NFC Divisional Playoffs: Rams @ Packers - Saturday, Jan 16th, 3:35PM

[homer]

That football can get really hard in cold weather. Goff might have trouble throwing and his receivers might get dropsies.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The players on a roster haven't spent their entire lives in their host city, I'm sure many if not most have played football in the cold and find it minimally annoying, much like most of the Packers probably do. There are some advantages, like knowing the ideal cleat to wear on a specific field, but as far as catching a cold ball and things like that I really doubt that there's any kind of huge advantage. I've watched enough hot-weather QBs dominate in cold-weather cities.

 

Plus, the whole notion that cold weather teams are used it when they realistically play 2 or maybe 3 games in it per year, and visiting teams have likely been in the cold already this year, is sort of overblown. So, I think the weather can be a factor for sure, but affects both teams, and I would hesitate to call it a major impact to really anyone other than kickers. I think HFA is a substantial edge, but not really because of weather. Simply because it's really nice to be around "your stuff" and not in a strange environment.

 

Franchise playoff records in weather really you next to nothing. How many of those games were they favored to win? I am sure there are many factors contributing to those losses more than it just being cold.

 

His hand already being hurt is probably the most significant thing when it comes to weather.

[SeaBass]

My weather app is forecasting temperatures around 30 degrees and no precipitation for game time on Saturday, it also is forecasting wind chill so that it "feels like" 19 to 20 degrees. If that holds up I don't think that's going to affect players too much on either side.

 

Aaron Rodgers was talking about playing in the cold on Pat McAfee's show yesterday, he really only talked about how when the wind chill gets way down in the negatives as being a detriment to playing and Saturday shouldn't be anything near that.

[MrTPlush]

That game where the other team looked terrible in the snow was the Titans. The announcers pretty much beat it to death how the Titans wouldn’t make cuts, but the Packers were doing it. Probably the only reason we beat them so bad, heck maybe only reason we won, is because of that snow.

[CheezWizHed]

The players on a roster haven't spent their entire lives in their host city, I'm sure many if not most have played football in the cold and find it minimally annoying, much like most of the Packers probably do. There are some advantages, like knowing the ideal cleat to wear on a specific field, but as far as catching a cold ball and things like that I really doubt that there's any kind of huge advantage. I've watched enough hot-weather QBs dominate in cold-weather cities.

 

Plus, the whole notion that cold weather teams are used it when they realistically play 2 or maybe 3 games in it per year, and visiting teams have likely been in the cold already this year, is sort of overblown. So, I think the weather can be a factor for sure, but affects both teams, and I would hesitate to call it a major impact to really anyone other than kickers. I think HFA is a substantial edge, but not really because of weather. Simply because it's really nice to be around "your stuff" and not in a strange environment.

 

Franchise playoff records in weather really you next to nothing. How many of those games were they favored to win? I am sure there are many factors contributing to those losses more than it just being cold.

 

His hand already being hurt is probably the most significant thing when it comes to weather.

 

Rodgers is 28-6 in when the game is below freezing. Over 13 years, that averages about 2-3/year, but it still is 34 games of experience. Plus, they still do live in GB at the time of the games and practice in it also. Goff has played in 2 games below freezing over a 5 year career.

 

I agree that 30 degrees probably isn't going to be a huge advantage, but it really isn't all that common for warm weather teams to play in it.

 

The Ram's playoff record in freezing weather is a meaningless stat...just thrown in for fun.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I feel like seasonal January temps actually give the Packers a much bigger advantage than if it were 10 below and blowing 30...brutally cold temps basically make it miserable for both teams and impact the ability of a passing game predicated on speed and timing. Game temps in the mid 20's is what the Packers are used to living in Green Bay during the season at this point, so they'll not even notice the temps - for the Rams it will be noticeable.

 

I'd rather face this Rams defense in a cold weather game on grass to help even further slow their line's jump off the snap - which is exactly what will be the case on Saturday afternoon.

[BillScottCanRake]

If Green Bay has an advantage over the Rams because of the weather, I think that advantage isn't due to the number of games a team has played in winter conditions, but rather the Packers live in winter conditions and the Rams don't. The players that live in Green Bay experience winter every time they walk to and from their car, or practice outdoors, etc. I think that acclimation can mean players are less impacted by the conditions, or perhaps they are able to adapt to them quicker than players who aren't as acclimated. That could give Green Bay a bit of an edge early, but I don't think it will be a huge edge and I don't think it will last.

