2016 Season Is Over, Time To Breakdown The Roster, Coaching And Leadership

We will begin with the roster, beginning with quarterback & running backs.

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers
At 33 years old, in his 12th season, Aaron Rodgers is in the PRIME of his career.  With one Super Bowl ring, at least he has something to hang his helmet on!  But, that was 6 years ago, and many say, with a defense, he could have 2-3 more, BUT that is another story.  If not the best in the NFL, he is definitely top 5.  Without him, the Packers would be a very average, if not below average team.  So, just like many other Packer fans, I say, "HE NEEDS HELP!"

Final Stats in 2016 (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Looking at the 2016 season, this season compares favorably to other seasons.  I have said this before and I will say it again, WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE AARON RODGERS!

Brett Hundley
Handley, after year two backing up Rodgers, has not had much playing time and that is a good thing!!  With the small sample of work, mostly pre-season, Hundley seems to possess the arm strength, athletic ability and composure to continue in this roll.  So, the Packers do not have a great need for a new back up quarterback for the 2017 season!

Joe Callahan
Callahan, in his rookie year, had a great pre-season.  He was on the roster, we lost him for a while, but the Pack picked him up at the end of the year.  The coaches liked something in him, so, keep him on the roster and let hime battle Hundley!

Quarterback is a SOLID position, NO NEED to panic here!

Running Back

Oh Baby!  What a year!  What a mess!  A coaching juggling act, that the coaching staff should be given credit for!  This was a problem that DID start last year!  Start with Lacy, he made us smile, he ran hard the first two years, he looked GREAT at times!  And then, he consumed a lot of FOOD!  And Starks, signs of great ability, has been around a long time, but NEVER got untracked this year!  And then, the circus began!!

Eddie Lacy
71 attempts 360 yards & 0 TD's
Eddie Lacy is a free agent.  Eddie Lacy began his career as one of the bright young running backs in the NFL!  The first two years, he was a force.  He is a great interview!  Has an awesome smile!  But, as mentioned many times EDDIE LOVES TO EAT!  And, I'm sure like to have a few drinks!  He may be one of the few players in NFL history, to "EAT" himself out the the league!

Career Stats



James Starks
63 attempts for 145 yards & 0 TD's

John Crockett

Don Jackson
10 attempts for 32 yards & 0 TD's

Christine Michael
31 attempts for 114 yards & 1 TD's

Ty Montgomery
77 attempts for 457 yards & 3 TD's

Brandon Burks

Knife Davis

Jehurell Pressley

Aaron Ripkowski
34 attempts for 150 yards & 2 TD's

1258 yards total for team & Rodgers ran for 369 yards.

What Did We Learn As Packer Fans In 2016?

What Did We Learn As Packer Fans In 2016?

Ever year is different, BUT, many things remained the same!   Here is my list:

1 - The Packers Defense is NOT good.
Here are the numbers:
22nd out of 32 teams in yards per game - 363.9 yards per game
21st out of 32 teams in points per gam - 24.2 points per game

Main concerns?  Injuries, we will get to that later.

Pass rush?  8th in league - Nick Perry - 11 sacks  31st in league Julius Peppers - 7.5 sacks  Clay Matthews - 6 sacks 58th in league.

Interceptions - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix  5 interceptions 5th in league, Micah Hyde 3 interceptions 21st in league.

Keepers - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde, Mike Daniels, Morgan Burnett, Clay Matthews(last contract-sorry!), Nick Perry.  The free agents are Hyde & Perry, I would sign.  Julius Peppers, sorry Julius - No.  Danone Jones - No,

Hey, guess who led the league in interceptions, Casey Hayward, yes, ex-Packer!!

2 - The Packers had a lot of injuries!
Wow!  Here is the list of Packers that were on the Injury Report this year, weeks in parenthesis.
Bakhtiari(1,11), Banjo(1,2,3,6,7), Davis(1,2), Elliot(1,2,3,13,16,17), Hawkins(1,2,3), Janis(1,2,3), Perillo(1), Shields(2,3,5,6), Jones(3,5), Lang(3,6,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17), Matthews(3,5,8,9,10,11,13,14,16,17), Burnett(3,5), Guion(3,5,10,14), Hyde(3,10,11,12), Cook(5,6,7,8,9,10,11,15), Randall(5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17), Ripkowski(5,15), Cobb(6,7,8,9,10,11,15,16,17), Lacy(6,7), Rollins(6,7,8,9,10,11), Starks(6,7,8,9,10,15,16,17), Tretter(6,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17), Abbrederis(7), Adams(7), Bulaga(7,17), Jackson(8), Montgomery(8,9,11,15), Goodson(9,12,13), Ryan(11,12,13,14), Barclay(12,13), Brice(12), Fackrell(12,13,14,15), Martinez(12,13,14,15), Gunter(13,14,17), Rodgers,A(13,14,15,16,17), Perry(14,15,16,17), Peppers(14,15,17), Daniels(15), Michael(15,17), Taylor(16), Thomas(17)

Count 41 players!!  Remember, there are on 53 on the roster, plus all the players picked up during the year!  And, this is just the regular season, we did not count the rest of the season!!!  And the LAST game!!!  Brice went down on play one!!  Nelson, broken ribs in playoffs, Adams sprained ankle!  3 offensive line men went down and DT, Guion was in at offensive guard!!  HOLY CRAPPPPPPPP!

