Packers Playoff Picture: Bears Clinch NFC North
by Brandon on Dec 21, 2010 7:01 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Analysis
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PrintThe Bears thumped the hapless Vikings by a final score of 40-14, knocked QB Brett Favre out of his second consecutive game, and officially won the NFC North. They've become the first team to clinch their division title this year. While it officially ends any hope the Packers had of winning the division, it could mean the Bears cruise into Lambeau in two weeks with little motivation.
In 2006, the Packers traveled to Solider Field in week 17 and faced an unprepared Rex Grossman, who was already looking ahead as the Bears had clinched home field advantage. As a result, the Packers cruised to an easier than expected victory. Last season, the Cardinals threw in the towel when they pulled QB Kurt Warner for QB Matt Leinart in their final regular season game. They had nothing to play for either. But it's likely that the Bears will need to win their final two games in order to secure a first round bye. There should be a lot on line for both teams.
But first things first. The Packers know that next Sunday's game against the Giants is like a playoff game for both teams, and that they control their own destiny. The current playoff standings are here. If the Packers don't win next Sunday, they don't deserve to make it to the playoffs.
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Here's the other thing...
… the Bears are still playing for the bye. Philly is also 10-4, but the Bears have tie-breakers on them with both a better conference record and a head to head win. With 2 games to play they could still lose it and be forced to play in the wild card round.
That alone suggests that they won’t just be coasting in week 17. But then consider this: barring a Bear win and a Philly loss next week, a Bears loss to the Packers not only could cost the Bears the 2nd seed, it would likely mean that the Bears would have to play the Packers in the wild card round the next week. (As the NFC Suck, I mean West champs will draw the top WC team, the Saints). While I’m sure the Bears think they’re the best team in the division (and even with luck taken into consideration, that’s tough to argue at this point), I’m also pretty sure they’d rather not give the Packers a chance to end their season.
In short, if GB manages to beat a desperate NY team next week, I don’t see the Bears coasting through week 17 unless Philly takes themselves out of the race for the #2 seed.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 21, 2010 8:16 AM CST reply actions
wasn't sure we deserved it...
…after the Lions loss.
Congrats to the Bears. Hope we see them two out of the next three weeks.
But first things first. First BIG thing first— and that’s the Giants. Man, I really hate the match-ups this weekend, especially facing that front four. And with our Oline, I’m REAL pessimistic.
Me too.
If Jenkins is out again, which looks likely, it’s going to be tough to slow down their RBs, and I don’t think we’re going to be able to run the ball on the Giants the way we did on the Pats.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 21, 2010 8:18 AM CST up reply actions
Yep
You’re absolutely right. We totally don’t deserve to make the playoffs after the Lions loss.
BUT…
What the hell, let’s go anyway. Why not?
I like the “everybody’s counting us out and our back is against the wall” mentality much better than the “we’re obviously the front-runner” mentality.
The thing making me really nervous is that I don’t trust our coaching staff in must-win games. The last 3 minutes of Sunday night’s game were screwed up just about as badly as I’ve ever seen. Bleeding the clock and then running out of time? …when we had 3 minutes and two time-outs at mid-field? Preposterous. They are funny like clowns. …and the special teams! Wow. They’re “special” alright. …like, get ‘em different helmets and short-busses, they’re so special.
by Curly Lambeau on Dec 21, 2010 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I was rather concerned about this too
The last 3 minutes of Sunday night’s game were screwed up just about as badly as I’ve ever seen. Bleeding the clock and then running out of time?
I mean, I get that the idea was to leave New England as little time as possible to respond with a score, but there was a complete lack of urgency. I was talking with a co-worker who didn’t watch the game, and the exchange went something like this:
Me: “So the Packers get the ball at about their own 40 with 4:30 left and 2 timeouts. (thinks about the next important play) So we get to 3rd and 18 at New England’s 33 with about 30 seconds left and no timeouts…”
Co-Worker: (complete bafflement) “Woah, how is that even possible?”
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
What we should’ve done was a no-huddle rushing attack.
They’re linemen were gassed, so we would’ve probably continued to get first downs. This approach would’ve bled the clock, but continued to get yardage and saved the timeouts.
by Curly Lambeau on Dec 21, 2010 11:22 AM CST up reply actions
I like the way they ran everything down to the end.
