Packers vs 49ers - Just Win!

All the stats, the analytics, the computer "nerds" cranking out data, well............

It is a human game, played by human beings, coached by humans & refereed by humans(I think!).

The "will to win".  The "hot" quarterback!  The crazy bounces (it is a funny shape football)!

Why not a flash back to 50 years ago!  Super Bowl I - Kansas City Chiefs vs Green Bay Packers!

I was 14 years old!  I was a Dallas Cowboys (SORRY) & San Diego Charger fan!  The AFL was a separate league!  The NFL was the BIG DOG!  Was the AFL up to playing the NFL?  Some people DID NOT want to see this!  But, somebody took a chance & the rest is history!!

The Kansas City Chiefs win & the Green Bay Packers win.... and it is.............

Back to the Future!  

Super Bowl I

Packers versus 49ers, What We Know!

Week 12 - 49ers 37 - Packer 8, looks like a good old fashion BUTT KICK!

1 - Our coach, Matt LaFleur going against a protege, Kyle Shanahan.  The LaFleur family is staying with his brothers family (WHO, coaches with the 49ers, AWKWARD!)  Our rookie coach, is going against a coach with 4 years experience.

2 - Stats from game:

Rodgers - 20 for 33 for 104 yards and 1 TD
Garoppolo - 14 for 20 for 253 yards & 2 TD's

This is NOT a typical Rodgers game - THIS MUST improve!

Davante Adams - 7 receptions - 43 yards - 1 TD
George Kittle - 6 receptions 129 yards - 1 TD

Adams MUST win this battle!

Running:
Williams - 11 for 45 yards - 0 TD
Jones - 13 for 38 yards - 0 TD

Mostert - 6 for 45 - 1 TD
Coleman - 11 for 39 - 1 TD
Wilson - 2 for 27 - 0 TD

Fairly even, but NO TD's for Pack. Jones & Williams MUST get into the end zone!

Defense:

Packers 3 sacks & 49ers 5 sacks, PACKERS will will sack battle!

Turnovers - Packers - 1 fumble & 0 interceptions
                     49ers - 0 fumble & 0 interceptions

Total Yards - Packers - Rush 117 & Pass 119 = 236 total yards
                       49ers - Rush 112 & Pass 253 = 365 total yards

Packers Defense was NOT that bad, but 37 points is too much.  In fact, the offense with 236 totals yards probably put too much pressure on the Packer D!

A look at the series chart:

Packers - 11 total series - 1 Fumble - 6 Punts - 2 Downs - 1 TD - 1 End of Game
49ers - 11 total series - 7 scores 4 TD's & 3 FG's - 4 Punts

First time Packers had ball Rodgers fumble & 49ers score on short field!  Out of 11 series for the 49ers, 7 lead to scores - THAT IS NOT GOOD!

Packers had 5 of 11 series end in 3 & out punts!  That is NOT GOOD!

So, win the turnover battle, sustain long drives with shorts passes, a solid running game & play action passes!  Take a few long shots to keep 49er defense honest!  And, ATTACK on offense & defense!!!

Lot's to improve on!  THREE keys:

1 - Aaron Rodgers
2 - Pressure Garoppolo!
3 - Matt LaFleur - GOOD decisions & quality play calling!!

Go Back Go!

According to NFL "Experts" Packers Should Just Stay Home?

As a "seasoned" citizen, I grew up in a world of no hype, few experts, and sports were sports and not an entertainment show!  I grew up in a world of no replay, and you shut up and deal with adversity!  Packers are underdogs and 49ers will win easily!

OK Packer players, you have bulletin board material.  You are being disrespected!  You are from a small midwestern, Green Bay, and not a "cool" city where you can take in a broadway show, eat sushi, and take a limo to the game!  No, you can ice fish in the morning, eat your fish for lunch, and wash it down with a Leinenkugel!

Aaron Rodgers had NO CHANCE against that top rated 49er defense!

NOT!

The Packers cannot stop tight end Kittle!

NOT!

The 49er pass rush is better than the Packers!

NOT!

The 49er Head Coach will out coach the rookie Packers Head Coach!

NOT!

The Packers cannot win on the west coast!

NOT!

Packers Win Over Seattle, Enjoy It!

