Green Bay worked hard to win that top playoff seed. While most fans and pundits sense the importance of that achievement, there are many who only appreciate that it bestows home advantage on the Pack and gives the players an extra week of rest. But there’s a bunch of additional reasons that obtaining top seeding is so valuable.
1. The top seed in the NFC and AFC only has to win two games to go on to the Super Bowl. No matter who the opponent is, misfortune can befall the higher-ranked team in any game. A fumble here, a pick-6 there, a critical dropped pass, or a bad call by the referees can send the stronger team packing. With the closeness of most games lately, not having to win an extra game is a huge help.
2. Because they are the top seed, Green Bay will get to play the remaining worst seed in both their first and second games. The lower seeded teams (Bucs, Cowboys, etc.) will face teams that are arguably better than the one the Pack will play. That’s a big bonus.
3. Top seeds not only get an extra week of rest, they get an additional week of injury recovery time. This is a windfall for the Packers, as it affects so many key players: David Bakhtiari, Josh Myers, Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith, Randall Cobb, Marquez Valdes-Scantling – and even Aaron Rodgers. This factor alone justifies how resolutely the Packers fought to reel off consecutive wins from Week 12 through 17. Along the way they passed by Tampa Bay and Dallas.
4. Then there’s the matter of new injuries. In any given game, but especially so in all-out, win-or-go-home playoff scenarios, you should anticipate two or three players will have to leave that extra game due to injuries. You can also expect that one or more of those players will either miss the remainder of their playoff games, or be at less than full capacity for them. I’d say there’s a 50-50 chance that the Packers won’t be facing one of its playoff opponents’ top five players due to an injury that took place during wild card weekend.
5. By not having to play in the wild card round, the coaching staffs of the #1 seeds are afforded lots of time to deeply analyze and scout its most likely opponents, and have the team get lots of practice at plays and formations they’ll want to use against particular opponents. Green Bay will also have ample time to rehearse a trick play or two.
Conclusion
If our beloved Packers make it to the Super Bowl this time, fans should look back to that late-season running of the table against LAR, CHI, BAL CLE, and MIN. It was something the Cards couldn’t accomplish (6 losses in a row to end the season). Tampa Bay couldn’t get it done (shut out by the Saints in Week 15). The Rams couldn’t do it (Week 12 loss to GB, Week 18 loss to 49ers). The Niners couldn’t do it (Week 13 loss to Seahawks, Week 16 loss to Titans). The Titans couldn’t do it (3 losses in their final seven games). Nor could the Cowboys (Week 17 loss to the Cardinals).
Packer fans should be eager and confident as the playoffs near. No team is more primed and ready to win it all this time around.
Rob gets it….as do other Packer fans here.
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Securing the #1 seed in your conference yields many benefits, as Rob accurately pointed out.
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If some jag bag tells us that isn’t important, that pulling out your starters in week 14 is a better strategy, tell him to eat a d***.
He explained to us that securing the # 1 seed didn’t do any good last season, so it isn’t that important.
That is the simplistic mindset of a losers mentality.
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In related……
Can we win the Super Bowl? Are the Packers ready to reach that level?
I would say no.
BUT…anything can happen, on any given Sunday, as Rob pointed out.
Yes, i, like everyone else, have concerns about the defense.
I have concerns about the O line against teams with strong fronts, with/without Bakhtiari.
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Some things are pivotal here for success……..
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Some luck getting players back.
Hoping those players can shake off the rust quickly. (it’s a real thing)
Hoping Barry and his staff can step up the game plan and scheme’s.
Hoping LeFleur, Hackett, Rodgers can game plan and execute effectively in negating a strong pass rush.
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Lets be honest…last season, like the Chiefs, Tampa beat us with pressure up front.
Of course, the 3 gimmie TD’s allowed by King and Amos didn’t help the cause.
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* About the O line…..
Look….i’m going to give the O line some credit. With a number of starters out, and some back ups playing starter roles, plus a 3rd stringer playing right tackle.
They performed better than i thought….
What i mean is, i thought this line would be a serious train wreck.
They aren’t very good overall, no other team is wishing they had our O line.
But for what it is, they’ve kept it together.
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Conclusion…….
Our team may not be Championship caliber.
But with some great coaching, some starters coming back.
The #1 seed….
