Packers vs Vikings Game Thread: I hate that Horn Edition

[adambr2]

Atlanta is battling at Washington. We still have a shot at playing for the 6th we need Atlanta to Win

They are really pissing it away.

 

[Magooch]

It’s quite literally just the standings and nothing more. There are three teams ahead of us in the NFC standings. We have had five chances to get a win against one of them and have failed to do so five times.

Odds are that we will need to beat at least one of them, probably two (and depending how things fall, I think it’s even possible all three) to get to the Super Bowl. I don’t want to sound like a total downer but I think it’s just being realistic: why should I believe that after failing to so five times that a sixth chance will be the ticket?

Getting a single win against Detroit or Minnesota (or even Philly) wouldn’t necessarily mean we’re conclusively “better” than them, but it’d at least make it easier to feel like we could be confident in knowing we could beat them. The Commanders have a win vs a “better” team in the Eagles. The Rams have a win vs a “better” team in the Vikings. The Buccaneers have a win vs a “better” team in the Lions. We have none. I’d feel a lot more confident if we were able to say “We beat ____ once and can beat them again” rather than having to say “we played them close once or twice and if everything comes together we could win”.

I think there’s a lot of things about our team to be excited about, a lot of promise for the future, but I think it’s not too unreasonable or pessimistic to say that we’re not in the top “tier” right now. It is what it is. We’ve had plenty of chances to prove that isn’t the case and haven’t been able to do so. Obviously I’ll hope for the best come playoff time…and again I’ll acknowledge that IF we play our best in all phases we can beat anyone… but I’ll also acknowledge that IMO this is not a particularly likely outcome based on what we’ve seen thus far. Hope they prove me wrong.

 

[pacmaniac]

I’ll acknowledge that IF we play our best in all phases we can beat anyone

There's a reason we didn't play our best against the 3 teams who beat us - because they are better and they forced us to not play our best.

 

[AKCheese]

And yet we will get a chance to play again. If you think its preordained sitting at home in your underwear or on your barstool with your crack showing that’s fine. But the games are still going to be played by the people who really count

 

[Magooch]

And yet we will get a chance to play again. If you think its preordained sitting at home in your underwear or on your barstool with your crack showing that’s fine. But the games are still going to be played by the people who really count

I don’t think anyone has said, suggested, or even implied that it is “preordained” that we will lose. But if we’re only allowing the “people who play the game and really count” to discuss it then we can go ahead and shut the whole forum down. What an immature response lol

 

[Firethorn1001]

Atlanta is battling at Washington. We still have a shot at playing for the 6th we need Atlanta to Win

Looking likely it is the 7th seed unless the Cowboys can somehow beat Washington which I'm not holding out hope for.

 

[rmontro]

Atlanta is battling at Washington. We still have a shot at playing for the 6th we need Atlanta to Win

We can kiss that goodbye.

There's a reason we didn't play our best against the 3 teams who beat us - because they are better and they forced us to not play our best.

Sure looks that way.

 

[DoURant]

Looking likely it is the 7th seed unless the Cowboys can somehow beat Washington which I'm not holding out hope for.

Yeah, I don't see the Cowboys winning, but you never know. That was a tough loss for Atlanta, Bucs are now up a game and play the Saints at home next week. That loss probably ended the Falcons season.

 

[Thirteen Below]

MLF has had 6 seasons. How many more do you give him to show you he doesn't learn. He'd make a good O coordinator but as a head coach he's not cutting it. Why bring him back?

I'm trying really hard to find a reason to disagree with you, but i'll be damned if I can think of one. He doesn't seem to learn much from his mistakes. I understand that everyone makes mistakes, but when they keep constantly making the same ones over and over and over again, I lose a lot of trust in them.

 

[Cornelius Weems]

Compete for a Super Bowl, or do you mean in the Super Bowl? Genuine question because at least IMO grossly different things.

