Looking Back at Packers' Recent Playoff Frustration

It's well cited that the Packers are 1-3 in the playoffs since their Super Bowl XLV victory on February 6, 2011.  Of course, that same team is also 5-3 in the playoffs since January 9, 2011, so take the often-cited playoff stats with a grain of salt.

Which record tells the true story of the 2014 Packers?  Right now, the 1-3 team is winning when it comes to the team's reputation.  What's happened over the last 4 playoff games that makes it so impossible to make the Packers a lock at Lambeau, despite scoring nearly 40 points a game at home this year? Let's take a look:

January 15, 2012: Giants stun Packers 37-20

15-2. It's not as catchy as 18-1, but the 2011 Packers had similar hype to that of the undefeated* team from New England in 2007. The Giants hot start froze the over-confident Packers 20-10 in the first half and never looked back as the home favorites looked out of sorts all night.  We went from riding high on a magic carpet to that carpet being swept out from beneath our feet.

January 5, 2013: Packers tap-in against the Vikings 24-10

With wary eyes, Packer Nation watched as the Packers tapped in a gimme against the Joe Webb-led Vikings.  Just a week before, the Packers had lost a 37-34 shootout, a game remembered as the high-water mark for Christian Ponder's dubious legacy. In the eyes of many, this game is easily dismissed as a throwaway victory against a team which started Joe Webb at quarterback.

January 12, 2013: 49ers smack the Packers 45-31

Seriously, they should have just lost that game, because it seems the ensuing blowout to the 49ers in San Francisco has left a permanent scar on this team.  The game felt in control early, as Sam Shields returned a Colin Kaepernick pass for 52 yards and a touchdown.  But then something bad happened: Kaepernick ran for 180 yards and 2 TDs. The 49ers dominated the game, rushing for 10 more first downs than the Packers and winning the time of possession battle 38:01 to 21:59.  This was the game in which the Packers' character was fully exposed as soft up the middle.

January 5, 2014: 49ers stifle Packers 23-20

It took a 65-yard drive from Kaepernick and a last second kick from Phil Dawson to defeat the Packers early last year in the Wild-Card round.  The Packers were actually somewhat of a comeback story, only regaining Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb from mid-season injuries in the prior week's win over Chicago.  Kaepernick not only squeezed off seven carries for almost 100 yards, he also out-dueled Rodgers in QBR, 88.8 to 57.6 and out-gained him 325 to 188 in terms of total yardage.  While not embarrassing, this loss was mixed-at-best when it comes to encouragement for another home game at Lambeau in two days.

Then again, this performance came after the Packers had a linebacking corps that was decimated by injuries, to the point where they were forced to trot out a hobbled Andy Mulumba and rookie defensive end Datone Jones for a few snaps each at outside linebacker.

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With that being said, how much stock are you putting in the last five years of playoff history for the Packers?