great game to watch, not to be a packer fan.

Couldn't agree more. I was glad to see the pack get back into the game, but damn, what a horrible way for the game to end.

I don't know if I could take seeing that defense play another week.

Amazing game. I am too depressed to say anything else at this point.

1st round pick will be spent on a defensive back, methinks.

Kudos for the comeback - I thought they were going to get blown out. A-Rod had Jennings on the first pay in OT. That was the ballgame. Can't miss those in a game like this. The broadcast shot of Capers in the booth scratching his head was priceless. He had no idea what to do next. Painful. Just painful

we need to pick up some FA in the off season to bolster the damn d line or some oversized LB's address the damn O line and DB's, heard harris wants to play again next year

Defensive *back*? Does anyone know what time our defensive line is supposed to show up?

Agree with you both not a good way to lose such a great season we had going. But you know what I'm damn happy going into next season knowing we have a very good team here. We definitely need to lose Bush and get another tackle. Sad day to be a Packer fan but a damn good future lies ahead.

Season's over ....... Aaron --- thanks for a great blog ...... I'm already looking forward to the draft & the 2010 season....... Just need to figure out how to fix the 'D' .......... Six months will be enough time...... hopefully.

Sick watching what was a number one defense fail miserably. Also, Rodgers can't get no love. What does he have to do to finally get things going his way. All you're going to hear about now is how Rodgers needs to step up like you know who and lead his team...

C'mon, what about the lack of calls on the blow to the head, the face-mask, the holding of Jenkins(called him for roughing instead) the two (2) Fitzjerald blasting Woodson past five (5) yards and getting big gains?

At the beginning of the year, Al Harris was our #2 CB, Pat Lee was probably #4, and Will Blackmon was probably #5 (Wood #1/Tramon#3). So 3 of our top 5 CBs were on IR today. I doubt we'll draft a corner.
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How about another pass rusher, though. Props to AZ for neutralizing our ONLY pass rushing threat, CM3. If we have one more guy who can generate pressure, that's a different game. I'm convinced. Where the hell was Big Sexy? Brad Jones, anyone?
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How about Finley? Jennings' hands? How about A-Rod, except for his first and last plays. Sorry haters, but the needle is pointing up big time.
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I hate Darryn Colledge.

Really sad that it ended, but I'm excited about next year. I'm excited to have Cheesehead TV to get me going through the offseason.

I didn't live blog for the (I think) second time this season, as I was skiing with my family - I knew I'd get to watch most of the game, but it was our first chance to go. I heard the first 10 minutes of the game and was truly appalled - rookie mistakes. Came in at halftime and watched us shake rattle and roll. Did anyone notice that Larry Fitzgerald should have been called for offensive pass interference at least three times? Or was it just my imagination that CWood was getting handled?

And, lastly, I again aplogize for that damned Daryn Colledge. In some ways, I pin this one on him. We HAVE GOT TO FIX THE O LINE.

Oh and you know what? In spite of the last play of the game, I came out of this game with the ultimate respect for Aaron Rodgers. He's da man for me, hopefully for another 16 years. Talk about someone who doesn't give up.

Sounds cheesy, but Rodgers will be fine and will improve from this. I agree with Sharp Chedder, would the D have been better against the Saints?

:(

Brutal ending to a great game and great season, but it's a bright future. Can't wait to see how this team evolves.

Damn damn and double damn though.

Perhaps Aaron...but that screwup was REALLY bad timing, you have to admit.

I just can't believe that we're already seeing so much hating on Rodgers as a result of this (not here, but elsewhere on the net - check Twitter, for instance). If there is any justice, all the crap that comes his way (he gets no ref calls, gets no respect, gets all the blame) will eventually build to a wonderful Super Bowl win when he can finally reap the rewards he so duly deserves. Aaron Rodgers is a super class act, Packers are so lucky to have him, and ALL the haters will be shut up big time in the years to come.

Final thoughts: I'm very proud to be a Packer fan right now. Warner is a playoff-god. Favre took FOUR years as a starter to win the Super Bowl.

Great Game, But that Secondary was MIA tonight. --- OK guys, Cover those receivers..But don't look like your covering those receivers..Just stay like 5 feet from them until they have the ball, then grab them with those new hi-tech teflon coated gloves I got you.

And, to go on ad nauseum...my point is Clifton got hurt. He's old. Tausch is old. (Younger than me? A bit, yes, but in football years those guys have put in their time.) TT's got to fix the O Line for the future. Aaron's future, and the Packers' too.

