Hello Wisconsin: Don’t Fear the Jalen Ramsey Boogeyman

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the LaFleur Offense

It’s happening again.

Every time the Packers play an opponent who poses even a minor challenge, fans tend to pick out one player or aspect of the opponent that is certain to be the Packers’ downfall.

The internet then spends the entire week getting itself so worked up over this boogeyman that fans start to essentially concede the loss before the game has even been played.

This week’s boogeyman is Jalen Ramsey, a first-team All Pro who has smothered wide receivers all season long. The prevailing wisdom among those who fear the monster under their bed is that Ramsey will shut down first-team All Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, “exposing” the Packers’ lack of depth at the position and resulting in the Packers’ offense falling apart.

Look, there’s no denying Ramsey is a great player, who has had a fantastic year. He’s put up great games against some of the best receivers in the league, including Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs and Arizona’s Deandre Hopkins.

But there’s a lot more than just the one-on-one matchup to consider here.

First, Adams plays out of the slot a lot in addition to working the outside. While Ramsey might follow Adams around the field most of the time, he’s unlikely to do so when Adams is working in the slot. The Rams like to keep him on the perimeter.

Second, you have to look at the schemes as a whole for the Packers’ offense and defense. Even if Ramsey somehow manages to completely eliminate Adams from the game (unlikely), the Rams are still highly susceptible to what the Packers do best on offense: play action.

ESPN’s Mina Kimes had some great statistics that should alleviate some of your concerns about how this Packers offense will hold up against the Rams’ best-in-the-league pass defense.

The Rams against play action this year were 24th in QBR, 22nd in yards per attempt allowed and 32nd in average yards of separation, meaning they’re giving up a whole lot of green space to opposing pass catchers in play action scenarios.

This year, Aaron Rodgers out of play action ranked first in QBR, first in completion percentage and first in touchdowns.

The Packers ranked eighth in the league in total pass attempts out of play action this season. Of their 4016 total passing yards, 1160 ame out of play action.

Ramsey/Adams is going to be a battle all day long. But the Rams have a whole lot more to worry about than Davante Adams. Keep in mind that this is a Packers team that had three players score 10 or more touchdowns on offense for the first time in franchise history (Adams, Robert Tonyan, Aaron Jones) and a team that all year long has had high completion percentages and scoring rates.

Ultimately, if any player is going to have the most significant impact on the game for the Rams, it’s not going to be Jalen Ramsey. It will be the ailing Aaron Donald, the league’s greatest defensive player since at least Reggie White. 

Donald is dealing with a rib cartilage injury, so it remains to be seen how much that will affect his play. But if he’s even close to being his normal self, he’s going to give the Packers’ offensive line all they can handle. The Packers are as well-equipped as any team can be against a man of Donald’s pure ability, with All Pro Corey Linsley and Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins up front and center, but Donald is one of those rare players who operates entirely on a different plane than most of the rest of the league. 

For those Packer fans who still find themselves nervous about the matchup, I can understand it to a certain extent. But remember this: the Packers have the best offense in football for a reason. They’re the number one seed for a reason, too. 

I’d much rather be the Packers in this game than the Rams.

Up to 9,000 fans in the stands!

The Packers will be welcoming up to 9,000 fans in the stands for this weekend’s game, according to Mark Murphy. 

There will be approximately 6,000 season ticket holders who were given the first access to tickets. Those sold out nearly immediately. Then the team will continue to be welcoming in guests of players and staff. 

It will be exciting to hear at least a little more realistic fan noise this weekend. It would be a shame for the Packers to go the entirety of this special season without getting even a little bit of support behind them in their home stadium.

Looking forward to hearing how loud those 9,000 can get, as well as hearing if there are still any reports of old cranks in the stands telling people to sit down.

Midseason additions could be crucial to stretch run

We’re now in the home stretch of the 2020 season, and fans would have to agree that general manager Brian Gutekunst has been very active in setting this team up for success in its postseason push.

