Official Week 18 vs Bears Pregame Thread

[milani]

If Washington is up on Dallas like they should be at halftime and MLF doesn’t sit some key starters the 2nd half, he better get ready for some angry fans and press if one of them suffers an injury that keeps them out of the game.

Yep.

 

[weeds]

I think it's funny that one of our Divisional 14 game winners goes on the road. Couldn't happen to a better group of guys no matter which one it is. I see a Lion is already on record making gurgling noises about that

 

[OldSchool101]

I think Lafleur himself said it best at a presser. "The best decision is the one that works out."

If I recall correctly he says a couple years ago he went in the middle and pulled players at Halftime. Then in the second half we let the game slip away and lost. Then we lost in our first playoff game and I think he kinda wondered if resting players for half a game had some carry over.

Yeah I mean if you rest players and poo the bed and carry it into postseason it’ll be like a mutiny in here
Heck I might lead the charge! Lol

Seriously though. I think overusage would be as dangerous as no usage.

 

[Firethorn1001]

Hurts is still working through the concussion protocol. Maybe he is in danger of missing the playoffs, maybe it is gamesmanship. Maybe the 7th seed isn't the worst thing in the world.

Now if Hurts misses the 1st round game and the Packers advance, that will immediately rile up the 'They didn't beat them at their best so this invalidates everything moving forward' crowd. But I'm not one of them.

 

[DoURant]

I see a Lion is already on record making gurgling noises about that

Just Win, Baby!! And it won't matter for your team. Tells me the Lions aren't confident they will beat the Vikings. That's just the way it is, and has always been. Under .500 division winners have hosted games in the past, suck it up, and welcome to playoff football.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Sounds like the Packers have ruled out the following players:

- Quay Walker (ankle)
- Evan Williams (quad)
- Zayne Anderson (concussion)

Along with Christian Watson, defensive end Brenton Cox (foot) is questionable.

 

[Pugger]

Just Win, Baby!! And it won't matter for your team. Tells me the Lions aren't confident they will beat the Vikings. That's just the way it is, and has always been. Under .500 division winners have hosted games in the past, suck it up, and welcome to playoff football.

The Lions' offense is still formidable but their defense is pretty beat up right now.

 

[Pkrjones]

Hurts is still working through the concussion protocol. Maybe he is in danger of missing the playoffs, maybe it is gamesmanship. Maybe the 7th seem isn't the worst thing in the world.

Now if Hurts misses the 1st round game and the Packers advance, that will immediately rile up the 'They didn't beat them at their best so this invalidates everything moving forward' crowd. But I'm not one of them.

Heck NO!! Anytime those arrogant, rude, Philly fans go home mad is a GREAT DAY for all of humanity. Take that win & enjoy. If we play the Eagles I think GB stands a decent chance, with or without Hurts.

 

[milani]

I think it's funny that one of our Divisional 14 game winners goes on the road. Couldn't happen to a better group of guys no matter which one it is. I see a Lion is already on record making gurgling noises about that

Not as bad as 1967 when the Baltimore Colts were 11-0-2 heading into the season finale against the Rams in LA. They lost the game and their season was officially OVER. Talk about a rip off.

 

[rmontro]

I don't want to end up 1-5 in the division. Plus if we lose this game, and lose the playoff game, that's ending the season with three straight losses. I can't see that happening.

 

[weeds]

I don't want to end up 1-5 in the division. Plus if we lose this game, and lose the playoff game, that's ending the season with three straight losses. I can't see that happening.

It's bad enough ending a a season on a 1 straight loss?!?!? (Huh?) It's been a long day...

 

[OldSchool101]

The Lions' offense is still formidable but their defense is pretty beat up right now.

Yes. Detroit will likely face 3 Top 10 Defenses if they advance to the SB. Decent chance they could face 2 of Eagles, Packers, Minnesota. Plus 1 of KC, Chargers, Pittsburgh etc.
Point being the first game they struggle to put up their typical 30+ they’ll be in trouble.

Interesting note. GB (+124) currently has the #5 best points for/against differential. Behind only Detroit, Philly, Baltimore and Buffalo.

 

[rmontro]

Interesting note. GB (+124) currently has the #5 best points for/against differential. Behind only Detroit, Philly, Baltimore and Buffalo.

Doesn't it feel like some years we would have a team good enough to win the Super Bowl, but right now there are other teams out there playing on an otherworldly level?

