Game 13: Packers @ Lions - Sunday, December 13th , 3:25PM CT

[PinaMadness]

Aside from Rodgers, I thought MVS was the player of the game.

He had some clutch possession-receiver type catches, a couple were really nice contested ones that forced him to use his hands and not his body. I loved seeing it—if he can consistently make those plays, this offense is among the best in football and can hang with anyone. If they can get the running game going, look out.

 

The only thing that would stop them is defense and special teams...

Yeah, MVS could just as easily stink it up again next week. Need to see this from him more consistently.

[yourout]

Aside from Rodgers, I thought MVS was the player of the game.

 

Crosby gets an honorable mention for the FG and the TD saving tackle.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Getting the #1 seed is so huge this year, not only because it's the only spot that includes a bye, but also because it really feels like any NFC team that makes the playoffs could beat anyone else in the field on any given Sunday - honestly, the #6 or #7 seeds are going to be teams like the Vikings and Buccaneers that could give a #2 seed Packer team problems at Lambeau with a solid running game (Vikes) and matchup problem defense (Bucs), especially if the weather is crummy.

 

The Packers are in a great position to earn that top seed and force the road to the Super Bowl through Lambeau - in all honesty I don't know if that's the best venue (assuming no or very few fans) for the Packers to beat all of the potential playoff opponents with their style of offense and leaky defense against the run, but I'd rather play the Saints at Lambeau instead of in New Orleans...hoping they take care of business next week and head into that Titans game with a 1 game cushion on the Saints assuming KC beats them a week from now.

[FVBrewerFan]

Also, a bye week isn't always a positive. If they're rolling, taking a week off can upset the momentum, schedule, etc. With no fans, I really don't care too much about seeds, road games, any of that. If they play their best football, they'll beat any NFC team anywhere, except maybe the Rams.

[PinaMadness]

Also, a bye week isn't always a positive. If they're rolling, taking a week off can upset the momentum, schedule, etc. With no fans, I really don't care too much about seeds, road games, any of that. If they play their best football, they'll beat any NFC team anywhere, except maybe the Rams.

I don't agree with that. Getting a week off is huge just so you have time to heal up from aches and pains, and it's especially true this year since only one team gets that advantage. However, if you have that top seed wrapped up going into week 17 and you rest your star players that last game along with the bye and give them two weeks off, then I'd be worried about rust. 2011 is a great example of that.

[FVBrewerFan]

Also, a bye week isn't always a positive. If they're rolling, taking a week off can upset the momentum, schedule, etc. With no fans, I really don't care too much about seeds, road games, any of that. If they play their best football, they'll beat any NFC team anywhere, except maybe the Rams.

I don't agree with that. Getting a week off is huge just so you have time to heal up from aches and pains, and it's especially true this year since only one team gets that advantage. However, if you have that top seed wrapped up going into week 17 and you rest your star players that last game along with the bye and give them two weeks off, then I'd be worried about rust. 2011 is a great example of that.

 

You would rather have a bye than not. But you do run the risk of being off your game, we've seen it happen plenty of times.

[homer]

They can beat the Rams. Let's not forget LA lost to San Francisco just a couple weeks ago.

[Outlander]

I think the #1 seed is huge. Of course they get an automatic bye in to the next round but then they are likely facing a warm weather team like the Bucs or Cardinals or an inferior team like Washington.

[PinaMadness]

They can beat the Rams. Let's not forget LA lost to San Francisco just a couple weeks ago.

It depends which Goff shows up. If bad Goff shows up they certainly are beatable. If good Goff shows up, they're the best team in the NFC.

[homer]

They can beat the Rams. Let's not forget LA lost to San Francisco just a couple weeks ago.

It depends which Goff shows up. If bad Goff shows up they certainly are beatable. If good Goff shows up, they're the best team in the NFC.

 

Packers can throw on the Rams. I'll take the odds on Green Bay in a Rodgers and Goff shooting match.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

It stinks there are no fans, because the Packers have really needed to get home field for a long time now, as Rodgers himself has said. It feels lame that they may finally do it (not a given) and there aren't fans. That said, the NFC is totally wide open. The Packers can beat any of these teams, and they are not beyond losing to the Rams, Cards, Saints, Bucs, and I was getting a little nervous about them having to play Minnesota again. Washington has won 4 in a row.

 

The Packers have just had such bad lows that they're not beyond losing to anybody. But there is absolutely not a SF this year that looks beyond them.

 

Not scared of Pitt, not as scared of Tennessee after watching Mayfield play that secondary. KC is the clear best, nobody after them really scares me.

[homer]

I agree. I think GB can beat anyone in the NFL but they could just as easily lose to any of the playoff teams. Heck, they could lose to the Bears.

[PinaMadness]

They can beat the Rams. Let's not forget LA lost to San Francisco just a couple weeks ago.

It depends which Goff shows up. If bad Goff shows up they certainly are beatable. If good Goff shows up, they're the best team in the NFC.

 

Packers can throw on the Rams. I'll take the odds on Green Bay in a Rodgers and Goff shooting match.

The Rams currently have the #3 passing defense and #3 defense overall, and will probably raise to #2 after tonight's game. And that's playing in he best division in football. Not sure why you think throwing on them is a cakewalk.