This is the best chance the Packers have had for a Super Bowl championship in quite a while, and a lot of credit for that goes to Gutekunst’s approach to team building over the last couple years.

This year, he’s made several midseason additions of role players that could turn out to be important in this final stretch.

First, you have Tavon Austin, who has plugged into Tyler Ervin’s role on offense and special teams. Yes, Austin had the fumble on the punt return, but the team got him involved on the very next play with a quick pass to the outside to show they still have faith in him.

Austin will not be a huge part of the team’s success, but is an important contributor and a clear upgrade over Darrius Shepherd. 

Next, you have Damon “Snacks” Harrison, who saw his first game action with Green Bay against Chicago and still looked to be able to move offensive linemen backwards. You need run stuffers in the playoffs, and Harrison was one of the best of that breed during the 2010s. In the twilight of his career, he’s got just enough left to potentially be a key cog in the Packers’ 53-man Super Bowl machine, especially if it means taking some playing time away from guys like Tyler Lancaster and Dean Lowry.

Finally, you have the most recent addition in Jared Veldheer, who signed midseason with the Packers last year and filled in admirably when called upon. With David Bakhtiari out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, Veldheer provides some crucial veteran depth that may well be needed in these final few games. 

[LATE NIGHT EDIT AFTER COMING HOME TO THE VELDHEER COVID NEWS... OOF. OK MAYBE NOT]

As we’ve seen in previous Packer Super Bowl runs, it’s these seemingly small additions that can be the difference in winning a championship. Kudos to Gutekunst for being aggressive in filling these holes the best he could during the season.

Wisconsin Beer of the Week

While I was watching the Cleveland Browns pummel the Pittsburgh Steelers (most unexpectedly and also most wonderfully) on Sunday evening, I decided I should mark the occasion by drinking a brown beer in solidarity.

This week’s selection was Kettle Logic, one of the flagship beers produced by Enlightened Brewing Company here in Milwaukee. It’s a simple, attractive, drinkable amber ale that’s good for pretty much any time of year or any occasion. 

The beer is a crisp, transparent amber that is very smooth and a moderate 5.6 ABV. Its maltiness also makes it ideal for adding to stews or roasts, by the way, though you might have difficulty not drinking it all down first.

Props to the folks at Enlightened for always making tasty, simple brews in a cool space in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Give them a visit if you’re ever in the area! 

Kettle Logic is one of just a few of their beers that gets distribution, but it’s very localized. If you’re in the Milwaukee area you can probably find it at liquor stores, Woodman’s or Total Wine, but unsure about what their distribution range is beyond that.

Divisional Playoff Memories

As great as Super Wild Card weekend was, more often than not over the years I’ve found the Divisional Playoffs to provide the best football action of the entire NFL season. This is largely because you have (presumably) the league’s best eight teams remaining, with the pretenders having been taken care of in the first round.

Here are just a few of my all-time favorite divisional playoff games involving the Packers:

  • Packers vs. 49ers, 1996 season: Probably my all-time favorite divisional playoff game. The 49ers and Packers played on an extremely sloppy, muddy Lambeau Field, creating a game atmosphere you simply don’t see any more these days with improved field turf technology. Desmond Howard running back a punt for the first touchdown and then nearly taking a second punt to the house will always be something I remember. And of course, it was one more step on the road to the Super Bowl.

  • Packers vs. Falcons, 2010 season: I go back and watch highlights from this game once a month or so, because I’m still not sure I’ve ever seen a quarterback just completely dominate a game the way Aaron Rodgers did in this one. Some of the sacks he avoided, and some of the throws he made… good lord. It was perhaps the finest game he’s ever played.

  • Packers vs. Seahawks, 2007 season: The last victory for Brett Favre in a Packers uniform. It got started rough with a couple Ryan Grant fumbles, but it turned into a beatdown in the snow, and something of a sendoff for both Favre and Mike Holmgren at Lambeau Field, as Holmgren retired from Seattle after the following season.

