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Cheesehead
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http://espn.go.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/17925/green-bay-packers-season-report-card[url]http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2014.htm[/URL]
FIVE MINUTES FROM THE SUPERBOWL or SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR. Either one should be an apt title for the Packers 2014 video season yearbook when it comes out in a few months.
The championship game loss at Seattle last Sunday has cast a deep, dark pall over the season but it may be distorting some things as well as it's the last memory we have of this year's team. Perhaps the loss is not so much the issue as the way it went down. Remembering the pre and early season views it was always questionable whether the Packers could beat Seattle and/or San Francisco - at least in the view at the time - for NFC supremacy.
The Packers actually pretty well hit all their benchmarks for the season; at least in terms of what was most realistically expected of them.
They won a fourth consecutive NFC North Division title and made the playoffs for a sixth straight season. Setting or equaling franchise records in those areas of achievement.
They were undefeated (9-0) at Lambeau Field and dominated opponents at home in historic fashion.
They earned a wild card bye and got and won a home divisional playoff to advance to the championship game. It was the Pack's deepest run in the postseason in four years.
We are awaiting all but the official announcement of Aaron Rodgers winning his second league MVP award in his career.
The offense came together the way it was hoped for the previous season, when it was delayed by Rodgers' long absence with a fractured collarbone. Can we just mention the dynamic receiving duo of Nelson & Cobb, the running of Lacy, the development of rookies Adams and R.Rodgers, and the offensive line succeeding with a rookie center and a healthy Brian Bulaga for a change.
The defense showed a few signs of improvement. Top draft pick Clinton-Dix looks like a winner, despite the rookie mistake on the 2-pt. conversion last Sunday. The rare Ted Thompson forays into free agency netted two helpful veterans Julius Peppers and Letroy Guion. Whoever had the idea they showed some real creativity in the deployment of Clay Matthews.
The injury situation was better than it has been for a long time. Changes in the practice schedule and training seemed to be paying off.
The real head scratcher about this team, though, had to be its Jekyll and Hyde personality change when it came to playing on the road. Especially since the most drastic drop-off in those games was by the team's strength; it's offensive unit.
Special teams remained an underperforming area, although with something of mixed bag. Mason Crosby's placekicking, Tim Masthay's punting - until late in the season- and the punt returning of Micah Hyde deserve credit. But blocking for placekicks and handling on-side kicks were a problem even before Seattle.
The Packers may have peaked a little too early, when they beat New England at Lambeau at the end of November. They weren't quite the same team, even at home, after that point. They had a blow-out lead over Atlanta shrink to a one-score nailbiter in the second half of a Monday nighter and may have escaped only because the Falcons' star receiver Julio Jones was forced from the game by injury in the fourth quarter.
Then came two road games that arguably cost the Packers their Super Bowl. Losing at Buffalo cost them home field advantage for the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers calf injury at Tampa Bay threw a team changing injury issue for the postseason.
How the Packers showed up for the season finale against Detroit to win the division and against Dallas in the playoff at home underscores how we would probably be assessing their rematch with the Patriots in the Super Bowl next week had the Seahawks had to come to Lambeau instead.
As bitterly disappointing as the last game was there's 29 other clubs and their fan bases in the NFL that would gladly trade for the season Green Bay had in 2014-15.
FIVE MINUTES FROM THE SUPERBOWL or SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR. Either one should be an apt title for the Packers 2014 video season yearbook when it comes out in a few months.
The championship game loss at Seattle last Sunday has cast a deep, dark pall over the season but it may be distorting some things as well as it's the last memory we have of this year's team. Perhaps the loss is not so much the issue as the way it went down. Remembering the pre and early season views it was always questionable whether the Packers could beat Seattle and/or San Francisco - at least in the view at the time - for NFC supremacy.
The Packers actually pretty well hit all their benchmarks for the season; at least in terms of what was most realistically expected of them.
They won a fourth consecutive NFC North Division title and made the playoffs for a sixth straight season. Setting or equaling franchise records in those areas of achievement.
They were undefeated (9-0) at Lambeau Field and dominated opponents at home in historic fashion.
They earned a wild card bye and got and won a home divisional playoff to advance to the championship game. It was the Pack's deepest run in the postseason in four years.
We are awaiting all but the official announcement of Aaron Rodgers winning his second league MVP award in his career.
The offense came together the way it was hoped for the previous season, when it was delayed by Rodgers' long absence with a fractured collarbone. Can we just mention the dynamic receiving duo of Nelson & Cobb, the running of Lacy, the development of rookies Adams and R.Rodgers, and the offensive line succeeding with a rookie center and a healthy Brian Bulaga for a change.
The defense showed a few signs of improvement. Top draft pick Clinton-Dix looks like a winner, despite the rookie mistake on the 2-pt. conversion last Sunday. The rare Ted Thompson forays into free agency netted two helpful veterans Julius Peppers and Letroy Guion. Whoever had the idea they showed some real creativity in the deployment of Clay Matthews.
The injury situation was better than it has been for a long time. Changes in the practice schedule and training seemed to be paying off.
The real head scratcher about this team, though, had to be its Jekyll and Hyde personality change when it came to playing on the road. Especially since the most drastic drop-off in those games was by the team's strength; it's offensive unit.
Special teams remained an underperforming area, although with something of mixed bag. Mason Crosby's placekicking, Tim Masthay's punting - until late in the season- and the punt returning of Micah Hyde deserve credit. But blocking for placekicks and handling on-side kicks were a problem even before Seattle.
The Packers may have peaked a little too early, when they beat New England at Lambeau at the end of November. They weren't quite the same team, even at home, after that point. They had a blow-out lead over Atlanta shrink to a one-score nailbiter in the second half of a Monday nighter and may have escaped only because the Falcons' star receiver Julio Jones was forced from the game by injury in the fourth quarter.
Then came two road games that arguably cost the Packers their Super Bowl. Losing at Buffalo cost them home field advantage for the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers calf injury at Tampa Bay threw a team changing injury issue for the postseason.
How the Packers showed up for the season finale against Detroit to win the division and against Dallas in the playoff at home underscores how we would probably be assessing their rematch with the Patriots in the Super Bowl next week had the Seahawks had to come to Lambeau instead.
As bitterly disappointing as the last game was there's 29 other clubs and their fan bases in the NFL that would gladly trade for the season Green Bay had in 2014-15.
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