The 2002 Green Bay Packers. The best football team I ever played on. Favre, Ahman Green, Driver, Sharper, a young and productive KGB, etc. Swept the Bears (including a blow out win in Champaign, IL on Monday night football), won in the 4th quarter out in San Fran, etc. We headed into Week 17 with a 12-3 record and a shot at wrapping up the No.1 seedand home field advantage.
Simple, really. Go out to the Meadowlands and take care of business against Chad Pennington and the Jets. Lock up that No.1 seed and relax on the bye week. But, that isnt how it played out. New York handed it to us and we jumped on that plane and headed back to Green Bay.
Vick and the Falcons tore us up on Wild Card weekend in a 27-7 win.
Right before we landed, a voice announced that we would play six days lateron Saturday night at Lambeauagainst the Atlanta Falcons. A team we had already beat in Week 1 to open the season. They had a young QB named Michael Vick who had given us some issues back in that first meeting, but we felt like we were the better football team. Play our game on defense; let Favre and Ahman put together scoring drives, cover kicks on special teams and advance. Dont use the Week 17 loss as an excuseinstead use it as an example of what happens in the NFL when you dont show up at the stadium.
The problem? We didnt show upand Vick and the Falcons kicked our ass.
A blocked punt (that I played a major role in), a defense that looked like it was playing on skates in the falling snow and an offense that couldnt produce points. An eye-opening 27-7 loss. Vick worked us over on defense. Making plays with his arm, breaking contain and proving that he was the best overall athlete on the field. And I will tell you that playing the free safety position vs. Vick when he breaks into the open field (on snow covered grass) is a nightmare.
The first home playoff losseverfor the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau. A team that finished the season with a 12-4 record was now done after the first day of the post season. But that is the NFL. These seasons, these supposed playoff runs are so fragile. This isnt the NBA or the NHL. One loss is all it takes. There is no series here. You play your best football or you sit on the couch the next weekend.
We were supposed to win, advance and start our "run." However, these games on Wild Card weekend are so unpredictable and when you dont show upor match the playoff speed of the oppositionyou are finished.
What an awful night at Lambeau. And the one I will remember the most of my playing careerbecause that team has Super Bowl talent.