NFC Championship: Buccaneers @ Packers - Sunday, Jan 24th, 2:05 PM

[ReverendBrewmeister]

This game should've been won because for the first time in forever we were getting TOs. However, the end of the 1st half/start of the 2nd half was the dagger.

 

It was the reverse double-up. Gave up two scores instead of putting any points on the board.

[homer]

I'm not blaming Rodgers for today. the play calling did him no favors in regards to alleviating the pressure.

[PinaMadness]

I'm sure they'll be just as ticked off about watching the Bucs celebrate on their field as they were watching last years NFCCG.

 

[sarcasm]Maybe Gutey should think about drafting heir apparent to Love with the first?[/sarcasm]

My guess is he'll be looking to find Boyle's heir apparent.

[adambr2]

I'm sure they'll be just as ticked off about watching the Bucs celebrate on their field as they were watching last years NFCCG.

 

They said and did all the right things this week to make me think they were actually ready. And yet once again, they weren't.

 

I don't understand why casual fans of the Packers are confused as to why the Packers' fanbase is loaded with a bunch of doubting Thomas'es. It should be obvious.

[SeaBass]

It's just so much worse when we're the more talented team OR we the other team gives you every opportunity to win the game...and you just...keep...blowing it.

 

Rodgers had his chances. He was in the same situation as Brady was in the Super Bowl and he just could not get a drive going twice in the 4th with a chance to take the lead. That PI was a bad call(bad because they hadn't called it all game...they didn't call it on Murphy-Bunting on the pick at the end of the 1st half) but even if we get that, we've got one TO and we need to go...what, 60 yards at best and get a TD?

 

 

Rodgers was just as much to blame for this one. Vs the 49'ers or the Falcons you could look ahead and say, "well, they just didn't have enough talent."

 

They had enough talent. And while they LOOK like they should have plenty next year and Tampa could lose Godwin and AB and David and Barrett, you know SF will be back, other teams are going to pop up. This was Rodgers chance to put himself into that next tier. To stop relying on the BEST of all time moniker because Brady's the winner...and he couldn't take it. No matter the three picks he threw.

 

And I get this isn't all on Rodgers. He's probably not in the top 20 to blame, but if you're an All-Time great QB, you have to find a way. Adams has to find a way to catch that TD, Lazard has to find a way to LOOK FOR THE BALL, but...the offense had the ball multiple times with a chance to score and take the lead and they couldn't do it.

Yes, today was like Chinese water torture with all the little failures that added up to defeat.

[HiAndTight]

So, go Chiefs/Bills? I really don’t want to see Brady get number 7.

 

 

 

Chiefs. I want to say I want Brady to get a career-ending knee injury slipping on the ice outside...but that's just because I'm petty and emotional right now.

 

 

The worst part is how people will fawn all over Brady despite throwing 5 or 6 passes up for grabs and being lucky that 3 of them were caught.

[homer]

I give Tampa credit. Their defensive front was very good.

[jjgott]

I'm not blaming Rodgers for today. the play calling did him no favors in regards to alleviating the pressure.

 

Yep my dad and I were talking before the game that we can't get into a situation where we have to throw it every down. That play calling after both picks was inexcusable. Especially because the first play after the FG was like a 9 yd run by Dillon.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm not blaming Rodgers for today. the play calling did him no favors in regards to alleviating the pressure.

 

I don't either. Given the group he was up against, and 3 forced turnovers, it really makes no sense looking at the final score.

 

This is the definition of finding a way to lose. What little faith I had in this team to come through is gone.

[homer]

I'm not blaming Rodgers for today. the play calling did him no favors in regards to alleviating the pressure.

 

Yep my dad and I were talking before the game that we can't get into a situation where we have to throw it every down. That play calling after both picks was inexcusable. Especially because the first play after the FG was like a 9 yd run by Dillon.

 

they totally got away from pre snap motion and play action in the 4th quarter. baffling

[GAME05]

Single deep coverage on an obvious deep pass situation. You think subtracting seven points for TB would have made a difference in this game???

[OldHeidelberg]

Still ticked they ate flags all afternoon until the last play that mattered. Oh well, hope Pettine get s fired so we have something different to look forward to next year.

 

Now I have to find something to with the rest of my night, read a book or something Fun season but got let down in the end again.

[young guns]

I almost wish they hadn't given us hope just to crush us.

