Couch Time

Coping with the loss against the Chiefs requires some couch time.

Let's talk about what happened yesterday.

The Packers suffered their first loss in over a year at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 19-14 in less than dramatic fashion. They were outplayed-plain and simple. The offense struggled, the defense gave up huge chunks of yards, and Mike McCarthy for the first time in over a year failed to make the in game adjustments necessary to win.

To add fuel to the fire, if not for the failure of the Chiefs to punch the ball in from inside the ten yard line, the margin of loss would have been much worse.

These are facts, and unfortunately, they cannot be denied.

In the hours following the game, the Twitterverse was abuzz with reaction from fans, trying to cope with the seemingly unstoppable Packers losing a game. Despite sitting at 13-1, the best record in the league by two full games and the number one seed in the NFC playoff picture, Packer fans everywhere were voicing their opinion about the loss. Some were level headed in their approach following the game, while others felt the need to attack the players behind the comforts of a computer.

Whatever your approach was, everyone voicing their opinion about what could have been.

Last night, having finally decompressed from the loss, I decided to conduct an experiment. The assignment was simple: in 10 words or less, how do you feel after today's game?

The answers were interesting to say the least:

  • Sad, but confident, concerned, but optimistic, proud of 13-1
  • Humbled. No feeling of indestructiveness. All probs can be fixed
  • Relieved: pressure is off
  • Like the ending will be a replay of 2009
  • Win the last game. That is all that matters
  • Initially disappointed, but focusing on bigger picture
  • Bad, don't like losing. Team will learn from the mistakes
  • Kinda relieved
  • Unfazed. Undefeated nice, Super Bowl all that matters
  • SUPERBOWL BOUND
  • Still thanking God I'm a Packers fan
  • Dumbfounded
  • Disappointed. Concerned about O-Line. Still proud of 13-1. Damn proud
  • Mortal
  • Concerned
  • Relieved. I'm too superstitious to feel otherwise
  • A minor set back on the road to XLVI
  • Meh...whatever. Gotta clean it up on defense.
  • Sad.
  • My faith in the team is still there
  • Romeo'd.
  • Still control our own destiny, Indy comes thru Green Bay.
  • Disappointed but hopeful
  • A lot of disappointment and a little relief
  • Incomplete
  • Unhappy. But championships outweigh perfection
  • Almost relieved. Perfection isn't real, Super Bowl rings are

Quite a range of emotions.

While I will never claim to be a therapist, allow me to offer my analysis of the answers, as well as give some advice.

Losses hurt. They are supposed to. It's part of being a fan. When so much time and energy is invested into a particular team, losing a game is going to have an effect on the person. When it involves a team as special as the Packers, it is magnified. Add to that an undefeated season for the defending Super Bowl champions, and the hurt intensifies again. It's part of the emotional attachment fans have to the Packers.

Despite having to deal with the pain of a loss, the bigger picture is now in clear focus. Going undefeated is always a goal-you should always want to be perfect in everything you do. However, you do not have to have a perfect record to win the Super Bowl, which is the goal of every NFL team. The Packers no longer have to worry about the media spotlight on a perfect season. They can focus on the bulls eye, which is a silver trophy and a world championship.

Do the Packers have issues? Sure they do. Every team has issues. They give up too many yards. They don't have an effective enough pass rush. They have injuries. Guess what? They are 13-1. Were you this vocal in pointing out the flaws in this team before yesterday? Or did it take a loss to accept that the Packers are not invincible? If you were a bandwagoner, feel free to jump off. Real Packer fans don't need your company.

Finally, to those who felt the need to use social media to tell a player how they felt after the game: piss off. You give good Packer fans a bad name with your classless act. It's your right to do this, just don't expect a friendly reaction from those of us who know that the players are dealing with a loss just as hard, if not harder, than fans do.

The Packers are going to be fine. They played a bad game yesterday. All teams do. The important thing is that they take their frustrations out on their next opponent, which just so happens to be the Bears, and keep their eye on the prize at the end of the season. When the Packers win the Super Bowl in February, no one will care they lost a game in December.

Better to lose now than in the most important games of the season-the ones in January and February.

 

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Comments (6)

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Chris Carnall's picture

December 19, 2011 at 09:33 am

When I saw the title, John, I thought you were calling for a change at QB! ;-)

Excellent article - and some much needed perspective on what is still a great season, with the potential to be greater still!

13-1 still sounds pretty darned good to me!

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JohnRehor's picture

December 20, 2011 at 09:00 am

13-1 sounds good now.

I'm thinking of what 18-1 and another Lombardi Trophy will be like

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Bearmeat's picture

December 19, 2011 at 10:28 am

Yeah. Rodgers needs to get benched! What's his record in close games again? Rabble rabble rabble..... (Rolls Eyes)

Good summation John. Quite simple now: Get healthy. Win the rest of the games. Still go down as a dynasty. It's still all there.

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JohnRehor's picture

December 20, 2011 at 08:59 am

Exactly. No more injuries, and get back to winning.

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Kevin's picture

December 20, 2011 at 07:55 am

From one Illinois resident to another Illinois resident..... BEARSTILLSUCK!!!

Good article John, GO Pack GO

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JohnRehor's picture

December 20, 2011 at 08:58 am

I can't think of a better team for the Packers to take their frustrations out on than the Bears. At Lambeau. On Christmas.

Sets up perfectly

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