PACKERTALK: Please don't let this Journey end!

The day we have all been waiting for is here. Round 2 of the playoffs where only the NFLs Elite 8 get to play. Last year after the Packers had a 15-1 season and a first round bye, the Giants came to Green Bay and spoiled the party. A year later the Packers get to go down to San Francisco and spoil things for the 49ers. 

Beating the 49ers in San Francisco is a tall task. If only the Packers had beaten San Francisco in Week 1 when they came to Green Bay, or if there were not replacement refs in Seattle, or if the Packers had just won in Week 17 at the Metrodome, this could have been a home game. As it turns out it was good to play last week and the Packers are a good road team so no more looking back, we are here. The 49ers were the better team when the season started and proved that but who is the better team now?

Coaching: Both Mike McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh are 49 years old. Jim is just 1-1 while Mike is 6-3 in the playoffs (including a Super Bowl Win)... ADVANTAGE PACKERS

Special Teams: Both teams are solid on Kick and punt coverage and have good Punters. The 49ers return game is slightly better. Both kickers, Mason Crosby and David Akers, have been terrible. This might be a game where both teams go for it on 4th downs and maybe we will see a fake...ADVANTAGE 49ERS

Secondary: The Packers are young and getting better and having the veteran Charles Woodson back is huge but the 49ers secondary has some GREAT players...ADVANTAGE 49ers

Linebackers: The Packers have Clay Matthews and a lot of other good linebackers like A.J. Hawk but the 49ers have Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and much more...ADVANTAGE 49ers

Defensive Line: The Packers are good but the 49ers are very strong. The biggest key to this game is that the Packers OL is able to keep San Francisco DL from taking over the game...ADVANTAGE 49ers

Offensive Line: The Packers now have the best five guys out there and playing well and have a bit of a running game. They must play well and protect Aaron Rodgers if the Packers are to win this game. Still, the 49ers have more talent at this position as well...ADVANTAGE 49ers

It is often said that games are won and lost in the trenches yet the Packers beat the Vikings in Round 1 of the playoffs even though the Vikings are also stronger on both sides of the line. It's a 5-1 advantage for the 49ers so far but stay with me here to find out why the Packers do have a chance.

Wide Receivers: Now only do the Packers have four OUTSTANDING ones but the 49ers have lost guys to injury and have the old Randy Moss starting for them...HUGE ADVANTAGE Packers (worth 2 points)

Running Backs: I love DuJuan Harris but with Frank Gore and more...ADVANTAGE 49ers

Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers vs. Colin Kaepernick (the very best vs. the very inexperienced) In addition to that Aaron Rodgers is playing the team that he grew up rooting for AND the team that passed him up in the draft. Colin Kaepernick grew up in Wisconsin and was a big Packer fan but this is bigger for Aaron now because the game is in California, a bit of a homecoming for Rodgers...This is a TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE for the Packers (worth 3 points)

My rankings finish in a tie 6-6: This game could end in a tie, maybe like 28-28 or something and go into overtime, maybe two overtimes. I hear the field is not in good shape, which team benefits from that? I don't know who knows? It is the NFL, where anything can happen. I'd rather see the Packers play in a dome!

The 49ers (11-4-1) had a tie with the Rams (7-8-1) this season and then when they played them again they lost. This was a bit shocking because most people agree that San Francisco had a much better team than St. Louis. Did the Packers (now 12-5) lose to any inferior teams? It would seem like they did but NO, they did not. The Packers lost to last year’s champion New York Giants (9-7) and the other four are all playoff teams.

When I look at that and add in the fact that the Packer players overall have more games of playoff experience, it gives the Packers the very slightest edge.

I hope to see the Packers try the kick return throw back play that was did not work against the Bears.

I hope to see the fake Field Goal that worked so beautifully in the earlier game against the Bears.

I hope to NOT see the Packers need to try an on-side kick but it is good to know they are good at it in case they need to use it.

I hope all Packer fans really enjoy this game and appreciate some long time Packers who have been great for years but might not be Packers next season because of money. This is a business after all, we need to accept that and say Thank you to this "Core Four" who could me playing their last games as Packers:

Greg Jennings...Charles Woodson...A.J. Hawk... Donald Driver.

My final thought: IF (and it is a big if) the Packer Offensive Line can play well enough and the Packers don't commit any turnovers in this game (or at least win the turnover battle) I think Aaron Rodgers will lead the Packers to a victory we will all remember for a long time: Packers 35 49ers 28 (that's right, no Field Goals) Like I always say: "The Journey is the Reward" and this Journey has been so much fun that I can't stand the idea of seeing it all end! 

3 in a row: The Packers are now 5-3

Packers 24 Jaguars 15

 

Yes, this was an ugly win but it beats the hell out of the ugly loss or a stolen win.

The Vikings lost badly to the Buccaneers and the Bears also won ugly vs. Carolina so overall it was still a good week for the Packers.

The Defense gave up a lot of yards but only 15 points so they were not the problem this week. My MVP goes to safety Morgan Burnett, he played his best game this season when we needed it most. 

The Special Teams was great again except Mason Crosby, again. this guy has never become the kicker we expected him to be clearly has not yet figured out the wind patterns at Lambeau field after the latest renovations. His missed Field goal made things more difficult than they had to be and the Packers never did totally put the Jaguars away until he finally made a short one in the final minute. Zach and I saw him make a 75 yarder with the wind in warm-ups too.

 

It was the blocked punt by Devon House, recovered for a Touchdown by Desmond Moses, that won the game for Green Bay. Football is truly a young man's game and these two members of the Special Teams will start to play a bigger and bigger role on the Defense as well. They were both great in pre-season and now needed in regular season. The good times have just begun.

The Offense on this day was not very good at all. It was a very choppy game. Jermichael Finley continues to drop passes and when he does make a catch for a first down he looks like an idiot in celebration. The biggest problem was the Offensive Line, again. Both starting receivers being out was also a big problem, bigger than I expected. It looks like not ALL of our receivers are starting quality. Donald Driver is nearing the end of his career but with only two Touchdowns by this group on the day, Donald's score was huge as it turns out. We might have just seen his last Touchdown and Lambeau Leap so with no good candidates, I give the Offensive MVP to Donald Driver this week. Also worth noting, Randall Cobb continues to look good and scored another Touchdown and despite everything, Aaron Rodgers looked good. When he gets a little help he is unstoppable!

Winning games when you don't play very well is the sign of a good team!

 

This Packer/Bear battle in the NFC North should be a good one all season long. No style points gained by either teams Offense this week but there are other ways to win a game.

Get healthy Packers!

The Arizona Cardinals are coming to town and they have mastered the art of winning ugly!