I thought I clearly said compete, at the end of every NFL season, there only 2 teams that really compete and I guess it was my fault for being unclear. In my eyes playoff teams are just playoff teams. The playoffs are great fun, but I want my team to win the title and end up on top in NFL and I think most want the same. This team didn't almost fight back IMO, it feels very much like the other team let off the gas. Again, I'm not looking at us beating a bad Saints team 34-0 as any kind of statement that we are any kind of sleeper. Our last win was a good win against a bad team, at home. If someone thinks I want to blow it all up, then they are wrong, but some things need to change. We are now 0-5 against the top of the NFC, and some of them are not even close, (let's not forget the queens mishandled a TD pass and missed 2 kicks) 3 and a half quarters of bad to mediocre football tells the tale. Even if we were not going to win, all fans deserved 4 whole quarters of competitive football, we didn't get that today.

 

[gopkrs]

Looking like we'll be going to filly. Maybe a good time to play those jerks. Early on I mean. Their QB didn't play this week. I really believe from here on out we have to be able to fling it when we want to. So the O line has to be playing well and the O line coach is going to have to draw up protections that work. And LaFleur is going to have to draw up pass plays that get people open.

 

[OldSchool101]

It’s quite literally just the standings and nothing more. There are three teams ahead of us in the NFC standings. We have had five chances to get a win against one of them and have failed to do so five times.

Odds are that we will need to beat at least one of them, probably two (and depending how things fall, I think it’s even possible all three) to get to the Super Bowl. I don’t want to sound like a total downer but I think it’s just being realistic: why should I believe that after failing to so five times that a sixth chance will be the ticket?

Getting a single win against Detroit or Minnesota (or even Philly) wouldn’t necessarily mean we’re conclusively “better” than them, but it’d at least make it easier to feel like we could be confident in knowing we could beat them. The Commanders have a win vs a “better” team in the Eagles. The Rams have a win vs a “better” team in the Vikings. The Buccaneers have a win vs a “better” team in the Lions. We have none. I’d feel a lot more confident if we were able to say “We beat ____ once and can beat them again” rather than having to say “we played them close once or twice and if everything comes together we could win”.

I think there’s a lot of things about our team to be excited about, a lot of promise for the future, but I think it’s not too unreasonable or pessimistic to say that we’re not in the top “tier” right now. It is what it is. We’ve had plenty of chances to prove that isn’t the case and haven’t been able to do so. Obviously I’ll hope for the best come playoff time…and again I’ll acknowledge that IF we play our best in all phases we can beat anyone… but I’ll also acknowledge that IMO this is not a particularly likely outcome based on what we’ve seen thus far. Hope they prove me wrong.

Sure that’s very reasonable.

That is why if we step up our game even modestly? We can beat our opponent. I’m really not worried anymore about who we play 3 games in. I’ll worry only what involved today. It’s plenty enough to worry about. Just do the next right thing each moment today and tomorrow will take care of itself. I don’t even know if I’ll be alive in 6 weeks much less who’s playing in a SB. I feel pretty good about later today though!

Lastly. Nothing really wonderful ever comes easy. About the time we let go and just have fun is about the time we smother Philly. Stranger things have happened. If last year isn’t proof idk what is. Dallas went 1.5 years without a home loss. Total D dominance.

I know it’s a long shot. But what if God had in store we best Minnesota and Detroit on the way to a SB? Would we not just poo our pants. Nobody would ever be able to adequately explain it to someone a generation from now. They wouldn’t appreciate it like we would. Matter of fact? I’m 200% confident that if God allowed GB to beat all 3 teams on the road? We would not appreciate his gift inside several months. We’d forget and be complaining and doubting and debating the next impossible thing.

 

[Magooch]

Sure that’s very reasonable.

That is why if we step up our game even modestly? We can beat our opponent. I’m really not worried anymore about who we play 3 games in. I’ll worry only what involved today. It’s plenty enough to worry about. Just do the next right thing each moment today and tomorrow will take care of itself. I don’t even know if I’ll be alive in 6 weeks much less who’s playing in a SB. I feel pretty good about later today though!