  • Packers vs. 49ers, 1995 season: This was the game that put the Packers on the map as a serious threat in the NFC, and the first in a series of crushing defeats the 49ers suffered at the hands of Favre and the Packers in the mid 90s. What an upset.

The Bears Will Continue Sucking

My heartfelt gratitude to the McCaskey family, owners and operators of the Chicago Bears, who announced this week they will be bringing back both general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy in 2021.

Their continued commitment to unending mediocrity is inspiring, really, and the only way it can get more impressive is if they also decide to bring back quarterback Mitch Trubisky for a fifth season. 

It’s sort of a perfect cap to the Bears’ season, if you’re a Packer fan. We got to see the Bears get off to a fraudulent 5-1 start, only to take a six-game skid, then crush some weak competition to make Pace and Nagy (and possibly Trubisky) look good enough for retention. The Packers embarrassed them in their own house in the final week of the season, but they still got to limp into the playoffs to take a dump all over the field in New Orleans and show exactly why they didn’t belong in the postseason with the big boys.

Absolutely hilarious, and with this latest news, the Bears have been eliminated from contention for the 2021 NFL season.

Aaron Rodgers giving love to Woodman’s commercials

I’m a bit late on this, but last week Aaron Rodgers gave a bit of a shoutout to Woodman’s commercials in all of their campy Wisconsin glory. It got me thinking about some of my other favorite Wisconsin commercials over the years.

First, you have to think about Menard’s. For many years, Ray Szmanda served as the face of Menard’s on the store’s commercials. When I think about watching NFL football during my childhood in the 90s, I think about Ray holding up random Menard’s products that were on sale and grinning while some banjo music played in the background. And of course, who could forget the “Save Big Money at Menard’s!” jingle?

Here in Milwaukee, the name Ernie von Schledorn is of renown for his car dealerships. Both TV and radio ads would constantly feature jingles with singers stretching out his name… “Ernie von Schleeeeeedooooorn!” Ernie died in 2014, but until my dying day I’ll hear his voice saying “Who do you know wants to buy a car?!”

There are, of course, all the legal firm commercials, including David Gruber and Associates, the bankruptcy Law Offices of Peter Francis Geraci (my siblings and I used to refer to the Geraci commercials as the most boring ones of all time) and the other law firm that had Gilbert Brown in its commercials saying “don’t drop the ball, make the call” (I don’t even remember what firm that was any more).

What are some local or regional commercial classics that just ooze Wisconsin to you?

Did you know Matt LaFleur and Sean McVay used to coach together?!?!

Just messing with you :)

Divisional Playoffs Quick Forecast

This week, I have the Bucs, Chiefs, Bills and Packers all winning, as we continue to set up for a Buffalo/Green Bay Super Bowl.

I just don’t see a likely path to victory for the Rams in Green Bay that doesn’t involve the Packers imploding, with multiple three-and-outs and turnovers. It’s nothing against the Rams, who are a good team, but they’re coming into this game very banged up and probably have reached their ceiling for the season with the current state of their roster and health.

Expect the Rams to keep it close for the first half, and it will be tough sledding for a bit for the Packers’ offense as they try to pinpoint the Rams’ defensive weaknesses. But by the second half, the differences in overall health and in talent at the quarterback position will really become evident, and the Packers will open up a multiple score lead that prevents things from getting interesting in the fourth quarter.

Packers 38, Rams 17.

 

 

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__________________________

Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.

__________________________

5 points
 

Comments (41)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
MarkinMadison's picture

January 14, 2021 at 06:33 am

My wife grew up in Wisconsin. She tells me of the legend of the commercials of Crazy TV Lenny from American TV. I grew up in Iowa. Folks are pretty buttoned up down there. It made for pretty boring TV commercials.