Are people busting on Rodgers for this? Maybe living here in New England I don't hear it, but Rodgers is the only reason this was a game. Without him it ends before halftime.

1) It's clear that we made the right move dumping Brent. Brent would have thrown 4+ picks today. 2) The Pack won that game. 3) Go Cowboys.

Epic. Fail.

Every wart the Packers had was exposed by Kurt Warner and the Cardinals coaching staff: Sacks, penalties, poor secondary communication and inadequate backups for Harris and Bigby, no running game, Mason Crosby misses. Point blank, Warner played well and the Packers choked - we could have won that game 15 times.

Yes, the refs helped Arizona's cause in the last few drives, but we have no one to blame but our own mistakes. How in the world did we turn the ball over 3 times and only got 1 in return?

Season over. At least it's a young team - there's always next year. Hopefully the Saints or Cards win the NFC. I can't stand the Vikings and Cowboys.

Sad ending to a great comeback today. Great improvement over last year's sad performance. We have some obvious needs to address this coming offseason. Go Pack!

Mc Carthy got us again. Fucking bumb....Bleed the clock idiot!

this http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2010/images/01/10/aaron-rodgers.tx.jpg happened BEFORE possession changed, the Packers would keep the ball. i mean, 5 obvious missed penalties is a little extreme

To stop Kurt Warner, Packers needed two Charles Woodsons, two Tramon Williams and two Nick Collins. Alas, we had a Bush, an Underwood and a Giordano. End of story. Kurt Warner did what he does to average secondaries. My only surprise was that Zona actually was successful running. Chin up Packer fans, the future is bright.

it's hard for me to be upset. it was an incredible game- probably the best all year along with the steelers game a few weeks ago. this young team will be in the playoffs for many years to come. aaron rodgers is a stud- the real deal!

Ok, I've recovered somewhat, and I've been thinking long and hard about the entire season and not just this one loss (although it intrudes on my thoughts every once in a while,) and I think back to the very beginning of the season...

Now I know this may make some people angry, but, to be honest, I'm a freshman in highschool. I found this site way back in August, when I was just starting at a very challenging school. It hasn't been easy, but I've made it this far, and I'm sure I owe that to having the Green Bay Packers to look forward to every Sunday.

But one other thing has kept me sane this year too... Cheesehead TV. I knew that I could come home and read some great Packer stuff everyday to take my mind off things, and for that, I thank you.

I wish everyone a safe and happy offseason, but I can't wait for next year. I mean, we've got Rodgers, Woodson, Matthews, Jermichael, Nelson, Grant, (I assume) Harris! The Pack are sitting pretty good for next year. So sorry for ranting.

GO PACK GO!

Rodgers is not being blamed for the loss. If anything, Packer fans put Rodgers above criticism. I find that a little strange. I wouldn't say the loss is his fault alone, but he did make a few mistakes and the Packers paid dearly for them.

PACKERS, it's a great thing to find this team. Welcome.

Foundinidaho: I come by it honestly; my dads from WI. I had just never really cared that much, but the NFC Championship and the Brent debacle kind of started it for me. So I guess I owe Brent ONE thing...

Go Pack Go!

Congratulations to the Packers for a great season and one hell of a playoff game.. too bad we came out on the losing side..

Where the FUCK was the defense? One or two plays would have been the difference... NOTHING. Capers is great, as long as he's not facing an experienced veteran QB with weapons.

At least it's clear what we MUST HAVE this off season (O-line and secondary help).

All in all, better than 6-10.... STILL SUCKS THOUGH.

Man, stepping aside from this heartbreak and taking a look... THE FUTURE IS GLOWING, we really have several KEY PIECES to ensure we are in the playoffs for years to come. A few key acquisitions via the draft or FA and this team is gonna be HARD TO DEAL WITH!

I'm not going anywhere... draft here yet?