3 - Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback!
At 4-6, we can run the table - ENOUGH SAID!  Last year - R-E-L-A-X

4 - Ted Thompson does not like free agents!
All I can say - IT IS TIME!!!!

5 - The Packers always seem to be close!
Last 8 seasons in the playoffs!  One Super Bowl. We NEED another while we have Aaron Rodgers!

6 - McCarthy is a good coach.
We need to keep Mike, and let Ted & Dom Capers retire!

So, let the season close!  BUT, I'm already looking forward to 2017!!!!

Go Pack Go!  And the Packer Buddies are ready!!!

Packers Lose to Falcons 44-21 - "Ran Out of Gas!"

I think the quote of the day by Head Coach Mike Mike McCarthy was, "We Ran Out Of Gas!"

Keys to the game?

1 - Crosby missed Field Goal (and the missed holding call on Jordy!)

2 - Ripkowski fumble

Score would have been 10-10, and ho knows!

Now, the realities of the loss!

1 - Packer Defense

2 - Injury Issues

3 - Packer Running Game

4 - Coaching

5 - Players

One must point out again, at 4 wins & 6 losses and winning 8 games in a row, MUST
be recognized!  Coaching & players played as a team and gave Packer fans a thrill!!!

Of course, the ultimate goal, a Super Bowl win!  That did not happen and the past 11 McCarthy years look like this:

2016 - 10 wins & 6 losses - loss to Falcons in NFC Championship
2015 - 10 wins & 6 losses - loss to Cardinals in NFC Divisional
2014 - 12 wins & 4 losses -  loss to Seahawks in NFC Championship
2013 - 8 wins & 7 losses & 1 tie -  loss to 49ers in NFC Wildcard
2012 - 11 wins & 5 losses -  loss to 49ers in NFC Divisional
2011 - 15 wins & 1 losses -  loss to Giants in NFC Divisional
2010 - 10 wins & 6 losses - Super Bowl Champions XLV
2009 - 11 wins & 5 losses -  loss to Cardinals in NFC Wild Card
2008 - 6 wins & 10 losses  No Playoffs
2007 - 13 wins & 3 losses -  loss to Giants in NFC Championship
2006 - 8 wins & 8 losses  No Playoffs

Most coaches and most NFL franchises would love this record!

The Final Four - Another Step to Super Bowl 51

Here we go!  Another BIG game!  Nothing new to the 2016 version of the Green Bay Packers!

The good news - For the past 9 weeks the Packers have been playing in a "BIG game.  The Packers have been playing teams that they already played this year!  Take a look......

Week 6 - Packers LOST to Cowboys 30-16
Week 8 - Packers LOST to Falcons 33-32

And then,

Week 11 - Packer lose to Redskins 42-24, fall to 4 wins 6 losses!
Week 12 - Packers BEAT the Eagles 27-13 "One in a Row"
Week 13 - Packers BEAT the Texans 21-13 "Two in a Row"
Week 14 - Packers BEAT the Seahawks 38-10 "Three in a Row"  LOVED THIS ONE!
Week 15 - Packers BEAT Bears 30-27 "Four in a Row"
Week 16 - Packers BEAT Vikings 38-25 "Five in a Row"
Week 17 - Packers BEAT Lions 31-24 "Six in a Row"
Week 18 - PLAYOFFS - Packers BEAT Giants 38-13 "Seven in a Row"
Week 19 - PLAYOFFS - Packers BEAT COWBOYS 34-31 "Eight in a Row" LOVED THIS ONE!
Week 20 - PLAYOFFS - Packers vs Falcons!

Keys to the Game?

1 - Pass Rush!
Packers - Matt Ryan is having a great year, but, unlike Rodgers, throwing on the run and
scrambling is not his strength!  Need some sacks & hits on the QB!
Falcons - Keeping Rodgers in the pocket should be a priority!
The NFL MVP quarterback should be either Ryan or Rodgers!

2 - Receivers!
Packers - #1 Nelson, will he play?  Probably not!  Adams, bad ankle, probably will!  Cook did not play against the Falcons in week 8!  Cobb, Montgomery, and others need to step up!  Maybe even Janis & Davis?
Falcons - Julio Jones will play, but "turf toes" are difficult.  How effective will he be?  Others, Sanu, and running backs Coleman & Freeman are dangerous out of the backfield!

