With Aaron Rodgers, Packers Have all the Ingredients for a Playoff Run

With Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have all the ingredients for a deep playoff run. If they can get there. 

Tuesday night, the Green Bay Packers and their fans finally got the news they were hoping for and now Aaron Rodgers is officially back.

The past seven games have been a whirlwind without him. At times, the Packers appeared dead in the water. But come-from-behind wins against Tampa Bay and Cleveland, left the team with a pulse, however faint.

But with Rodgers announcement Tuesday night, the Packers officially have a heartbeat.

Of course, Green Bay still has a long road in front of it. Beating Carolina on the road, Minnesota at home and Detroit on the road, the next three weeks, is not going to be easy. Even if Rodgers and the Packers run the table, it still might not be enough to get them in the playoffs, although the chances are pretty good.

Rodgers isn’t a miracle worker. He’s just the best football player in the National Football League. But he can’t make this run on his own. The guys who have been stepping up recently, will need to continue to raise their level of the play.

The defense will need to continue forcing turnovers, which it has done at an impressive rate. For the season, Green Bay has forced 22 turnovers, which ranks sixth in the NFL. The Packers might rank 19th in points allowed and 26th in yards, but if they can continue to force nearly two turnovers a game, they have to like their chances.

Another thing that will help Rodgers is a run game that has showed some life in recent weeks. Jamaal Williams gives Green Bay the tough, physical runner they haven’t had in a few years, while Aaron Jones has shown a tremendous ability to create explosive plays.

Davante Adams has also been incredible during Rodgers absence. In the last five games with Brett Hundley at quarterback, Adams caught five touchdowns. He also averaged more than six catches a game and 84.8 yards.

The pass rush is also starting to come together, mostly because Clay Matthews has suddenly found his form. Matthews was viewed as the best player on the Packers defense for years and in his last three games, he has started looking like that again.

Although he missed the Steelers game, his last three outings against the Ravens, Bucs and Browns were extremely productive. In those three games, he has five sacks. He also forced the interception in overtime that helped Green Bay clinch its comeback win over Cleveland.

The Packers are hurting in the secondary, but even there, third-year corner Damarious Randall is having himself a helluva season. Not only does he have four interceptions, eight passes defensed, a defensive touchdown and a fumble recovery. He also did a great job on Josh Gordon last week.

Injuries to Davon House and Kevin King will hurt, but if guys like Randall, Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Josh Jones can keep producing big plays, it might not matter.

If Matthews, Mike Daniels, Black Martinez, Dean Lowry, Kenny Clark and Nick Perry, who returned to practice this week, can keep playing the way they have in recent weeks, it might just be enough to help this team do the unthinkable.

And that’s not just talking about a playoff berth. No, the Packers aspirations should be much bigger.

Obviously, Rodgers will have to be at his best and who knows how he will look after not playing for two months. But if we believe Matthews and others at practice, Rodgers looked like his old self running the scout team the past two weeks.

Rodgers was right in the fact that he is not coming back to save the Packers season. There is no way he can do that himself. The truth is, the Packers have shown a lot of the pieces needed to be a contender in recent weeks, Hundley just wasn’t good enough to take advantage.

Think back the Pittsburgh game, when the Packers got three takeaways, but managed to get points off just one. After a Blake Martinez interception, Green Bay was up seven, but could have gone up 10 or 14 with a score. It didn’t and lost the game.

With Rodgers, there is no way that happens.

If there is one thing we know to be true about Aaron Rodgers, he makes the Packers a better football team. The defense is better, the running game is better and the offense, of course, is as good as any in the NFL.

Realistically, look at Green Bay. The team is solid in the trenches on both sides of the ball, it has Pro-Bowl wide receivers, a solid ground game, a pass rush, an opportunistic defense, a reliable kicker and a return guy who can make things happen.

All the ingredients for a championship team are there. Now, with what is essentially a playoff game on the horizon in Carolina, we will see if Aaron Rodgers, the Master Chef, has the recipe and the skill to turn those ingredients into something special.

 

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Chris is a sports journalist from Montana and has been blogging about the Packers since 2011. Chris has been a staff writer for CheeseheadTV since 2017 and looks forward to the day when Aaron Rodgers wins his second Super Bowl. Follow him @thepackersguru

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Comments (56)

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Qoojo's picture

December 14, 2017 at 12:29 pm

In my opinion, to have the ingredients for a playoff run means that a team controls its own destiny, and has at least an average defense.