Lastly. Nothing really wonderful ever comes easy. About the time we let go and just have fun is about the time we smother Philly. Stranger things have happened. If last year isn’t proof idk what is. Dallas went 1.5 years without a home loss. Total D dominance.

I know it’s a long shot. But what if God had in store we best Minnesota and Detroit on the way to a SB? Would we not just poo our pants. Nobody would ever be able to adequately explain it to someone a generation from now. They wouldn’t appreciate it like we would. Matter of fact? I’m 200% confident that if God allowed GB to beat all 3 teams on the road? We would not appreciate his gift inside several months. We’d forget and be complaining and doubting and debating the next impossible thing.

I like your perspective!

 

[OldSchool101]

I like your perspective!

The best is yet to come but you’ll have to wait until next year

 

[milani]

In truth when Zayne got hurt with Williams out I knew Darnold was gonna feast - we had to all know this.

Valentine showed some absolute grit this game though, even on some of Jefferson’s catches he was all over him.

That last throw and catch from Darnold to Jefferson goes incomplete for many teams. We had good coverage. They made a play. Throw had to be perfect and Jefferson fought to hold on to it. Maybe in the cold and snow of Lambeau we stop that one.

 

[milani]

It’s quite literally just the standings and nothing more. There are three teams ahead of us in the NFC standings. We have had five chances to get a win against one of them and have failed to do so five times.

Odds are that we will need to beat at least one of them, probably two (and depending how things fall, I think it’s even possible all three) to get to the Super Bowl. I don’t want to sound like a total downer but I think it’s just being realistic: why should I believe that after failing to so five times that a sixth chance will be the ticket?

Getting a single win against Detroit or Minnesota (or even Philly) wouldn’t necessarily mean we’re conclusively “better” than them, but it’d at least make it easier to feel like we could be confident in knowing we could beat them. The Commanders have a win vs a “better” team in the Eagles. The Rams have a win vs a “better” team in the Vikings. The Buccaneers have a win vs a “better” team in the Lions. We have none. I’d feel a lot more confident if we were able to say “We beat ____ once and can beat them again” rather than having to say “we played them close once or twice and if everything comes together we could win”.

I think there’s a lot of things about our team to be excited about, a lot of promise for the future, but I think it’s not too unreasonable or pessimistic to say that we’re not in the top “tier” right now. It is what it is. We’ve had plenty of chances to prove that isn’t the case and haven’t been able to do so. Obviously I’ll hope for the best come playoff time…and again I’ll acknowledge that IF we play our best in all phases we can beat anyone… but I’ll also acknowledge that IMO this is not a particularly likely outcome based on what we’ve seen thus far. Hope they prove me wrong.

Was looking forward to going to LA. But it looks like cold, raucous Philly who will run the ball a lot more than the Vikings. Maybe the Boys will win won in Big D for MM in what could be his last game as the Dallas HC. The Boys beat the Bucs. Maybe they can get this one against their rival.

 

[tynimiller]

I thought I clearly said compete, at the end of every NFL season, there only 2 teams that really compete and I guess it was my fault for being unclear.

That clears it up - competing for Super Bowl to me is being one of the four or six teams that folks give a realistic shot at pushing to be in the SB, which I think for some is debatable to include GB this year. Competing for it as you described is slightly different in being one of the two teams in the game, makes me understand your take better.

 

[tynimiller]

That last throw and catch from Darnold to Jefferson goes incomplete for many teams. We had good coverage. They made a play. Throw had to be perfect and Jefferson fought to hold on to it. Maybe in the cold and snow of Lambeau we stop that one.

The way Carrington covered that play is literally about perfect. Valentine showed a lot last night, even in moments of what some would say was "failure".