 

[lambeaulambo]

I actually prefer to see our division top heavy. Good way to come out of the depths and eat an oil can. ewww. Is that Gary Indiana? lol

 

[OldSchool101]

Doesn't it feel like some years we would have a team good enough to win the Super Bowl, but right now there are other teams out there playing on an otherworldly level?

2011 had that feel. We could outscore anyone. They (Fox) were pulling our game broadcasts in the middle of the 3rd Quarter because we were blowing teams out. I’ve never seen that before or since.
For me this year is such an anomoly. So one of the common 2 most arguments concerning GB is
1. We haven’t beat an elite team
2. The Elite Teams we’ve lost to by several points were only because it was “garbage time”.

I have to agree with #1.

I do not agree with #2. I say that because while we did get behind substantially in several contests
2A.We scored at will once we pushed
the ball downfield more assertively.
2B. We actually led the Eagles for 38 minutes and had we made our FG we would’ve led for 55+ minutes of that game.
2C. During our most recent loss at Detroit 30-33, while we were down
7-17 Halftime it never felt like we were out of that game. We also immediately took the lead at 11:30 in the 3rd Quarter 21-17, so that “garbage points” theory for elite competition doesn’t hold in either game.

 

[OldSchool101]

Doesn't it feel like some years we would have a team good enough to win the Super Bowl, but right now there are other teams out there playing on an otherworldly level?

2011 had that feel. We could outscore anyone. They (Fox) were pulling our game broadcasts in the middle of the 3rd Quarter because we were blowing teams out. I’ve never seen that before or since.
For me this year is such an anomoly. So one of the 2 most arguments concerning how bad GB is
1. We haven’t beat an elite team
2. The Elite Teams we’ve lost to by several points were only because it was “garbage time”.

I have to agree with #1. Although all but 1 contest was in reach late in the 4th Quarter (first Lions game at Lambeau).

I do not agree with #2. I say that because while we did get behind substantially in several contests
2A.on games we got behind, We scored at will once we pushed
the ball downfield more assertively.
2B. We actually led the Eagles for 38 minutes and had we made our FG we would’ve led for 55+ minutes of that game.
2C. During our most recent loss at Detroit 30-33, while we were down
7-17 Halftime it never felt like we were out of that game. We also immediately took the lead at 11:30 in the 3rd Quarter 21-17, so that “garbage points” theory for elite competition doesn’t hold.

 

[OldSchool101]

We have averaged a lowly 6 points per first half against Division teams, which sounds awful. But nobody mentions that we scored 18.5 points per game in the second half. That includes a game where our QB came back gimpy from 3 weeks off with a PCL and wearing a brace + a Rain game at GB where the #1 Detroit Offense scored 24 total in a slippery Slopfest. Even there we missed a 46 yard FG in the driving rain (McManus only miss) and we stalled on 4th n 1 at the Detroit 9 yard line (Downs). So that’s 6-10 points imo.

Now I’m not taking anything away from Detroit they were better on that day. I’m only saying I don’t normally make excuses for typical losses. This year
1. injuries to our QB bit us early.
2. Playing Placekicker Roulette hurt

The only thing I’ve noticed this year is we are running the ball significantly more than last season (or most seasons). Now that by itself is fine because we’ve had our success running it. However, the bigger imbalance seems to be we are more reluctant to pass for the first 2 Quarters also. So not only is the season more Run Heavy across all Quarters, but it’s even moreso prevalent in the first 2 Quarters.

The Vikings have the
#2 Run Defense
#28 Pass Defense.
In Week 17?
We Run 14; Pass 14 ratio in Qtrs 1-2

Seems to me that’s the perfect game to go 2:1 Pass to Run. Low n behold I typed that before I did the math!
we did just that..
We Run 11; Pass 22 in Quarters 3-4

 

[OldSchool101]

recommendation w/Chicago?
Defensively they are
#18 Pass D
#27 Run D

I’d Run it 1:1 like we did at Minnesota across Quarters 1-2. Might extend that or increase the Run 3:2 ratio in Qtr3-4 to keep Love protected (if we are having success and in the lead)

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Doesn't it feel like some years we would have a team good enough to win the Super Bowl, but right now there are other teams out there playing on an otherworldly level?

Guessing a lot of fan bases have this feeling about their teams too.

This would be a year that I wouldn't feel that way about the Packers. They are good, but not great or consistent enough. They have been aided this season by a pretty healthy roster, and some breaks the way their schedule fell.