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TKWorldWide's picture

December 14, 2017 at 05:24 pm

Is “uncrappy defense” a required ingredient?
If so, GB might be found a bit wanting after the weighing and measuring.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 15, 2017 at 06:59 pm

The D is crappy, but all of the other NFC challengers are flawed too. It will be interesting for at least 1 more week. Carolina WRs might be a worse group than GBs CBs.

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Patrick Hahn's picture

December 14, 2017 at 12:46 pm

I love me some “Black Martinez”.

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fastmoving's picture

December 14, 2017 at 01:04 pm

Great article, Chris. Thanks........

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Bearmeat's picture

December 14, 2017 at 01:09 pm

No Chris. All the ingredients for a championship team are NOT there. We have a championship offense. It's stacked literally everywhere but RT.

BUT - A championship team needs this thing called a DEFENSE. Especially a secondary and a pass rush. We have neither. We have hopes that MAYBE JUST MAYBE everyone we have will stay healthy and all bring up their games at the same time.

So, the odds are about as good as Baltimore's in 2012. They came out of nowhere on offense. They uniformly raised their game the last month of the regular season and throughout the playoffs.

It could happen. But to bet on it? No sir. If you really think that, then I have some great beach front property in Omaha I can sell you for REAL cheap. ;)

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Razer's picture

December 14, 2017 at 02:46 pm

I like this team's grit and heart so I cannot go against them or give up hope. That said, the lack of defense is so crippling for this team year-in, year-out. Someone needs to step up this weekend to stop Cam Newton from running amok otherwise it will be 3rd down groundhog day.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

December 14, 2017 at 05:04 pm

The defense always played better when Rodgers is at QB. And honestly, it hasn't been that bad. They are averaging 2.5 sacks per game and are sixth in the NFL in forcing turnovers. They have forced a turnover in 11 straight games. With Rodgers, they don't need the best defense, they need one that can generate big plays and this unit has shown it can do that.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

December 14, 2017 at 07:29 pm

The Packers def is flawed. Perry will make a difference. Matthews has been playing at a high level. I am thinking Green Bay will if Rodgers is close to himself will have the ball more. Field position will be better. The defense will have more rest and the lead more. It's easier playing defense from ahead then behind. I'm not under any delusion to think this def will carry GB to a title. Rodgers will have to be all time great. But if they get in, they can beat any of the teams. The Eagles with Foles and Vikes with Keenum are the top seeds likely. Seattle, Atlanta, The Rams and Panthers could all make it too, but all are beatable.

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NickPerry's picture

December 15, 2017 at 05:46 am

Unless the Packers learn how to defend a screen pass overnight Sunday could be a really long day for the defense. The Panthers have a dude named Christian McCaffrey who they lineup everywhere. Like we've watched the the last few weeks against POWERHOUSES like TB and Cleveland it doesn't matter if Randall is playing better and "locking down" the Panthers best WR, not when they pick up 35 yards on screen passes. Sure the Packers won those games but those teams are have a record of what, 4-22 this year? McCaffrey is drooling right now at a chance to catch a few screens against the Packers defense.

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Samson's picture

December 14, 2017 at 11:21 pm

A little reality always helps. --The homers love to talk but "real" stats and numbers only confuse them. -- It interferes with their 'cherry picking".

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 15, 2017 at 07:20 am

Samson -

Where have you been. Not that you have been missed.

I'm assuming that your still pissed that the Packers have won the last 2 weeks...
Funny how you disappear when the Packers win.

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 15, 2017 at 07:15 am

Careful Chris...

You're playing with fire when complimenting the defense or giving them any type of positivity. Using the terms "not that bad" is a slap in most peoples faces...

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Bearmeat's picture

December 15, 2017 at 10:24 am

No it's not a slap in the face. On the contrary, it makes me really mad. Not at Chris. At our personnel and coaching staffs on that side of the ball. We have frigging ZEUS at QB, in a time of NFL history that the QB position is the ultimate trump card.

And it hasn't mattered. Because of our frigging defense.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 15, 2017 at 06:51 pm

Based on my recollection the D plays worse with Rodgers in the game. At least they have managed a few critical stops the past few weeks even if it was agianst bad teams.

I can't remember more than a handful of critical stops by the D since 2010. And I'm not going to hold my breath they could do it against playoff teams this year.

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thebeast431's picture

December 14, 2017 at 02:08 pm

This team, with Aaron Rodgers, has a chance to go all the way.
Offense wins, always, as long as, the defense gets takeaways. That is the key. A bad defensive team that gets timely turnovers will win the game. This has defined the Packers entire season.

