It’s do-or-die time for the Green Bay Packers – and for the Detroit Lions – this weekend. This is the time for team leaders and clutch players to come forward and make a key difference in the game.
Who will step up and provide the heroics on Sunday?
Last weekend it was Clay Matthews, who contributed a strip sack, which reversed the game’s momentum and led to Green Bay’s second touchdown.
The week before that it was Ty Montgomery and his 162-yard rushing assault on the Bears.
Earlier in the year, Davante Adams was dominant in the win over Chicago on October 20.
On the defensive side, Damarious Randall’s knockdown of an otherwise sure winning touchdown pass was the play that preserved the first win against Detroit. Micah Hyde made a great play in similar circumstances two weeks ago against the Bears. And both Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Chicago) and Damarious Randall (Seattle) have had two-interception games in December.
My Playmaker Pick
I like the guy who has as much to play for as anyone on Green Bay’s roster. He’s no stranger to being named an All Pro. And he’s come through before in win-or-go-home scenarios.
It’s Julius Peppers.
Green Bay’s next loss will almost certainly be Peppers’ final game in the NFL. Peppers knows how close the Packers were to making a run last year — before another player who’s had a great career, Larry Fitzgerald, became Arizona’s playmaker.
Peppers came to Green Bay in large part to get a Super Bowl ring. With the way Aaron Rodgers is playing, that dream is still alive and getting more plausible every week.
We only have to go back two weeks to see the impact Peppers can still make – it was his strip-sack of Bears’ QB Matt Barkley on the first play of the third quarter that changed the momentum of a tie game.
I’m also factoring in that Clay Matthews is returning to form. He and Peppers collaborate well together as pass rushers, and they can’t both be double-teamed.
Additionally, Peppers is quite rested, as he was only used on 42 out of 78 defensive plays against the Vikings – and he and his teammates also got an extra day’s rest due to the Vikings game being on a Saturday.
Finally, the Lions’ offensive line is weak. They’ve already given up 38 sacks on the year – 10th most in the NFL.
Sunday would be an ideal time for the future Hall of Famer to come through with some big plays.
23 Comments
When he was in Chicago I used to give him shit because it appeared he’d only show up in big games
But in those games he’d try to fuckin murder Rodgers
I’ve stopped giving him shit a while ago, and it’s clear he knows when to show up big. He’s my pick as well
I think it’s cool that Peppers can show up once in awhile and make a play. I just figured that was why we pay him his millions.
A lot of players in the league get paid millions and don’t know a big play from their own ass
So if he makes a play it’s…like a bonus……cool
Dont recall Chicago having had alot of “big games” during Peppers’ time there….
Maybe that explains why hes still has reserves to play at his age in GB….
Just sayin’
I’d like to hand out a couple of 2016 year end awards.
1st) Most entertaining article, with commentary (told you you’d win an award Mordi :)
http://sgtest.totalpackers.com/2016/10/packers-fan-stabs-vikings-fan-not-well-enough/
Viking fan fights vandal over a toy, gets 75 stitches in his head.
PF4L
10/12/2016 at 3:46 pm
Viking fan to vandal: “Watch it fucker!!…You can cut me up, but i’ll be damned if i’m gonna let you cut up my inflatable viking toy.”
Sorry folks….but i love this story…Thank you Mordi.
2nd) Two of thee dumbest comments made in 2016 (maybe ever).
PACKATTACK
01/03/2016 at 9:17 pm
I’m sorry to say it —- but it’s the hard cold truth. Rodgers is finished. He just doesn’t have it anymore.
He’s the new RG3, Colin Kaepernick, however you want to shape it. The guy is beyond a capable performer at this point. Blame Olivia Munn.
PACKATTACK
09/19/2016 at 11:33 pm
Aaron Rodgers….Finished
Hate to say it —- but it’s true. Rodgers days as an elite QB1 are over. Go ahead, tell me to fuck off and tell me how big of a panicky loser I am — I’m telling you straight up, he’s done.
(FUCK OFF)
STRAIGHT UP…. HE’S DONE
I said it too. I still don’t understand how he went from an 88 QB rating the first 10 games or so to a 120+ QB rating the last 5. I can’t remember a slumping quarter like that in history. My theories are that the return of Jordy Nelson has boosted his confidence or that basically Rodgers had been trying to get McCarthy fired the last year and half and simply gave up on his attempt.
PF4L
09/20/2016 at 5:41 am
But regardless, you have every right to make your own judgement on Rodgers, and i for one will respect it. You have every right to jump off the Rodgers bandwagon. Someone else will take your seat. But in the future, just remember that it’s full.
How about offensive playmaker? Montgomery? Adams? Cobb, (if he plays)? Cook? Lots of choices here.
Peppers won’t have a good game and here’s why.
Revenge is the greatest motivation in the sports. Peppers only had a good game against the Bears because he wanted revenge. He has no revenge against Lions. He’ll be a non-factor.
Now if the corners don’t step up, the best the Packers can hope for is a nail biter victory for the Pack , with a good chance of it instead being a Lions victory with the defense giving up game winning score at the end or a complete blowout by the Lions.
Didn’t Peppers have a strip sack against the Lions in the Hail Mary game last year setting up a needed Packer TD in the second half?
Nick Perry: ‘Win or go home’
(1:27) By packers.com – Posted Dec 30, 2016
“Everybody know’s what’s at stake. It’s win or go home.” – N. Perry
I guess someone should explain to Nick the playoff picture.
It’s the right mindset at least. I would rather them prepare and go into the game thinking they have to win. Especially since the giants likely won’t play their starters for long against the redskins.
At worst it’s a player that somewhat clueless.
Ugh. No predictions article yet. Idk that the packers can win a sixth straight game. I am a little worried about this game. Peppers will be an important factor if they win.
If losing isn’t going to initiate change, as the winning streak ended that theory. Might as well see the Packers in the playoffs.
Would be nice to beat Detroit and run the table. Which is a minor miracle.
But does anyone honestly believe the Packers have a chance to get to the NFCCG? Super Bowl?
Nope. Well, maybe the NFCCG. The NFC isn’t super strong this year. Although I don’t see them beating the cowboys
Actually just saw a report that Ted Thompson could step aside after the season so the packers can promote Eliot Wolf. Ian Rappaport report.
There is a Santa Claus !!!
My letter to him included the wish that he’d take Capers with him……
Can still hope….
It could happen. I also could win the lottery.
Kinda sad that “what could happen” is now considered news.
Peppers is a good choice. Allison showed some spark last week. If Cobb is out, maybe Allison has a big day.
Looks like you called it Gort. Good job! Of course nobody expected the unveiling of the new secret weapon in Ripkowski and the resurgence of the FB position either. This part of the offense reminds me of 2010. The defense…not so much.