Packers 28 Seahawks 23: Game Balls & Lame Calls
The NFC championship game welcomes back your Green Bay Packers!
By jasonperone
The Green Bay Packers are back in the NFC championship game! They took down the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field and will head back to California to face the San Francisco 49ers for the chance to advance to Super Bowl LIV.
Green Bay led from start to finish and despite a late push by Seattle, closed out their first playoff game in nearly three years. Another "ugly" win to add to the collection in 2019 and why start winning "pretty" now?
On to the night's yay's and nay's.
Game Balls
Davante Adams
Have yourself a night, sir! A game high and Packers franchise record 160 receiving yards, which came on eight catches and two touchdowns. Adams caught fire early and helped the offense jump out to a 21-3 lead. His 3rd quarter touchdown proved to be the game-winner on a nice catch and even better run to get himself into the end zone.
In the postseason, your stars and best players have to rise to the occasion and come through. Adams more than got that memo. He may have to somehow turn in an even better performance next week if the Packers want to head to Miami.
Aaron Rodgers
After all of the questions about Rodgers' effectiveness and how he ranks compared to the other quarterbacks in the playoffs, #12 is one of the four still playing next week.
Rodgers finished with a 113.7 quarterback rating and just under 250 yards on the night. Having to throw just 27 times, Rodgers made the most of his opportunities, having an especially good night converting on 3rd down, none bigger than the late strike to Adams with just over two minutes left. Rodgers added a few vintage throws to Adams for two scores as well as a rare sneak to convert an early first down.
If there's still any truth to Rodgers playing with the chip on his shoulder from not being drafted by the 9ers, he'll need the biggest version of it next week. He may not be everything he once was, but his performance against Seattle at least quieted those who don't think he can guide the offense to the pinnacle any more. Rodgers realizes that this may be his last legitimate chance to get to and win another Super Bowl. His output next week won't be for any lack of preparation and desire.
Jimmy Graham
Graham only had three catches all day but two key grabs on the book ends of this game land him here. Graham had a big 3rd down grab on the opening drive, which eventually went for a touchdown. On Green Bay's last drive, Graham made the catch over the middle and rolled his way to what was spotted as a first down. Replay would confirm the spot and the Packers kneeled out the clock for the win.
Rodgers, several times, has talked about getting Graham a shot at a championship and the vet came through in a big way. Graham is another guy who will have to play above his usual standard next week.
Za'Darius & Preston Smith
Two sacks each for the Smith's as they led the D Train's efforts against Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense. Z faced double and triple team attention for much of the night but the effort never waned. After his first sack, Smith's undershirt displayed the word "snubbed" so it would appear that we can expect that effort until the Packers are done playing games. Preston did his thing, chasing down Wilson and fighting through injury to finish the game.
These two are the heart and soul of the Packers defense. Can they give another iconic performance against a team that got the best of them the first time around?
Jared Veldheer
Veldheer learned just hours before game time that he would play the majority of snaps in place of Bryan Bulaga who was fighting off a virus. He went out and handled business like the savvy veteran that the Packers acquired him to be.
After so many injuries that have plagued (pun intended) the Packers over the years, they finally had someone who could mitigate one that could have had a negative impact.
Lame Calls
2nd Half Pass Defense
I had to come up with something and instead of a player, it's this. Russell Wilson makes a lot of defenses look foolish and no surprise, he found many holes in the Packers' coverage in the second half. Wilson is at his best when the play is at its worst - aka, broken.
Mike Pettine started out with a good plan, not surprising as he turned in a good one in last year's meeting as well. But Seattle adjusted at half and came out churning yards on top of yards and suddenly, a three possession game was down to one.
If Kevin King hangs onto an early dropped interception, this game may have never had near the drama that it did at the end. Still, a big stuff of a two-point try and five sacks on the night helped keep the Seahawks at bay.
Officiating
Why the NFL can't seem to get the enforcement of its rules right is still baffling. The clear fumble early in the game should have been an easy call. While the call and spot at the end of the game on Graham's catch and run was correctly upheld because evidence to overturn was inconclusive, the explanation that "further footage" was used was just bizarre. "Further footage"?!
God help us all next week in two games to decide which teams move on to the Super Bowl. May the play on the field be the true determiner of the results.
Others to mention:
- Aaron Jones - great first half. Nothing much doing in half #2. Need a full 60 minutes moving forward
- Blake Martinez - tackling machine
- Allen Lazard - please return next week ready to go
- Tyler Ervin - continuing to be a little x-factor on offense and handling business in the return game
- JK Scott had a few rough punts and nearly botched the snap on the first point after try. At least he kicks in warmer weather next week
- Jace Sternberger caught his first pass. The first of more to come in these playoffs?
- Chandon Sullivan once again always near the ball and should have had a fumble recovery early in the game
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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts. You can follow him on Twitter here
Comments (110)
RCPackerFan
January 13, 2020 at 07:15 am
Game Balls:
Aaron Rodgers - He was ON!!! Considering most were saying how bad he had been and how he is getting close to being done, and whatnot. He DELIVERED!!!! How many 3rd and longs did he complete! He was amazing! I can't wait to see this Rodgers against the 49ers!
Adams - As good as Rodgers was, Adams was unstoppable!
Graham - He earned his contract last night! So many have complained about him, but he was really, really good last night. If he can provide the first downs, that is all I am asking of him!
