It almost feels like the Green Bay Packers are more comfortable like this.
Underdogs in the playoffs with no expectations.
That’s what they were as the No. 6 seed in 2010 when they won the Super Bowl and that’s what they are this year.
And no, we’re not saying they’re going to win the Super Bowl. We’re just saying they — especially quarterback Aaron Rodgers — appear to be more comfortable without hefty expectations. As such, Rodgers was quick to point out all of the pressure is on this week’s opponent, the Arizona Cardinals.
“Well, the pressure’s all going to be on them. They’re coming off a tough loss at home against Seattle,” Rodgers said. “Before that they blew us out. They’re the Super Bowl favorites, and obviously the favorite team on Saturday night, so we’ve just got to go out, be loose, let it all hang out, because the pressure’s all on that side.”
There’s certainly some truth to that, but we’re more interested in the Packers’ psyche.
We’re just going to go ahead and point out the obvious here.
When the Packers have had their best teams with Rodgers at the helm, they’ve experienced their worst playoff losses. I’m talking about 2011 and 2014, with losses to the Giants in the divisional round and the Seahawks in the NFC Championship, respectively.
Those two years in between, we all knew the defense wasn’t good enough for the Packers to make a run. They were good enough in 2011 and 2014, though. They just didn’t come through when it mattered.
What will they do this year?
Well, they’ll either disappoint us like usual or they’ll prove the theory that they only play well in the playoffs when the pressure is elsewhere.
Yes absolutely Monty. The Giants have perfected doing this better than anyone over the last 10 years. Just hang around all season, have your shit portion of the schedule when nothing is working, have the experts write you off, get into the playoff with a 9-7 or 10-6 record and a 5 or 6 seed then turn it on all the way to the SB. That’s pretty much the formula now.
I think any observant fan would probably scream yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!
That’s as true of the coaching staff as it is of the Packers’ players who account for the majority of their salary cap.
I’m hoping the Murphy’s Law bug that stung us last year, will bite the Cardinals on Saturday.
Defense will win game for us Sat night. Go Pack Go!!!
This is such bullshit. HOF caliber QBs perform at the level of their expectations. When Brady is expected to win…he wins. HOF caliber coaches win when they are favored to win. These are millionaire athletes and coaches that should not need an underdog label to “inspire” their efforts. Dynasty teams win when they are supposed to win. We don’t have a HOF quarterback or coach and we certainly are not a dynasty organization.
Stevie ?????
One of the more dumber posts I’ve read in a while ….
Stephen….There’s only so many Jay Cutlers available. We just got stuck with Rodgers.
Not a HOF qb? What have you been smoking?
Stephen, you just said Aaron Rodgers, the 2x league MVP, Super Bowl winner and MVP, with the highest career QB passer rating ever, and the best (by a good margin) TD to INT ratio ever, is not HOF material. Are you sure about that?
I guess we have different standards of what a HOF QB should be. One ring should not qualify a QB for the hall. Stats are just stats..we can fill the hall with Marino’s but it only waters it down. Rogers knows his stats are his legacy, and he plays to not throw picks and to maintain his extraordinary ratios. Playing a few more years like this one will ensure his spot in the hall, but it will not bring any hardware back to Lambeau.
They seem to work harder in the clinch. Come on guys, I live u but play every game like its the Superbowl in the second half. You kick ass, I love you. My family is all Packers.
I would love for the Packers to make a 2010 run. However, the comparisons are a little disconcerting.
The 2010 team had the 2nd best scoring defense and a top 10 offense. Its 4 losses with Aaron Rodgers were all by 3 points, and its two losses without Rodgers were by 4. They never trailed by more than 7 points all season.
After getting Rodgers back and winning the last 2 to make the playoffs, the Packers were the popular pick to win the NFC, regardless of their seed. They hardly came out of no where.
This Packers’ team has been blown out twice, swept at home by its division, and has one of the worst offenses in the league. Despite being the 5th seed, this team is a MUCH longer shot to win the Super Bowl than the 2010 team was.
Exactly right Shawn. Both teams were 10-6, But that is the only similarity. Just goes to show, that season records can be deceiving. Some simpletons may say to other Packer fans….”Shut up dude, they won 10 games, your not a real Packer fan!! <—- Lmao. When discussing the Packers, good or bad after games.
"Real" Packer fans, expect better sometimes, as do Packer players and coaches when you have a rare talent on the team.
Ron Wolf didn't resurrect the Packers franchise, by instilling into everyone that…..As long as we have a winning season, everything's cool. No, it was about winning fucking Championships. Not being 10-6.
Oh yeah facts and figures blah blah blah… What’s your point?
I think where we might have hope is in the potential of some of the players. In 2010 Nelson started to show more potential at the end of the season, then broke out in the playoffs. The same can be said of James Starks, who did nothing all year, then broke out with a 123 yard game in the playoffs.
Several of the Packer players, like Janis, Abbrederis, have some potential, and if the Packers can get them to deliver in the playoffs, the Packers have a chance.
Thanks for the reality check Shawn….
A win on Saturday night would be a pleasant surprise …
If you have to think about getting a boner you won’t get a boner.
absolutely!
if i ever had to “predict” i was going to get laid when heading out on a first date, guess what?
i didn’t.
2010 team was also never more than a 2.5 point underdog in any of those playoff games. Hardly a comparison to some of the wins the Giants pulled off in their wild card ventures
I think we have a HOF QB in the making. I do see the Packers as a dynasty.
I have no proof and statistics don’t seem to support this, but I think Aaron Rodgers has more energy and drive ON THE ROAD than at home. It always seems at home that he comes out and plays flat, although the defense plays much better and they win.