 

I think if the Rams wear the right shoes and they stay in the game, I don't think the weather will be a huge factor. If the game starts to get away from them, or if they have the wrong shoes, I think that's when guys focus on the weather and the game can get away from them.

 

I expect this to be a close game.

[AKCheesehead]

If Green Bay has an advantage over the Rams because of the weather, I think that advantage isn't due to the number of games a team has played in winter conditions, but rather the Packers live in winter conditions and the Rams don't. The players that live in Green Bay experience winter every time they walk to and from their car, or practice outdoors, etc. I think that acclimation can mean players are less impacted by the conditions, or perhaps they are able to adapt to them quicker than players who aren't as acclimated. That could give Green Bay a bit of an edge early, but I don't think it will be a huge edge and I don't think it will last.

 

I think if the Rams wear the right shoes and they stay in the game, I don't think the weather will be a huge factor. If the game starts to get away from them, or if they have the wrong shoes, I think that's when guys focus on the weather and the game can get away from them.

 

I expect this to be a close game.

 

I could certainly see this. I recall going to the 2011 Rose Bowl and doing things the couple days prior the weather was ok in my book, I wore a lightweight jacket. The locals out there thought it was cold and miserable.

[PinaMadness]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

[nodakfan17]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

I fully expect to have my soul crushed in the most agonizing fashion every January, so this would be a fitting way for this season to end.

[HiAndTight]

Weather can have a major impact to some. Skill athletes (WR/RB/TE/CB) that don't know how to run on snow and grass tend to be much more tentative. I'm blanking on the game, but we played on earlier where the other team looked like they were tip-toeing most of the first half. Edit- I think it was Carolina.

 

And weather will effect anyone that has to hold the football. It is pretty well known about QB hand-size and cold/wet conditions (if not, just listen to Aikman brag about his big hands this week during the Packer game). Less impactful, but still some impact on RBs. And catching a frozen rock when your hands are cold isn't easy either. All the conditions effect both teams equally, but when you've done it many times, it makes it easier mentally to prepare for it and know some tricks on how to make it easier.

 

I saw somewhere that the Rams were 1-7 or 1-8 all time in playoff games below 30 degrees. That isn't Goff, but just the team in general.

 

 

Yes, all these things. And Geoff has smaller than normal hands to begin with(which they've attributed to his fumbles).

[HiAndTight]

If Green Bay has an advantage over the Rams because of the weather, I think that advantage isn't due to the number of games a team has played in winter conditions, but rather the Packers live in winter conditions and the Rams don't. The players that live in Green Bay experience winter every time they walk to and from their car, or practice outdoors, etc. I think that acclimation can mean players are less impacted by the conditions, or perhaps they are able to adapt to them quicker than players who aren't as acclimated. That could give Green Bay a bit of an edge early, but I don't think it will be a huge edge and I don't think it will last.

 

I think if the Rams wear the right shoes and they stay in the game, I don't think the weather will be a huge factor. If the game starts to get away from them, or if they have the wrong shoes, I think that's when guys focus on the weather and the game can get away from them.

 

I expect this to be a close game.

 

YES. One team is practicing in cold weather, the other in 70-degree weather.

It's not like the Packers are just better at dealing with the cold, they've just gotten acclimated to it.

[HiAndTight]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

 

 

Yeah, this is bad, but really just puts us back to where we were before last week.

 

But the chances he's the ONLY person who has it...

 

This has the ability to just be a huge gut punch.

[areacodes]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

 

 

Yeah, this is bad, but really just puts us back to where we were before last week.

 

But the chances he's the ONLY person who has it...

 

This has the ability to just be a huge gut punch.

 

I was thinking this shouldn’t be a big deal as there is the wait period before a new player can join the team but I see they changed that rule in mid-December for a player who has already been in the NFL COVID protocol/testing. From what I read they are still required to pass a rapid test and since Veldheer obviously signed recently, hopefully it was that test that came up positive and would limit the likelihood of other players testing positive.

[HiAndTight]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

 

 

Yeah, this is bad, but really just puts us back to where we were before last week.

 

But the chances he's the ONLY person who has it...

 

This has the ability to just be a huge gut punch.

