Packers Question of the day - Tougher Wild Card foe?
Who would you rather see the Packers face in the Wild Card round?
If they win the division next Sunday, they'll be hosting a home game in the first round against the visiting Giants, who are projected to be the fifth seed.
In a scenario where the Packers were to lose the division-clinching match-up in Detroit, they would be the sixth seed going into Seattle in the Wild Card round instead. Given the recent postseason history against both Seattle and New York, it seems fair to ask... Which scenario would you be the most confident in?
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (49)
Handsback
December 27, 2016 at 09:10 am
Beat Detroit and stay home. The Giants are a good team, but home game trumps a better match up.
Handsback
December 27, 2016 at 09:10 am
Beat Detroit and stay home. The Giants are a good team, but home game trumps a better match up.
Big_Mel_75
December 27, 2016 at 09:15 am
Stay at home or go on the road to Sea who won't forget what we did to them a few weeks ago. I don't think we turn in that type of performance against Sea twice in a season. Stay home and play the Giants who we beat once this year already.
chugwater
December 27, 2016 at 10:03 am
If you look how both Seattle and NYG have been playing over the past month, there's a reasonable if not decisive argument to be made for playing on the road in Seattle. The Seahawks offense is awful. Lockett's season ended last weekend due to injury which takes away one of their few playmakers. (Does Graham or Baldwin scare anybody?) Their offensive line is as bad as Minnesota's. Their defense isn't as daunting as they have been in recent years either especially with Thomas out not patrolling the secondary. I would expect AR to pick them apart again just like he did earlier this month. (Playing in Seattle would also give GB a chance to excise a demon.)
The Giants on the other hand have been winning quite a few games as of late and have been the only team to beat the otherwise undefeated Cowboys. Their defense is solid, but the offense is mediocre. Would be hard to bet against AR at home late in the season, but I don't think the Giants would be pushovers like they were when we met earlier this year.
GVPacker
December 27, 2016 at 01:01 pm
The Giants lost their last game to the Eagles and Eli Manning has been really bad lately! I would think the Packers playing the Giants at Lambeau would be a better choice.
RocsCave
December 27, 2016 at 09:18 am
No one in their right mind would chose Seattle.
dobber
December 27, 2016 at 10:49 am
Yeah, I wouldn't pick a playoff-tested team (with a nasty streak) on their field that you just humiliated a few weeks before...
DrealynWilliams
December 27, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Ha!
Dzehren
December 27, 2016 at 11:26 pm
We missed u over the 5 game win streak!
Packer_Pete
December 27, 2016 at 09:32 am
first they'll have to get into the playoffs... so better win in Detroit and then it's going to be a home game. If they'll lose then the danger is to be overtaken by the Redskins and not be in the playoffs at all...
Never skin the bear before you've killed him...
dobber
December 27, 2016 at 09:42 am
^^^THIS^^^
chugwater
December 27, 2016 at 10:01 am
Ideally this is how week 17 would play out.
GB beats DET. SF beats SEA (highly unlikely I know, but more likely in recent weeks than earlier in the season). That would yield...
1 DAL
2 ATL
3 GB
4 SEA
5 NYG
6 WAS/DET
WC Round: GB beats WAS/DET. NYG beat SEA.
Div Round: GB beats ATL. NYG beat DAL.
NFCCG: GB beats NYG.
No one really scares me except the DAL offense vs GB defense. That is an awful match up. Would really need the GB offense to be efficient: No 3-and-outs, soak up the clock, keep Dak/Zeke on the sideline, score TDs not FGs in the red zone.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
December 27, 2016 at 10:16 am
Love this scenario but Atlanta's offense should give you pause too.
I may buy a Kap jersey if he beats the Seachicks. (And then burn it later)
chugwater
December 27, 2016 at 10:50 am
Yeah, I look at ATL's firepower and try to think how our secondary would hold up a second time. I wouldn't expect a repeat of the 2010 divisional round, that's for sure.
dobber
December 27, 2016 at 10:53 am
Remember that the Packers went into the GeorgiaDome earlier in the season and Atlanta needed that last minute drive and TD to win. The Packers are playing better football on the offensive side than they were then. Dallas came to Lambeau and had their way with the Packers. I think the choice--if it really were a choice--would be an easy one...
ejr450
December 27, 2016 at 10:03 am
Would rather see NYG. Means we've won the division and are on a 6 game run of sustained success. That said, there is still the chsnce of getting the 3 seed vs SEA having it (I know, long shot, but possible.). Though honestly I think I'd rather be the 4. Having the 3 means either DET again or WAS. Neither of those are good scenarios - beating DET 3 times in a season is tough and WAS is a bad matchup for our D. Would rather have WAS go into SEA, have them win, we beat NYG & go to ATL for round 2.