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Finwiz's picture

December 14, 2017 at 02:52 pm

Dancing on a razor's edge, relying on turnovers all the time.
Probability is low, as opposed to a schematically sound, disciplined defense.
Nevertheless, this isn't the type of team that gets game changing turnovers against great teams. They perform adequately in that regard against lower tier teams, but they will be in for a different level of test against Carolina.

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Samson's picture

December 14, 2017 at 11:15 pm

You do realize that GB had to go into OT to beat both Tampa Bay & Cleveland? --- We all need some of whatever it is that you are on.

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TommyG's picture

December 15, 2017 at 12:24 am

Samson, if AR had been on the field for these last two games, the result would’ve been a gross blowout in favor of our packers. The issue going forward is that the playoffs start this weekend. As is well known, playoffs are tough enough as it is, and we are now adding three weeks onto that toughness. Our offense is ready to go. Our defense is the problem.

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dobber's picture

December 15, 2017 at 07:17 am

Different game. Different week.

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 15, 2017 at 07:20 am

Samson -

Where have you been. Not that you have been missed.

I'm assuming that your still pissed that the Packers have won the last 2 weeks...
Funny how you disappear when the Packers win.

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Cartwright's picture

December 14, 2017 at 02:18 pm

Can a defense elevate it's game if the QB is playing great, why not? Momemtum is a funny think, it makes you try harder with confidence. Maybe after that final play on defense where Josh Jones almost willed that ball to go into his arms for the interception, it could be the spark for the defense, with an Aaron Rodgers return, that sends them on a roll.

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fastmoving's picture

December 14, 2017 at 02:38 pm

My take is: if all the "experts" here are that negativ and call a D distaster thats good news.
If everyone predict the same it will be canceled all the time. Real problems coming always from the blindside……
other than that, Im looking forward to see AR unexpectedly play and hopefully getting some fun out of the game.
I wondering if some of the doom smarties had ever a fun day in here life.
We all know our shortcomings, but thats football. And if someday everyone is fired, I dont think that crying and drama stops...maybe for a day...till they realised.........the next guy has his flaws too..............

GO PACK GO and glory to the brave

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Bearmeat's picture

December 14, 2017 at 02:43 pm

of course GPG is in order. I'm going to be yelling my lungs out on Sunday. I just see our ugly spots too.... and they're pretty ugly.. ;)

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

December 14, 2017 at 03:06 pm

Bearmeat, I don't disagree with your assessment. It's hard to believe that we don't have a Decent Defense after all these years. Yes, It's really a Stretch to think GB can go through the next 6 games without a loss. On the other side of the coin, take a look at the NFC?? It's Not that good. GB is capable of beating every team in front of us. Vegas has MINN on top @ 7-2.
They've got Carolina ranked 7th @ 8-1, just above GB, & they just beat MINN. If we make it, & I'm saying if, The SB might be the Wild Card game, GB & Atlanta, or Carolina. Right now Philly is #2 @ 9-2 & NO is 5-1, LAM's are 6-1, Seattle, Atlanta, & Carolina are 8-1. All of those games are Winnable games, with IMO Atlanta maybe the Toughest. Nothing matters if we don't win Sunday, but I wouldn't sell that Ocean Front Property in Omaha too Cheap just yet. By the way, Where Is It?? It's Quite a Stretch, I admit. It's not over till the Fat Lady sings. Maybe she Sings Sunday, Maybe She Don't. I've got a 35-1 Ticket for the NFC. I hope she keeps her Big Mouth Shut!!
LVT

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

December 14, 2017 at 03:10 pm

LAR's 6-1

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Bearmeat's picture

December 14, 2017 at 04:51 pm

Haha. I agree with you 100 percent tom. We have a chance because we have an offense with a great QB and a defense that has taken the ball away well at times. But it's on a razors edge again because out defense is not schematically sound nor fundamentally sound. Again. Ugh.

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TKWorldWide's picture

December 14, 2017 at 06:58 pm

I wonder if they ever had a day of fun in their whole life

Have they ever drank a beer at noon on a Tuesday
In a bar that faced a giant car wash?

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dobber's picture

December 15, 2017 at 07:17 am

Have they ever danced with the devil by the pale moon light?

