First, 14-win teams don’t have as many downs as ups. New England scored 30-plus in eight consecutive games. Their defense allowed fewer than 10 in four of their final five games. Still, I didn’t mean to imply they were dominating. I meant to imply they dominated Miami, which I thought I did. I think they were a flawed football team that benefited from a weak 2010 AFC field. I think the Packers also benefited from a weak 2010 NFC field.
Detroit manhandled the Packers throughout that game. Rodgers was not having a strong day because Green Bay’s offensive line could not handle the Detroit defensive line. In fact, the Packer OL played its worst game of the season that year. It isn’t coincidental they played one of their best games against New England a week later. They definitely were challenged throughout that week.
Would the Packers have won had Rodgers stayed in the game? Possibly, but perhaps Rodgers injures himself more severely. That is all speculation, but that was never my point anyways.
Frankly, I don't see the controversy in stating the team got hot last year, but did not separate themselves from another contender. By the way, that was my point. For the record, I'm not saying they were a pushover champion. They were among the best if not the best. I understand the argument. Nonetheless, they were not the 1996 Packers. They were not the 1994 49ers. They were not the 1999 Rams or even the 03-04 Patriots. They weren't the 98 Broncos either. Nobody outside of Green Bay fandom will compare the 2010 Packers with those teams.
They will go down compared to the 97 Broncos, 05 Steelers, and 07 Giants among others. I used 07 because it was more modern day, but the 88 49ers work too.
What happen then in 89?
It’s not any different from 1997, when the Packers and many of their fans felt like they were better than the 97 Broncos. Of course, there is no push back then. 🙄 I still believe 07 Green Bay was better than 07 New York. Sometimes the ball bounces your way or a LB sticks out his hand and trips up a dynamic receiver. I will be very disappointed if this is the only title the Packers win in the next five years. I hope that 2010 goes down as the origin story, but things are going to have to align right as well. It takes more than raw talent, which Green Bay proved last year.