Packers vs Vikings Game Thread: I hate that Horn Edition

[tynimiller]

Alexander has issues coming back from injuries. Something isn't right. I think he"s going to cut in the off season which starts in 2 weeks. Packers got beat on the LOS again. That's where the lack of athleticism really shows up. I posted earlier this week that the makeshift secondary wasn't going to cut it. That wasn't surprising. What was the surprise is how poorly the offense played.

He won’t get cut, well id place it behind:

(in no order)
Trade
Restructure/paycut
Nothing happens

 

[Pugger]

I forgot how much i hate the vikes.
If we face a tough offense in Playoffs, we must have Robert Salah help out his good friends on the staff, Hafley and MLF.
I don't know who to blame because when the offense isn't clicking, then it's tough on the D.

For me it is hard to rag on the D when you have PS players starting in the secondary.

 

[tynimiller]

Of course they are not. Is anyone claiming they are, though?

I think it is pretty clear that they *are* indeed better than us. And so as I've been saying...we will need to have an "up" game and them a "down" one to have a chance.

But it's not just about the Vikings either. There are three teams ahead of us in the NFC standings (not playoff seeds, of course). Lions, Vikings, Eagles. And all five of our losses have came against those teams. With only one game remaining against the Bears, if nothing else it's not particularly encouraging to be heading into the playoffs with us having been incapable thus far of beating a team that is "better" than us.


My point was not to say that we have always been terrible or anything like that, but rather that more or less in the "LaFleur era" when all the chips are down in high-stakes/high-importance situations it seems like more often than not *we* are the side coming up short. Like I said, be honest: how many of us were confident *we* would be the ones making the stop there to get the ball back for the win? I have to think that your average Minnesota fan is considerably more confident in their team's ability to close out that game than your average Packer fan is (or should be) in their team's ability to get the stop and get in a position to win.


And why does it consistently feel like this is the case in the big games?

And...why does it consistently feel like this is ALSO the case?

How true is that, though? We've got one game left in the season and we still apparently don't know where our ceiling is. Having lost every time we have played a "better" opponent, Jaire or not...what reason do we have to be confident that it is "good and capable" enough to get over the hill the next time around?


Here is the part that I take issue with though (and likewise: It's nothing personal here, either). But a lot of this line of thinking feels like the same as the old saying, "crap in one hand and wish in the other and see which fills up faster". You don't win any awards for "being able to hang with anyone".

As before...why does it consistently feel like this is the case?

And...stop me if you've heard this one before...why does this too seem to consistently be the case?
This is what I also mean by "always the bridesmaid, never the bride": we are constantly talking about how IF all these pieces finally coalesce and come together then we'll make some noise. Just endlessly frustrating year after year to have that one or two (or more) pieces that never actually come together: IF we get healthy, IF our "project players" we drafted make good on their potential, IF one of our WRs becomes a #1 for us, IF our players execute better, IF we clean up our penalties, and so on and so forth. Just feels like there is always going to be one or two big IFs in the way, and that's a real bummer.

That's the trouble for me. Like above: Maybe that's the case but we haven't shown it yet. 0/5 against the teams who are ahead of us. It seems like we are stuck in that "good enough to compete but not win" bracket at the moment. Of course it's possible, but again I'll ask: if we are being honest with ourselves, who is confident that this WILL happen come playoff time? Not "I think it could happen" but "I believe this will happen". That's where the sticky point is for me.

You know what seems familiar? The fact the Packers despite everything have ALMOST ALWAYS been one of the best teams in the league which is very hard to win in.

Perfect? Heck no.

 

[Pugger]

Good grief... the difference between Darnold and Love is just shocking. Love looks like a 3rd stringer out there, and Darnold looks like Tom Brady V2. Even the real Tom Brady said it, the Packers aren't even in the same league as the Vikings.

Holy ****, look at Cooper! Wow!!!!

Anyway... this team is badly lacking leadership - on the field and - sadly - on the sideline (Lafleur, a legitimate COY candidate in 23 is just looking foolish this year.) We have too many young players, and need some veterans who can step up and rally the team.

Hopefully Lafleur learns from this year, and doesn't outsmart himself in every big game next season.

Jesus, Jacobs got robbed.

Darnold's OL played much better than ours did. Sam had all day back there a lot.

 

[JoePack]

GB doesn’t need Jefferson level. They do 100% need a Jameson Williams to Tee Higgins 1,000 yard 10 TD type.

Ever notice every time Heath comes in he catches the ball. Maybe not a Jefferson but I see him as very reliable. Hope they keep him.