3 - DEFENSE - Oh BABY!  This to me is the key!  I figure, each team will have 10-12 possessions.  Have many punts will each team have?  My guess, team with the fewer Punts WINS!

So, looks like Matt Bosher, Falcons & Jacob Schum will decide the game!

Packers - Falcons 2017 - Playing For The NFC Championship!

What does the recent history look like for the NFC Championship!  Let's take a look!

NFL Season - Teams & Score for the NFC Championship

2015 - Panthers 49 - Cardinals 15
2014 - Seahawks 28 - Packers 22
2013 - Seahawks 23 - 49ers 17
2012 - 49ers 28 - Falcons 24
2011 - Giants 20 - 49ers 17
2010 - Packers 21 - Bears 14
2009 - Saints 31 - Vikings 28
2008 - Cardinals 32 - Eagles 25
2007 - Giants 23 - Packers 20
2006 - Bears 39 - Saints 14
2005 - Seahawks 34 - Panthers 14
2004 - Eagles 27 - Falcons 10
2003 - Panthers 14 - Eagles 3
2002 - Bucs 27 -  Eagles 10
2001 - Rams 29 - Eagles 24
2000 - Giants 41 - Vikings 0
1999 - Rams 11 - Bucs 6
1998 - Falcons 30 - Vikings 27
1997 - Packers 23 - 49ers 10
1996 - Packers 30 - Panthers 13

Let's break down the numbers, first appearances, top teams:
Packers(5), Eagles (5), Panthers(4), 49ers (4), Seahawks(3), Giants(3), Vikings(3), Falcons(3)

Number of NFC Championships?
Packers(3), Giants(3), Seahawks(3), Panthers(2), Rams(2)

So, according to the numbers, the past twenty years, the Packers have been in the mix!  So, how about the Packers for the 2016 Season?  WHY NOT!!!

Packers - Cowboys, Another One For The Ages!

The Green Bay Packers have had some moments!

January 1, 1967 - Conference Championship - Packers 34 - Cowboys 27 (A great game!)
December 31, 1967 - Conference Championship - Packers 21 - Cowboys 17 (The Ice Bowl!)
January 16, 1983 - Division Round - Cowboys 37 - Packers 26
January 16, 1994 - Division Round - Cowboys 27 - Packers 17
January 8, 1995 - Division Round - Cowboys 35 - Packers 9 - OUCH!
January 14, 1996 - Conference Championship - Cowboys 38 - Packers 27
January 11, 2015 - Division Round - Packers 26 - Cowboys 21 (Thank goodness the 1990's are gone)
AND! January 15, 2017 - Division Round - Packers 34 - Cowboys 31 YESSSSSSSSS!

As you can see, the playoff record, between the Packers and the Cowboys is......EVEN!

Packers 4 wins & Cowboys 4 wins!!

And some awesome games in that history!!!!

Now, January 15, 2017!

By the numbers:

Score, 34-31 Packers!

My favorite look, the drive chart:

Packers - 10 Drives
6 scoring drives - 4 TD's & 2 FG's
3 Punts
1 Turnover

Cowboys - 9 drives
6 scoring drives - 3 TD's & 3 FG's
2 Punts
1 Turnover

That is close - just like the game!!

It is on to the Georgia Dome & the Atlanta Falcons!!!!

GO PACK GO!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brd5JXQrHNc

Packers vs Cowboys, The 2016 Season Playoffs Continue

OK, next step in the road to Super Bowl 51, the Dallas Cowboys!

The Dallas Cowboys always bring drama.  And, lately, this year, it is working!

Drama #1 - Romo gets hurt, rookie Dak Prescott comes in, and NO MORE ROMO!  The rookie has
down a great job, but he is still a rookie, with a great offensive line!  So, lets compare numbers:

Aaron Rodgers - 4th in total yards - 4,428
Dak Prescott - 19th in total yards - 3,667

Aaron Rodgers - 1st in TD passes - 40
Dak Prescott - 15th in TD passes - 23

Aaron Rodgers - 3rd in QB Rating - 104.9
Dak Prescott - 4th in QB Rating - 104.2

Aaron Rodgers - interceptions 7
Dak Prescott - interceptions 4

Rodgers is the old pro & Prescott the new kid on the block!  Most impressive number for Prescott, 4 interceptions the entire year!  Rodgers, has been there, is hot, and has a ring!
QB Advantage - Rodgers - Packers

Running game?
Dallas - Elliot - #1 in the league - 1,631 yards!
Packers - Committee - Lacy 360 yards, Starks 145 yards, Ripkowski 150 yards,
       Montgomery 457 yards, Michael 114 yards, & Rodgers 369 yards = TOTAL 1595 yards

