...Heading into January

[Scott4Pack]

A few notes of evaluation as we steer toward playoff season.

1. Love (not the affection or sacrificial giving toward another). Seems that he is finally in a groove of playing "clean" football. Aside from his leadership and passing/ball handling, I am hopeful that he is also growing more savvy to reading the situations, anticipating the defenses, and exploiting the coverages. Can anybody speak to any perceived improvements in those areas?

2. Musgrave. Will he be able to play? If so, I imagine that MLF will have a whole series of plays to exploit him and/or a two TE set. This guy will probably still feel awkward until he can get some game legs under him. But it's exciting to also think that teams just don't have tape yet on our offense with him on the field at the same time as Kraft.

3. Our run game is strong, but also needs to improve. Like last week, it turned into a turd in the second half when we wanted it to still produce. Gonna need this run game as we go into the playoffs more than ever.

4. Watson. I think that I wasn't the only one frustrated with lack of plays and performance by Watson in the first few games. Maybe some of that was by design. The last four games, he has been fantastic, sans the drop of a long TD just before halftime a couple of weeks ago.

5. Reed. I know we can only get guys so many snaps. But Reed hasn't gotten the ball much lately. I have to believe that he will get more opportunities as we head to January and beyond.

6. OLine. Yeah, they are becoming good and even dominant (at times) in the run game. Pass pro is good enough. The penalties have decreased too. Maybe they are polishing up all aspects and looking good overall. Yeah, they might have some weak spots. But they are also on the rise.

7. Quay and Coop. I am going out on a limb here. I do think that Coop will continue to play well, with a number of tackles for loss and perhaps some forced fumbles. He needs to play a lot. I will hope beyond hope that Quay will still show improvement. He has had snaps where he's very close to getting INTs. Let's hope this combo becomes dominant.

8. CBs. With or without Jaire, this group could be high risk/high reward going forward. I don't expect Valentine to be elite. But I do like this kid and think he will be more positive than negative. Stokes? Nah. Jaire? Hoping he can stay on the field. Is that realistic?

9. Finally, games will only get more intense, especially once the playoffs start. A couple of players will need to become leaders like they never have before.
- Will Love learn to play big in the biggest moments?
- Can McKinney deliver late in the year like he has in the beginning of it?
- Gary?
- LVN starts to control his space and even have effect in other spots?
- Doubs start escalate in the playoffs, perhaps like Greg Jennings or Jordy did a few years back?
- Watson to take over games?

[RingoCStarrQB]

Thanks for the awesome Intro.
Since Musgrave and Jaire are so IFFY, the best I'm hoping for is continued growth and consistency on both sides of the ball. If the Packers can win the turnover battles the next 5 games then we'd have a chance in the NFCCG. It'll have to a team effort. Supplementary Football!
Pack hanging with the top AFC teams seems like a stretch.

[Pckfn23]

Pack went 5-0 against the AFC this year.

[Pckfn23]

NFC is 45-31 against the AFC this season with only 4 games left to play. Can't say the AFC is the better conference this season.

[RingoCStarrQB]

NFC is 45-31 against the AFC this season with only 4 games left to play. Can't say the AFC is the better conference this season.

My comment is based on watching the Chiefs and Ravens games today. This Lamar-Derrick combo in Baltimore is impressive.

[Pckfn23]

NFC is 45-31 against the AFC this season with only 4 games left to play. Can't say the AFC is the better conference this season.

My comment is based on watching the Chiefs and Ravens games today. This Lamar-Derrick combo in Baltimore is impressive.

Ravens have lost 5 games, more than the Packers.

Chiefs get gifted wins, but are like the Patriots. They just won, but can be had.

The top of the NFC, including the Packers, is better than the AFC top.

[RingoCStarrQB]

Packers 5 wins were not against "TOP" teams by any stretch of any imagination. Musk may think differently.

[Pckfn23]

Packers 5 wins were not against "TOP" teams by any stretch of any imagination. Musk may think differently.

Texans are a top team in the AFC.

[RingoCStarrQB]

Packers 5 wins were not against "TOP" teams by any stretch of any imagination. Musk may think differently.

Texans are a top team in the AFC.

No. Houston is a 2nd tier team compared to KC, Baltimore and Buffalo.

[Pckfn23]

Packers 5 wins were not against "TOP" teams by any stretch of any imagination. Musk may think differently.

Texans are a top team in the AFC.

No. Houston is a 2nd tier team compared to KC, Baltimore and Buffalo.

Still a top team. Leading their division.

The AFC is inferior to the NFC this year. 45-31. No reason to fear them.

[Cdragon]

Why care about the AFC now we're not going to play them till the SuperBowl. Plenty of challenges to burn through in the NFC. The team is getting better every week and we will be getting Jaire and Musgrave back. Like to see what Lloyd has but we have enough without him. The kids on the D are coming on. Ready to roll through the playoffs!

