Zero2Cool
15 years ago
Source Link 


[img_r]http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/1888/celebrate.jpg[/img_r]GREEN BAY Aaron Rodgers knows all the clichs by rote theyre taking it one game at a time, theyre just focused on themselves and not what the other teams do but the Green Bay Packers quarterback is a smart enough dude to see the big picture.



And right now, thanks to Sundays 17-7 must-win triumph over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field, the Packers despite their still-present shortcomings, despite that horrendous loss to previously winless Tampa Bay one week earlier are very much in the frame of the NFC playoff snapshot. They may be on the edge and not front-and-center, but in a mediocre conference with two very good teams and a bunch of others still forging their identities, Rodgers Packers go into the final seven games with as good of playoff odds as anyone.



We knew at 4-4, playing a very good team, it was an important time in our season to get back in this race, Rodgers said. I think a lot of people were thinking this was going to be the end of the road for us and going to be a turning point for the negative for us this season. But it was a big win for our team.



That it was. At 5-4 entering Sundays game against 4-5 San Francisco at Lambeau Field, the Packers are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons for the fifth-best record in the NFC. Six teams qualify for the playoffs.



Of those four teams, the Eagles have the best conference record at 4-2, followed by the Packers and Falcons at 4-3 and the Giants, who had a bye Sunday, at 3-3.

Were right there, tied with Atlanta, Philly and the Giants, Rodgers said, needing no help to sort out the current NFC standings. We are in a spot where we know November and December games get you to the playoffs and that teams that often go the deepest in the playoffs are teams that get on a run here. So, hopefully this game will give us some momentum going into next week, another home game. Hopefully we can come out next week with the same kind of energy, enthusiasm and urgency and come out with a big win.



At this point, 9-0 New Orleans and 8-1 Minnesota (both 6-0 in NFC games) hold big leads in their divisions and are likely to earn the top two seeds and first-round playoff byes. The Saints lead the Falcons by four games in the NFC South and won the first head-to-head meeting, while the Vikings lead the Packers by three games in the NFC North and swept the season series, which essentially puts the Packers four games back.



The Cowboys (6-3 overall, 5-2 in the conference) have only a one-game lead in the NFC East over the Eagles and Giants, while the Arizona Cardinals (6-3, 4-2) have a two-game lead on the 49ers (4-5, 4-2) in the NFC West. The 49ers are one of three 4-5 teams Chicago and Carolina being the others that remain in contention despite sub.-500 records just past the seasons midpoint.



And truth be told, despite the victory, the Packers arent all that far from being one of those 4-5 teams. Some of the same problems that have plagued them all season allowing too many sacks (four Sunday, for a total of 41) and penalties (12 more for 100 yards, keeping them No. 1 in the NFL) remain



(You have to) be realistic and make the corrections as you prepare for San Francisco. That's what you have to do, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said during his usual day-after-the-game news conference Monday. Motivation comes in different forms and fashions throughout the course of a season, and that's definitely something in that victory yesterday that we can carry forward into our preparation for San Francisco, because there were obviously a lot of positives.



Perhaps the biggest positive was the way the coaches adjusted on both sides of the ball. On defense, coordinator Dom Capers dialed up five-man pressures on more than half of Dallas quarterback Tony Romos dropbacks, his strongest commitment to the blitz since the season-opening victory over Chicago.



The real good defenses Ive been around, you get that momentum going aggressively and you get the offense reacting to you, rather than you reacting to the offense, Capers said Monday. Youve seen us at times do that, and youve seen us at times when we havent been able to do that. The opener here against the Bears, we dictated the tempo of the game. Yesterday, we dictated the tempo of the game. And the times we havent been able to play real well, we havent been able to dictate the tempo.



I like the passion we played with. We still made some errors, but if you play aggressively, it covers up a lot of those. We had a lot of green jerseys around the football, and when you do that, good things are going to happen.



On offense, McCarthy and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin took a more cautious approach, abandoning the long ball for a quick, short passing game. The Packers longest gain through the air was a 24-yard completion to Donald Driver, and Driver got more than half the yardage after the catch. While the screen game wasnt overly productive, it kept the Cowboys pass rush honest, and Rodgers threw the slant well for several key completions.



Asked Monday if we will see more of the short passing game in coming weeks, Philbin replied. Weve played (the Cowboys) every year, so we have a little bit of a feel for them, and theyre a little bit of a unique 3-4 team. Weve got a rookie right tackle whos never played out there. So I think all of those factors added in to getting the ball out of our hands. Our sack issues have been well-documented. I think a little bit of everything. All those things played into consideration when we put the plan together.



McCarthy downplayed the significance of those adjustments Defensive signal-callers and offensive signal-callers call it the same way, McCarthy said, you have an intention of how you want to play every single game, but sometimes the game takes you down a different path but the Packers may have found a formula for success the rest of the year. Granted, game plans will change every week, but the approach seemed to work well in both instances.



I'm focused on winning and improving, McCarthy said, in response to a question about the playoff picture. You're probably tired of hearing about it. But that's the way we operate, so I'm not going to try to sit here and say it in different words and different statements. We need to win football games and we need to improve along the way, because you want to be playing your best football at the end of the year.



The National Football League is very competitive. I understand the passion that our fans have and the importance of winning. But as far as what people think and their opinions, I can't really concern myself with that. My concern and focus is on our football team.



Not only do the Packers seem to be getting their collective act together, but theyre getting healthier too. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson (knee) returned to action Sunday for the first time since Oct. 18; big-play tight end Jermichael Finley (knee) will practice Wednesday and should return to action for the first time since Oct. 25; left outside linebacker Aaron Kampman (concussion) is expected to return to his starting role while fill-in starter Brad Jones has earned playing time as well; veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher (knee) is expected to practice Wednesday and gives the Packers another option on the right side after rookie T.J. Lang played well against the Cowboys; and nickel linebacker Brandon Chillar (broken hand) is expected to play after missing two games, during which A.J. Hawk seemed to elevate his game.



Of course, the last time the Packers had such a key victory over a quality opponent was last October, when they beat Indianapolis at home to improve to 4-3. They followed that triumph with close road losses to then-unbeaten Tennessee and Minnesota to fall back below .500, then whipped Chicago before a five-game losing streak sunk their season.



You've got to continue to do it, said veteran cornerback Charles Woodson, whose nine tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack and one interception spurred the defensive performance. Winning just feels good. I don't care how you get 'em. We went out there and played with a lot of fire, a lot of passion that lasted from the beginning of the game to the end of the game. That has to be the mentality the rest of the season.

(Dallas is) a good team, no question, and we need to win games like that. But weve also got to win the games that were supposed to win. Theres some bad teams we played, we won. Tampa Bay was a bad team, and we let that one get away from us. To get where you need to go, youve got to beat good teams and youve got to win the games youre supposed to win. Its a good win, but from here on out, you just cant have any letdowns.


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (24m) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (17h) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (22h) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (22h) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (22h) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (22h) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (22h) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (23h) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Other times, it's turtle ass
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
beast (23-Jul) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
beast (23-Jul) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
wpr (23-Jul) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : SSL might be settled now.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
3h / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

6h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

11h / Around The NFL / beast

21h / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

22h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

18-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.