porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
10 years ago
Lambeau Field and home-field advantage are synonymous with each other, yet the hollowed grounds of the iconic stadium haven’t been as kind to the Packers in the 21st century as they were in the 20th. While Green Bay continues to win a large majority of their regular-season home games, they’ve posted just a 4-5 home playoff record since the turn of the century.

A once prominent home-field advantage faded to being just noise in the background.

Maybe that’s about to change.

Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 2014 Packers seem well on their way to restoring home-field dominance. They’re averaging nearly 44 points per game at Lambeau, and have been so good that Rodgers has actually missed large portions of the fourth quarter in four of five games.

For opponents, the fear of going up against one of the greatest quarterbacks in the game today outweighs the appeal of playing at the same venue that once housed Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Reggie White.

The job is far from finished, though. Winning in the regular-season doesn’t mean a thing if they don’t take care of business in the postseason.

The Packers are clear favorites to win the NFC North, despite holding the same record (7-3) as the Detroit Lions. The Lions and Packers will meet in the regular-season finale. Because the game is at Lambeau, Green Bay has an advantage in the divisional race.

Additionally, the Packers are just two games back of Arizona (9-1) for the conference‘s top seed. The Cardinals, who are without quarterback Carson Palmer for the rest of the season, play four of their final six games on the road.

Next to winning a Super Bowl, re-establishing playoff dominance at Lambeau would be the finest achievement the 2014 Packers may ultimately make.

Let’s hope they have the opportunity in January.

Turning Point

The Packers put forth one of their most complete efforts of the season, scoring in every phase of the game. They threw and ran for touchdowns on offense, scored two defensive touchdowns, and received a huge boost from Micah Hyde who returned a punt 75 yards for a score. Hyde’s return gave them a 17-0 lead, and was the first indication that the rout was on.

Stud of the Game

I know it’s repetitive to keep signaling Rodgers out as each game’s stud, but he is playing a level of football that few have ever achieved. Rodgers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, bringing his season totals to 28 touchdown passes and 3,149 yards. He’s on pace to throw for about 4,397 yards and 45 touchdowns. Consider him your MVP frontrunner.

Play of the Game

Hyde’s punt return, and outside linebacker Julius Peppers interception return for a touchdown are worth consideration, but the nod goes to running back Eddie Lacy’s 48-yard catch and run for a score. Lacy barreled toward the end zone like a bowling ball. Only instead of knocking over pins, he was running over Philadelphia defenders. I counted as many as five missed tackles by the Eagles.

Looking Ahead

For the first time in over 30 years, the Packers will play outdoors in Minnesota as they take on the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Last week, the Vikings allowed 330 passing yards to Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler, and 117 rushing yards to running back Matt Forte. Bet on the Packers putting up big offensive numbers again this Sunday.

The defense will get its first look at rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater is currently struggling, but he has all the tools to develop into a very good starting quarterback. His mental capacity is especially great. Coaches gave him free reign over the offense at Louisville. He hasn’t received that kind of accommodation in the pros, but I suspect he will sometime in the future.

While you can expect to see flashes of talent from Minnesota’s young quarterback on Sunday, he remains years away from going toe-to-toe with the game’s top player.

Please visit Row12.com  for weekly articles done by myself on college and fantasy football. I currently have Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon III No. 2 in my Heisman Watch . We also have a great staff of writers that covers every major sport.
Zero2Cool
10 years ago
I would go with the turning point being when LeTroy Guion sacked Mark Sanchez 2nd and 6 in the first quarter and wasn't called for helmet to helmet or roughing the passer. The Packers were up only 3 - 0 at that time and if you give them a first down at what the ~50 they might be able to keep moving into a scoring opportunity. They could have tied the game or took the lead with a touchdown.

However, Guion was not flagged and the Eagles threw incomplete on 3rd and long they had to punt. The Packers then went on a 13 play 88 yard touchdown drive to go up 10 - 0 and the Eagles felt the pressure and it was over.

That no call was very huge in stopping the Eagles momentum and the Packers did an excellent job punching them in the throat the next drive.



UserPostedImage
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
10 years ago

I would go with the turning point being when LeTroy Guion sacked Mark Sanchez 2nd and 6 in the first quarter and wasn't called for helmet to helmet or roughing the passer. The Packers were up only 3 - 0 at that time and if you give them a first down at what the ~50 they might be able to keep moving into a scoring opportunity. They could have tied the game or took the lead with a touchdown.

However, Guion was not flagged and the Eagles threw incomplete on 3rd and long they had to punt. The Packers then went on a 13 play 88 yard touchdown drive to go up 10 - 0 and the Eagles felt the pressure and it was over.

