Green and Bold: Shootout!

One of the best videos you could find on YouTube is a Mayne Event segment from ESPN called "Shootout!" It features a (very) young Aaron Rodgers allegedly preparing for the occurrence of a sudden-death overtime in which the game can be won by a "successful four-point throw through the uprights from the 10-yard line."

Rodgers throws ball after ball into the end zone while his teammates cheer him on, punctuating each throw with increasingly sillier punch lines, such as, "Holy tornado!" and "Goodnight, doctor!"

"You know, the quarterback can run if he wants to, but with this rocket attached to your body, who would?" Rodgers ponders in the video, which is embedded below for your viewing pleasure.

Of course, Rodgers didn't really believe an overtime could be decided by a shootout contest.

But that's exactly what the Packers' matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 22, could turn into. 

Part of what makes the lighthearted "Shootout" segment so enjoyable is how silly, at ease, and carefree the young Rodgers appears. While we've seen him enjoy moments of levity with his teammates in recent years and, of course, even show the same boyish glee that characterized his predecessor, Brett Favre, when his team wins a close game, as it did on January 15 against the Dallas Cowboys, Rodgers has had to put a lot onto his shoulders in his quest to earn a second Super Bowl ring with this team.

More often now, Rodgers is fielding criticism about his or his team's performance, defending his head coach, Mike McCarthy, from those who claim he should be fired, or, for a confusing and frustrating four-game period this season, offering excuses for why the Packers were being beat by lesser opponents. 

But then he called his shot, and, true to his word, the Packers ran the table right into the conference championship, where Rodgers will more likely than not square off in an air show against Falcons passer Matt Ryan, who may have recently been voted the league MVP. 

Rodgers and Ryan have been two of the NFL's most productive and explosive quarterbacks this season; as Gil Brandt points out, they've also been clutch as they attempt to lead their squads to Houston in February. 

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Comments (10)

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 18, 2017 at 06:44 am

I just read that the over/under is 60 points and most bets are still over so it should move even higher.

The NFL really seams to have taken a cue from the NBA.

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zoellner25's picture

January 18, 2017 at 09:47 am

O/U should be around 75

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pacman's picture

January 18, 2017 at 07:46 am

I'm still old school. Having little defense and scoring every time is not football. It cheapens the scoring when it happens so often. Oh well, at least we are scoring now.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 18, 2017 at 08:01 am

Seems like when everyone expects a shootout, it ends up in a defensive battle.

That being said, the team with the fewest turnovers I think wins. Both offenses are very good. I would expect a shootout type of game.

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Razer's picture

January 18, 2017 at 08:50 am

Since dropping 7 into coverage and giving Rodgers time hasn't worked for anybody lately, I expect Atlanta to jam our WRs and bring pressure. I hope that we have an answer and we can keep the first drive success going.

Given that Atlanta's offense is humming, I would hate to see us playing from behind. While I would love to see a defense that could batten down the hactches, I don't know that our depleted secondary will be able to keep up. Fast start and outrun them may be the theme of the day.

If you win the toss - do you kick or receiver? I am going with our Dallas and NYG approach.

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Rossonero's picture

January 18, 2017 at 09:09 am

Whoever's defense gets the most stops will win. We have got to limit yardage on first and second down to put the Falcons into tougher 3rd and long situations. The Falcons spread the ball around like we do. It'll be a very stiff test.

Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers will score points, it's inevitable. Can our pass rushers get any pressure on him? As Kevin Greene used to say, "IT IS TIME!"

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Bearmeat's picture

January 18, 2017 at 11:42 am

Atlanta's run game worries me, but contrary to Falcons fans beliefs, their defense is B-A-D. They've played NO ONE who can score the last 6 weeks, and they've still managed to look poor at times. Point blank, their D sucks at everything other than Beasley rushing the passer - and I'm not worried about our OTs locking him down. We should be able to to whatever we want to on offense. Pass, run, fly, whatever. Everyone knows we'll throw all over the lot, but I also expect Monty to have a good day.

Of course, our defense sucks too. (but at least we can admit that) Their pass game is just as good as ours (although ours is hotter), but it's their running game which really frightens me. Not that I'm worried we'll lose the TOP battle so decisively, but that we may give up 150 yards rushing and 350 passing. If we don't keep them under 120 yards rushing, we'll lose this game.

Any punt or turnover in this game is a BAD BAD thing. I'm thinking the O/U on punts and turnovers combined will be 6. Hopefully we can have less than 3 of them.

I have no idea who is going to win this game, but my guess is still on #12 running the table, so I'll GB 45-41 in a come-from-behind-last-second win. Super Bowl Baby!

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Razer's picture

January 18, 2017 at 12:51 pm

...GB 45-41 in a come-from-behind-last-second win...

Please give me a little more buffer than that. I could hardly breathe for the second half of the Cowboys game. Maybe it was because of the momentum shift in the second half and the increased success against our defense but it was too, too intense. Give me a fourth quarter lead and a mid quarter interception/strip sack to seal the deal.

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LayingTheLawe's picture

January 18, 2017 at 04:11 pm

The packers have been scoring 30 PLUS on defenses way better than the falcons so you expect at least that here. You also don't expect the packers d to do a ton of damage to the falcons. So yes I think shootout will describe it. Last week the packers made dallas kick three field goals and had one turnover. that's about all they need on defense to win the way the offense is playing.

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

January 19, 2017 at 01:53 pm

Well I hope it's a Shootout. I'm not betting with my Heart here. I always go against the grain. It's been a Very Successful strategy for me. Sometimes you get Skunked, but not often. I've already got the Bets in.

GB has too many injuries to put any money on them in this game, so I've got GB +4 1/2. That's my head betting, not my Heart.

The number last night was 61. It's the highest NFL Over I can remember seeing. I can't go under that number, so I've got the Over 61 there. Could be with the grain on that one, but the hard way is Over.

I've got the Pats -6. Most Betters Hate NE & Love Pittsburg, so I'm on NE.

The number is 51. My guess is most will go Over that number, so I'm going Under 51. I can see it both ways.

I could very well be wrong on all of these, but betting this way has won me the last 9 out of 10.

If GB makes the SB, I already have them @ 7 1/2 - 1
I could have bet them when they were down, & got
48-1, but like an Idiot I didn't.

I care about the bets, but I care more about GB cleaning Atlanta. I think it will be a Tough Game. Obviously, I think GB can pull it out. I don't necessarily believe everything I'm hearing on GB. GO PACK!!
LVT

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