GBP 4 LIFE

PEACE

Very tough loss. Yes, our secondary struggled with the Arizona WR's. weren't we all expecting that? We're VERY injured at CB, as we've been for half the season. The only surprising elements on D was the lack of run Defense, and perhaps the fact that Woodson was not up to his normal standard. Hard to say he didn't play well; but he certainly didn't play to his super-human ability tonight. No one would have guessed we'd cough up the ball three times early, but I am so proud of the fact that this VERY YOUNG TEAM didn't hang it up at halftime (unlike many of the fans..) and came out fighting to the bitter end. That kind of maturity from this young of a team- with the amount of talent it possesses- is very, VERY encouraging.
.
During the offseason, our CB's in Al Harris, Pat Lee, and Will Blackmon will heal(Though Blackmon may have injured his way out of a job perhaps, with 3 of 4 years on IR), and this defense will have a chance to really dominate next season if they can keep the pieces in place. The Offensive line moves will be key this off season as well.
.
I'm sorry we lost, but I find it hard to say I'm disappointed. The Packers showed us so much this season- I'm geeked for next year. Go Pack!!

Premier QBs (except Romo) shredded our D this year: Palmer, Favre, Roethlisberger, Warner. Give a premier QB time and he's going to do that every time. Key is to generate pass rush and not give the QB time to read the D and check down. Fixing the secondary means getting a pass rush. Mike Mac is right: Games are won and lost by the lines.

Since our D gave up 51, Did Revis just win the DMVP? I sure hope not.

GBP 4 LIFE

Great game and a great season. Lots of ups and downs for a promising young team. I say this all the time...as a fan if you expect the Super Bowl every year you'll always end up disappointed. They were competitive and fought hard. A post season win would have been sweet, no doubt, but I think overall this was a successful season and we're headed in the right direction.

Hopefully Cheesehead TV can keep me sane during the long off season!

Nick,

U R still a D-bag!

GBP 4 LIFE

Bringing up a month old argument. Well worth it, I'm sure.
Go Packers!

i was at the game...went in late in the first quarter when they were already down 0-17. honestly, i thought it looked pretty grim, but being a true Packer fan I still had hope. it was an unbelievable game - our offense was ridiculous. all we needed was some pass rush. i know bush gave up a lot of big plays again, but most average corners do. if we get more pass rush, i think those problems are almost solved. so depressed tonight, but hopeful for the future with this young team. MAYBE THE FUNNIEST PART OF THE GAME: the guy next to me was picking his ear wax with a toothpick and then licking it, picking boogers with his finger and eating them - all while wearing a purple number 4 jersey. simply amazing.

THAT'S funny LAcheez! Bet his name was Nick.

GBP 4 LIFE

Bottom Line AJ Hawk is over rated. Not sure what happened to Barnett. We address the inside LB positions, we will get presure on the QB, just look what Ray Lewis did today. I think our secondary is taking a lot of heat this game for our line and LBs not getting any presure on the QB.

I figured we had won the game after the coin toss in O.T. But letting yourself get behind 21 points in a playoff game due mainly to turnovers deep in your own territory is a huge hurdle to overcome. Takes a lot out of you to try and recover (everyone looked exhausted toward the end). But at least it didn't end up being a blow out. Better offense in the second half with a couple dropped plays but bigger problem was that the defense fell apart and imploded .....
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Tough way for Aaron to lose his first playoff game with game ending fumble right after over throwing the game winning pass. Favre took a lot of heat for similar endings on his way to NCF championships and Superbowl victories ... and Aaron will have to take heat too until he can get a win... But all NFL QBs have tough endings to games if they play long enough e.g. anyone watch Brady today? Ouch.
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We have to get the staff and coaches who can draft and manage players that will support AR to reach those goals. Aaron taking over the team right after a season run at the NFC Champ game only packs on more heat until he gets one under his belt. I'm sure his goal is not to end up like Marino, a lot of stats, but no ring.
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Anyhow, it's only right to give Kudo's to the "old man" (certainly future HOF)... he can still can throw the ball and his playoff experience ate our defense alive... he is also a first class guy ... but 51 points ?!? Yikes! That 'old-age' argument just didn't hold up today (but hey, even he's had some horrific days !!).
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So much for predictions! ... lots to do in the off season.
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I have to say it was great watching the PACK fight back to get to OT, but the way in which they lost was very disheartening. My friend who is a Bucaneers fan said that we should be appreciative of the season we had. I told him that we are happy that we made the playoffs, but honestly that isnt enough to get there. We want and expect to get farther than the first round. But I guess Bucaneers fans wouldnt understand that. We expected a better showing from the PACK. There were too many mistakes made early on.

How SWEET would it have been if A-ROD hit that walk off to 85? That... will haunt me for awhile!

GBP 4 LIFE

That game could have been an embarassment, but HOW ABOUT THAT ONSIDE KICK?! Turned the whole game around.