 

I was thinking this shouldn’t be a big deal as there is the wait period before a new player can join the team but I see they changed that rule in mid-December for a player who has already been in the NFL COVID protocol/testing. From what I read they are still required to pass a rapid test and since Veldheer obviously signed recently, hopefully it was that test that came up positive and would limit the likelihood of other players testing positive.

 

 

The problem is he's been on the field practicing. He was in the rooms watching tape. LaFleur was talking about how he looked.

 

This could be a HUGE problem. I really hope he's the only one with an issue, or this alone could knee cap us.

 

Edit-So far it appears as though we may have gotten VERY lucky. I mean...losing Veldheer sucks, but it just puts us back to where we were before we claimed him.

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30707074/no-green-bay-packers-deemed-close-contacts-ot-jared-veldheer-tests-positive-covid-19-source-says

[brewcrewdue80]

Has anyone sat back and looked at the Rams schedule? If you think about eb and flows of this season, they faced all 4 NFC Least opponents within 1st 5 games this season. The East certainly played better the 2nd half of season. They played Brady and Wilson the 2nd half of the season. When both were struggling vs Wilson's early season mvp stats and Brady's lil stretch with Gronk killing it. The Bears before that.

They lost to Buffalo, Miami, Jets-all 3 scoring 20+ pts. Week 17 kyler Murray was injured 1st series and missed nearly all of the game. They lost both times to the 49ers and we know that team was a trainwreck of injuries.

 

Relax. This game will be over quickly.

[PinaMadness]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

I fully expect to have my soul crushed in the most agonizing fashion every January, so this would be a fitting way for this season to end.

Me too.

[brewcrewdue80]

I was wondering when something like this was going to happen. Veldheer has covid.

 

I fully expect to have my soul crushed in the most agonizing fashion every January, so this would be a fitting way for this season to end.

Me too.

 

I do worry more on next week's game after we win since it should take a few days for potential symptoms to show up.

There's also the fact the history Veldheer was about to make and (conspiracy theory) the NFL created this scenario to keep him from playing b2b playoff weeks for 2 different teams.

[adambr2]

Has anyone sat back and looked at the Rams schedule? If you think about eb and flows of this season, they faced all 4 NFC Least opponents within 1st 5 games this season. The East certainly played better the 2nd half of season. They played Brady and Wilson the 2nd half of the season. When both were struggling vs Wilson's early season mvp stats and Brady's lil stretch with Gronk killing it. The Bears before that.

They lost to Buffalo, Miami, Jets-all 3 scoring 20+ pts. Week 17 kyler Murray was injured 1st series and missed nearly all of the game. They lost both times to the 49ers and we know that team was a trainwreck of injuries.

 

Relax. This game will be over quickly.

 

You are doing wayyyy too much dissection of a normal NFL schedule. Any schedule can be looked at from a positive or negative perspective if you twist it enough. For ours, example, one could say we faced New Orleans early in the season before they gelled and with no Michael Thomas. You could say we faced a decimated 49er team and then barely got by a terrible Jaguars team.

 

You can't make apples to apples comparisons to predict what will happen like saying it will be over quickly because we beat the 49ers and the Rams lost to them twice. Doesn't work that way.

 

I hope we win easily. I doubt it will be easy or over quickly. This is an NFL opponent, and a good one. If we get a comfortable lead by late in the 3rd I'll be quite pleased.

[adambr2]

I do worry more on next week's game after we win since it should take a few days for potential symptoms to show up.

There's also the fact the history Veldheer was about to make and (conspiracy theory) the NFL created this scenario to keep him from playing b2b playoff weeks for 2 different teams.

 

That has to be one of the more bizarre sports conspiracy theories that I've ever heard. Veldheer's "history" is more of an interesting anecdote or answer to a trivia question than anything, it's not this huge thing that the NFL would have anything to possibly gain by keeping it from occurring. I'm thinking the NFL falsely staging a positive COVID test and compromising the integrity of their entire playoffs just to avoid a backup tackle legally playing for 2 different teams in the same playoffs is probably not something that happened.

[HiAndTight]

I do worry more on next week's game after we win since it should take a few days for potential symptoms to show up.

There's also the fact the history Veldheer was about to make and (conspiracy theory) the NFL created this scenario to keep him from playing b2b playoff weeks for 2 different teams.