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju2FSUCiVfQ
Good article Rob. The extra week also allows the luxury of extended practice time to incorporate all the personal coming back from injury. If GB had to play this weekend, there maybe a tendency to focus on the players that are ready now…
“Our team may not be Championship caliber.
But with some great coaching, some starters coming back.
The #1 seed….”
Way to play the middle of the road so you dont have to take ownership of your pick. So if we win it all you can say “well I said we could get lucky…” and if we lose you can say “see i told you so..” Weak ass shit.
My question to you would be: “if the Packers arent Championship quality, then who is?” Because someone has to win it. You cant just say the Packers are up to the level of being Champion unless you have other teams who you consider the better bet. So who is it? The Rams? Ill take Aaron Rodgers over Matt Stafford in cold Green Bay ANY DAY and twice on Sunday. Tampa? That team is a shadow of itself. Dangerous but not last years team. Dallas? Mike Mccarthy, enough said. San Fran? Again see QB comparisons….
Id say given the NFC opponents the Packers may face they are just as much of a “championship caliber” team as any of the others.
What happened to your all in non dying love and faith in your man Arodge?
I would say, the Pack have as good as or better chance of making the SB over NFC opponents. The Packers have their flaws but so do other teams. GPG!
Rebel…You and Tommi should get together at a McDonalds, order from the dollar menu, then go sit in a booth and be angry together for 7 or 8 hours.
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I stick by my post (words) like i’ve always done for 10 years.
Pieces of the puzzle would have to come together to win a Championship.
I’ll believe it when i see it. When it’s proven.
Come open up your cum gullet after they win it all.
Then you can spew your loudmouth soup.
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They lost to Detroit, they gave up over 200 yards on the ground to the Browns.
They got beat by the vikings.
The defense gave up almost 27 PPG over the last 7 games.
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It’s not about playing the middle of the road.
It’s about laying the truth out there.
Is it possible the Packers could win a Super Bowl?
Of course it’s possible.
It’s possible i could win Powerball.
It’s even possible you could write something of value in here someday.
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But i’m not calling the Packers Championship caliber, because like the last two years….i’ve been saying….prove your Championship caliber, win something.
Somebody could tell us the vikings are playoff caliber.
That doesn’t make it so.
It has to be proven.
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I’ve been saying i didn’t think the Packers were Championship caliber, until they prove it.
I’ve been saying that for 3 years now.
What about that….do you not understand?
If/when i’m wrong….i’d be very, very happy.
They gave up 37 points to Detroit…..FUCKING DETROIT?
How did our star OLB’s perform?….against DETROIT.
Gary had 2 solo tackles and 0 sacks…against DETROIT
Preston Smith had 0 solo tackles, and 0 sacks…against DETROIT.
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Sounds exactly like Mike Daniels numbers in the playoffs.
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Wait until we see what happens.
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In the meantime…regale us with your stories how Aaron Rodgers is too old, how he’s washed up, how he’ll never be the same. Entertain us.
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Life is good Rebel…stop being so angry all the time.
“What happened to your all in non dying love and faith in your man Arodge?” – rebel
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Can one player win a Super Bowl by himself rebel, or does it take a team effort?
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Are you new here, or do you not quite understand the game of football yet?
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Just like i said 5 years ago, back when you said Rodgers career was over and he’s washed up.
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“I’ll ride with Rodgers until the end”
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I’m tiring of you rebel…step up your game, this is too easy.
“I’m tiring of you rebel…step up your game, this is too easy.”- Yawn, another meaningless middle of the road garb. Is that all you got? The only thing easy is your Mom bro, just ask me and the 2 other guys from last night. If your going to try to make up an argument of why the Packers arent championship caliber, you might want to not bring up the last game of the season that was completely meaningless to the team, its players, and the organization. A game that saw a team with the #1 seed all wrapped up play a team that considered the game its 1 week super bowl.