Victory!
Any victory in the NFL is precious!!  A playoff victory is even BIGGER!

Beating the Seahawks!
Any victory over Pete Carroll is BIG!

Aaron Rodgers!
Aaron is becoming AARON!

Davante Adams!
WOW!  We need a #2 to show up - Graham, Lazard, Allison, etc.

Smith Brothers!
Za'Darius & Preston!  What a difference a year makes!!!

More to Come!
Why not?  Why not Packers over 49ers!

Enjoy the moment!!!

Lambeau - Playoff Mode!

Davante Adams at his BEST!

Rodgers vs Wilson (Rodgers wins)

Aaron being Aaron!

The "OTHER" Aaron being the "OTHER" Aaron!

Aaron Thanking the Fans!

Ad, Z, using a little MOTIVATION!

Go Pack Go!

The Packers Playoff and Players to Watch

OK, the game is Sunday Night, the last game of the divisional round.  What players MUST step up?

OFFENSE

AARON RODGERS
The obvious one of course Aaron Rodgers!  Our future Hall of Fame QB!  The BEST QB in the NFL?  A multiple Super Bowl winner?  A past NFL MVP.  We have seen greatness!  What have seen Hail Marys like no other HAIL MARYS!  We have seen throws that seem impossible!  Can we see this Sunday??

Rhythm - Any great athlete need to get into a rhythm!  On Sunday HOW do we get Aaron in a rhythm.  What I would do?  Run plays that are easy completions!  Quick slants, curls over the middle, swing passes, screen passes.........  Mix in the running game and attack the Seahawks middle line backer, Bobby Wagner head on!  Save the long bombs for later!

AARON JONES
The running game has been strange for the Packers?  That may start one of two way - the PASSING game sets up the RUNNING game, or the RUNNING game sets up the PASSING game?  My gut says, Sunday, the PASSING game must set up the RUNNING game!  Spread the ball around!  First half, use ALL the weapons - Adams, Graham, Lazard, Tonyan, Allison, Williams & Jones!

Jones has the speed & ability to break the 30-40 yarder on any play!  Get him into the passing game first & the running game will come!!!

BAHKTIARI & BULAGA
The left and right tackles!  Handle the pass rush (especially Clowney) and pop the running game holes!  The battle of the line of scrimmage always makes the game swing one way or another!  Also, Bulaga has been banged up, so, keep a close eye to see how long he will go into the game!

DEFENSE

ZA'DARIUS SMITH
The is no question Za'Darius & Preston Smith have been a breath of fresh air!  We missed and loved seeing Clay Mathews fly around the field, issue was, the last few years he was still flying, but MISSING!  I hope Petine keeps moving Z Smith around the field!  And, I hope Z Smith will be able to bring down Wilson as he runs around the field!!!  And, force 1-2 interceptions!

BLAKE MATTHEWS
Stop the BEAST!  My gut says the Seahawks will attempt to run more!  And, Lynch will get more carries!  Of course, key is 1st down & short yardage!  Matthews needs to bring an extra hammer to the game!  And, wasn't it great to see Matthews with a BIG interception the last game!

ALEXANDER & KING with WILLIAMS
Our corners need to aways be ready & in playoffs games even MORE ready!  The Seahawks, wide receivers are sneaky good!  Lockett is the speedster & Metcalf the "receiving BEAST"  Communication has been BETTER the month of December - that must continue in January!  And, how about another BIG player from the OLD vet - Tramon Williams!  Is he the "Woodson" of the 2019 Packers???

So, BIG games, need BIG plays, by BIG players!  WHO will they be????

NFL Wild Card Weekend Was Definitely Wild!

The NFL got what it wanted this past weekend, close games and craziness!

Fours Playoff games & TWO overtime games!

CLOSE games - 4 games decides by one score, one possession!

Young QB's and old QB's!

New teams to the playoffs & Old teams trying to stay in the hunt!

Scores:

Texans 22 - Bills 19 in Overtime
Titans 20 - Patriots 13
Vikings 26 - Saints 20
Seahawks 17 - Eagles 9

What are some talking points?

1 - Defense - The playoffs seem to always bring out the best in defense!  Interception & Fumbles will hurt a team even more in the playoffs!  All surviving teams have defense that will attack & make a QB struggle!