The only shutdown corner in the NFL is named Alexander, and he wears Green and Gold. All other corners are a joke.

In all seriousness, Wilde & Tausch had Cosell on from NFL films the other day. He seriously doubt s that Adams and that other guy will go up against each other more than a dozen times all game because of the way Adams moves around the field, and the way the Rams normally run their zone-heavy defense.

I fear Donald. I fear all pass rushers. Because if one of them puts #12 out of the game we are screwed.

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fansince1959's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:15 am

Sorry to disagree but Ramsey put up great #'s against some of the best this year

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Coldworld's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:52 am

Ramsey is good but unless he departs from the perimeter the point was that he won’t be on Adams who moves more than most number 1 receivers. That may be increased if we use pre-snap motions and bunch formations as we have before.

How much better is Ramsey than Alexander? That’s a good question. The Rams have a genuine 1 and that matchup seems equally key given their offense lacks the variety of threat.

As the author said, the national media latches on to something and runs with it. One response would be to ask how the Packers O functioned when Adams was not available.

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dobber's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:39 am

"I grew up in Iowa."

We're a pretty accepting and forgiving group.

"I fear Donald. I fear all pass rushers. Because if one of them puts #12 out of the game we are screwed."

We point to Donald, but after he got hurt, that defensive front didn't miss a beat. Admittedly, they had Seattle in a hole and pretty one dimensional, but they were still getting pressure and making it tough for them. They're deep and athletic in their front, and I expect they're still going to be good even if Donald doesn't play.

I fully expect the Rams to play the run on the way to #12. I think they're going to do what SF and TB showed to work: pressure up the gut, press the WRs and jump the hot routes, and try to take ARod out of the equation. They're going to force the Packers to show they can run the football.

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Coldworld's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:56 am

I agree. While Donald certainly helps open rush opportunities for those around him, they have had success with out him. If they play as you suggest, that seems to scream for Dillon to hit them hard. To me that’s the classic repost: a runner who will break tackles through power if the defender is level or off balance.

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croatpackfan's picture

January 14, 2021 at 11:23 am

dobber, what you said is truth, but you have to take perspective. Seattle has one of the worst OL in the league. Every team that played Seattle make a lot of problems to Wilson. I believe he is the most beaten QB in the league...

Seattle records also is telling. Everybody comments how Seattle and Russel Wilson were playing much better football in the first half of the season. Not because of the OL, but because team was juked by athleticism of Russel Wilson. Once they recognized how to stop him, Seattle arrow started to point down.

I predict Rams will beat Seattle, because I knew Russel Wilson will be under huge pressure because of bad OL and good pass rushers from Rams.

There is no doubt that Rams D front 4 are one of the best in the league, but they still managed to lose 6 game out of 16. They lost against Seattle because they were not able to score TD, not because Seattle OL played well. Russel Wilson made 2 unbelievable throws for TDs and the story was over. They learned the lesson and adjusted to stop athletic plays from Russel. And they won!

If Packers put 20 points on the board and D plays just little above average, Packers will have easy win.

Only thing Packers need to avoid are possible injuries to important players.

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MarkinMadison's picture

January 14, 2021 at 04:03 pm

I'll place a bet that Donald will play, and that he will play well.

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Spock's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:01 am

The most (inadvertently) hilarious commercials I remember as a young Wisconsin resident was the weekly food store ad featuring the owner's wife (he must have thought her sort of an English accent was cool) saying, "This week's specials are..." and there would be whatever food product they were hyping. The funny part? It was the early days of color t.v. and the local commercials typically had colors that were skewed from what you were watching. I made a living among my friends with a dead on Imitation of her nasally, "This week's special is: Green pork chops". Every meat product they ever hyped showed up as a moldy green color on the screen. Yum, how inviting. :)

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mnbadger's picture

January 14, 2021 at 07:15 am

Great article topped off with a great beer choice. I've never had that one, but amber ales are my favorite year round. My only disagreement is about the score. I hope Tim is closer than me, but I fear a few more of both teams' bogeymen. Pack 23-19. Let's get after it. GPG!

