Athletes never really admit that THIS game carries a little extra weight, but members of the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots seemed to do just that after Sunday’s match-up.
Yes, it was a marquee late-season match-up of an AFC and NFC power. However, such games, played in the regular season, don’t carry the weight of a game between, say, the top two teams in a particular division.
The latter games truly affect who makes the playoffs and the team’s seeding therein.
But Packers-Patriots was different, at least from the players’ perspective. Both teams felt they had something to prove and both teams wanted to prove it.
“We kind of told you guys earlier in the week that it was just another game. We were lying. I bet you probably knew that already, but we were lying. It was a huge game. And we were fortunate enough to get that win,” Packers cornerback Micah Hyde said.
The refrain was similar from a number of other Packers, but so was the message that this is just one game and no one has won anything of note yet.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ response to the victory was measured. He chose to focus on the fact that the offense was 0-for-4 in the red zone.
“It was a good win for us. We had some struggles in the red zone, kicked some field goals, but the defense came up big when we needed it and we just had enough offense there to win,” Rodgers said.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid to share his emotions.
“I just wish we won this one,” Brady said. “I think we put a lot into this one. This was a great test for us. I think the guys knew how important it was for our season, and you hate to have the ball on the 20-yard line under 3 minutes with a chance to go ahead — and not do it. I think that sucked.”
Such a response from Brady was probably to be expected, especially after his sideline outburst at the end of the game. Clearly, he was invested in the outcome.
In hindsight, it’s hard to remember a regular season game involving the Packers in recent memory quite like this one. Two great teams and a great game where everyone was emotionally invested.
The intensity gave it a playoff-like feel.
Hopefully, that doesn’t mean the Packers will follow it up with a dud.
2 Comments
How is it not a big game? To stay in front of the division and gain on the number one seed for the NFC to bring the playoffs through Lambeau is a big deal! Not to mention they played a very good team and handled them.
yep, and the most hyped game in the nfl so far this season, and i think the media’s most oft-quoted quip since the hindenburg is turning out to be:
R–E–L–A–X