Gutekunst - The job he has done to get us a roster to get us to the NFC Championship game in 2 years. Simply incredible! The FA's he signed this year and last year came up huge in this game! But the 2 in season moves might have been just as good if not better. Getting Veldheer and Ervin have been great, great moves!
LaFleur - What an incredible offensive performance! He dialed up schematically a great looking offense! They executed it perfectly too!
Lame Calls:
I knew this game was going to be close. I knew the lead is never safe with Wilson. But I was hoping they would have done more to contain Wilson from scrambling. Especially in the 2nd half.
Officials - That Fumble that was not given to GB??? HOW???
The final Graham play was truly called right. All the video evidence showed they had it marked right and he had the first down. The Take that he was short because of that stupid yellow line was just BS.
Notes:
I hope this sickness gets out of GB soon!
Victory Mondays are the best!
Onto the NFC Championship game!!!
murf7777
January 13, 2020 at 07:20 am
RC I totally agree too many doubt him. All Aaron Rodgers does is win and keep us in games without turning the ball over. Look what Mr. MVP did for Baltimore?
So many doubt him on this that it was actually getting me to wonder whether he has lost it But, I watch enough football and see other great QB’s do the same things IE: miss open receivers, throw a little off, low-high-wise, etc...that I realize the minimal amount of time QB’s have to make that decision and get the football off.
Some on this board are wanting him gone and counting the salary cap hit from year to year. Oh my, who do you want Cousins?? Oh and let’s question his mechanics as if we are WB guru’s. From what I can tell he had the same mechanics last night with the many great 3rd down throws. In the end, Aaron is smart enough to know if he needs to change throwing styles as his body ages. How are we to know what his body feels like. Everyone ages differently based on genetics, exercise and eating and drinking habits.
Great job Aaron, now onto SF. GPG!
porupack
January 13, 2020 at 07:34 am
So true on Gute, picking up 2 in season FAs. Paid off last night with some Oline depth.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
January 13, 2020 at 09:03 am
Yeah, thrilled with Veldhees instead of seeing Spriggs trot out there. Gute made the moves that made last night possible.
MarkinMadison
January 13, 2020 at 08:26 am
#12's accuracy was much better tonight than what we have seen many times this season.
Packers 3rd Quarter TD took three minutes to get. TOP was just hugely in favor of the Seahawks in the second half. Hard to blame the defense for being gassed.
The officiating on fumble play was astoundingly bad. Clear recovery? He had the damn ball going into the pile and coming out of it. Is there some kind of three second rule to get the recovery that I need to learn?
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 08:40 am
They had to consult with Vegas.
jeremyjjbrown
January 13, 2020 at 11:39 am
" I hope this sickness gets out of GB soon! "
Or that it makes it's way West...
4thand10
January 13, 2020 at 10:17 pm
Send a PS squad player who happens to have the flu to SF to spread the joy...I wouldn’t be mad
Thegreatreynoldo
January 14, 2020 at 05:07 am
Love ya, RC, but Graham was just good against Seattle. He made three nice grabs that were big plays. I don't think he earned his contract. He has yet to have a single game in 2019 that looks like a game from the highest paid TE in the NFL. GB is going to need someone to look like a good #2 receiving option. I hope Graham or somebody else steps up. If Graham steps up big-time, then yes, getting GB to an appearance in the super bowl makes him worth his contract, imo anyway.
FWIW, Graham's best game as a Packer came on 10-15-18 when he had 104 receiving yards on 5 receptions against San Francisco.
Packer_Fan
January 13, 2020 at 07:14 am
Game balls. Rodgers for his accuracy. Best this year.
Lame calls: I thought the offense play calling after the first drive in the second half was bad. Didn't see many of the shallow crossing routes or the jet sweeps.
But a great win nonetheless
dobber
January 13, 2020 at 08:57 am
"Lame calls: ..."
The Seahawks were shooting their ends upfield frequently and that takes away a lot of that. Seattle's line and LBs were taking more chances and playing on the Packers' side of the LOS more in the second half in general. It worked for them.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 10:24 am
They attacked Turner and Lindsley as expected. La Fluer was smart to get the ball into Rodgers hands to seal the Game.
dobber
January 13, 2020 at 10:29 am
San Fran will do that this week as well.
murf7777
January 13, 2020 at 11:25 am
I think the Seahawks made adjustments and were taking the crossing routes away. When the opponent makes adjustments you need to do the same. It’s a bit of a chess match. IMO, MLF and Rodgers had great play calling. Seahawks are a well coached team and showed it in how they defended the packers in the second half. We scored 28 points wether that was all in the first 30 minutes or spread out throughout the game didn’t matter as it was enough to win.
murf7777
January 13, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Just rewatched the game and to my count they did two short crossers in the first half and 3 in the second, of course the biggest being Graham’s 1st down catch time end the game.
porupack
January 13, 2020 at 07:30 am
Jason, you nailed the awards.
Lots of comments in previous weeks, including me "we'll see who the packers are" after the seattle game. I guess we did. Not dominant, but each week, new ways to win. Last night was Davante.
It seemed all the ghosts were starting to rise from the tundra in the 4th quarter, Wilson scrambling all over E Wisconsin, then finding open receivers and about to make it a 3 pt. game with lots of time to take the lead.
