Surviving Sunday: Packers news, notes and links for the football deprived

Any time the Green Bay Packers lose a game, it's maddening. Any time the Packers lose a playoff game, it's depressing. Any time the Packers lose a playoff game on the last play of the game, it's all the terrible feelings you can think of rolled into one.

Unfortunately, the Packers have lost seven playoff games under coach Mike McCarthy. Five of those seven losses have come on the game's final play. Wisconsin is usually a happy state during football season. But there have been too many instances where that happiness has quickly turned to misery following yet another late-game Packers playoff defeat.

Is there an easy way to deal with all of this playoff heartbreak? No. But let's see if talking about it helps. Here are the Packers playoff losses ranked from most miserable to absolutely soul-crushing:

2012 playoffs: 49ers 45, Packers 31
Nobody enjoyed seeing Colin Kaepernick run wild over the Packers defense, but sometimes you just don't have an answer to a player who's clicking on all cylinders like Kaepernick was that night. This loss stunk, but it wasn't as painful as losing on the last play of the game.

2015 playoffs: Cardinals 26, Packers 20 (OT)
How does a team go from tying the game with a Hail Mary on one of the most memorable plays in postseason history to losing the game three plays later in overtime? Well, the Packers somehow found a way to accomplish this feat of misery. This loss was awful, but when you managed to hang in there without four of your top five wide receivers, you at least need to give the Packers some credit for not completely folding.

2013 playoffs: 49ers 23, Packers 20
Another loss to the 49ers, this one coming on the game's final play, not long after Micah Hyde dropped a possible game-winning interception. The euphoria from Aaron Rodgers' return from injury and game-winning toss to Randall Cobb to get the Packers in the playoffs was significantly diminished.

2009 playoffs: Cardinals 51, Packers 45 (OT)
The Packers had gotten beat (badly) twice by their old foe Brett Favre during the regular season. But after Favre beat the Packers at Lambeau, the young squad from Green Bay went on a nice run and might have gone all the way if 1) Rodgers doesn't miss a long touchdown pass to Greg Jennings early in overtime, 2) the facemask penalty is called on the winning strip-sack/TD, and 3) the Packers played anything even remotely resembling a competent defense.

2007 playoffs: Giants 23, Packers 20 (OT)
Why, Brett? Why? WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Favre ends his Packers career, and one of his best seasons, with a back-breaking interception in overtime.

2011 playoffs: Giants 37, Packers 20
Remember when the Packers won the 2010 Super Bowl and had everybody -- not just fans in Green Bay -- thinking that the NFL's next dynasty was upon us? That sentiment continued during the 2011 regular season when the Packers rolled to a 15-1 record behind a historically great offense. That sentiment was quickly tossed out the window after that historically great offense turned the ball over four times and got stomped by the Giants. This loss wasn't on the last play of the game, but it was the second-worst playoff defeat in the McCarthy era, in my opinion. However, it's a distant second. The worst playoff loss of the McCarthy era, probably of any era is...

2014 playoffs, Seahawks 28, Packers 22 (OT)
One of the worst collapses/choke jobs in NFL history. I don't want to talk about it. This loss made me question why I watch football.

There. Did that help at all? Did talking about these playoff losses and ranking them help get rid of those lingering miserable feelings?

No? It didn't help at all, you say? In fact, now you're mad at me because I conjured up these miserable feelings all over again?

Yeah, this was a horrible idea, wasn't it? My apologies. Let's get on to some Packers news items of the week before I put my foot in my mouth yet again and get you even more angry.
 

Packers news, notes and links

  • Free agency in 2016 hasn't even started yet, so why not look ahead to 2017 free agency? That's exactly what Tex at Acme Packing Company did, and it's a little scary. Four of the Packers six top offensive linemen will be free agents after next season. If I'm Ted Thompson, I try my best to lock up David Bakhtiari to a team-friendly long-term deal ASAP. Bakhtiari's holding penalties caused many Packers fans to unjustifiably turn against him this season. Take a look around the NFL. There aren't many left tackles that are better than Bakhtiari.
  • I thought longtime Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Packers reporter Bob McGinn went off the deep end with a few of his columns this season. But he remains one of the best on the Packers' beat. His by-the-numbers synopsis of the 2015 Packers season is a must-read.
  • Might Eddie Lacy take up P90X this offseason? I've had some thoughts brewing about Lacy this entire week, so here goes: Does Lacy need to be in better shape? Absolutely. But let's not go overboard with our expectations. To the naked eye, Lacy didn't look much heaver this season than he did during his first two. Lacy isn't going to magically transform his body into the second coming of Adrian Peterson this offseason. Lacy's a big dude. He's always going to be a big dude. What Lacy needs to do is target his training to get in better football shape. Improve his burst. Develop a quicker first step. Boost acceleration. If his body slims down while doing that, so be it. But Lacy's priority shouldn't be to train to become a GQ model, it should be to become a better running back.