[RingoCStarrQB]

Why care about the AFC now we're not going to play them till the SuperBowl. Plenty of challenges to burn through in the NFC. The team is getting better every week and we will be getting Jaire and Musgrave back. Like to see what Lloyd has but we have enough without him. The kids on the D are coming on. Ready to roll through the playoffs!

Point temporarily well taken.
Are Tampa Bay and/or the Rams "top" NFC teams? Or 'second tier' teams?

Alright you issue evaders ............. quit hiding and quit being prissy! Are Tampa Bay and/or the Rams "Top Tier" or not?

[Scott4Pack]

The win against the Saints demonstrated some things that we need at this time of year.

1. Jacobs' stiff arm. Not only does he run well and with power, he can put a guy on his back. That kind of tough running not only gains more yards. It also energizes a team. Wilson and Brooks also are showing some tough running. This is exactly what we want in January.

2. The OLine is being morphed. I won't go as far as to say that our OLine is as good as the ones from Philly and Detroit. But I do think we have an edge in run blocking that we haven't enjoyed in the past. That'll be important in the playoffs, whether we are in harsh weather or not. Perhaps the pass pro isn't quite as good. But it's clearly good enough.

3. Attitude. These past couple of games, we've seen our offense play with an edge to start the games that, "we are going to enact our will against your defenses and you are powerless to do anything about it." Run, run, run. Try to stop us. You know it's coming, yet you can't stop it.

4. Defense flying to the ball. One of the best things I've heard this year was the report last week that told how Hafley told his team that when he watches game film that he wants to see every playing in the frame. If guys repeatedly do not show up in the picture at the end of the play, they won't get playing time. Period. That is a motivator to swarm to the ball until the whistle! I'm convinced we haven't had that defensive edge in a long time, maybe since 96.

5. MLF's game planning and coaching on the sidelines. At this point, I feel like our 11 on the field can keep up with anybody. So, MLF will need to do his part to win big games. Don't waste TOs anymore on useless challenges. Keep scheming the offense. Use Musgrave and others in new ways. Continue to control the clock. And finally, use an unexpected play to steal a win. (He still needs to improve in this way.)

[German_Panzer]

I have not seen much this season but I cannot see the Packers overcoming Eagles, Detroit and Vikings twice on the road. We are good to beat one of them, but not two and we gotta do it because we will play them very probably in divisional and conference round. The only hope are the Playoffs and its own laws. Maybe we can rise like the 2007/2008 Giants rised? So, there is hope. Should make a thrill of January.

[Pugger]

It will be interesting to see who we play in the WC round. I don't see a way for us to take the division.

[Cdragon]

It will be interesting to see who we play in the WC round. I don't see a way for us to take the division.

We can't take the division. It doesn't matter who we play we've got to go through them all anyway.

[Yoop]

I think we'll be on the road to start the PO's, winning could bring a PO game home, it's 1 game at a time for us underdogs, hard to imagine that with a 11-4 record, but it is what it is, and we've done well as the second fiddler before.

Merry Christmas to us all, we sure got a stocking stuffer Monday night

[salmar80]

Merry Christmas to us all, we sure got a stocking stuffer Monday night

Happy Holidays y'all!

Photo taken from my kitchen window right before the Saints game started.

[Backthepack4ever]

I have not seen much this season but I cannot see the Packers overcoming Eagles, Detroit and Vikings twice on the road. We are good to beat one of them, but not two and we gotta do it because we will play them very probably in divisional and conference round. The only hope are the Playoffs and its own laws. Maybe we can rise like the 2007/2008 Giants rised? So, there is hope. Should make a thrill of January.

This makes no sense to me. What do separate games on different weeks have to do with anything? It's a tough challenge every week in the playoffs. All teams will be tested. The 3 teams you mentioned are good but can be beat.

Detroit is beat up. I think that balloon will pop in their 1st playoff game

Eagles are strong but Washington offense punched them in the mouth.

Go beat the hell out of Minny next week and you will be a believer

[Papa John]

4. Defense flying to the ball. One of the best things I've heard this year was the report last week that told how Hafley told his team that when he watches game film that he wants to see every playing in the frame. If guys repeatedly do not show up in the picture at the end of the play, they won't get playing time. Period. That is a motivator to swarm to the ball until the whistle! I'm convinced we haven't had that defensive edge in a long time, maybe since 96.

This is the kind of tactic that I have been wanting to see from a Packers DC for years. I love this. On top of that, it seems to me like this defense has also done a great job of not giving up big plays this season- though I'd have to try to look up the stats to confirm. I am happy with the way that this defense is coming along.