But then 3 plays;
- the sack on the 2pt conversion, and
2 offensive plays
- the deep 3rd down pass to Davante and then
- the final 3rd and 9 conversion.
gave me confidence in this packer team, that MLF has necessary fight to close out games properly.
This was not an ugly win when the offense goes out and converts 10-14 third downs. It was not an ugly win to come out relatively uninjured. This was a good win.
Thegravedigger
January 13, 2020 at 10:16 am
The passing at the end instead of running it out was the right call. I feel like stubborn mm would of ran it 3 times and put it in the ds hands. Gotta give ml credit for just not having a big ego and understanding the situation for what it was.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 06:35 pm
They are a team with new guys and young guys that are getting better every week learning how to be a team.
A few bounces of the ball next weekendand they can learn how to be Champions.
packerbackerjim
January 13, 2020 at 07:41 am
Game Ball: Preston’s sack. Best play thus far this season.
Lame: Kumerow’s double whiff on reception and block.
HankScorpio
January 13, 2020 at 07:58 am
Kumerow also screened Jadeveon Clowney off Aaron Jones just enough on Jones' 2nd TD. I was stunned to see a WR make such a key block on a DE, particularly one of Clowney's caliber.
mrtundra
January 13, 2020 at 07:56 am
Heck, I'm still drinking Grape Crush from the viking loss! GO PACK, GO!!!
fthisJack
January 13, 2020 at 08:24 am
just a comment on the rules. it seems to me the rule on fumbles should be......consider it a fumble every time and determine who recovers the ball. replay will tell if it was a fumble or not. at least then the effing refs can't say...."DUH...we don't know who recovered the ball." Crock of SH!t!
dobber
January 13, 2020 at 09:00 am
Injuries will increase dramatically and it would force teams to use TOs and challenges on plays that need to be called on the field as much as possible.
Adorabelle
January 13, 2020 at 09:59 pm
Thats what they tell the refs to do. Try to keep the play going and then review it, but missed one there.
JohnnyLogan
January 13, 2020 at 08:46 am
Maybe the Pack doesn't win ugly. 14 wins, many of them heartstoppers, yet wins, could mean this team is filled with character and the stuff of winners. But last night was not an ugly win. It's the NFL and every team, especially at this stage, is forged. So too this team. I've said this often, there are more Pro-Bowl players or close to it on this team, then we've had in a long time. Rodgers, Adams, Bak, Jones, Clark, Smith and Smith, Bulaga, Jenkins, Jaire, Lindsley, Amos... throw in some pretty good players in Martinez, Savage, Tramon, King... what it adds up to is a pretty damn good team. There may not be enough firepower to beat the 9ers next week but "I'm saying there's a chance." A good chance because there are enough good players that if the game is tight someone will make a play at the end, as has happened all year. We should be paying attention. Last night it was Rodgers, Adams, Graham and Preston Smith with the dagger. Next week?... any of a dozen guys. This team has 14 wins and that ain't nothin'.
zoellner25
January 13, 2020 at 09:08 am
I just can't get over how bad NFL officiating has become. the best of the best are supposed to reach NFL-level officiating. These guys repeatedly look like HS JV refs.
JohnnyLogan
January 13, 2020 at 09:15 am
It's not just the refs on the field, they have excuses with the speed of the game. But it's mind numbing how the replay guys got wrong the early fumble when everyone and his brother could clearly see Sullivan recovered it. It reminded me of the Fail Mary, the Seattle player at best had a hand reaching for the ball while Sullivan had clear possession. Unbelievable.
murf7777
January 13, 2020 at 11:30 am
Johnny, could you imagine if they reversed Graham’s first down after the second look and we end up losing that game? That would’ve rivaled the fail Mary.
Lare
January 13, 2020 at 02:51 pm
I think it's more important to the NFL to get the team they want to win than it is to get the call correct.
LASVEGAS-TOM
January 13, 2020 at 11:56 pm
Lare, You are close, but Not Quite There Yet.
LVT
jeremyjjbrown
January 13, 2020 at 02:48 pm
MLB is worse. There are guys in MLB who everyone knows are terrible like Angel Hernandez and Joe West. Everyone knows they suck and are pompous jerks to boot.
MLB keeps them.
Doofapotamus
January 13, 2020 at 08:36 pm
I was having PTSD flashbacks from the fail Mary after that initial fumble. Then I was having more flashbacks as I watched Zadarius Smith and Preston Smith get held, pulled, lifted up off of the ground, yanked, and tripped on almost every single play in the second half and it hit me, they are allowing the seahawks lineman to hold now. Because there really wasn't a shot on most of those running scrambles if the lineman don't grab one of the backers as they try to disengage and run away from the play. I counted 3 horrible no-calls that all ended up in 1st down scrambles from Wilson.
powell.david1
January 13, 2020 at 09:12 am
RE JK Scott on the first XP, I think that was a bad snap that JK somehow got in place just in time.
Spock
January 13, 2020 at 09:39 am
Agreed. They showed the bad snap on replay. JK should be given a plus, not a minus, on that hold.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
January 13, 2020 at 09:13 am
There’s no great place to put this comment, but it was a Game Ball moment for me. I was driving through Wyoming Saturday night scanning AM radio and got the Purple Sunday Post Game Show from somewhere in Minnesota. It was delicious and hilarious. People were calling in and were distraught. I was LMAO. Maybe I’ll try to find the Seattle wrap up show this morning where I can listen to hawks fans complain about the ball placement on the 3rd down conversion and how that robbed them of their chance at a Super Bowl. Perhaps a whining interview from the gum chewer. It will be a great day today in the PNW!