[nodakfan17]

Anyone else think Patrick Queen would have been good for one extra stop today?

[Eye Black]

I think the better team is going to be sitting at home in two weeks, but you can make the argument the better coaching staff will be at Super Bowl LV.

[LouisEly]

These games always come down to a handful of plays.

 

1) The pre-halftime defensive fail

2) Rodgers trying to force the ball to Adams in the red zone and missing a wide open Lazard

 

They don't give up the TD in #1 and hit Lazard for the TD on #2 and there's an 11-point swing.

[Eye Black]

I almost wish they hadn't given us hope just to crush us.

It’s like losing twice.

[young guns]

Still ticked they ate flags all afternoon until the last play that mattered. Oh well, hope Pettine get s fired so we have something different to look forward to next year.

 

Now I have to find something to with the rest of my night, read a book or something Fun season but got let down in the end again.

And it took forever too, almost like he wasn't going to throw it and then remembered he's supposed to help Brady win or something.

[SeaBass]

I can't muster much aggravation over the refs calls, it seems to be par for the course. I agree but it's just part of the greater tragedy.

[MrTPlush]

Blaming Rodgers is serious desperation to find a way to blame everyone in the stadium. His stats we still amazing despite one (maybe two) TDs that failed because of his receivers, an INT that wasn’t his fault, and his receiver dropping a 2pt conversion.

 

I mean, honestly, you can’t expect him to play much better. Really blaming him for some failed drives at the end? You can’t sit there and expect him to drive them down the field every single drive. Is he suppose to grow a jet pack and avoid defenders that are on his back in half a second? Criticizing him for not capitalizing on turnovers? It’s not like the Packers defense was picking Brady off at the TB 20. Most were glorified punts that started well into Packers territory after the defense already let Brady driving 1/2 the field.

 

People complain about the over focusing on Adam’s in the redzone, but so much of that is the play calling. One of those plays was Rodgers rolling out and Adam’s the only option. I don’t think it is solely Rodgers focusing on Adam’s, it’s the coach calling the plays that is essentially Adam’s or bust.

[homer]

MLF is gonna, rightfully, get roasted for not going for it on 4th

[nodakfan17]

In the 19 playoff games of the Rodgers’ era, the Packers are 1-7 when they give up more than 26 points but 10-1 when their opponent is held to 25 or fewer points. Aside from taking care of the ball, they’ll need some opportune stops tomorrow. For as good as the offense is, I don’t think they’re scoring 30 on the Bucs’ defense.

26 is the magic number.

 

Packers scored 26, but allowed more than 26. Part of that is on the offense for their 2 turnovers.

[homer]

Packers run defense was pretty good

[HiAndTight]

I'm sure they'll be just as ticked off about watching the Bucs celebrate on their field as they were watching last years NFCCG.

 

[sarcasm]Maybe Gutey should think about drafting heir apparent to Love with the first?[/sarcasm]

 

 

I mean...I really don't think THAT mattered. The only guy I think would have REALLY made a difference would have been someone like Shenault Jr.

 

Which...by the way, can we maybe view the role that Ervin plays as important as our 3rd or 4th WR'er?

 

He adds an entirely different dimension to the offense.

 

 

Gute decided to get the QB they loved. Fine. Rodger will be 38. You've drafted for the future. Do whatever the hell you need to go out and make some improvements to this team. Create the cap space. Go out like the Saints putting all your resources into getting another SB. Find the money to create some cap space, sign Curtis Samuel, draft OT and CB early, let Jones walk(Dillon has convinced me he can do the job)...

 

Upgrade that 2nd CB spot, get younger, more athletic tackles and develop them and Curtis Samuel is a 4.3 guy who's built like an RB but has had success as a WR'er. He can run those jet sweeps and all that pre-snap movement.

 

 

The 49'ers will be back and we're seeing what Rodgers does when the other team can pressure him. You'll have 10 draft picks...you'll lose your starting RB for sure, but Christ, no excuses this off-season. Every team will be up against it if the Cap stays where it's projected to be(and if it does, then it's going to go way the hell up the following season, so you'll be fine then anyway).

[pacopete4]

It’s not blaming Rodgers for the loss to point out that he had the ball several times at the end of the game with chances to take the lead. It comes with the position. You gotta make plays in crunch time and he didn’t really do that tonight. But it’s not the full reason for a loss tonight. Many, many other things lined up for that.