 

[tahoebum]

That last throw and catch from Darnold to Jefferson goes incomplete for many teams. We had good coverage. They made a play. Throw had to be perfect and Jefferson fought to hold on to it. Maybe in the cold and snow of Lambeau we stop that one.

JJ has been making those catches over and over for 5 years and now has the best QB he’s ever had. You can make the argument that the Pack had the 3rd best QB play in the division this year. We also might have the 3rd best head coach in the division. Dan Campbell has completely changed the mindset in Detroit and Kevin O’Connell is a lock for coach of the year.

If MLF decides to kick the field goal early the outcome might have been different as well. FWIW, the Vikes front 7 is by far the best in the NFL this year at stopping 4th down conversions with other teams only having a 35% success rate. Maybe MLF knew that or maybe he didn’t.

 

[tynimiller]

JJ has been making those catches over and over for 5 years and now has the best QB he’s ever had. You can make the argument that the Pack had the 3rd best QB play in the division this year. We also might have the 3rd best head coach in the division. Dan Campbell has completely changed the mindset in Detroit and Kevin O’Connell is a lock for coach of the year.

If MLF decides to kick the field goal early the outcome might have been different as well. FWIW, the Vikes front 7 is by far the best in the NFL this year at stopping 4th down conversions with other teams only having a 35% success rate. Maybe MLF knew that or maybe he didn’t.

I concur on the second part, but push back a touch on the first. Campbell is a reckless coach, BUT it works with the roster they've constructed - it's the perfect pairing of players and coach. I truly don't see him as some amazing x's and o's type coach, but one of my favorite coaches ever isn't either and that is Mike Tomlin. Also this year, 2024, no one I think logically says overall that Love has outplayed Goff and Darnold - those two are legit having what might (I'd say very likely) be their best season of their entire careers.

 

[milani]

The way Carrington covered that play is literally about perfect. Valentine showed a lot last night, even in moments of what some would say was "failure".

Could JA have covered him any better or forced a throw away?

 

[tahoebum]

I concur on the second part, but push back a touch on the first. Campbell is a reckless coach, BUT it works with the roster they've constructed - it's the perfect pairing of players and coach. I truly don't see him as some amazing x's and o's type coach, but one of my favorite coaches ever isn't either and that is Mike Tomlin. Also this year, 2024, no one I think logically says overall that Love has outplayed Goff and Darnold - those two are legit having what might (I'd say very likely) be their best season of their entire careers.

The Lion’s have a ton of talent on both side of the ball and I agree, a very reckless coach. They will likely be favored to win the division next year. Minnesota has a great head coach but overall are less talented across their 53 man roster than the Lions and Packers. If they get the #1 seed it’s going to be hard for them to not pay Sam Darnold for 3-4 years. We are easily the best division in the NFL.

 

[milani]

JJ has been making those catches over and over for 5 years and now has the best QB he’s ever had. You can make the argument that the Pack had the 3rd best QB play in the division this year. We also might have the 3rd best head coach in the division. Dan Campbell has completely changed the mindset in Detroit and Kevin O’Connell is a lock for coach of the year.

If MLF decides to kick the field goal early the outcome might have been different as well. FWIW, the Vikes front 7 is by far the best in the NFL this year at stopping 4th down conversions with other teams only having a 35% success rate. Maybe MLF knew that or maybe he didn’t.

Today more and more coaches have this hubris and they share it with their players. Lombardi taught his offense to beat the opponent at their strength. If you can do that you have beaten them. But that never meant you do the very improbable or impossible. There were plays Vince would simply not run with **** Butkus on the field e.g. but would run them on some other opponent.

 

[Pkrjones]

Benching Cousins probably ended the Falcons season.

Fixed it for ya.

 

[tynimiller]

Could JA have covered him any better or forced a throw away?

JA would be on the short list to potentially maybe get a finger on the ball but honestly that's once or twice out of a hundred....Carrington played that about as well as any coach would have hoped IMO.