PackfanNY
January 13, 2020 at 09:40 am
I love reading, listening and watching fans of other teams regale me with tales of how the Packers are now the worst 14-3 team in NFL history, how they can’t possibly win next week, how Aaron Rodgers is on the downside and can’t play anymore and so on and so on and so on. All while the teams these “experts” root for are sitting on the couch eating chicken wings and drinking beer wondering what if. Trying to create some fiction as to how they were screwed.
Today I say drink the tears of the sore purple losers, bask in the whine of the sea chicken fans. Today is a day for the Green Bay Packers and their fans. Soak it up!
Rossonero
January 13, 2020 at 09:18 am
What a game! My voice is a bit sore but it was all worth it :)
Veldheer absolutely deserves a game ball. He played so well I didn't even realize until later that bulaga was out.
Rodgers looked like his old self! Wonderful throws into some tight windows.
Davante Adams was sick. We'll need him heavily involved against SF, and he will probably get Richard Sherman.
Nice to see Jimmy Graham in his revenge game come up big!
If Lazard and Sullivan are out, we really need more from MVS, Kumerow and hopefully Raven Green.
Russell Wilson is ridiculous. We seemed to contain him better in the 1st half. He ran free waaay too much in the 2nd half.
Lphill
January 13, 2020 at 10:15 am
Game ball the Green Bay Packers it was a team win.
Lame call the non recovery fumble , I already watched the replay over and over , just amazing , I believe NY made the call because they didn’t want an early one sided game and lose viewers.
Lare
January 13, 2020 at 01:18 pm
Stupid officiating & replays are making a mockery of the NFL.
Monkeydemon
January 13, 2020 at 04:36 pm
couldn’t they have just checked the tv replays to see who recovered the fumble?
Big_Mel_75
January 13, 2020 at 09:27 am
I love this team!
Swisch
January 13, 2020 at 09:31 am
With so many close victories for the Packers this season, and so many of them ugly, it would seem we've had a good measure of luck this season -- but also an impressive measure of pluck
I don't know many of the specifics regarding the luck or the pluck -- but as far as the pluck, it would seem there must be a spirit to this Packers team that keeps them competing all the way through to the end of a game with a resilient tenacity,
Somehow, in a transition year, the Packers have gone an incredible 14-3. There must be something going on with the coaches and players as far as attitude and effort to pull out so many close, ugly wins.
So my main takeaway is a hearty congratulations to the 2019 Packers!!! (with a little credit to the fans in support!).
Then there's this Sunday against the 49ers: It's so hard to get this far in any given season, and so we may as well rally the aching bodies and tired minds all the way to a win in the Super Bowl (a la 2010).
We'll hope the luck holds out for two more games (and add a little prayer); and let's keep the pluck going through the coming ups and downs all the way until the very last second.
dobber
January 13, 2020 at 10:31 am
I think you hit a lot of it just right, here, Swisch.
pacman
January 13, 2020 at 09:39 am
As an AR doubter, I am happy to join all those celebrating his great performance. Back in form, dropping balls in players hands in stride. And he rarely held the ball a long time. Were they indeed saving this for playoffs??? A great team win.
But game ball has to go to Adams. It was so obvious that AR wouldn't throw to almost anyone else and he still managed to get that open. What would we have done if he was covered better? SF is better and will surely have a better plan.
Only lame call (besides refs, of course) has to go to the bend but don't break defense / zone defense / lack of contain, blitzing on Wilson. His play in the 2nd half was very impressive.
I hope AR didn't have too much Scotch. Time to start planning for 49ers. I'm sure all of us would gladly chip in and buy him a case of his favorite Scotch (even though I'm a Bourbon guy myself) if they win next week!
murf7777
January 13, 2020 at 08:34 pm
If Adams is open why would you throw to anyone else? Each game goes as to what the defense gives you. Good coordinators figure that out and game plan to their weaknesses. Certainly, that also changes in the flow of the game.
Adorabelle
January 13, 2020 at 10:02 pm
It is when he throws it to Adams and hes not open that problems arise. On 3rd and 4 late they ran a crossing route and both defenders went with Adams and left the other receiver wide open with maybe a safety deep to catch him before the end zone but Rodgers had predetermined he was going to Adams. He made up for it with the two big down throws on the last drive but ohh I was losing it after that one.
Spock
January 13, 2020 at 09:44 am
One of my favorite calls was the QB sneak for the needed one yard. I was on my feet yelling, "Yes, yes, YES!" The fact that it has become so rare that the Seahawks never even considered it made it the play of the game for me. Loved that!
Cubbygold
January 13, 2020 at 10:08 am
I was too, it was the perfect time to call it. Glad they didn't do it again later in the game, I don't love the idea of Rodgers old frail body thrown into those piles very often. He executed that one perfectly though!
splitpea1
January 13, 2020 at 11:00 am
I always knew AR could do it! Take what the defense gives you!