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blacke00's picture

January 14, 2021 at 07:34 am

The key IMO is the Pack's OL, If the OL plays a decent game the Pack will win, they need to control the LOS. As simple as that!

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murf7777's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:05 am

I agree and what makes it easier on the OL a great running attack. Let’s hope our 3 headed monsters have big games. If we run the ball we will win by double digits.

Also, their weakness is their LB’s, so I suspect we will see many dump offs to said RB’s. Whether it is run or dump offs either will open up the middle of the field and slow down the pass rush.

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Coldworld's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:02 am

Their LBs are very good against the run, not so much the pass. Suck them in to the middle early with crossers and pounding Dillon and then the RB passing game May be significant. This D is good against passes in the flat. They cover the width well and excel near the line of scrimmage. Their plan is to minimize deep opportunities. As has been pointed out, that’s why the O line is critical. I’

I’d say the same in reverse. If we contain the running game then they are really on the back foot.

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Bure9620's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:07 am

This is certainly a Running back pass game if I ever saw one. I expect Jones, Williams and hopefully Dillon to be targeted quite often. I suspect the Rams play with a light box the majority of snaps to get a corner on Jones.

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Stroh's picture

January 14, 2021 at 10:32 pm

It's a great OL that makes it easier on the RB or running attack.. You have it all backwards. Come on man!

RB are dependent on the OL play, not the opposite!

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HawkPacker's picture

January 15, 2021 at 07:30 am

Yes and with that said, we don't need any OL injuries before or during the game.

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dobber's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:41 am

I think the key for the offense is to play on schedule. They're going to need to scheme pass catchers open and get the ball out quickly. I don't see ARod getting a lot of time to improvise even if the OL is playing well.

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10ve 💚's picture

January 14, 2021 at 07:51 am

We already have Jay Cutler worthy of being in the Packers Hall of Fame.

Lets hope that the Bears keep Mitch Trubisky around long enough for him to qualify too.

Oh! I almost forgot... Da Bears Suck!

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PF4L's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:22 am

The Packers are playing a top defense, no matter how you want to look at it. It will be a challenge for Rodgers and Co.
The good news is the Rams offense isn't very good...at all. Ranked 20th in scoring. Even the Packer defense should look good Saturday. I'm not a very big Goff fan even with two healthy hands. Put him and this L.A. offense out on Lambeau Field in wind chills of teens and low's 20's, the defense should have a field day.
But yea, the Rams defense is real. It's up to Rodgers, LaFleur, Hackett to figure it out.
.
I say, unless Jones is tearing it up...use Dillon. Why draft him in the 2nd and not play him? Especially on short runs to move the chains
Play scheme to get the ball out of Rodgers hands quickly, make the rush a non factor.

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packer132's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:22 am

Dillon doesn't play since Jones and Williams are the #1 and #2 backs. If Packers put him in for short runs, Rams will stack the box knowing what play is coming. Dillon will get plenty of carries next season.

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dobber's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:39 am

Packers have been reluctant to put two RBs on the field (I don't count Ervin) since Adams came back from injury. Given the ability of Williams and Jones running routes, the Rams struggles covering underneath, and a desire to show some unscouted looks, this could be a good opportunity to do that.

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Spock's picture

January 14, 2021 at 03:15 pm

Maybe, but in the one game before his "breakout" game they put in Dillon, faked the handoff and Aaron hit a receiver for a nice gain. Dillion was in the lineup for that play as a decoy and it worked to perfection as the other team bit on the play fake big time!

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jannes bjornson's picture

January 14, 2021 at 05:59 pm

Dillon is a better RB than Williams, especially running the ball. I would give him 20 snaps min.