RCPackerFan
December 27, 2016 at 10:31 am
First worry, get to the playoffs.
Then worry about who to play. I don't think any of these teams are unbeatable.
Packers have been as hot if not hotter then anyone. The way Rodgers is playing, teams will be not wanting to play us!
Packer_Pete
December 27, 2016 at 12:12 pm
if I could give you 5 thumbs up I would for this post.
I think recent years have shown that anything and everything is possible once a team is in the playoffs. Packers and Giants won the SB both as NFC 6th seeds... Worry only about getting in first, the rest will sort itself out. After all, we should also remember that Dallas only beat Detroit that one year with the help of the refs - just to lose the next week mostly due to the Dez Bryant catch/non-catch LOL. I think everything is possible, a team just needs to get real hot at the right time. And who knows, while Dallas at the moment certainly is the best team in the NFC, will the rookies really hold up under pressure in the playoffs? Every single mistake will then be magnified...
S-Mahn
December 27, 2016 at 05:43 pm
If Washington wins next week and we lose to the Lions , we get knocked out in a 9-6-1 (Wash) vs. 9-7 (Pack) scenario because Wash beat us this season. Can someone explain why, if we win this Sunday vs. the Lions, we wouldn't own the tiebreaker vs. Seattle and be the #3 seed? Currently we are
both .600 teams, and with victories next week, we would be 10-6, vs. Seattle's 10-5-1 record.
EdsLaces
December 27, 2016 at 10:59 am
I wanna play Dallas in Dallas ...period. Don't care how we get there.
DrealynWilliams
December 27, 2016 at 12:47 pm
This I like! Right on, Ed! Us fans have to stop with the hoping to get the "weakest" team(s) crap.
ironman3169
December 27, 2016 at 06:48 pm
I am with you 100%. Give me the best teams and the most righteous of victories!
Doug_In_Sandpoint
December 27, 2016 at 08:11 pm
We've won much a bigger games in that house than they ever have. It's our house. I was there...I know.
Pack12
December 27, 2016 at 11:09 am
They will both be tough because the Packers have beaten both this season and beating a team twice in the same season is difficult. But beating Seattle in Seattle is no easy task. Would much rather play the Giants in Green Bay. But I doubt the Packers are even thinking of who they would rather play because task one is to beat the Lions.
Rossonero
December 27, 2016 at 11:18 am
Seattle is a different team at home. I'd want the Giants all day. Eli Manning is wildly inconsistent.
I have a hard time believing McCarthy would get out coached by McAdoo as well. Their lack of a running game is what hurts them and their offense is terribly predictable.
Lphill
December 27, 2016 at 11:24 am
Let's just beat the Lions first.
Dzehren
December 27, 2016 at 11:25 am
Exactly
Dzehren
December 27, 2016 at 11:24 am
Hey Zach- important side note you missed
HOW GREEN BAY PACKERS CAN MISS THE PLAYOFFS
— Lions beat Packers in Week 17 AND
— Redskins beat Giants in Week 17
Playing at Seattle is never a good match up.
Pack88
December 27, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Although nothing would make me smile harder than humiliating the Seasucks up here, they are hard to beat at home. It would be funny if the SEasucks tanked against the 49ers and Eli and Beckham lit them up. Sherman seldom leaves the left side and small guys kill him now the meltdown 25 & 13 would have would be classic TV, but won't happen because if GB wins the Giants are coming to Lambeau and I hope bad Eli shows up with about 5 picks
Since'61
December 27, 2016 at 12:37 pm
One game at a time. Beat the Lions first. Beyond that give me a home game against whoever versus another road game 2 weeks in a row. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61
barutanseijin
December 27, 2016 at 12:39 pm
A team that is going to win the super bowl wins the tough matchups. Trying to get what you think is the easy matchup is a loser's game.
I'd like to see them drub the G-Men for revenge, go to Seattle and give it to the Seahorks at home, then beat Dallas.
But they're not in yet. The first order of business is beating Detroit.
vj_ostrowski
December 27, 2016 at 01:33 pm
One team I keep looking at is the 2012 Ravens that won the SB. If you look at both their offensive and defensive rankings, you'd never have guessed they won it all. They got hot at the right time and played great week to week football in the playoffs. Didn't matter what they looked like during the regular season.
With #12 at the helm, I'll always think we have a chance.
RIP Carrie Fisher
DrealynWilliams
December 27, 2016 at 07:24 pm
Good point.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/opp.htm
Dzehren
January 01, 2017 at 12:08 am
We missed you on the 5 game win streak.