I will remember this season forever. Make no mistake, this Packers team had what it takes to win a championship. They got some bad breaks and made a few costly mistakes tonight, or we'd be talking about a Super Bowl a month from now. This is a young, talented team that has now been galvanized. We HAVE to get a trophy before Woodson's clock runs out. He deserves one more than any player in the NFL today.

I'm hearing Jen Lada making some of the same assumptions that I read here on cheeseheadtv. That's cool thinking there might be at least one HOT girl floating around these boards somewhere.

Go Pack! 2010

Ahem. There are more hot girls out there than you appear to realize.

Nice!!, I've only seen the two fuzzy faced guys with the funny hats.

the problem with capers is obvious, and unfortunate. while running a defense that succeeds most when it is unrelenting and aggressive, he backs it off to 'compensate' for a secondary that is depleted, or playing poorly.

the problem is, when your secondary is playing poorly or depleted, taking away the aggressive pursuit of the lb's only makes their jobs more difficult.

a big play here or there because of an extra-eager pass rush is better than doing the same thing over and over when it obviously isn't working. as many have said already, when you give warner, favre, manning, brady, et al 5 or 6 seconds to throw, they WILL find an open man, even if there are 143 men in coverage.

good quarterbacks don't make mistakes when coverage is good but they have little pressure on them to act quickly. ALL quarterbacks make mistakes when they have constant pressure, even if they occasionally make big plays because of a good blitz pickup or man-to-man coverage gone wrong.

CAPERS REACTS WHEN HE SHOULD DICTATE. IMPRESSIVE STATS DON'T A DEFENSE MAKE - EXCELLENT DEFENSES ALWAYS SET THE TONE, AND DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

it's the same reason why prevent defenses fail so often. in normal circumstances, given one chance, i would bet well-run d's give up 20 yard plays about 10 percent of the time. i'd be willing to bet that when a team shifts to a prevent, they give up a big play at least 30 or 40 percent of the time.

maybe my sample is tainted given the packers' history with prevent.

i believe mediocre coaches change what they're doing too often when they're winning, and too seldom when they're losing.

mccarthy doesn't change his offensive strategy very well based on in-game circumstances, and capers doesn't do it on the defensive side of the ball very well either.

it's why i'm not much more happy with this team today than i was after tampa bay. i'm thrilled the team responded with their second half run -- but why i expect them to fall short again if given the opportunity -- coaching that doesn't adjust well, or adjusts when it should stick with what's working.

i love these players, for the most part. i love their heart. i love their humility.

i like the coaching staff. i think they're almost wonderful. i just think the flaws they have tend to always hurt us hugely when it matters most. playoffs especially.

mccarthy passes non-stop when he should run, capers is tentative when he should be ruthless. both of those things hurt the most in december and january.

btw,
the headline photo of the game on msnbc right now is a picture of rodgers being pulled down by the face mask on the last play. i know losers always call 'ref,' but wow.

anyone have a good argument other than the crap 'human element' garbage as to why missed but blatant penalties shouldn't be reviewable?

anyone else know what rodgers has to do to get preferential... no, fair... no - even slightly less unfair - treatment by refs?

Small consolation maybe, but for all the GB mistakes and problems listed above, still it took a near perfect game by Warner and the AZ offense to beat the Pack in overtime - and that on a defensive play.

at least we discovered tonight that mason crosby is good at a couple things - kicking onside kicks and extra points! still not not so much at field goals...we better at least bring in some competition. (and not neil rackers)

also - remembered how great Jennings was tonight. he made some remarkable/amazing catches...damn pretty to watch.

It was quite a game. I've been thinking long and hard about how I feel about it. First, this isn't the same team that had their asses handed to them by a bunch of orange creamsicles. Tonight they played with heart. They never gave up and they fought like hell. This wasn't the team that lost to Tampa. I'm so proud of them that my heart could explode. What a game!
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Everyone here knows I have some negative feelings about Coach McCarthy. Woody told me I'd taken up the cross against him. Not everyday I get put on the same plane as Pope Urban I. After this game, those feelings are actually deeply mixed. He did what I predicted he wouldn't, which was field a working O-Line. I'm grateful to be wrong. On the other hand, the game ended with an Aaron Rodgers sack and a fumble run in for a touchdown. That seems to me as much McCarthy's signature as that last interception against the Giants was Favre's. I know how I feel about Brent. I'm hoping Coach does us a better turn next year. In case you didn't catch that, Woody, I rescind my demand for Mike McCarthy's head. I was wrong and am grateful to have been proven so.
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I look to next season with a great deal of hope, but some deeply rooted ambivalence as well. I think the lady from Idaho is right: Tauscher and Clifton's age are a major problem for the future of this line. That said, maybe Coach can get it fixed. And maybe Ted can get us a kicker who can nail it when it's a game and not practice.
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But what's important is that for the first time in a long time, the Green Bay Packers played their hearts out. This team has character. They never gave up. I'm proud of them. GO PACK GO!
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Thanks Corey and Aaron for this site. You guys do good work.