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NickPerry's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:26 am

I understand they did the whole tracing thing and feel confident Valdeer didn't infect anyone else with COVID but I'm on pins and needles until after the SB with this damn COVID. With that said I hope Valdeer is able to come back and contribute if needed on the way to World Championship #14!

I think Jarie Alexander will be the CB the announcers and everyone else will be talking about after Saturday's game. I'm assuming Alexander is pretty sick and tired of hearing about Ramsey. I expect Alexander to show everyone he deserved FIRST team All Pro honors this weekend.

Adams may not catch 13 for 170 and 2 TD's but he'll still be effective. My guess is this weekend it will be the running game with Jones, Dillion, and Williams who have big games. I'd also expect them to be pretty involved in the passing game, especially Jones and Williams. I REALLY want to see Dillion in this game. Matter of fact I'd love to see Dillion just truck Ramsey and run over his ass and leave him on the ground, not hurt but wondering WTF just hit him!

Big Bob will have at least 1 TD in this game, so will Allen Lazard.

Rodgers is his lethal self but in a smaller way. 21-26 for 231 and 3 TD's. I'm thinking exactly like Tim. Close for the 1st half, not so much in the 2nd. Packers 31 Rams 16.

#12 Quarters!!!!

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 14, 2021 at 12:28 pm

"Adams may not catch 13 for 170 and 2 TD's but he'll still be effective."

I saw a video by Baldy last night on twitter and it showed how Adams impacts plays without the ball. He was lined up in the slot on one play, at the snap he motioned out like it was going to be a WR screen. What that did was it drew the attention of the LB's to look that way. Rodgers handed it off and Jones had a nice gain.

Adams can affect the defense without getting the ball. I would bet we will see him in motion a lot or even lined up in the backfield some too. Just to provide new looks and provide some confusion.

I really do think we will see a lot more Dillon. The last game they started to put Dillon and Jones in the backfield together. I wouldn't doubt at all if we see a lot more of that.

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MarkinMadison's picture

January 14, 2021 at 04:16 pm

"I think Jarie Alexander will be the CB the announcers and everyone else will be talking about after Saturday's game."

THAT'S what I'm talking about!

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Spock's picture

January 14, 2021 at 08:49 am

The '95 playoff game with the 49ers is still my favorite (I had a house party full of guests with 3 t.v.'s on and the game starts with the strip fumble recovery. Awesome. I'm older than you and I remember Don Knotts (yeah, the deputy on the Andy Griffith show) doing the Menards commercials before the other guy (who actually sounded a lot like Don). I don't want to talk ill of the dead but I have to say Ernie von Schledorn wasn't too popular in Menomonee Falls when I lived there after he essentially blocked the Sam's Club location from being built right next to his business (that was a head scratcher as you'd think he'd WANT a bunch of people coming every day next to his car dealership. But, then again, he was also a tank commander -for the Germans- in WW2 and that probably wasn't his best decision either). Bummer that we can't use Veldheer for at least this game, but we didn't have him all season and have some of the best OL depth in the league.

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HighPlainsDrifter's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:09 am

That '95 playoff game really propelled the modern era of Packers greatness. The Packers had been building year by year prior to that, and that victory over the 49ers was the catalyst of great things to come.

Watching Craig Newsome pick up that fumble and run for the touchdown is one my favorite Packers memories.

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Spock's picture

January 14, 2021 at 03:18 pm

Thanks, I couldn't remember Newsome's name. I remember the 49er's receiver was playing with some kind of a cast/club on one hand and Craig just ripped the ball out of his hands and then made some sort of "manly" stance after the play was over. Loved it.

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Since'61's picture

January 14, 2021 at 09:33 am

There have been several comments about the Rams being vulnerable to play action. My question is does that include Jalen Ramsey? Do his number change significantly against play action passes? If not, what’s the point of bringing it up?