JohnnyLogan
January 13, 2020 at 09:52 am
One guy keeps getting overlooked and I don't understand why. Kenny Clark played well all game and made at least one spectacular play. He broke through with a clean shot at Wilson, Wilson avoided him, Clark went to the ground, got up, chased Wilson down, and sacked him with a wide open field in front. An unreal play.
Thegravedigger
January 13, 2020 at 10:13 am
I was terrified when i saw him on the injury report. He looked good to me. Kk and jaire need to step up in this championship game, cus i think the 3 beasts up front will get to jimmy g.
Oppy
January 13, 2020 at 06:09 pm
Kenny Clark has been the best single player on the Packers for the last 2 seasons. He's a phenomenal football player, and still just coming into his prime years.
4thand10
January 13, 2020 at 10:22 pm
That was a ridiculously awesome play. I could not believe a big dude could move THAT fast. He completely wrecked that Oline all by himself. One of the best plays of the night.
Thegravedigger
January 13, 2020 at 10:05 am
Since the refs overturned the call and said it was in fact a fumble, even tho they say theres no clear recovery, why did we still lose a timeout? And additional footage?!! Imagine this. " sorry gb fans, after we just discovered a camera angle we had no idea we had, we ar gonna change our minds." Damn. I get its a lot of pressure on these refs to get it right. But they make me Damn nervous. And the announcers buck and aikman wont shut up about non calls. Every ticky tack thing that wasn't called against green bay. They have to point it out. Shut up. Please. Nobody wants more calls. Talk about football. Maybe you could actually even give gb some credit. It felt like a seattle broadcast.
Since'61
January 13, 2020 at 10:07 am
Game Balls: Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Veldheer, Aaron Jones with tough running in the 1st half, Z. and Preston Smith, Kenny Clark,
3rd down conversions throughout the game.
Lame Calls: Officiating, Additional footage?!?!?! Not using Jamaal Williams in the second half.
On to SF. Thanks, Since '61
Cubbygold
January 13, 2020 at 10:11 am
I thought this game was lining up perfect for JW to have a big game. 1 rush attempt, 1 target in the passing game. Interesting move by MLF.
JohnnyLogan
January 13, 2020 at 10:54 am
MLF made it clear, and so did Rodgers, that it was time to concentrate on what was working. That's why MVS and Allison were nearly invisible, and why Williams was used sparingly. The numbers indicate that when Jones is on the field as opposed to Williams there is dramatic difference. Williams will have a role going forward, but Jones on the field greatly improves the Offense, even if Jones is only a decoy.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 06:43 pm
The ball goes to the Playmakers. If the others proved their mettle during the season, they would be in the lineup.
I hope Sternberger sees some balls go his way vs 49rs.
WisconsinStrong
January 13, 2020 at 03:05 pm
I second the lame call on letting Jamaal Williams create some sparks in the second half. Jones had lost his dynamicism, and Jamaal had the potential to get more than 2 years per carry.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 06:46 pm
The seahawks were shooting the run gaps with Wright and Wagner. That is not Hawk and Martinez out there. The DT slanted to the gaps, stuffing the middle. LaFluer should have relied on Rodgers more in the third quarter and forget about running the clock. He was in the zone.
flackcatcher
January 13, 2020 at 06:50 pm
Williams is limited with shoulder injury. Hope to see more of him next week.
Thegravedigger
January 13, 2020 at 10:11 am
Ive been saying in these rooms that rodgers will turn it on when he has to, cus that's what hes done ingame all season. No stupid crazy deep balls, he was very decisive, and he was about 80 % on 3rd down. He was on point. Not just to davante. But he hit gmo on 3rd, he dropped a few dimes to jimmy. Good to see arodg step up and prove em all wrong. He is the x Factor. Which is crazy to even say.
Lphill
January 13, 2020 at 10:21 am
Aikman kept saying the Seahawks were one play away no matter what the Packers did almost as if he wanted them to win and was gushing over Wilson all game. Granted Wilson was great but Rodgers was more accurate then he’s been all season and Troy didn’t have much to say about that, also Gary’s limited reps were productive he forced Wilson to throw early several times and was getting through the O line easily.
Lare
January 13, 2020 at 01:03 pm
Aikman & Buck are so anti-Packers that I don't listen to them. I'd rather turn the sound off and watch in silence than listen to their biased drivel. Better yet, record the game and fast forward through them, all the commercials and Fox's idiotic robot animations..
jannesbjornson
January 15, 2020 at 10:57 am
Put them on mute, immediately. Cue the CD player for weekly theme musique, eg. Seattle was more Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Anything but those verbose clowns. Where have you gone Pat Sumerall?
Chevy572rat
January 13, 2020 at 02:15 pm
Why do we seemingly get Aikman and Buck all the time ? They don't even try to hide the fact that they want the other team to win. Just do the play by play and keep your anti Packer thoughts and Hope's to yourselves. Maybe the refs weren't calling Vegas, maybe it was up to the booth for Aikmans call !!!! Damn Cowgirl !!!
Tundraboy
January 13, 2020 at 04:05 pm
Yeah. It took until the last pass to Davante for him to say that was a hall of famer throw. And Buck will just parrot whatever Aikman says.
Cubbygold
January 13, 2020 at 10:22 am
Lame call: Go watch the early fumble again, just to remind yourself of how terrible that call was.
The ball was fumbled, they confirmed that. The ball hits the ground and Sullivan wraps his body around it, with two packer players and a seahawk player diving after it. Sullivan doesn't move, he just stays wrapped around the ball, and comes up with the ball.