Non-Packers links and other nonsense 

  • Concussions were up 32 percent in the NFL this season. Yikes.
  • Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman channeled "Stone Cold" Steven Austin earlier this week by cross-checking a referee following a no-call on a previous play. No word yet if commissioner Gorilla Monsoon will be suspending Austin, er, I mean, Wideman.
  • I'm a huge fan of Robert De Niro, but not a fan at all of some of his recent films ("Dirty Grandpa," really?). So I found this piece on De Niro from Buzzfeed interesting.
  • Update on my cancer battle: The plan is to start chemotherapy on Thursday of this week. I'm scared, nervous, hopeful, excited, anxious, optimistic, doubtful, negative and every other emotion you can think of all at the same time. If you'd like to stay up to date on my situation, Caring Bridge is the best way to do so.
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Comments (26)

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dobber's picture

January 31, 2016 at 06:46 am

" Four of the Packers six top offensive linemen will be free agents after next season. If I'm Ted Thompson, I try my best to lock up David Bakhtiari to a team-friendly long-term deal ASAP. "

I really don't expect there to be much movement on this front until after the draft. With Sitton and Lang at 30, and Bakhtiari being someone who could be improved upon, I don't think TT will be in a hurry to throw big money at them until they have players (and not picks) in place.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 31, 2016 at 01:14 pm

Yep, and I think there is a chance Linsley could be just as good a Tackle as Bahk.

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NickPerry's picture

January 31, 2016 at 08:15 am

My hope is Eddie Lacy trains this offseason in a way like Le'veon Bell did before the 2014 season. Bell and Lacy were both drafted in the same year and both "Bigger" RB's, Bell was listed about 230-235 at Michigan St. Bell lost about 15 pounds after his rookie season because he wanted to be quicker and faster but was still 220 Lbs. If Lacy got down to 225 or even 230 he'd be still be a load and probably a hell of a lot more effective.

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WKUPackFan's picture

January 31, 2016 at 11:20 am

I think you and Adam are each correct regarding Lacy (Hi Nick).

Eddie wears glasses in some photos. I wonder if he wears contacts during games? A simple vision check might help that first step become quicker. Just speculating.

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NickPerry's picture

January 31, 2016 at 11:39 am

Hey WKU... Yup that first step was lacking this year or just plain hesitation. There were a few times he saw the hole, made his cut and ran. Part of that has to be his weight, just getting that much mass to cut quickly can't be easy.

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dobber's picture

January 31, 2016 at 12:54 pm

I think part of that also was the 300 lb defensive linemen that were oftentimes playing on the wrong side of the LOS.

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Since'61's picture

January 31, 2016 at 09:31 am

First Adam, best wishes for a full recovery. As for the playoff losses the 2 worst for me are 2007 and 2014 because those were 2 of McCarthy's best teams. They would have won the Super Bowl had they made it to the game. The other seasons each of those teams were flawed with either poor defenses or this Year's edition with a comparatively weak offense. As for the OL free agents I believe the Packers biggest need in this Year's offseason is OT. If a blue or red chip tackle is still available the Packers should take him with their first pick. AR needs better protection than he received this season and Bakthiari is not a long term answer and the Packers need better backups after JC Tretter. OL a previous team strength was the teams most critical weakness this season. Additionally, the Packers must prepare for 2017 when the OL becomes free agents. Thanks, Since '61

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NickPerry's picture

January 31, 2016 at 12:00 pm

I'm not crazy about Bakthiari either Since '61 and I'd agree the Packers could use a LT. You have to wonder how much Bakthiari will cost to keep and at that point I doubt he's worth it. The 18 higest paid LT in the NFL average about $10 Million a season. Trent Williams averages $13.2 Million and King Dunlap averages $7 Million. With the rising Cap my guess is Bakthiari will test the market because I think he'll get close to $10 Million, at that price I don't think he's worth it. Hell sign Andrew Whitworth as a FA in 2017 if you end up paying that much for a few $$$ more.