2 - A QB needs to make plays!  Watson made a heck of a play in the end!  Cousins, well, he took a step to take away the big game choke!  Tannehill, has gone through a re-birth!  And Wilson, he just continues to be one of the most dangerous playmakers in the NFL!

3 - Refereeing in the playoffs has the BEST of the league's officials!  Guess what, the results -
I still do not know what pass interference is?  And, what helmet to helmet contact is?  What holding is?

4 - In all 4 games, there were times it was UGLY!  Oh BABY!  That is our Green Bay Packers 2019!

Next week?

Game 1 - Sat, 4:35 PM - NBC - Vikings vs 49ers

Game 2 - Sat, 8:15 PM - CBS - Titans vs Ravens

Game 3 - Sun, 3:05 PM - CBS - Texans vs Chiefs

Game 4 - Sun, 6:40 PM - FOX - Seahawks vs Packers

So, an early look?  The Vikings QB play will not survive the 49ers defense pass rush!  49ers win by at least 12 points!

The Titans Defense makes it difficult on the young Raven QB!  And, the Titans running games eats clock & keeps the game close, bit Ravens win by 3!

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, the rated Chiefs make the Texans look silly, and win going away by 14!

And then the Packers, at home versus the Seahawks!  This game seems to always have some strange twists & turns & the history is ugly!

Packers lead series 13-9. (includes 3 post season games!

Let's look at the three playoff games first:
January 18, 2015 - NFC Championship - Seahawks 28 - Packers 22 in overtime
January 12, 2008 - Divisional Playoff - Packers 42 - Seahawks 20
January 4, 2004 - Wild Card Game - Packers 33 - Seahawks 26

Let's look at the Rodgers Era Games:

December 27, 2009 - Packers 48 - Seahawks 10
September 24, 2012 - Seahawks 14 Packers 12
September 4,  2014 - Seahawks 36 Packers 16
September 20, 2015 - Packers 27 - Seahawks 17
December 11, 2016 - Packers 38 - Seahawks 10
September 10, 2017 - Packers 17 - Seahawks 9
November 15, 2018  Seahawks 27 - Packers 24

Aaron is 4-4 versus the Seahawks.

If there is a time for Aaron Rodgers to make a run & cement his legacy, now is the time!

So, the number ONE FACTOR

 - Aaron Rodgers - 

Use a little Brett Favre & Bart Starr!

First, HAPPY NEW YEAR PACKER FANS!!!

Yes, another New Year!  And, the ROARING 20's are back!!!!

First, this Packer Fan is THANKFUL!

I have been to 39 Packer Games! - 30 Home Games & 9 Away Games!!!

I have been to 4 playoff games!

I was at Brett Favre's last game as a Green Bay Packer!  (A overtime playoff loss to Giants!)
A tragic 23-20 lost, 2nd coldest home game in Packer history!

I was at the Brett Favre retirement ceremony!!!  (And Starr, Favre, & Rodgers on the same field!)

I was at the 200th game with the Chicago Bears! A thrilling 21-13 win!

I was at the 100th year home game with the Chicago Bears!  A thrilling 24-23 win!

I was swimming in Florida, before attending the Miami-Packer game in Miami!
A Packer 34-24 win!  And, so hot that most of the fans returned in the 4th quarter after leaving the stadium at half to get out of the sun!!!

I was at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, before attending the Bengals Game!
A difficult 34-30 loss!

I was on an awesome Segway tour of the city of Green Bay!

I was on a couple of beautiful tours on the Fox River!

I toured a Tugboat in Sturgeon Bay!

I visited the Packer Hall of Fame many times!

I got the autograph of Fuzzy Thurston at his bar!

I went tubing on Ariens Hill next to Lambeau!

I have eaten at Titletown Brewery, Prime Quarter Stake House, Hagemeister Park, and of course
Culvers and the super duper TURTLES!

I have met so many awesome people!  Henry Jordans niece, an older couple in Mischicot that was at the Ice Bowl, of course, in the Packer Ticket office Mark & I forget the ladies name (help Terry!)

I could go on & on!  But, one thing is for sure............

Happy To Be A

Packer Fan!