To say there's no clear recovery implies that potentially, at one point in that pile, the seahawk player may have had possession and so Sullivan might not necessarily had possession first, even though he came up with the ball.
Terrible, absolutely terrible. I don't understand why the NFL has essentially made 'visual evidence' the requirement for calls, above and beyond logic. True, I can't see the ball in Sullivan's hands, but through a basic understanding of physics, I know he does. I realize that's hard to understand if you're a video replay official, but it is, in fact, true.
Bizarro
January 13, 2020 at 04:03 pm
It was literally unbelievable. The sideline angle CLEARLY demonstrated Chandon has the ball. The pile is cleared. Chandon Sullivan miraculously has the ball. Yet, it is literally determined by the Replay Brain Trust and the refs there is no clear indication of possession.
If said Brain Trust actually follows the PUBLICLY DECLARED APOLOGY by the NFL earlier this season after a blown whistle in a costly AFC game, and allows the fumble to run its course...Chandon Sullivan would maintain possession and, consequently, Packers get the ball.
I immediately went to the clear Jerry Rice fumble blown dead whistle in San Fran in the Favre years. The amount of times NFL officials botch their duties is beyond comprehensible.
But, let us not stop there. The Offensive PI on Lazard?!? GTFO here with that Pop Warner nonsense. Then the Defensive PI on Seattle on Adams’ sideline route? Equally terrible.
We root on our beloved teams despite the glaring inconsistencies and, frankly, sub-par rules changes and piss-poor execution of the rulebook.
Good grief, Charlie Brown!
flackcatcher
January 13, 2020 at 07:01 pm
This is a two season and on going problem now. The owners can stop it by overruling Goodell and his minions and stop letting Goodell meddle with the rules every mid season. Heck, just rehire one of two former head of NFL officials and kick Goodell out of the office. Like Green Bay, when the executive committee realize Murphy was off the deep end and move to end his reign of terror. It will take a critical mass of owners to move against Goodell.
Demon
January 13, 2020 at 10:57 am
I want to thank Gute and MLF for this season! This season has been the most fun to be a Packers fan, since BLF and Reggie White roamed Lambeau. I wasnt a fan of " winning ugly" until this year, its been a blast!!!
Game ball the whole Packers organization ! Everyone from Murphy down to the Lanbeau ticket taker.
Lame call All the fans who said we cant fire TT or McPadlevel because their replacements might not be any better.
Now, go out to Frisco and kick the hell out of the 9ers!! Go Pack
splitpea1
January 13, 2020 at 11:32 am
Fourth quarter game balls: AR, Adams, P. Smith, and Alexander--our stars really came through when they needed to. I might even go as far to say that the P. Smith sack might have saved Pettine's job....
Lame calls: the aforementioned Pettine second half defense, which could have cost the Packers the game. You just can't give Wilson that kind of time and let him dash around for big gains; no wonder the defense was worn out by having to chase him and keep track of the receivers. On offense, the second down play-calling needed to be mixed up a little--too many predictable hand-offs in the direction of the left side. However, they made up for it for converting a high percentage of third downs, which is obviously far more important, anyway.
I'm also giving an honorable mention to our special teams. They didn't do anything spectacular, but they didn't make any mistakes, either; all it takes is one to turn the game around in the wrong direction. Given where they were at the end of last season, our special teams have come a long way.
Thegravedigger
January 13, 2020 at 12:18 pm
It was more russ being great than the d being bad. The corners had a few bonehead plays. But alot of the passing plays were defended well for a while but russ kept extending the plays. He was pressured but kept avoiding sacks, giving recievers extra time, and throwing dimes constantly. When i was watching it looked like he had all day at times. But we actually got 5 sacks and 10 more hits. The d wasnt perfect. But they were also on the field the entire second half.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 06:59 pm
You have to blitz him with speed in his face as Jaire did on the 2 point fail. You cannot let him manipulate the big boys from the trenches. Martinez is not fast enough to get home. Pettine was short-handed when Sullivan was sent to the bench with a cheap shot to his ribcage.
Tundraboy
January 13, 2020 at 10:18 pm
Yeah. Nice hit by Lynch. Typical Seahawk move.
Swisch
January 13, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Good stuff, splitpea1.
What may have happened is that the defense became predictable in not blitzing from time to time from different places, and not mixing up the coverages by playing the receivers tight from time to time.
What may also have happened is that the offense became predictable in running the ball too much straight ahead, and not showing enough different formations and motions.
Predictability kills.
splitpea1
January 13, 2020 at 03:31 pm
Thanks--that's exactly what i was thinking on defense, especially with the lack of blitzing from different positions. I know Pettine doesn't particularly like to blitz, but you have to make adjustments if the situation calls for it.
Fubared
January 13, 2020 at 11:43 am
First and foremost, congrats Packers on a great season, albeit its not over yet, but still a remarkable season to be proud of.
Kind of surprised when I thought about the game afterwards. Talk one dimensional. No passes to running backs out of the back field, no runs wide, hardly no passes to anyone not named Adams, no use of other running backs and the defense was god awful. I thought for sure Seattle would come back and win. When the analyst point out the piss poor play of our d backs, in game 17, that says a lot about Pettines coaching or lack of.
