they lose this game, then I would agree with you.

It's rare that an out-of-conference game between two non-powerhouses is a "critical" game.  But I think this one is very important for both teams, as it will tell both of them what they are and in what direction they are heading.  Winner of this game looks like a pretty good team, not a contender but still a pretty good team.  Loser will look average or mediocre at best.