But hey, youve never been anything but fluff. Thats why when real posters were on this site you were a whipping boy. I do find you entertaining though, so keep it up…
The number one seed also allows Rodgers to play his final game as a Packer at Lambeau. There’s no doubt having the number one seed is an advantage especially since there’s only one team in each conference that gets a bye. But it’s hardly a recipe for success. We’ve lost at home and the on the road in the playoffs over the last decade. Getting Alexander, ZaDarius, and Whitney back on defense. With Bakhtiari, Myers, Turner, and Cobb on offense is infinitely more important. The fact we have both is reason to be cautiously optimistic. If we can run the ball and play defense, we can beat anyone. If it turns into a shoot out then expect to be disappointed. And if Rodgers throws an INT, it’s over. He’ll sulk and his body language will make you think it’s Jay Cutler roaming the sidelines. Next year, Rodgers will be losing playoff games in Denver with Hackett as his HC and Getsy as his OC. That is, if he can beat Mahomes, Herbert, and Carr who’ll have to face each twice. There’s no Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff, or Justin Fields in the AFC west. Rodgers won’t be “owning” anyone.
“If your going to try to make up an argument of why the Packers aren’t championship caliber, you might want to not bring up the last game of the season that was completely meaningless to the team, its players, and the organization.”
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Gee…another tough one rebel…(yawn)
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You want an argument why they aren’t Championship caliber without bringing up a meaningless game Sparky?
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Gee….How about watching the last 2 NFCCG’s. (YAWN)
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Like i said….easy.
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“The only thing easy is your Mom bro, just ask me and the 2 other guys from last night.”- rebel
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I’d ask my mom herself, bro…but i’d have to dig down 6 feet and i don’t think she would answer me bro….
Stay classy rebel
He doesn’t have to bring up the last game of the season. All he has to do is mention Rodgers 8 INT’s in the last 4 NFCC games. That says it all. Rodgers will fold like a cheap suit when he throws his first INT. That’s why it’s imperative that we run the ball and play defense. Rodgers couldn’t carry this team in the playoffs at 28. He sure as shit can’t do it now at 38. He can’t hit MVS on a deep route. The beauty is, he doesn’t have to. Run the ball, play defense, and convert a few third downs to Davante Adams. But “Mr Book Club” has to be the center of attention and make it all about him. That’s when things go off the rails. We’ll get first and goal inside the 5 yard line and Rodgers will pass on three straight plays to pad his stats rather than give the ball to big back like Dillion who averages over 4 yards per carry. That way PF4L will piss himself just talking about Erin’s stats. Then tell us, “it wasn’t my boyfriend’s fault!” Sure. Every time we settle for FG’s instead of TD’s inside the red zone it’s because we’ve abandoned the running game and it’s now time to cater to little Erin’s vanity. Every DC knows what’s coming. And that has nothing to do with the Detroit game. I wouldn’t talk about anyone else’s mom, PF4L. Back in the day, I hear your mom was popular at every truck stop in Wisconsin. Which explains your superior intellect.
All very good points Rob. I do think the additional week(s) off for injury recovery will also help Campbell and A. Jones. Jones looked a little gimpy in the Vikings game and Campbell definitely hurt his elbow in the 4th quarter of the Browns game. The only concern I have ever had about an extra week off is some teams including the Packers can start games slow after a week or two off.
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The good thing about the Packers at home. The Packers offense average score at home is 30.6 ppg with a 22.8 ppg away. The Packer defense allows an average of 16.8 ppg at home and 26.3 ppg away. That is a whopping 17.3 point differential in a good way between at home games vs away games. No other NFC playoff team has that high of a Home/away differential. TB is the closest at 13 points. I don’t know if the Packers can win it all, but I do know that the odds are a hell of a lot better for the Packers at Home than away and an extra week of recovery and preparation can’t hurt.
Howard, good point about the week off, since unlike last year when the team was potent scoring in the 1st quarter; this year the offense has struggled. Also, they have been sluggish after buy weeks. Another concern I have is, will the players that have been on IR be in football shape come next weekend. With the talent they have at RB, I’d like to see more of those backs—- especially this time of the year.
Tom M January 16, 2022
I wouldn’t talk about anyone else’s mom, PF4L. Back in the day, I hear your mom was popular at every truck stop in Wisconsin. Which explains your superior intellect.
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As if, i was talking about someone else’s mom.
Try understanding what you read Gomer
What a clueless fuck this Tommi is.
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Stay classy Tommi
Used to be called a jump-o-line until your mom got on it back in ’85.
“All he has to do is mention Rodgers 8 INT’s in the last 4 NFCC games.” – Tommi
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So stats are allowed..when they serve your narrative Tommi?
But otherwise, no one else can use them?