I'm conceding a long and tiring game next week as Sherman covers Adams and Rodgers gets a beat down. But then the Niners have 4 or 5 number one or two picks on the d line via five years of crap level of football.
Packers0808
January 13, 2020 at 12:24 pm
You a Bears or Viking fan? Make up your mind!
Demon
January 13, 2020 at 01:26 pm
What game did you watch? I watched AR and the Pack beat a very good Seattle team whos QB was red hot.
I guess you prefer watching MM"s teams find a way to lose a game late. Normally with AR standing on the sidelines.
Thegravedigger
January 13, 2020 at 01:05 pm
It was russell wilson. He kept extending plays. The d was far from piss poor. They were gassed from chasing receivers and chasing russ. They only had 43 rushing yards from there backs. And p smith made the play when it mattered. If you call that piss poor. Ill take piss poor. If russ wasnt so mobile he wouldn't have made it out alive.
jannesbjornson
January 13, 2020 at 07:03 pm
Gary had about 20 reps. He should have been on the field for more snaps. Use your assets so the Smiths don't get fatigued. The no-holding calls on the seaschicks O line while they tackled Za doesn't help your D either.
jeremyjjbrown
January 13, 2020 at 11:48 am
"Not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn't draft me."
"It is time..."
Packers0808
January 13, 2020 at 12:27 pm
On the Graham first down and all the arguing whether he made it or not must be a lot of Trump people out there waiting for Trump and his addition to the orange line with his Black Magic Marker to appear get that bulge in the line to go backwards!
Demon
January 13, 2020 at 02:40 pm
If that would have made any sense at all i may have been offended. I personally do support the president of the United States. However this is a football site, so please keep it football related.
Packers0808
January 13, 2020 at 02:28 pm
Of course it makes sense, but why can't anyone have any fun anymore, for God sakes it was a joke and a simple commentary on the foolishness we see everyday! What made me the comment I saw a sports site where someone drew the orange line crooked so Graham didn't make the first down!
Lphill
January 13, 2020 at 03:07 pm
What exactly does the President of the United States have to do with football ?
Packers0808
January 13, 2020 at 03:53 pm
This president has something to do with everything! Remember the comments for instance about players kneeling etc he said kick the SOB's out of the league etc, I believe that has football overtones! They invite SB champs to White House etc! Like I said no one can have fun and take a joke any more! How sad we have become with humor!
PAPackerbacker
January 13, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Game balls go to the whole team. It was a team effort to secure the win. Third down conversions was spectacular. Over 64% conversion rate is outstanding. Davante Adams was unstoppable and broke the Green Bay receiving yardage for a playoff game. Rodgers was accurate and precise with his passes. Aaron Jones, well he is Aaron Jones. A great addition to the backfield and outstanding RB. A few dropped passes and missed opportunities to clean up but over all great performance from both sides of the ball. The Smith brothers and Kenny Clark were awesome.
Lame calls go to the refs and not giving the Packers the fumble recovery early in the game when they truly recovered it. And those 2 idiot commentators Aikman and Buck are horrible. Many times I yelled at the TV screen for them to just shut the hell up!! And the defense in the second half for not containing Wilson. A little to clean up before the NFC championship game. But on to San Francisco and then to the Super Bowl. Go! Pack! Go!
FAN24583
January 13, 2020 at 01:41 pm
This team has character, resiliency, grit and and intestinal fortitude . Plenty of Granite! They just find a way. Let’s be clear we can win this Sunday in SF. Don’t count us out!!
pacman
January 13, 2020 at 01:48 pm
Rule please - I saw a Seattle comment on the video that said JG's head was down before ball crossed the line. Might be true but I thought the rule was elbow or knee. Can someone who knows respond (that might disqualify an NFL ref)?
What if a player catches a ball and falls down butt first while body is upright and then lays backward giving him another yard or so?
pacman
January 13, 2020 at 02:28 pm
Looked it up myself - any part other than hands or feet makes you 'down'. Deciding factor is that the yellow line was forward of the marker.
jeremyjjbrown
January 13, 2020 at 02:52 pm
Even if that is true you can't see the ball when he is down to know where it was. This makes it impossible to overturn the call on the field.
Additionally , the line was in the wrong place at least 1 foot downfield from the actual first down marker. The yellow CGI line is not official.
TXCHEESE
January 13, 2020 at 01:54 pm
Jimmy Graham! Welcome to the Packer's 2019 Season! You showed up just in time.
Philarod
January 13, 2020 at 01:57 pm
This is similar to "the good, the bad, and the ugly", so I won't reiterate my picks.
This was a great team win, and it doesn't matter if it would be considered "ugly" or not. The Pack held together and did enough against a good team who has a great (future HOF) quarterback.
A few thoughts, and I wish I could drive all negative thoughts out:
Davante, obviously, -played a wonderful game...my only "but": Why couldn't he have stayed in bounds after hookng up with Rodgers on that brilliant third down conversion? He did have momentum going to the sideline, but I think he could've just kind of turtled down.
I really thought we would get much better of the wars in the trenches. I'm not sure we ended up doing so, despite some sacks (and I love The Smiths), and considering that Seattle was forced to be fairly one-dimensional the whole second half.
Ah to have a good tight end, let alone a Kittle or a Kelce! And no, even though Graham didn't obviously screw up those three plays last night, he's just not it. We;re just fortunate that he stumbled well enough to (just) get that first down at the end.