The last thing you want to do is give Brady the ball w/ enough time to get in FG range! I think they got to the 1:00 mark and everything was perfect! The 1st timeout they stopped the clock and were at the 20? yd line or so.. Then the sack allowed by Bulaga forced the 2nd timeout. The last :30 seconds I didn’t like but they did everything right until then! Thet got down inside the red zone w/ enough time but the sack and waiting for the last play didn’t go well! Shouldn’t the officials stopped the clock while they were deciding if its a 1st down? Wasn’t it close enough for them to measure? Seems they usually do that… Not blaming the officials but I just didn’t like the last 20+ seconds after Driver was tackled!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
The last 20+
Watching the replay, I couldn’t believe they actually thought the third down play might have resulted in a first down. I mean it looked on tv like it was at least a yard short and maybe a yard and a half.
I don’t know..maybe I saw it different than everyone else.
Sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.
No, that was my thought too
Driver came up about 1.5 to 2 yards short of the first down; it should have been an immediate signal from the refs. It certainly wasn’t close enough to stop the clock for a measurement.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
The last 3 minutes were done 100% correct
For my justification I offer up the Atlanta game.
ANd your the one always screeming about poor clock mgmt!!!
Isn’t that clock mgmt?!! I certainly think it is…
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
You must have me confused with someone else
I’ve been critical of play selection, not clock management.
No, they weren't.
For my justification I offer up this game.
We had plenty of time and then the coaches did their thing, and then we didn’t have enough time. That would seem to indicate that something wasn’t done “100% correct.” I mean, I’m no mathmagician or anything, but…
by Curly Lambeau on Dec 21, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
They were in perfect position!
Until Bulaga gave up that sack! They would have had a timeout, been on the 20 w/ the entire field open to them! In the red zone w/ 30 sec to play and a timeout!! It doesn’t get better than that!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
It was another instance of poor playcalling
You have one minute left at NE 24….just had the first down. Bjax had given you great yardage on that drive. Why take the second timeout there and give em time to organize. Line up quickly and use Bjax for another carry and at 2nd down and maybe 5 in their 19 and 40 seconds take the second timeout.
Then you can do a lot more things and still have a TO left. MM panicked and called TO, then he started calling passing plays thinking that there wasn’t enough time. Next thing you know, they bring up the blitz and put us 2nd and 18. So we’re forced to burn the TOs and face an impossible down.
Ah, the little things in pressure situations.
by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 21, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
And if you give BJ the ball
when he gets tackled for no gain your forced to use your final timeout! Then your bitchin cuz he ran the ball and had to use his final timeout… your a neverending pessimist/2nd guesser! You complain no matter what he does… right or wrong!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Really so if he ran BJ straight into the line for no gain you would have applauded the play call?
I think not…
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
If they stayed with the no-huddle and ran the ball, no I would not have had a problem with that
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
A run into the line
By the time you unravel that whole pile of humanity runs about 20 sec of the clock, even w/ a no-huddle! I have trouble believing you would be good w/ that!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Rhythm dude...
Rhythm and sync is what that drive had..run pass run..and MM killed it with that TO
Remember the Brady no-huddle drive that shredded our D? That’s what we had at the end. Same rhythm.
And we threw that away
by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 21, 2010 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
I thought Flynn called the TO.
I could be wrong but thats what I remember! Even so, Brady went no huddle (cuz he got our nickel against his 2 TE set, an obvious mismatch) and ran it w/ precision! Are you ready to blame Capers for that??? WOuld Flynn making his 1st NFL start be expected to run a game ending drive perfectly like Brady did that drive? I wouldn’t expect so… So that being the case maybe McCarthy thought Flynn needed a timeout to collect his thoughts?..
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
You also didn't read his statement correctly
He said that they should have gotten up to the line (without using the 2nd timeout of the half), run Jackson right up the gut for 5 yards or so, and then call the second time out. So they would still have one left. I think that’s a fair criticism. I would have liked us to not use that time out after getting the first down, but I think MM’s decision likely had to do with Flynn’s inexperience running the two-minute drill.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
We ran out of time because the players made mistakes
If we had scored with a minute left, that’s a minute + 3 NE timeouts for
1. A long kick off return
2a. Brady to go 30 yards to get into FG position
2b. Or, to go 60 yards and get a winning TD
NE scored on 2 out of their prior 3 drives, each over 50 yards and spanning only 2 and a half minutes.