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stockholder's picture

December 14, 2017 at 04:31 pm

Lets take the defense apart. Who is gone for now. Rollins, King and House. Were they in there last year? No!. Randall and Hawkins are. Gone are players like Gunter. Ha Ha dix, Burnett and Jones are ready to go . So what if Brown, Goodson, Evans, and Whitehead are in. The defensive starters are the same if not better. Martinez ? Yes, Ryan Yes, Mathews and Perry. The depth is better. Biegel and Brooks are new. The starting DL is better. It's the depth that is new and has question marks. So when everyone says we don't have a chance. BS! We Do. Especially now that A-Rod is back. So that leaves us with the offensive Line. Ok RT is the question Mark. What isn't; are the RBs. Same WRS. WERE a better team than last year on paper. This team can get to the playoffs.

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Roadrunner23's picture

December 14, 2017 at 04:51 pm

Hey I'm just glad the Packers are still relevant, a few weeks ago there was a lot of talk about "tanking" the season and going for a higher draft choice, which I don't think is ever a good idea (could end up with Tony Mandarich)
With Rodgers running the offense & a running game that should keep opposing offenses off the field just enough to improve thew Defense a bit.
I would also like to see the Packers max protecting their QB as Jason Spriggs has been better as of late but who knows when he's going to whiff and that could spell big trouble. How about we keep both of those big fullbacks in the backfield to block, the tight ends the Packers have really don't do much anyway, may as well pass it to the fullbacks as a safety valve instead.

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4zone's picture

December 14, 2017 at 07:21 pm

This team (Carolina's) diced up the Viking's D. What do you think they will do to ours, at home, playing to win their division? The only way we win is if we have several, long, time consuming scoring drives that go for touchdowns, no iTO's of our own and we grab at least one TO from them.

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fastmoving's picture

December 15, 2017 at 11:41 am

Diced up????? you just dont know what that word means........
Or you watched not a lot of football in your life.

not sure whats worse?

but boy, did we diced up the Steelers a couple of weeks ago....... just to loose in the end.

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Since'61's picture

December 14, 2017 at 07:53 pm

Chris the pieces are in place except for stopping our opponents on 3rd down and in the red zone. That's where our defensive weaknesses become totally exposed. Weaknesses like a poor pass rush, poor tackling, a wide open middle of the field, lack of speed at CB especially with King and House out and bad execution in situational football.

Yes, I expect the defense to be fired up by Rodgers return but that doesn't mean they will be more effective.

With Rodgers back we should achieve better ball control and score more points. But this is Rodgers first week back and he's playing on the road against a good team. We will probably score 24 -28 points against the Panthers. Can our defense hold the Panthers to less? That's probably a very questionable maybe. If we can play with a lead and sustain the ground game the maybe becomes a little more positive.

But if we get behind or in a shootout I don't see our defense holding up. We have a great QB with good offensive weapons but after that we have if and hope. And hope is not a plan or a good piece for a championship team or a championship run. Thanks, Since '61

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GVPacker's picture

December 15, 2017 at 09:15 am

As usual you make some very good points! Lets keep our fingers crossed and hopefully Dom Capers is put out to pasture after this season.

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Qoojo's picture

December 15, 2017 at 09:44 am

Seems like we have seen a lot of 1st and 20+ or 2nd and 20+ get whittled down to < 10 to go in one play. Defense makes a play, or gets a break on a penalty, then immediately gives it back on the next play.

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Packer_Fan's picture

December 14, 2017 at 09:17 pm

We have a chance. Rodgers gives us a much better offense that can help the defense. It seems to me that the defense played much better late in the games when the offense made some time consuming drives. And then there is some resiliency the whole team is showing. Not giving up, making plays late in the game contribute to wins and a potential difficult team to match up against if they make the playoffs.

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Samson's picture

December 14, 2017 at 11:11 pm

Believe me, the season will end at about 3:30 PM (CT) for all the homers and the Pack. -- With or without AR, the "D" will NOT hold up (as usual). -- Hopefully, AR doesn't get eff'ed up even more. -- Playing AR is just MM/TT trying to salvage their jobs.

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

December 14, 2017 at 11:27 pm

Samson, I've read your posts. Agreed with a few. Disagreed with others. This one is ridiculous. Not saying you are wrong about the outcome. Do you really think AR would go out & play on orders from TT or MM if he didn't think he could play? I'm Sorry, I don't think so.
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Samson's picture

December 14, 2017 at 11:41 pm

I said nothing about orders from anyone. -- I doubt very much that AR takes orders from MM or TT. -- In fact, I doubt AR even has much respect for either. ---- AR is playing because he has been physically cleared to play.-- It's just a coincidence that the jobs of MM & TT may very well be on the line.