Whether on a rollout, being pressured or from a clean pocket, Rodgers' only incompletions were from being pressured, nobody being open (still a problem for this team), or drops. I thought he was cool and on target the whole night. He appeared to make just one mistake - forcing the ball to a well-covered Davante on a third-down, and not seeing Wagner coming across. He's human.
It's hard to, right now, see a way for us to beat SF - who has a great defensive front (and front 7) and Richard Sherman lurking in a good secondary. Their offense is creative, Jimmy G is good (while not Rodgers, Wilson or Mahomes) and they have great weapons in the runing ans passing game, including a mini-Gronk-like TE who can wreck a team. One has to hope that SF is overconfident, we're completely healthy and we find new ways to neutralize their pass rush... and play our best defensive game all year.
FAN24583
January 13, 2020 at 02:12 pm
Remember NY Bozo? Maybe yellow weazel refers to the refs? We need a term like striped weazel or Blind Dummy for the refs.
Packer_Fan
January 13, 2020 at 02:14 pm
This game was tough because of Russell Wilson. He beat SF at home and almost won again at the last game. He might have beat the Pack if it wasn't for Seattle's error to block Preston Smith with a tight end. Preston had to get that sack and did. Great play by a great player. Worth every cent that Gutekunst paid him. It is going to be tough to beat SF, but a few things have changed since that last game. Go Pack
Point-Packer
January 13, 2020 at 02:52 pm
Lame calls go to Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.
Ted Thompson for his unwillingness to utilize FA or in-season acquisitions to better his team. The Smiths were arguably two of the teams three best players on D with Z Smith being the clear Defensive MVP and leader. Does Ted make that move to acquire the Smiths? Probably not. Does Ted pick up Ervin and Veldeer mid-season? Probably not. Ted would have rolled with Alex LIght at back-up RT and Rodgers would have left Sunday's game on a stretcher.
Mike McCarthy for his stubbornness in not utilizing his best players and instead trotting out the "platoon" at RB and the top end of the depth chart - regardless of ability. Would Lazard have been the clear #2 under Mashed Potato Mike? Probably not, he would have trotted MVS and G-mo out there all season to watch them fail and left Lazard to rot on the bench. MM would have likely continued the "platoon approach" at RB, as opposed to giving A Jones (the best RB on the roster and maybe in the NFC) the snaps he deserved to be successful.
Yes, both had their moments of success and should be given a ton of credit for their accomplishments in GB, but both were kept on 2-3 years (maybe more) too long and cost GB some wins and likely another SB (See 2014 NFC championship game). Happy with MLF and especially Gute. Its a new day in Green Bay - thank god.
Cubbygold
January 13, 2020 at 04:30 pm
Gute hit a home run in free-agency this year. 9 out of 10 times, it doesn't end up as favorably as it did for GB this year.
Point-Packer
January 13, 2020 at 06:31 pm
Its worked pretty well for the New England Patriots over the years..
MWendlandt
January 14, 2020 at 06:19 pm
We get it. You don't like Ted or Mike. But Thompson has been gone for two years and McCarthy for a year and a half. Move on. That era is over. There's absolutely no need to be here bashing them still.
Adorabelle
January 13, 2020 at 03:44 pm
Martinez had one really bad contain where the second he rushed in it left a huge gain for Wilson, otherwise he seemed to do well.
Evidently as soon as Rodgers called for yellow weasel everyone on the d knows what play is coming, so no more weasels.
Ok now is the offensive success in the second half for the Seahawks due ti something they did or cause the Packers went into soft coverages? Remember it is all gas and no freaking brake!
Point-Packer
January 13, 2020 at 06:31 pm
This game was full of "Martinez tackles" - tackles made >10 yards downfield that usually result in a first down and include the act of touching a runner after he has already fallen down.
Monkeydemon
January 13, 2020 at 04:12 pm
I agree that the fumble call was a travesty. The officials should FIRST determine who recovered the ball, and then decide if the fumble did occur.
jlc1
January 13, 2020 at 06:09 pm
The Rodgers doubters/haters aren't quieted, just check out some of the comments on this site and any other. That they SHOULD be quieted is an absolute truth.
LASVEGAS-TOM
January 13, 2020 at 07:05 pm
I give the Game Ball to Las Vegas who had the Line at GB -4 1/2.
LVT
Charvid
January 13, 2020 at 08:54 pm
Did we lose a challenge and time out on the non fumble call?? We challenge the call that Seahawk TE was down and they come back and say “yes, indeed, it was a fumble”, so how do we lose a challenge and time out for that? Even if there was no clear recovery (tho there was), that seems like a challenge that we got correct, and should not be charged a TO!
Tundraboy
January 13, 2020 at 10:22 pm
Every game against Seattle has been surreal. Hope we finally buried that.
4thand10
January 13, 2020 at 10:25 pm
” Rodgers realizes that this may be his last legitimate chance to get to and win another Super Bowl.“"....... Come on man. Perspective, this in a large part is year 1 of a rebuild, and they happen to be playing well. #2 Rodgers is 36, Brady is 42....do you honestly believe this is his last shot?
richard_kilroy
June 05, 2020 at 10:15 am
Game balls. Graham for his accuracy. Best this year. https://www.landscaping-austin.com