 

[tynimiller]

Darnold's OL played much better than ours did. Sam had all day back there a lot.

I think part of that was our front failed tho too. Their front was much better attacking this game it seemed consistently.

 

[Pugger]

Josh Jacobs has no catches today, and Kraft has 1, that can't happen

I think Kraft had 2 but point taken.

 

[gopkrs]

Ever notice every time Heath comes in he catches the ball. Maybe not a Jefferson but I see him as very reliable. Hope they keep him.

And play him.

 

[Magooch]

You know what seems familiar? The fact the Packers despite everything have ALMOST ALWAYS been one of the best teams in the league which is very hard to win in.

Perfect? Heck no.

I guess they'll need to put another panel next to "World Champions" on the scoreboard for "Almost Always One of the Best Teams in the League".

At least it would be pretty full.

 

[DoURant]

I think Kraft had 2 but point taken.

He did, but at the time of my post, with 13 minutes left in the game, he only had 1.

 

[milani]

Of course they are not. Is anyone claiming they are, though?

I think it is pretty clear that they *are* indeed better than us. And so as I've been saying...we will need to have an "up" game and them a "down" one to have a chance.

But it's not just about the Vikings either. There are three teams ahead of us in the NFC standings (not playoff seeds, of course). Lions, Vikings, Eagles. And all five of our losses have came against those teams. With only one game remaining against the Bears, if nothing else it's not particularly encouraging to be heading into the playoffs with us having been incapable thus far of beating a team that is "better" than us.


My point was not to say that we have always been terrible or anything like that, but rather that more or less in the "LaFleur era" when all the chips are down in high-stakes/high-importance situations it seems like more often than not *we* are the side coming up short. Like I said, be honest: how many of us were confident *we* would be the ones making the stop there to get the ball back for the win? I have to think that your average Minnesota fan is considerably more confident in their team's ability to close out that game than your average Packer fan is (or should be) in their team's ability to get the stop and get in a position to win.


And why does it consistently feel like this is the case in the big games?

And...why does it consistently feel like this is ALSO the case?

How true is that, though? We've got one game left in the season and we still apparently don't know where our ceiling is. Having lost every time we have played a "better" opponent, Jaire or not...what reason do we have to be confident that it is "good and capable" enough to get over the hill the next time around?


Here is the part that I take issue with though (and likewise: It's nothing personal here, either). But a lot of this line of thinking feels like the same as the old saying, "crap in one hand and wish in the other and see which fills up faster". You don't win any awards for "being able to hang with anyone".

As before...why does it consistently feel like this is the case?

And...stop me if you've heard this one before...why does this too seem to consistently be the case?
This is what I also mean by "always the bridesmaid, never the bride": we are constantly talking about how IF all these pieces finally coalesce and come together then we'll make some noise. Just endlessly frustrating year after year to have that one or two (or more) pieces that never actually come together: IF we get healthy, IF our "project players" we drafted make good on their potential, IF one of our WRs becomes a #1 for us, IF our players execute better, IF we clean up our penalties, and so on and so forth. Just feels like there is always going to be one or two big IFs in the way, and that's a real bummer.

That's the trouble for me. Like above: Maybe that's the case but we haven't shown it yet. 0/5 against the teams who are ahead of us. It seems like we are stuck in that "good enough to compete but not win" bracket at the moment. Of course it's possible, but again I'll ask: if we are being honest with ourselves, who is confident that this WILL happen come playoff time? Not "I think it could happen" but "I believe this will happen". That's where the sticky point is for me.

MLF is very good at game planning but his on field coaching has to get better. I am not seeing the maturity in Love in year 2 as a starter that I saw in Rodgers in 2009. Rodgers saw a lot more in the defenses and when his receivers did not see it he got mad.

 

[Pugger]

We had a 3rd n 13.
We had 4 Receivers 18 yards downfield and not even looking back?

It’s 4 down territory if you get 10 yards. The play calling is bordering on weird.

And why do we not have any routes over the middle?

 

[Sanguine camper]

He won’t get cut, well id place it behind:

(in no order)
Trade
Restructure/paycut
Nothing happens

Right now Alexander is basically a dead cap hit. He's getting paid and not playing.
Who would trade for somebody who can't stay healthy? Maybe you'd get a token for him.
If the Packers cut Alexander, they open up a roster spot and save some cap space in 2026. I don't see a compelling reason to pay the big bucks for someone who has turned to glass. Like Stokes, Alexander us finished. Time to send both out the door I'm 2 weeks.

