Bill from Forest Park, OH
I won’t get to watch the game Sunday since the Bengals play at the same time and that game will be on local TV (so will watch Joe Burrow), but I’ll be following Mike’s live chat. So grateful to have that available! On the plus side, I won’t have to hear that bloody awful horn, so I’ll have that going for me, which is nice.
I may regret saying this after Sunday, but I decided back on Thanksgiving I’ve never been as worn out by Minnesota’s horn as I was by Detroit blasting the opening notes to “Hell’s Bells” before every third and fourth down. The first chime rings, literally, as soon as the ball carrier is tackled on second down. The Packers had 15 third/fourth downs that day and I was hearing the “bongs” in my head all the way through Christmas.
Looking back, what game do you think the Packers played their best game and conversely, which game did they play their worst game?
Given all the circumstances, I’d say this team’s best game was the first 58 minutes in Chicago. If it needs to be a win, I’d probably say at Pittsburgh. The worst was Carolina.
Thanks for all your detailed coverage this year, it’s been my first season following II and it has definitely enhanced the season for me! That being said I’m curious to know what has surprised you most about this team, this year, at this point in the season and what hasn’t. Thanks guys!
I’m not surprised this team is in the playoffs. I am surprised it’s as the seventh seed because they weren’t able to win seven of their games.
Good morning, much has been made of the fact that Jordan Love has gotten the Packers into the playoffs all three years he has been the starter, but each time they squeaked in as the seventh and last seed. If not for the change to add that seed a few years ago, this would be the fourth straight year of not making the playoffs. I know they say to just get to the dance and see what happens, but is the fact they are making the playoffs masking the actual lack of enough progress?
I don’t think it’s masking anything. The Packers are in the same spot a third straight year for reasons – some of their own doing, others beyond their control – too numerous to list. I agree they’re no closer to a championship right now, but this postseason story has yet to be written.
Bruce from Martha’s Vineyard, MA
To lose out from here would be a (darn) shame. Finding a way to win the wild card game, over either Chicago or Philly, would be immensely satisfying and render these recent losses practically irrelevant. The goal in Titletown is obviously championships, but isn’t the outcome of this upcoming playoff game a rather large fork in the road? Feels like the collective energy of the franchise hinges upon it.
Bill from Coeur d’Alene, ID
Josh Jacobs said after the Ravens beatdown that some players didn’t give it their all. Do you know how often the core leadership of players meet, to keep tabs on the team’s morale? While these are well-paid professional athletes, they’re also human beings, some of whom may have become disheartened after losing key players like Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft, among others, then losing to Chicago, then demoralized by getting run over by the Ravens. Any of that needs to get expressed to right the ship.
Which is why this week could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
This has been a disappointing season, but there are still reasons for hope. We will play PHI or CHI. Lost to PHI 10-7 without Reed and Golden. Our defense has struggled lately, but offense has been on the rise. Should have beaten CHI on the road without QB1, OT1, S2, who all should be healthy by then. This team is capable, even with all the season-ending injuries. Granted, we have to find a way to play our best game(s) of the season, and that’s been elusive, but that’s playoff football, right?
The level-headed responses in the Inbox really point to one thing: The Packers may not break out of their current slump, but there is reason to believe it’s entirely possible that they will. When the Packers made it to NFC Championship Game in 2016, I think everyone knew it would take a Herculean effort and a lot of lucky breaks to win that game. Going into the playoffs this year, I still believe it’s all out there for the team, even with the injuries. What lies ahead is a beautiful mystery.