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Since'61's picture

February 01, 2016 at 07:32 am

Nick - I agree with you on Bakh and on his price. He's just not worth 8 figures. Maybe a contract similar to Bulaga at the most. Thanks, Since '61

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dobber's picture

January 31, 2016 at 12:59 pm

"OL a previous team strength was the teams most critical weakness this season."

The question needs to be, " Which was the aberration: the high-quality OL play we saw in 2014 or the very spotty (at best) OL line play we saw in 2015?" Given the play prior to 2014 (which looked more like 2015), I'm starting to think 2014 is the outlier and that, coupled with contract situations, is leading the Packers to significant changes on the OL over the next two off-seasons.

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Since'61's picture

February 01, 2016 at 07:41 am

Donner - you make a good point. 2014 may in fact prove to be the outlier for this OL. I doubt that TT will resign all 4 FA OLs after the 2016 season so hopefully he can pick up 2 in this Year's draft. Thanks, Since '61

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dobber's picture

February 01, 2016 at 09:02 am

My cousin Blitzen makes better points... ;)

But it's true: you can never isolate one season from its recent history. In that sense, we can say that 2015 might be unusually bad in comparison to recent history (2014) and that we should expect a rebound year from this personnel in 2016...or that history is showing 2014 to be a spike in performance and that we should expect a 2016 that looks like 2012-3, 2015. I think the track record points toward the latter...the winds of change need to be a-blowin'.

Likewise, we need to look at the WR position and recognize that it needs an influx of speed. Sure, Nelson likely comes back and will be a productive piece, but we also learned that when there isn't a player that threatens to take the top off the defense, this offensive unit really struggles. They were exposed in that way this year, and against teams that beat Nelson up at the LOS last year (Buffalo, Seattle). It will cost someone we seem to like their job (maybe Janis, maybe Abby...hell, maybe Adams), but that person needs to be getting meaningful snaps to help keep the O moving. I don't believe we've seen enough to reasonably expect for that person to be Janis...his per-catch average in the Cardinals game was only about 7 once you take away the two deep bombs, and even James Jones would sneak through and get deep (see Washington game) from time to time. TT needs to keep the weapons coming for #12.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 01, 2016 at 11:38 pm

"They were exposed in that way this year, and against teams that beat Nelson up at the LOS last year (Buffalo, Seattle)."

Exactly. Need more speed. Dead on too about last year. More threats. Need to find a Lofton type player. Yes I can dream.

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Since'61's picture

February 02, 2016 at 10:06 am

Sorry about the typo Dobber, my bad. Multi-tasking while trying to comment. Your points about speed at WR are dead on. Thanks, Since '61

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Cwoodson21's picture

January 31, 2016 at 11:34 am

I believe that the Packers can get by with a healthy Bakhtairi at LT but they definitely need some more quality depth in the OL.

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ray nichkee's picture

January 31, 2016 at 12:43 pm

Three thoughts.

1. Go adam.

2. 2007 pissed me off. Looking back I'm glad the Gmen went on to beat the pacheats. The giants were able to get pressure with a four man front. Favre had no time. I remember plexiglass running around yelling he can't cover me refering to al harris. I wonder how his leg is. I will never forget bertt farves last pass as a packer.

3. 2013 didn't bother me. The pack was lucky to get in after Rodgers broke his collar bone. Thanks Matt Flynn. TT will never ignore the backup QB again (I hope) I was able to get tickets to the game on the goal line 11th row due to cold weather and no playoff expectations. It was a good game. The two memories that stick out most are kuhn scoring and trying a late lambeau leap as the net was going up and tripping, and tramon intercepting kaprick and when he tackled him he got laid out. It was a good game. I left thinking too bad the pack didn't win.

The rest of the games sucked. Memories. Precious.

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Allan Murphy's picture

January 31, 2016 at 01:06 pm

It's not easy winning in the NFL but this year it's supper bowl or MM is fired ...........

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PortlandMark's picture

January 31, 2016 at 01:07 pm

The McCarthy years have provided so many great memories. When you lose on the last play that is often the sign of freak (lucky or unlucky) play that decides the winner. I'm glad that I cheer for a team that is in position to win so often. We should remember that even the SB that the Packers won could have easily gone the other way. In 2009 Big Ben torched the Packers at the end of the game with a winning TD on the last play. In the SB he had the same chance only against a weaken Packer secondary. He faced the likes of Jarrett Bush, Pat Lee and Charlie Pephar. I'll never forget the determined look on Woodson's face during a sideline shot. It was like he was willing these guys to beat the Steelers and the did. If we look at the stats from the Seahawk game we see that Seattle gained more yards and had more first downs. While GB should have won that game anyway, Seattle was a great team. On the other hand, the Giants of 2011 sucked during the regular season. They gave up more points than they scored. Losing that game was the worst of the bunch for me because the Packers lost to a team that they were clearly better than.