 

That has to be one of the more bizarre sports conspiracy theories that I've ever heard. Veldheer's "history" is more of an interesting anecdote or answer to a trivia question than anything, it's not this huge thing that the NFL would have anything to possibly gain by keeping it from occurring. I'm thinking the NFL falsely staging a positive COVID test and compromising the integrity of their entire playoffs just to avoid a backup tackle legally playing for 2 different teams in the same playoffs is probably not something that happened.

 

 

This makes absolutely zero sense to me. I don't think the NFL cared one TINY bit if Veldheer played for the Packers this week or not. If they did, they could have just blocked the waiver wire acquisition. They wouldn't fake a Covid result to block him from being the answer to a trivia question.

 

That is without a doubt one of the silliest conspiracy theories I have heard myself.

 

 

You are doing wayyyy too much dissection of a normal NFL schedule. Any schedule can be looked at from a positive or negative perspective if you twist it enough. For ours, example, one could say we faced New Orleans early in the season before they gelled and with no Michael Thomas. You could say we faced a decimated 49er team and then barely got by a terrible Jaguars team.

 

You can't make apples to apples comparisons to predict what will happen like saying it will be over quickly because we beat the 49ers and the Rams lost to them twice. Doesn't work that way.

 

I hope we win easily. I doubt it will be easy or over quickly. This is an NFL opponent, and a good one. If we get a comfortable lead by late in the 3rd I'll be quite pleased.

 

Right. You could also turn around and say, "they lost a 3 point game to the Bills, a VERY good team and a very tough trip for the Rams to make, traveling back East. The Packers traveling out West was the excuse some used for the LAC and SF losses last year(blown out in all 3). This is when Josh Allen was playing like an MVP.

 

They lost to the 49'ers when they were much healthier than we were. Certainly not a worse loss than the Vikings(I'd argue a much better loss).

 

The DID beat the Buccs just as they were starting to get hot. The Buccs lost by the same score to the Rams as they did to KC and then they ran the table(and they beat us BADLY around the same time)..

 

 

I mean...you could do this ALL day by selectively altering the narrative behind each game. The Rams are a good team. I hope they blow them out. I suspect this will be much closer to the Bears-Packers NFC Championship Game. Maybe we with 24-10, maybe it's a 7 point win, but the Rams matchup VERY well with us.

 

I hope this is like the Titans game, but again, I think there are unreasonable expectations and that will turn to "The Packers aren't as good as I thought they were" if the game goes as most people expect and it's a competitive game.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The problem is he's been on the field practicing. He was in the rooms watching tape. LaFleur was talking about how he looked.

 

This could be a HUGE problem. I really hope he's the only one with an issue, or this alone could knee cap us.

 

Edit-So far it appears as though we may have gotten VERY lucky. I mean...losing Veldheer sucks, but it just puts us back to where we were before we claimed him.

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30707074/no-green-bay-packers-deemed-close-contacts-ot-jared-veldheer-tests-positive-covid-19-source-says

 

From what I've read, the Packers seem to be one of the most careful teams in the league when it comes to spacing their players out during meeting/film sessions, and requiring that everyone mask up. Heck, the players even have those in-helmet mouth shields during practice. This is not surprising, though, considering the reputation the team's medical staff has (rightfully) earned for being extremely cautious and conservative when it comes to keeping players healthy. I imagine they have to be one of the top teams in the league when it comes to fewest player games lost this season due to COVID. Just goes to show how letting your guard down, even a little bit when it comes to COVID, can bite you in the butt. Hopefully it is determined that Veldheer either picked it up someplace outside the organization, or it was a false positive.

[PeaveyFury]

Reports are that Veldheer passed his initial COVID test that was given with his physical, which is why he was allowed to participate in practice initially. His test from the next day was positive.

 

Concerning for sure. Let's root for 'false positive,' obviously. I think there's a very good chance that if it isn't, you're going to see a domino effect along the line....

[Fear The Chorizo]

The fact they don't consider anyone within the Packers' organization to be a close contact is a good thing - hoping the next few days don't result in other positive tests among coaches/players that would otherwise be suiting up Saturday.

 

I wonder what Veldheer was up to in that 2 day period between the Colts playoff loss and getting signed by GB on Monday....if there ever was a time for an NFL player to truly let his guard down with COVID protocols, it would likely be immediately after thinking their season was over with. That being said, he could just have easily gotten it from walking through a couple airports in NY and IN no matter how many masks he had on.

[PeaveyFury]

That being said, he could just have easily gotten it from walking through a couple airports in NY and IN no matter how many masks he had on.

 

Easily?