That no call was very huge in stopping the Eagles momentum and the Packers did an excellent job punching them in the throat the next drive.


Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



What is most amazing about the play is that crew of refs is noted for calling the most penalties this year.
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yooperfan
10 years ago
Very well written, a quality recap.
Thanks once again.
DoddPower
10 years ago

What is most amazing about the play is that crew of refs is noted for calling the most penalties this year.

Originally Posted by: wpr 



It was a great no call, and would feel the same if it went against Aaron Rodgers. Let me guys play! It wasn't overly malicious, imo.
Zero2Cool
10 years ago

It was a great no call, and would feel the same if it went against Aaron Rodgers. Let me guys play! It wasn't overly malicious, imo.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 



By rule, it should have been flagged. The rule is stupid. There is too much gray area crap with having so many rules. The damn quarterback lowered his head, how are you supposed to adjust your angle and where you're hitting him? All a QB has to do is lower their head and throw you off your game and then tuck an run or chuck it up. It'd be a fake out.
UserPostedImage
TheKanataThrilla
10 years ago

By rule, it should have been flagged. The rule is stupid. There is too much gray area crap with having so many rules. The damn quarterback lowered his head, how are you supposed to adjust your angle and where you're hitting him? All a QB has to do is lower their head and throw you off your game and then tuck an run or chuck it up. It'd be a fake out.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



That is becoming an issue in hockey as well where they call penalties on head-shots. It seems a tad ridiculous that a player can instigate a penalty against themselves by lowering their head to change a legal hit to an illegal one.

I hate all the marginal calls that give the refs too much power.

My biggest grief is the "illegal contact" penalty that comes with an automatic first down. Not sure why this gets an automatic first down, but to me it allows the refs too much control. How many times in a 3rd and long this crap penalty is called and the chains get moved (eventually a TD is scored). Seems like score fixing for a weak call especially when the WR never gets a call for instigating contact after the 5 yards. Sorry for the rant.
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Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick
beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?
beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar
dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr
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Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.
dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Either Williams thought it would make him look good (reluctant but then embraces the city and franchise)
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : I can only assume that the Williams camp agreed to cooperate with that article tells me 2 things
dfosterf (15-May) : Ya. They are in a great mood
Zero2Cool (15-May) : I should visit again
dfosterf (15-May) : ChiCity Sports entering freakout mode due to Caleb and his dad not wanting him to go there
Zero2Cool (15-May) : "He's looking really good out there," Derrick Ansley said of Kalen King. Adds that he's been playing inside and out.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Him saying he doesn't have one to give haha
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dfosterf (15-May) : I did like the Mark Murphy part, sorta
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Some comments on it saying it was great, amazing... I came away thinking... awkward.
dfosterf (15-May) : Packers schedule release video is "interesting" I guess.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : SOOO glad that tool still works. Saves from manually entering each game
Zero2Cool (15-May) : NFL Pick'em import was done last night.
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Atlanta with 5 primetime games lol
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Week Five BYE?? NFL is hell.
wpr (14-May) : Vikings schedule leaked. Week 12 in GB. Week 18 in MN.
wpr (14-May) : CBS has GB @ NYG Week 11 Nov 16 and they will face MN in week 18 but don't say where. I think away
Zero2Cool (14-May) : W15: Packers at Broncos
Zero2Cool (14-May) : Ben Sirmans on MarShawn Lloyd: “Everything’s full go for him.”
Zero2Cool (14-May) : Luke Butkus says training camp will allow plenty of time to implement new center Elgton Jenkins
Zero2Cool (14-May) : wk 2 commanders at packers
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buckeyepackfan (14-May) : Week 1
buckeyepackfan (14-May) : Packers Host Detroit Week 1! ML finally gets a week home opener.
beast (13-May) : I was kind of hoping Douglas might come back to the Pack
beast (13-May) : My question is how much do we trust Jenkins? In bad weather, he seemed to struggle a bit with ball control snapping, though he started at OG
beast (13-May) : Well Jenkins probably knows he's not getting that 2026 salary number without a new contact... so just trying to get the new contact early
Zero2Cool (13-May) : CB Rasul Douglas is visiting the #Seahawks today, per source.
dfosterf (13-May) : He's a switch and baiter. Its the same as a bait and switcher except he agreed to the switch first lol
dfosterf (13-May) : 6.8 mil raise next year. Those are existing contract numbers
dfosterf (13-May) : 12.8 plus 4.8 pro rata signing bonus is 17.6 mil. Top center in the league at 18
Zero2Cool (13-May) : Elgton Jenkins wants to rework contract ahead of position change to center
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