[homer]

they haven't exactly faced a murderers row of passing offenses. and I never said it'd be a cake walk

[adambr2]

Arizona is a matchup I want no part of. They have the speed and type of skill players on offense that can really give our defense fits.

[brewcrewdue80]

Incredible for a DC to get so little out of so much talent. You've got 3 legit pass rushers, one the top corners in the league, one of the top nose tackles in the league, two pretty good safeties and a good 2nd CB and some decent supplementary players. Anddddd...nothing.

 

This is the #1 take for the defense and against Pettine. Smart/good QBs can beat his pass defenses for large chunks simply because playing too soft. Good running teams Just beat the 3-4 model he uses because MiLBs aren't superior and the soft def zone schemes he uses with them. It's not a downhill attack the gaps its almost like man to man and watch for a receiving target cutting through the middle field. So they delay the downhill attack long enough to see if it's a run or pass. Also-LT or RT run blocking vs OLBs is a greater initial push than vs DEs. Now that does get negated by a number of holding penalties when LB look to shed that OL when chasing outside runs. Now revert back to problem one- soft belly def gets eaten up for large chunks of yards making that 10yard penalty almost feel like an Offensive Play caller's advantage. Predictable what you're going to see. 8-15yards downfield open underneath. Late releasing RB or TE open 2-5yards for a headstart yac potential. Missed tackles equal big play 1st downs. It's like Pettine's soft defense has a sweet spot. 1-2secs after snap but 2+secs it falls apart until 5+secs.

[FVBrewerFan]

Would love to see Pettine get Yosted here down the stretch. Risky move they'll never do, but just be that little jolt they need to get over the top.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Idk that coordinators or coaches get fired from #1 seeds in Week 14. Not saying it's a terrible idea as the guy has been terrible, but I can't think of a time it's happened.

[pacopete4]

The complaints of our defensive issues are somewhat overblown. Not as badly as the lack of usage of our first-round picks on the wide receiver position but still overblown. They need to clean up their red zone defense a bit and they'd be more than fine with points per game. Heck, if we didn't have such lousy special teams play, that might be just fine too. Even as it stands, they are middle of the pack in just about every category and find themselves top ten (8th) in yards allowed.

[PeaveyFury]

The defense has quietly tightened up a bit as the season has gone on. Hard to know whether that's just the result of playing crappier offenses, though.

 

I do agree with Brew4U that the bigger issue lately has been the horrendous special teams play. We walk away with both the game yesterday and the Philly game if they don't give up devastating long returns in each of those games.

[GAME05]

The whole game I kept thinking that it shouldn't have been as close as it was. How do you only score two TDs in the first half against a team with basically no CBs?

[homer]

The whole game I kept thinking that it shouldn't have been as close as it was. How do you only score two TDs in the first half against a team with basically no CBs?

 

The false start by Bakhtiari on 3rd and 5 was a real drive killer.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The whole game I kept thinking that it shouldn't have been as close as it was. How do you only score two TDs in the first half against a team with basically no CBs?

 

Not getting the ball to start the game, and the Lions having two very long TD drives makes two quarters go by very quickly...

 

I think what this defense can potentially hang their hat on is that they do have playmakers on all 3 levels to shut drives down - however their weakness is the intermediate middle of the field, and Pettine's scheme too often seems to make those positions the focal point of the defense. Also, teams that can exploit the lack of impact talent at DE and MLB with interior misdirection runs, screens, and other RB/TE option routes often have their way when they can isolate those weak spots. Last year SF exposed Blake Martinez for not being athletic enough to make plays despite being assignment-sound in this defense. This year I think the MLBs are more athletic, but they aren't as assignment-sound and opponents are still finding ways to pick on them.

[homer]

The whole game I kept thinking that it shouldn't have been as close as it was. How do you only score two TDs in the first half against a team with basically no CBs?

 

Not getting the ball to start the game, and the Lions having two very long TD drives makes two quarters go by very quickly...

 

I think what this defense can potentially hang their hat on is that they do have playmakers on all 3 levels to shut drives down - however their weakness is the intermediate middle of the field, and Pettine's scheme too often seems to make those positions the focal point of the defense. Also, teams that can exploit the lack of impact talent at DE and MLB with interior misdirection runs, screens, and other RB/TE option routes often have their way when they can isolate those weak spots.

 

Screens will kill a charmin soft zone all day.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The whole game I kept thinking that it shouldn't have been as close as it was. How do you only score two TDs in the first half against a team with basically no CBs?

 

Not getting the ball to start the game, and the Lions having two very long TD drives makes two quarters go by very quickly...

 

I think what this defense can potentially hang their hat on is that they do have playmakers on all 3 levels to shut drives down - however their weakness is the intermediate middle of the field, and Pettine's scheme too often seems to make those positions the focal point of the defense. Also, teams that can exploit the lack of impact talent at DE and MLB with interior misdirection runs, screens, and other RB/TE option routes often have their way when they can isolate those weak spots.

 

Screens will kill a charmin soft zone all day.

 

Agreed - and a charmin soft zone puts too much honus on linebackers to be in the right spot all the time. With their defensive personnel I'd much rather play alot more man.