If there was a mistake in everything it was calling TO #2 after the first down instead of spiking the ball. I don’t know who’s decision that was (and it was only bad in light of the ending), but everything else about the drive was fine. No, it didn’t end correctly but this time it was on the players (sacks, indecision) than the playcalling.
Almost physically ill this morning
I just can’t believe Chicago has won the division. The longer I live, the more I believe that anything can happen.
Sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.
Playoffs?
Put the crack pipe down people…
The prolific egg laying will continue..
Arodg looked foggy still on the sidelines,
Jenkins is out, CM3 is NOT himself
and we have nobody on the otherside of him.
Wood is obviously in decline & Shields
is a liability, and throw in a doubtful Collins for good measure.
And don’t get me started on the usless meat of an offensive line.
If you have not been watching the GIANTS can
run the ball and run they will, right down your collective
playoff fantasy throats…
Thanks for that brilliant comment
You can leave now. For you, apparently the season is over. So we don’t need to hear from you again.
Yeah...that statement doesn't make him a "Cool-Aid Boy"
That means he prefers comments with…you know…content.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
It's simple - if the season is over, leave
We don’t need to hear your crying, and your insightful comments like “put down the crack pipe” because we think we can beat two very beatable teams.
If all you’re going to do is bitch about the team, then there’s no reason for you to be hear.
This comment here is a clear indication of who needs to "grow up"
there’s no need for profanity or insults. a lot of us are frustrated, but if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything at all.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
what
on earth
are you talking
about
and why are
you typing
like this?
The only glove he needs is a batting glove. - RWShow on Adam Dunn signing.
I like to picture posts like this as free verse poetry
Typically with a tom-tom beat in the background.
(not directed at yours BOS, obviously a parody)
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
Yet, despite all of that...
…they almost beat the team generally believed to be the #1 team in the NFL on their home field. So, why should I lose hope when the Packers control their own destiny?
Remember, #6 seeds have won the Super Bowl. Not saying it will happen with the Packers, but anything is possible.
Looking at the playoffs this year, I would say that 10, maybe 11 of the 12 teams that make the playoffs can be good enough to win it all. Only team that probably won’t have a chance is the NFC West champion.
Packer v. Giants!!!
I love it when we play them.
Good, infuriating games.
I threw a wheelchair across my house in the ’07 NFC Champ game when Favre threw that last pick.
I. Want. Retribution.
don't forget to brush your teeth.
by Drew C on Dec 21, 2010 9:19 AM CST via mobile reply actions
"I threw a wheelchair across my house in the ’07 NFC Champ game"
There uh… wasn’t anyone in it, was there???
by junyer_mint on Dec 21, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions
No,
Just a cat.
don't forget to brush your teeth.
by Drew C on Dec 21, 2010 12:59 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Sorry. Had to be done.
So what else? That Giants defense might give the Pack some fits, but it’ll be the perfect motivator to get the Packers Offense pumped for the Bears match. Plus any rematch with the Giants that has importance gets me totally stoked as a fan.
I WANT THAT BACK TO BACK PACKERS/BEARS MATCH. I’d love to be a Packer backer at Soldiers Field in a playoff game. It could be cold as hell, wind blasting off the lake and an army of Bears fans screaming in my ear, but as much of a rollercoaster this year’s been, nothing would be more satisfying than seeing the Pack steal one in the 11th hour.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
I know it sounds cliche
but these last two weeks are essentially time to see what this team can do with it’s back against wall.
We’re essentially playing 2 playoff games to make it to the playoffs so failure to make the playoffs at this point lies 100% squarely on this team (Players AND Coaches alike)… I for one am excited and would love to see us pull these next two games off and maybe develop some confidence for High pressure probably close games.
Lets be honest… Going into week 16 w/ complete control over your own fate… you can’t really ask for much more in the NFL (yes I know it sucks playing for a WC and not Division… but its still the playoffs)
On a side note… Grats to the Bears for taking the division this year and see you in Week 17
Fire Slocum
by Goldenarmadillo4 on Dec 21, 2010 10:54 AM CST reply actions
If Rodgers had been in the game
I would have no problem with trying to run as much time as possible off the clock before scoring. However, with Flynn in the game I think it was more important to score. He doesn’t have enough experience to put him in a situation where he has to run the clock down a close to 0 as possible and score a TD. And it showed at the end.
I think Flynn played really well, but I think it was too much to ask him to win that game in the way they wanted.
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