Check out A-Rods numbers. Rodgers is a top 3 QB period.
ShanghaiKid
December 27, 2016 at 03:01 pm
Not sure who I'd rather face. @ SEA we all know how well that went last time we traveled West in the playoffs. Or face Eli who, astoundingly has more career playoff wins in Lambeau than Rodgers. I still think I would rather face Eli at home!
al bundy
December 27, 2016 at 03:41 pm
I'm going with the lion's in packers out. Time Ted understands, free agents work, make a huge diff, take you to duper bowls. Undrafted don't. Div 1a draftees are always hurt.
This team will lose to the lion's due to lack of pass d.
Chad the white Scandinavian
December 27, 2016 at 05:01 pm
100% it would be playing at SEA. Giants aren't the team that beat us twice, very different personnel than what we've faced before, plus we have pass protection like never before.
SEA, even though we've proven we're the better team by far, still has an incredible advantage at home, and two, they are the luckiest team in NFL history, and on their turf it only gets worse.
Don't let history cloud your judgement. Packers stand a substantially stronger chance at home against Giants.
PortlandMark
December 27, 2016 at 05:23 pm
As a fan it feels like we owe both the NYG and the Seahawks a postseason beating. I want to see GB beat both of them!
chugwater
December 27, 2016 at 05:32 pm
I like your style!
I think Seattle is one and done this year. Their O line is horrid. No playmakers at the skill positions other than Wilson and even he is off this year. The defense, their signature group over the last four years, is not as dominant as they have been in the past.
Bottom line: they are not peaking at the right time and are ripe for an early exit.
Flow49
December 27, 2016 at 10:14 pm
Selfishly I'd like to be the team that crushes the hopes and dreams of the Dallas bandwagon fan base, don't care who we have to beat to get there. Hope Rodgers and Co. gets the opportunity
S-Mahn
December 27, 2016 at 05:38 pm
If Washington wins next week and we lose to the Lions , we get knocked out in a 9-6-1 (Wash) vs. 9-7 (Pack) scenario because Wash beat us this season. Can someone explain why we wouldn't own the tiebreaker vs. Seattle and be the #3 seed? Currently we are
both .600 teams, and with victories next week, we would be 10-6, vs. Seattle's 10-5-1 record.
Flow49
December 27, 2016 at 10:11 pm
Seattle would have a 1/2 game lead in record. Same wins and less losses
Bert
December 27, 2016 at 05:59 pm
Doesn't really matter who we play or where in round 1 as long as we are playing. If this team is destined to go the SB then they'll have to beat tough teams on the road to get there. May as well not look for an easy path because there isn't one.
S-Mahn
December 27, 2016 at 10:40 pm
Tru dat
croatpackfan
December 28, 2016 at 05:21 am
If both Packers and Lions enters the playoff, you'll see another matchup of those 2 teams. I trully believe that Giants will win over Washington, so both teams will be in playoff. I prefere Packers vs Lions at Lambeau...
Just saying!
Edit: Oh, I just checked - Packers Lions matchup again only if SF beat Seattle, which is very unlikely...
My Bad!
But what is also interesting that Packers. if lose to Lions, can play Falcons, but only with unlikely scenario of SF beating Seattle..
Tundraboy
December 28, 2016 at 10:21 am
Who cares. Let's beat Detroit and then take on the next comer.
Robinant2
December 28, 2016 at 06:28 pm
First off if Washington loses I'd just sit my starters cuz they can still make the playoffs even if they lose. An the biggest foe they'd have would be the Giants because the Falcons (who we nearly beat with half of our roster) if punched in the mouth early curl up pretty early an stop the pass then pressure Ryan straight up front he's not a true "mobile" type QB. The Seahawks GB can beat not because of two weeks ago but because of that O-Line and their secondary cuz Goff was hitting his receivers but they just can't catch for possible 14 points. The cowboys once again played GB with half the roster and the O-Line played lights out but at an the receivers played horrible but now they'd light them up cuz Dak as in college plays too close to the vest and when he tries to air it out he makes mistakes. But the G-men their defense is hitting on all cylinders and the offense isn't a well oiled machine but they hold the ball long enough to drown out any well drenched offense
NitschkeFan
December 28, 2016 at 11:00 pm
That makes for an interesting question, what if the Redskins lose earlier in the day? Rest the many players that could use the week off, or fight for a game at home the following week?
I'd pick resting the key starters, but I doubt that is what they would do. They would play for home field and to keep the momentum going. Then go into the next game with half a dozen injured starters.
Jonlee
December 29, 2016 at 12:59 am
We have a history with playing New York recently in that when we played them, whoever won, went on to win the super bowl.
Giants at home it is.