Barnwell: The history of 'sexy' Super Bowl picks, and why the Packers, Lions...

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

6 months ago

Every year, a team emerges as a trendy preseason Super Bowl pick. Do those squads usually succeed? Let's evaluate 20 recent candidates.

Green Bay Packers.

The league's youngest team was propelled forward by a remarkable stretch from Jordan Love, who led the league in QBR over the final seven weeks of the season. The Packers won six of their final eight to sneak into the postseason as the 7-seed, where they promptly embarrassed the Cowboys in Dallas, going up 27-0 before eventually winning by 16 points. They gave San Francisco a run for their money in the divisional round, too, as it took a late field goal miss by Anders Carlson and a touchdown run by Christian McCaffrey with 1:41 to go to give the 49ers a 24-21 victory.

The Packers' breakout, at least in terms of wins, just wasn't quite as impressive as most of the others we'll get to on this list. They had a 7.5-win projection heading into the season and went 9-8, albeit with many of those wins weighted later in the season. I'm optimistic about Green Bay this season and see it as a Super Bowl contender, but it would be getting much more in the way of Super Bowl hype if it had finished 11-6 instead.

Continue Reading @ ESPN

ESPN wrote:

Do you get anxious/nervous when media pundits start yapping about Packers and Super Bowl? I mean, I enjoy the respect, but it's kind of like no no we like that chip on our shoulder! We like being under the radar! lol

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beast
Select Member

6 months ago

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

I'm not sure nervous is the right word for me, but yeah I don't like being too over or under hyped, and I HATE that most of media doesn't talk about football... when they actually break it down, they mostly talk Quarterbacks.

But I've liked the players having that chip on their shoulder of being offended to be so over looked and I think they play better with it.

As far as the Packers offense early season struggles, the RBs, OL, and WR1 were all injured early in the season, when the OL started getting healthier, that's when the offense improved, also when Love reportedly started having Tuesday night dinner and study sessions with the receivers (I still wonder if it was just the WRs or WRs and TEs?)

I think a lot could come down to how the Packers stay healthy, how the OL holds up, and how well the defense stops the run (though the pass rush will get the hype, but they won't be able to pass rush as well if they don't slow down the run)

bboystyle
Member

6 months ago

It's cute they think we are SB bound after one year of rebuilding. I've already stated that next year will be our SB winning season. This year, we make the NFC ship game and lose.

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

6 months ago

It's cute they think we are SB bound after one year of rebuilding. I've already stated that next year will be our SB winning season. This year, we make the NFC ship game and lose.

Originally Posted by: bboystyle

I'm kind of with ya.

https://packershome.com/forum/Posts/m456335-RUMOR--NFC-Team-Offered-Trade-for-Aaron-Rodgers

beast
Select Member

6 months ago

Sometimes teams win the Championship the year before you think they will, and then disappoint the year you thought they would be at their best.

I believe the Packers won the Superbowl as the 6th seed and then went, what 12-0? To start the next season and then disappointed in the playoffs.

Also I remember being surprised that one of the Ohio State coaches admitted basically the said thing, maybe it was Urban Meyers, at the start of the season he was thinking the next year they might have a great shot at the Championship, but then they won that year and struggled more in the year they were supposed to be at their best.

So it could potentially be this year, even if we think we're a year off.

bboystyle
Member

5 months ago

Originally Posted by: beast

they went 13-0 and lost to a horrible KC team(this the game teams figured out MM's system). Still kind of glad they didnt go undefeated because that ass whooping from the Giants would of stung even harder

wpr
Preferred Member

5 months ago

I can't say I am nervous. I like attention being paid to the Packers. It is up to the players to rise up and meet expectations. If they can't handle a little media chatter then they are not ready to face on field pressure.

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Zero2Cool (10-Jan) : 𝕏avier McKinney First Team All-Pro

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Zero2Cool (10-Jan) : Rams lose home field advantage for Monday game.

Mucky Tundra (9-Jan) : Notre Lame=Notre Dame, Luckeyes=Ohio State, Pedo St=Penn St

Zero2Cool (9-Jan) : ... It clearly was not what we were supposed to be in, certainly."

Zero2Cool (9-Jan) : Hafley says 3rd and 11 call there was a miscommunication.

Zero2Cool (9-Jan) : The only team I know is Texas from that. Who are the other three?

Mucky Tundra (9-Jan) : Notre Lame vs Pedo St tonight and the Luckeyes vs Texas tomorrow

Mucky Tundra (9-Jan) : Stud

Zero2Cool (9-Jan) : E. Cooper. Rookie of Month. Defense.

Mucky Tundra (8-Jan) : @AaronNagler · 2m Both Jordan Love and Malik Willis were Limited participants at Packers practice today.

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : Johnson didn't make it until 2020. Ring 2023. 🤷 Personally, he should have been in years prior to Hall.

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : HUMP DAY

beast (8-Jan) : Guys that have a good shot at making the NFL Hall of Fame usually get into their teams pretty fast

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Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : Johnson was Hall of Fame, 2020. Should haev been in Ring a year later, not three years.

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : I could be wrong there though

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : Guys like Kampman, Tim Harris, Al Harris, etc all over 15 years. Hall of Fame is 5 year wait

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : I guess I see players in Packers Hall come way later

beast (8-Jan) : Yeah, usually teams hall of fames are a much lower bar than the NFL

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : is it uncommon for Hall before Ring?

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : S Xavier McKinney named first-team All-Pro by NFLPA

beast (8-Jan) : I missed it, sorry, but he got into the NFL Hall of Fame years before that

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : Jones took his sweet ole time!

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : Yeah, he's in the ring of honor, just saw video and his name is up there

Zero2Cool (8-Jan) : Didn't they have a thing in 2023 for Jimmy's ring of honor? I swear I saw it

beast (8-Jan) : Though if they're legitimately trying to re-sign MM, then it makes sense.

beast (8-Jan) : Jerry Jones still hasn't put Jimmy Johnson in the Ring of Honor, but he's in the NFL's Hall of Fame, Jones is petty

Mucky Tundra (8-Jan) : Unless the Cowboys are planning an extension, seems kinda petty

beast (8-Jan) : Cowboys denied Bears request

Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : From what I'm reading, MM is under contract through the 14th of January; after that he's free game

Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : McCarthy let go or not extended??

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