As for Donald and Ramsey, this is the point of the playoffs. The best square off against the best. If the playoff teams did not have better personnel they would not be in the playoffs. Just look at what happened to the WFT and the Bears. They were outplayed at every level because they didn’t belong in the playoffs to begin with.

The playoffs come down to our best players executing better than our opponents best players. Also, we should not forget that our defense has solid to All-Pro players at every level of the defense who should be more than capable of shutting down the Rams offense including Akers. Clark, the Smiths, Gary, Alexander, Savage and Amos are all playing at a high level. Barnes and Kirksey are coming on and if King is fully recovered from his groin injury he is a solid DB. Rotate in Snacks on the DL and Sullivan at DB and we’re good throughout.

If we shutdown the Rams offense, our offense will wear down the Rams defense. Rodgers, Adams, Jones, Tonyan, Dillon, Lazard, Lewis, and Williams in plenty for any defense to deal with not to mention the deep threat MVS poses even with his unreliable hands. We will move the ball even if we start out slowly.

I remember very well the 1967 playoff game versus the Rams in Milwaukee. Everyone was worried about the Rams “Fearsome Foursome”. The Packers had they first 2 drives stopped due to Travis Williams fumbles. Then with the Packers trailing 7-0, Dave Robinson blocked a Rams FG and the Packers took over the game from there winning 28-7. Henry Jordan had 4 sacks out of the 5 total for the Packers.
The Rams DL included Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. 2 of the best players at their respective positions to ever play in the NFL. I respect the Rams current defense but if we get solid play from our OL and can run the ball effectively we’re going to be fine. We just might see Pack 28 - Rams 7 once again. Thanks, Since ‘61

4 points
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Ferrari-Driver's picture

January 15, 2021 at 11:48 am

'61, nice summary and thoughts. I recall that game in 67 as well and was concerned about the Rams defensive line. Merlin Olsen is regarded by many to be the "best" interior defensive lineman to play in the NFL and on that day the Packers did better than a yeoman's job in containing him.

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PackerNic's picture

January 14, 2021 at 11:17 am

Loved the Aaron Rodgers 2010 divisional round win against the Falcons shout out. Best game I've ever seen played by a QB in the NFL. Hopefully 10 years later he can replicate that amazing performance.

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Ferrari-Driver's picture

January 14, 2021 at 11:37 am

Packer fans worrying? The team and fans that should be worrying are those of the LA Rams. Imagine traveling to Green Bay in January to face a team which currently has the best quarterback in the history of the game playing against you and he is at the top of his game. They better get their mittens out and they will need them when the cold temperatures and winter wind hits them after spending most of their days in 65 plus temperatures...not a pleasant thought for them. And finally, they will at least to get a taste of disruption made by the Green Bay Packers fans who will finally be in the stadium cheering at the top of their lungs. Yes, the Rams and their fans should be worrying.

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LayingTheLawe's picture

January 14, 2021 at 12:00 pm

If it is classic Wisconsin commercials then from my years in the state it has to begin and end with The Exclusive Company. The one I still recall went something like this where the weirdo owner started with "You want to hear my voice, every iota of it" and then go on to describe whatever stereo equipment was on sale that week. So "Say it with me - The Exclusive Company."

Oh and unless the Packers play flat and turn the ball over they win this game.

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PaulRosik's picture

January 14, 2021 at 02:06 pm

I can remember when Mr. G only had those couple locations in Oshkosh and Appleton. That he still has stores in the era of on line music shows how strong his business remains.

But for me the all timer is Big Al Sampson here for Red Wing Boots! Big Al passed in 2002 so I know that dates me badly and I don't know if these ever showed outside the Green Bay market but you can't get more Northern Wisconsin than those bits.

Oh and I agree. Unless the Packers have one of those inexplicable down games, they handle business on Saturday.