Winning a Super Bowl is plausible, but a long shot for this team, this season.

They are a very young team, often making very young mistakes. Give then another year or 2 of seasoning and I think as long as Gute can keep the core team together, this could be a very good team.

 

[JoePack]

Ok, here's a thought since we have no bye.
Against the bears
1. Play back-ups the 1st half. Check out the Washington game for 2nd half strategy.
2. Play starters the 2nd half to work on improving our 2nd half strategy(which hasn't been the best) so now they've played and are ready for the playoffs.
As far as Injuries, it doesn't matter. We need to have a positive attitude and expect to win each and every game.
GO PACK.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I think this game means a few million things to Sean Rhyan!

Rhyan is hoping to be financially aided by the proven performance escalator (PPE) program to better compensate non-first-round players on rookie contracts who play a starting share of snaps for their franchise.

Rhyan has to play at least 65 snaps tomorrow, to hit a 35 percent mark over three years. If Rhyan only plays 64 snaps, the guard will make $1.13 million in 2025 instead of $3.05 million.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Ok, here's a thought since we have no bye.
Against the bears
1. Play back-ups the 1st half. Check out the Washington game for 2nd half strategy.
2. Play starters the 2nd half to work on improving our 2nd half strategy(which hasn't been the best) so now they've played and are ready for the playoffs.
As far as Injuries, it doesn't matter. We need to have a positive attitude and expect to win each and every game.
GO PACK.

That's a "Big No" for me. Putting your starters in after maybe what, 15 minutes to warm-up and stretch, after standing on the sidelines for an hour or so in frigid temps?

Whether they play in the 1st half or 2nd half, the "momentum" or "improvement" in their play is nothing but fan speak to me. These guys have already played 16 games and practiced for 6+ months together, running around on the frozen tundra for 30 more minutes isn't going to change a whole lot, except possibly the score or the number of players injured.

 

[rmontro]

This would be a year that I wouldn't feel that way about the Packers. They are good, but not great or consistent enough. They have been aided this season by a pretty healthy roster, and some breaks the way their schedule fell.

They're top 10 offensively and defensively, ordinarily that would put them in the conversation. Being relatively healthy helps too. The main thing against them is their performance against elite teams, and there are an unusual number of them this year.

 

[OldSchool101]

They're top 10 offensively and defensively, ordinarily that would put them in the conversation. Being relatively healthy helps too. The main thing against them is their performance against elite teams, and there are an unusual number of them this year.

Amen. To Pokers credit he’s right we have not been consistent enough. We’ve had a few great performances. Probably the best was the shutout in Seattle and idc if their QB was out. QB2 should put them in position to score at minimum once per half of game. Seattle also had their starting Defense so 34 points id unacceptable for a team that should be playing keep away with a RB2 Charbonney that everyone pregame was touting he was coming in hot.

 

[OldSchool101]

The main thing against them is their performance against elite teams, and there are an unusual number of them this year.

THIS. While I’ve been desperately holding onto this as optimism it is still the absolute truth.
1. The teams we are talking about are at KC level in my estimation. Maybe our North teams are statistically better than KC, but KC gets respect for consistency in close games. Still our Division leaders are very similar in strength to KC imo. Eagles are maybe that “Near Elite” (like us) team. No other team played 4 Elite teams. Which is why our SOS is out of whack. Everyone claims we played easier teams and they are 100% correct. We demolished them as a whole. But the Packers 4 top heavy Elite matches were so regular that it took a weaker schedule and turned it into the 5th toughest schedule leaguewide. We have rye #1 toughest SOS across 7 seeds of NFC playoff teams.

Let me ask this question. I want anyone reading this to give me a simple yes or no. No buts. No if’s. No extraneous attachments or excuses.

Had Darnold injured in Week 1 and came back with a brace in Week 4 and Love never injured and came into Week 4 on a roll at 3-0. Would the Vikings AND Packers have performed the exact same at Lambeau?

Would the betting odds by an objective source remain the exact same knowing what we know today if we switched the injury situation?

If you truthfully answered NO to both questions. It’s not an excuse. That first MN game was NOT on level playing field. Any home field was erased and then some by Love being injured.

The latest 2 Division matches are more accurately depicting where we really are ON THE ROAD
1. A walk off FG In a Tie game
2. A walk off 3rd Completion with a 2 point margin expiring the Gameclock.

I’d say we’re pretty darn close to Elite. If those guys are a 9.0 we’re an 8.5