 

[tynimiller]

Ever notice every time Heath comes in he catches the ball. Maybe not a Jefferson but I see him as very reliable. Hope they keep him.

Heath is bottom of our depth with Melton but under rookie contract, no reason he is gonna go anywhere.

 

[gopkrs]

Heath is bottom of our depth with Melton but under rookie contract, no reason he is gonna go anywhere.

Yes, he obviously is at the bottom of the depth chart. It's just that...he shouldn't be.

 

[Pugger]

GB would be up +1 of not for a free rekick FG

Or passing on a chip shot FG early on.

 

[tynimiller]

Right now Alexander is basically a dead cap hit. He's getting paid and not playing.
Who would trade for somebody who can't stay healthy? Maybe you'd get a token for him.
If the Packers cut Alexander, they open up a roster spot and save some cap space in 2026. I don't see a compelling reason to pay the big bucks for someone who has turned to glass. Like Stokes, Alexander us finished. Time to send both out the door I'm 2 weeks.

Cutting him would be fiscally irresponsible and is VASTLY less value than what you’d get in a trade (regardless if even a 7th) and save the exact same amount of money as a cut (less than $8M)

 

[Firethorn1001]

That's the trouble for me. Like above: Maybe that's the case but we haven't shown it yet. 0/5 against the teams who are ahead of us. It seems like we are stuck in that "good enough to compete but not win" bracket at the moment. Of course it's possible, but again I'll ask: if we are being honest with ourselves, who is confident that this WILL happen come playoff time? Not "I think it could happen" but "I believe this will happen". That's where the sticky point is for me.

Do I expect the Packers to make the SB this year? No. Straight betting man I'd probably put them out in the 2nd round.

To get to the SB, you'll have probably have to face at least a minimum of 2 out of MN, DET, PHI at their place. That is a tough gauntlet to run. The peak this year might be NFCCG just based on probabilities and what is in front of them. This really is a historic oddity with teams. Things like this don't extend season to season so, I don't anticipate these 3 teams all having 13+ wins.

But hey.. it's the playoffs. What is St. L/Wash/TB/Atl do some dirty work and knock one of those teams out.. new ballgame.

 

[tynimiller]

Yes, he obviously is at the bottom of the depth chart. It's just that...he shouldn't be.

Everyone knows I’m a Heath fan, was higher on him than Wicks as a prospect. With a LOT of decisions coming in our two draft classes, I could easily see Heath reaping the rewards of being the cheaper guy to stay and show his abilities down the road.

 

[tynimiller]

I guess they'll need to put another panel next to "World Champions" on the scoreboard for "Almost Always One of the Best Teams in the League".

At least it would be pretty full.

Oh God.

I’m not settling on that, but it is absolutely a fact.

 

[DoURant]

Or passing on a chip shot FG early on.

I was actually shocked they snapped the ball. I thought they were trying to draw them offsides. I'm a firm believer in take points on the road, but I actually liked that they went for it on that play. They haven't tried a 4th down and short like that in a long time, and it could have taken them by surprise. Not to mention, Reed dropped the pass, so they should have had the 1st down.

 

[Pugger]

100% agree.

Put J’aire and Evan Williams in
I know this will hurt but Bullard has another bad game. I really don’t think he’s ready he looked lost.
That was #20 that got burned on a TD.

That was #20 that Let the RB go into the flat uncovered. He was spying the QB but should’ve broke off with the RB and he was front n center missing plays left and right

Losing Zane hurt us too.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Cutting him would be fiscally irresponsible and is VASTLY less value than what you’d get in a trade (regardless if even a 7th) and save the exact same amount of money as a cut (less than $8M)

Who would trade for Alexander when he's got a big contract and only plays a couple of games a year if you're lucky? He's such a big mismatch in pay vs value that there isn't much you can do with him.

 

[AKCheese]

You can’t look at this game say “ oh if MLF had kicked it or the refs hadn’t given that second chance - we would have won”. We got thoroughly outplayed for 3 1/2 quarters - we DESERVED to lose. But if we get healthy(er) and play better (we did not play well today…. We can compete … showed that this week, showed it against Detroit, showed it week one against Philly. Thats the NFL. Get into the tournament and play your best ball. Go as far as you can and get better next year regardless if you lose in the first round or win it all. Green Bay is in a position MOST teams envy.

 

[weeds]

Yeah, yeah, we heard ya.... but what's the story on this pink flamingo snow globe deal?

Now you're just being snotty.