Tough way to end a beautiful and ugly season. Great tenacity by our offensive aka McCarthy. Capers showed his out of touchness as he did sparaticlly this season. This only means that were well and set on offense for another idk, 10 years maybe. Lets get this Defense young and smart and were another 60s era team.

Absolutely gutted. Defense wins championships and the #2 ranked defense in the NFL did not show up. Big props to A-Rodg and Finley for keeping the Pack in the game but ultimately it wasn't enough.

I'll bet anyone $1000 that we'll take some DBs in the draft, perhaps sign one or two in FA, and at the end of August Jarrett Bush will still be on the roster. Any takers? The guy is there just to shorten my life and give me ulcers.

My heart is truly broken. The football gods
were not kind. So many of our guys gave it
all. Those are the ones I feel so bad for.
And now we have months to wait for next
season. But what a game.But,our guys have
more heart than I've seen ever seen lately
in any pro sport. Packers forever.

I THOUGHT the bottom line was to WIN.....

Oh...that only goes for Favre, right hypocrites?

haha

Pack66, by choosing Ray N.'s number you
bring shame and disrespect to yourself and
whatever hellhound birthed you. So you are
now 666. And, being that I live in south
Minneapolis, I'm going to mosey over to the
dome and put the Santeria hex on those
filthy Vikings. Ciao, traitor.

That's when I had RESPECT for the Packer franchise...during the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's....

When the Cloven Hooved, and Sharp Tailed Devil named TT came to Lombardi Ave, I lost that respect...and not only because of FAVRE...

That's why the football Gods are going to see that Favre win's it all this year..because that is the morally good and right thing to do!

It figures you would be practicing the "Devil's Religion"...you live in the South side of Hell...as far as I'm concerned.

Pack66 is Brent homer/ball-washer/troll. Why do you guys even bother responding to the likes of him?

Jim in DC..how's TT's hemmerhoids doing?

Shouldn't you be "spooning" with him in a Green Bay bathouse somewhere to console him after this epic fail...???

Pack66: Picture the NFC North one or two years from now.

Brent is retired

The Vikes are in dissaray: they have no decent QB

Aaron Rodgers is dominating the league as he has steadily improved over the last few years.

This situation could easily have been the other way around. A good football team is not designed to be great for a season or two, a good football team is designed to be dominant for a very, very long time. And that's exactly what TT is doing. Give me one good TEAM ORIENTED reason why the Pack should have kept Favre. And none of this idiotic "moral" stuff please.

Rodgers is a loser...that's why.

You are NOT guaranteed a SB for "good stats".

Great game if you like college basketball,me I like a little tackling in my football.Cards and Pack look like they were getting ready fo March Maddness.

PACKERS - you are asking a bit too much, that would require Pack66 to use logic.

LA Cheeze ,you don't like the sound of Rackers Packers.Remember Jeff Feagles(Giants punter) used to be on the the Eagles, hence Feagles Eagles.

Pack 66 loves to forget the last time Favre(the great winning one ring wonder) faced Warner in a Playoff game he threw 6 picks,Oh do we forget

The Packer defense just got off the plane in Arizona .Oh it's too late it's Monday.They thought the game was tonight

When I look at a patient that has expired,
either in the Trauma Room, or on the surgical table, I think of pretenders of
the human psyche that live among us, the
devil in blue suede shoes. I make my provisional diagnosis based upon the penis
envy of some quasi dwarf named Pack66. This
freak of nature will be no more. Get off
all PACKER sites before you make a mistake
you can't recover from.

Im still in denial.

Steve in Mpls...

You have major psychological problems..you need therapy..many, many years of therapy...and you don't seem that bright, either...

...you must be a Republican....

Pack66 that was unecessary.

Sorry dude..maybe so.