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Princess….You are a special kind of Moron.
Big Mike will need to eat his failure feelings…again. Nepotism boy REALLY tried to lose but McIncompetent was just worse as usual.
Big Mike will need to eat his losing feelings…again. Nepotism Boy REALLY tried to lose but McIncompetent was just worse as usual.
He can’t add, in the last 4 NFCC games it was 6 int, not 8. It was 8 in all 5 NFCC games. He can’t even get stats right when he choses to use them. That might explain why he only uses them sparingly
The last 2 NFCCG’s have nothing to do with anything. This is a new year and a different team. Every year is different. This team is more physical than last years team, which should be huge boost at home with 80k+ screaming fans and expected cold weather. I dont like playing the 49ers, they are definitely our worst match up. However unlike the last time we played them in the playoffs, this Packer team is the more talented team between the 2. Also Arodge is having a special year. I dont see him getting beat by Jimmy G. Not this time around.
I do expect the Packers will win Sunday. I think we run successfully and Arodge throws a couple of TD’s. It might not even be that close, i wouldnt be surprised at all.
The good thing about beating San Fran on Sunday is they really are the only real opposition i see to the Packers SB hopes. So after we beat them its time to start looking online at tickets to the bid dance.
Well, who woulda thunk that the Bengal-Raider game would have been the exciting game over the weekend. The others were literally blowouts; except for the Cowboy-Niners game. Speaking of the Cowboy-Niners game, I’ve been watching football for a long time, (since the mid 60s’) and I can’t recall ever seeing a team in a playoff scenario, at home; put in a performance like the Cowboys did. It was a combination of poor discipline, head scratch play calling, 14 penalties, totally bad clock management, and the ending of that game was unlike anything I ever witnessed. That loss is on EVERONE in the Cowboy org!
Do any of the regulars on this actually believe the Packers have a chance to win the Super Bowl? Although the Packers have the best record against playoff teams in the NFL, it just seems to me that this team isn’t built for a Championship run. The 49ers have at least a 50/50 chance of taking them out, because as we have seen the last month or so, the Packers can’t stop the run if a team commits to it and the 49ers will certainly commit to the run. I think the Packers 4.7 yards a carry this season is the worst in team history.
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But it was a nice almost 30 years of NFL success and Rodgers had maybe the best accuracy in the history of the NFL and the mobility and smarts to win a lot of games for the Packers single handedly.
rebelgb January 17, 2022
The last 2 NFCCG’s have nothing to do with anything.
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But my Mom does, so you bring her up as being easy with you and 2 other guys?
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GFY rebel, you classless P.O.S.
For the classless and the clueless…the Packers/49ers game is on Sat night at 7:15 PM.
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“The good thing about beating San Fran on Sunday is they really are the only real opposition i see to the Packers SB hopes. So after we beat them its time to start looking online at tickets to the bid dance.” – rebel
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Ummm…so if we beat the 9ers, buy your Packer SB tickets?
Is the bid dance the NFCCG, or the Super Bowl?”
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One of these days rebel, one of these days, you might say something intelligent….we’ll keep waiting.
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Ferris…watching the Cowboys lose is almost as good as watching the vikings miss the playoffs …again.
What say you Tommi?
So Jerry Jones is distraught. He knows he has all the players to win.
But somethings wrong…..
Let me chime in here with my .02 guess.
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No player discipline.
Sure…blame the players…but the coaches are to blame, they are in charge, and they let it continue without correcting it.
See Mike McCarthy – Green Bay Packers
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Know the rules….
Don’t blame the official after the game when the truth is, you don’t know the rule of how a play is properly started (according to the rules of the NFL).
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This isn’t the first time McWalrus didn’t know the rules.
I can remember McCarthy throwing a flag and Jordy Nelson trying to pick it up because Nelson knew it wasn’t a challengeable play.
McCarthy was flagged for a 5 yard penalty.
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I think Jerry Jones is pissed.
Pissed enough to swallow McCarthy’s contract…..idk.
Jerry is a forgiving guy. Just ask Jimmy J. Cowboys losing is enjoyable. But if the Packers lose it will not be as fun. Matt S. won his first playoff game too…let that sink in. Those Detroit losers have not won a playoff game since 1991. Majikman was at QB for Green Bay then. Wow. Stafford leaves and gets his first playoff win year 1.