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Rossonero's picture

January 31, 2016 at 09:12 pm

Adam, I'll be praying for your recovery.

Aside from 2014 where I thought I'd black out from being in shock, 2007 bothers me the most since we were so close. 2011 seemed like the team would roll, but I realized later that the offense masked a lot of the flaws on defense. Losing Nick Collins that year was devastating too.

2017 free agency is going to be nuts. Not only will Bakhtiari, Lang and Sitton be FAs, but also Lacy, Hyde and Pennel.

Lacy will fix himself. He's been through too much (watch his E60) to let this beat him, especially in a contract year.

Spending a 1st rounder on a tackle is stupid. The line was injured all season long, they'll be back next season. Use one of the 4th round Compensatory picks we're projected to get, but nothing higher than that. Sitton, Lang and Bakhtiari were all 4th rounders, so there's reason to be patient.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 01, 2016 at 12:41 am

After this season, Bakh, Sitton, Lang, and Tretter will be FAs. Difficult but not impossible to justify paying them all. Lindsey will be a FA the year after that. Tretter is going to want something close to OC starters money. Bulaga is already the highest paid RT at $6.75 million. Sitton and Lang probably command the same amount or a bit more assuming they bounce back. As for Tretter, EDS is making $3.5 million/yr while the next contracts above that are Kelce, Wood and Max Unger in the $6.3 million range. I would think someone might well give him more than EDS and less than Unger, but that depends on how much and where he plays. I am assuming OC, but if he shows he can play LT, then his price goes up. I'd guess Bahk would make about the mid level starters money at LT, which currently is about $7 million for the 18th highest paid starting LT. That is a lot of money for the offensive line - it could easily be $30 million in cap space per year for the top 6.

As always, there are only two real solutions. GB can put up with playing lesser talented players and hope they develop. That scenario might be letting Sitton and Lang go and inserting Walker, Rotherham or even Lane Taylor at OG and accepting whatever level of play the replacements provide. It would be a lot to expect a UDFA like Walker, Taylor or Rotherham to play anywhere close to the level of Lang and Sitton. Figuring that GB could move one of Linsley/Tretter (the loser for the starting OC spot) to OG doesn't really solve the problem: both have showed they can start at OC and will command good-sized money. Linsley is cheaper for a year. The other solution is to draft a few OL, in my view for the OG and OC spots, probably using 2 picks between the 3rd and 5th round. I've read that this is a deep draft for OL, so play to the draft's strength and double dip on interior OL. As for taking a LT with our 1st rounder, maybe, but I don't want to see anything remotely looking like a reach - please don't take a Jon Michels. It would have to be someone TT really likes who fell because teams had a run on QBs and front 7, and I still think we should probably go front 7.

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WKUPackFan's picture

February 01, 2016 at 08:16 am

Jack Conklin, Taylor Decker, and Jason Spriggs are OTs that could be available at GB's 1st round pick. Spriggs may be the best LT prospect of those three.

Sheldon Rankins (DT-Louisville) would be a great pick also. Huge chatter about Rankins at the Senior Bowl practices.

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dobber's picture

February 01, 2016 at 09:05 am

Given that they were giving Rotherham what amounts to roster-player money to be on the practice squad, they must really like something in him. He might be that next OG.

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Since'61's picture

February 01, 2016 at 07:51 am

Reynoldo - I agree I would not reach for an OT in the first round either, only if a blue or red chipper falls to the Packers which is unlikely given where the Packers will be drafting. Thanks, Since '61

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Tundraboy's picture

February 01, 2016 at 11:46 pm

On the losses, my exact feelings and ranking. Loved in a way how you described this past year. 3 Playa later!!! As for the worst, both Giant games and Seattle of course. Most painful losses ever!

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Flow49's picture

February 03, 2016 at 11:32 am

4th and 26 has to be ahead of one of the 9ers games. That team could have won it all and changed the pats dynasty. Still hate the eagles for that one

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Tundraboy's picture

February 04, 2016 at 07:01 am

Yes, that was heartbreaking. I mean 4th and 26!!!!!

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