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

December 15, 2017 at 01:39 am

Samson, With all due Respect, Maybe you meant something else, but your post states "Playing AR is MM/TT trying to salvage their jobs" Maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to say?
LVT

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dobber's picture

December 15, 2017 at 07:21 am

First off, MM isn't going anywhere. Anyone who thinks his job is in jeopardy just doesn't pay attention to the NFL. So maybe what Samson meant was: ARod playing might salvage TTs job...if you think his job really is in any danger. Which I really don't think is true, either.

So the end result is...ARod is playing.

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croatpackfan's picture

December 15, 2017 at 04:47 am

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000892892

Packers get back their Jedi... According to NFL!

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rdent's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:00 am

When you mix in all the ingredients that make up the recipe of a SB caliper team, sorry Chris this team is lacking a heaping cup of Defense.

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dobber's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:19 am

I agree: this team is going to have to play over its heads on defense to win a SB this season. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but there's a whole lotta finger crossin' and Hail Maryin' goin' on.

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Handsback's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:22 am

First off I love the article. Second, I disagree with it. Before Rodgers went down the Packers were moving a lot of pieces around on the defensive side of the ball to get stops. Since Rodgers has gone down....the Packers has lost the ability to move guys around because there are no guys left! The strength of the Packer's defense is the line, but usually they are only playing two guys. Martinez has come on strong, but they still have this issue of not being able to stop third down conversions.

For the Packers to win they have to keep their defense off the field for long periods of time. It can happen, but it's not the way the Packer's big play offense works. Without any quality depth in the CB/safety positions, healthy OLBs, (Might be OK there but it seems to be game time decision.) and the Oline without Bulaga looking very ordinary.....I don't see this as a playoff team. Researching my next football book, one thing comes out from most of the experts I talked to and that is stacked success. It's what the Packers were doing before Rodgers went down. The problem is the difficulty of going from a level of play w/o Rodgers to a very high level of excellence to make and succeed in the playoffs. I don't think it's impossible, just not probable.

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dobber's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:29 am

I agree with you mostly, but disagree on one key point: the Packers have had, since the 2015 debacle on offense, a ball control passing game. With #12 under center, they've done a pretty good job of winning or being close to even on TOP on a week to week basis. There have been a few examples where that's not been true (e.g. Dallas), but otherwise, they tend to win or draw on TOP.

You use the words 'stacked success'...how is this different from momentum?

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Big T2's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:33 am

If it comes down to coaching... we lose
If it comes down to defense... we lose
If it comes down to management... we lose
If it comes down to fans... we win
IF it comes down to best qb... we win

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al bundy's picture

December 15, 2017 at 10:22 am

Please. This team barely, key word barely beat the two worst teams in football. The mighty browns were 7 of 13 on third down conversions with a qb who was benched a good part of the season. Id be prepared for thw worst on sunday even with Rogers back. Unless he plays defense too.

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 15, 2017 at 10:35 am

You do know his name is RODGERS right?

Unlike Green Bay, Rodgers does have a "D" in it.

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JDK52's picture

December 15, 2017 at 06:34 pm

Hahahah thanks RC.

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Samson's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:29 pm

Congratulations, RC.
You've actually reduced the size of your posts to a readable length.
Now, all you have to do is reduce your complaining, cherry picking and selective rewriting of history.

Come on, correcting someone's spelling?? - A little high school, wouldn't you say??

Win or lose, I tend to visit CHTV once or twice a week. (there are many very good blogs concerning the Pack & the NFL) ---- Do a search. -- Expand your knowledge base if you dare.

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 16, 2017 at 09:22 am

Samson...

All you have to do is reduce your appearances on here to 0 times a week and everyone would be happy...

Seriously. What is your problem? What is your obsession with coming on here and harassing people?

You know absolutely nothing about me. So coming on here trying to tell me what to do, sorry but its not going to work.
Do yourself, and all of ourselves a favor and leave and don't come back.

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GVPacker's picture

December 15, 2017 at 03:04 pm

A thought provoking article! I'll just throw this out there and you guys can tell me your thoughts?
The 2006 Indianapolis Colts HOF QB with an average defense.SB Champion!
The 2009 New Orleans Saints HOF QB with an average
defense.SB Champion!
Is Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense good enough to win a Super Bowl with this current defense?

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Samson's picture

December 15, 2017 at 08:35 pm

Different years, different teams and different players.
Way, way too many irrelevant numbers.
Cherry picking at its best.

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