3 points
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egbertsouse's picture

January 14, 2021 at 02:09 pm

Mr. Giambetti. “ You’re out cruising with your girlfriend, Things are going great, you think she may be the one. Then she gets cold on you. Says she needs space. Picks at everything you say. You start to argue, you can’t stand the sight of each other. Then you finally figure it out. ‘Love Stinks!’ J. Geils Band, $5.99 at the Exclusive Co. Downtown Oshkosh!

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PaulRosik's picture

January 14, 2021 at 02:48 pm

We did an "homage" to this commercial in high school over the announcements.

You are at the movies with your girlfriend. Things have been tense but this moment is perfect. It is dark, quiet and you make your move. You reach down between her legs for... your popcorn! On sale at the concession area after school.

For some reason our club was banned from doing more announcements.

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Leatherhead's picture

January 14, 2021 at 12:05 pm

Prior to Super Bowl I, there was a big buildup of a cornerback for KC named Fred "the Hammer" Williamson. When we knocked him out of the game, HOFer Willie Wood commented that our running back, Donny Anderson, must have "hit him with his wallet" (Anderson was a bonus baby).

We will throw at Adams about 10 times. He'll catch about five or six, but if none of them end up in the endzone then that's not a bad job on him. The real issue....the ONLY issue as far as I'm concerned....is if our offensive line can handle the Rams. I think it can, and if it does, then we're going to reach the endzone over and over.

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barutanseijin's picture

January 14, 2021 at 01:41 pm

Commercials are annoying, especially ones you hear all the time. I don’t miss any of them. Celino & Barnes weren’t even a Wisconsin firm. They were based in Buffalo NY and ran those commercials all over. The firm may still be going even though Barnes is dead.

I did talk to Ernie von Schledorn on the phone once. He was cold calling people and someone who had previously had my phone number had apparently bought a car from him. Or so he said. He didn’t want to take no for an answer. He seemed a little desperate. I had to hang up on him.

Anyway, my favorites are the 2007 game with Ryan Grant romping through the snow & the 2010 game against Atlannta. The Falcons had beaten the Packers in earlier in the season in 2010 and seemed like a tough opponent. They turned out to be paper tigers that Tramon Williams and the Packer offense incinerated.

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egbertsouse's picture

January 14, 2021 at 02:43 pm

Ernie was a pain. I was peripherally involved in a hotel project in Wisconsin and the developers were trying to get Ernie to invest enough to put them over the top. Ernie initially said OK but kept holding up the deal with more and more crazy requests until they had to cut him out. I guess that’s how he made his millions.

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GregC's picture

January 14, 2021 at 03:31 pm

Interesting to read that the Rams are below average in defending the play action pass. I thought I had just read somewhere (maybe on this site?) that the Rams defense is well-equipped to handle play action because their strong D-line allows them to keep their safeties back. I can think of one way that both of those things could be true: Maybe opposing offenses don't attempt as much play action against the Rams as they do against other teams, so their relatively good success rate does not amount to a lot of yards.

The bottom line is that the Rams have the best defense in the league, and it's going to be a challenge to score on them. But as Nick Saban said recently, the best defenses can't control games the way that they used to. He was referring to college football, but I think it is also true in the NFL this year, although to a lesser extent. (The scoring in college football has become ridiculous.)

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The_Justicar's picture

January 14, 2021 at 05:54 pm

Hey, Tim. Thanks for stirring up that memory of those Ernie von Schledorn commercials. I left Milwaukee as a kid in 1978 and returned every summer until 1985. I occasionally still here his voice stating “Ernie von Schledorn, 8th street in Menominee Falls”...or something like that. Last time I heard that jingle I would’ve been 14. (Now 51) Unreal what retains in our brain all these years later.

Only other commercial I remember from those days was a johnsinville brat commercial. “Charlie Parker’s cooking Johnsonville brats!” with all the neighbors running down to the pier to bogart a brat. It was a local regional commercial at the time. Two decades later I saw that same commercial in south Florida.

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