So, 1631 yards to 1595 yards?  With a totally unique way to gain yards!  My theory, it is not the
yards, it is the offensive line!  Last year, Cowboys McFadden had 1089 yards.  Elliot is good, but
Cowboys offensive line is better!  Still will give advantage to Cowboys!
RB Advantage - Elliot - Cowboys

Green Offensive Line - LT- David Bahktiari, LG- TJ Lang, C- Corey Lindsley,
RG- Lane Taylor, RT- Brian Bulaga
Dallas Offensive Line - LT- Tyron Smith, LG- Ronald Leary, C- Travis Frederick,
RG- Zach Martin, RT- Doug Free
Both these lines are good, but Dallas seems to have the edge:
OL Advantage  - Cowboys

Receivers?  Both teams are stacked!
Green Bay Receivers - WR - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davonte Adams, Geronimo Allison
    TE - Jared Cood & Richard Rodgers
Dallas Receivers - WR - Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley,
    TE - Jason Witten & Gavin Escobar
I would give the Packers the edge with a healthy Jordy Nelson, but now I have it even!
Receivers -  Advantage  - EVEN

So, offensive team numbers?
Total Yards - 5th Cowboys & 8th Packers
Points - 4th Packers & 5th Cowboys

Looks like the offenses are pretty even.  The trump cards - Rodgers(Packers) & Elliot(Cowboys)
Whoever has the better game, wins it!

My vote, of course:

Aaron Rodgers!!!!

Three Is A Charm! Packers Over Giants!

I was there when Favre threw his last pass for the Packers!  A Giants interception! The 2007 Season, a 23-20 loss to the Giants!

After a 15 win & 1 loss season in 2011, a loss to the Giants, 37-10!  OUCH!

And now, the 2016 season, a WIN over the Giants!!!  38-13!!

Third Time is a CHARM!!!

So, why did we win?

1 - Aaron Rodgers

2 - Defense!

3 - Players stepping up when injuries happen!!
Jordy out, Cobb comes back to play and scores 3 TD's!!!!
Defensive Backs!  Like La'Darius Gunter, a walk all this year, covering the difficult Giant receivers!

4 - McCarthy, after a 4-6 record the first 10 games, winning 6 in a row & a Division Title!  And, plus one more, for 7 in a row in the first round of the playoffs!

So, one in the book!  And, 3 more to go!!

Next up, the Dallas Cowboys!!

Green Bay Packers vs New York Giants, Wild Card Weekend 2017

Two teams with great traditions.

Two Teams with great quarterbacks.

Two teams with Super Bowl victories in recent years.

Two teams that expect to win, not just this game, BUT, the Super Bowl!

1 - The Packers are at home in Lambeau.  In recent years, the Giants do not seem to be worried about that in the playoffs.

2 - It will be COLD!  In recent years, this does not seem to be an issue for both teams.

3 - Both teams are playing well, Packers winning the last 6, and the Giants are 4 wins & 2 losses.

4 - Offense, yards per game Packers 8th & Giants 25th.  Points per game, Packers 4th & Giants 26th.

5 - Defense, yards per game Packers 22nd  & Giants 10th,  Points per game, Packers 21st & Giants 2nd.

So, seems to be a Packers Offense vs, Giants Defense!  More to come!

Packers - 2016 NFC North Champions

"I think we can run the table" Aaron Rodgers

Yes, to take a few words from one of my favorite writers, Dr. Suess:

"That Aaron I am, I do so like that Aaron I am.  And, I would like him on a boat, and I would like him with a goat!  And, in a house, and with a mouse, I do so like that Aaron I Am!  And....."

I believe in Aaron!


Now, Mike McCarthy, it is the playoffs!  Yes, after a record of 4 wins and 6 loses, The Pack has won eight straight!  Now, Mike, let Aaron be Aaron!

And, first opponent, the lovable, New York "Football" Giants, as Howard Cosell would say. And in the playoffs!  The GIANTS in the playoffs!  I remember when........................

The 2007 Season (The last for Brett Favre!)  His LAST game!  THE PACKERS BUDDIES were there!  And it was COLLLLLLLLLLLD  And, WINNNNNNNNNNNNNDY!  And in overtime, Favre checks and interception, on the left sideline.  New York kicks a field goal & wins the game in overtime(I already said that, 23-20!  It was a crowd of over 70,000 walking out of the stadium, quiet as a funeral!  And the Packer Buddies were there!!

And the 2011 season, Packers rolled through the season 15 wins and 1 loss!  That is right, 15 wins and 1 loss.  A first round bye!  And, their first game, the New York, "Football" Giants!  And yes, we lost 37-20!  Ouch!  Another VERY difficult loss!  And, YES, the Packer Buddies were there!!!!!

And now, 2016 season, the Packers play the New York "Football" Giants!  And I say,

THE THIRD TIME IS A CHARM!!!!!!!!!