You do need some luck to navigate a full NFL season and come out healthy enough to contend for a playoff run. And this team, even without Rodgers should have been in position to contend. A defense that should have been fixed by last year is again at the bottom of this failure. A good defense would have made any one of those Rodger-less games very winnable. Even the game against Carolina could have been at least a touchdown closer.

Yes we need a speed WR and yes we need a stud TE but our offense can and did carry this team. Repeated failures in scheme, talent and health has this defense near the bottom of the league. Other than hope, there is little evidence that anyone in this organization has a solution for our defense. It is the only real story going forward.

Yeah, won't happen. No TE's on the roster either. Ted will waste this draft again without taking TE's & OLB's and Capers will be the DC on opening day 2018.

"something needs to change if the Packers are to finally win with defense, rather than requiring Rodgers to carry the load."

Why does something need to change?

The author is missing the point. Did the Packers experience a drop in attendance in 2017? Are merchandize sales declining? Has anyone objected to the Titletown District? Or is it business as usual at 1265?

The Packers Corporation is principally concerned about making big money these not competing for Lombardis. There is no sense of urgency in Green Bay to get to another Super Bowl. None.

Expect Murphy, Thompson, McCarthy, Capers and all the rest of the gang all to be back in 2018 and expect the loyal fans to be rewarded with more of the same.

After all, not changing a DAMN thing has worked pretty well when it comes to revenues for the last 7 years, why alter that approach now? Especially when it might cost the team some cash to buy out the longest tenured GM in the NFL.

Rinse, repeat, spit.

How many times will this movie be remade. Call it what you will but since the murderous end of 2011 in Jan 2012 it demanded 'A New Hope' in 13', 14', 15', 16' and now again in 17'. Which has offered nothing new but glimmers of the hope at varying moments in the movie, which all fail to be realized in actuality.

Fear not you fans of binge watching the ' Hope ' series. Another movie will be coming to you at July's end in 18'.

The Producers and Director's are set with possible change, though slim, and some characters may or may not return but there will be a casting call and surely they will find someone or two from that huge UDFA portfolio to inspire the veterans to show up and even make one appear as a ' must sign ' just because there is no one else and hands are tied. Where would any of these movies be without that guy, right?

The Kool-Aid stand is now open. : )

I am not one of the big anti this anti that commenters that frequent this site - nor that frequents some of the GB press. When this team gets eliminated later tonight, it will be the first time in 8 years that the post season will be for other teams. Wonder how many other teams have not even made the playoffs over that period or have only made it once. But maybe this is the time for the organization to have a reload. If there is a complaint to be had from the TT and MM era is that while be put a lot of managerial people into the league, MM's coaching tree is less than successful Philbin, MacAdoo, and to certain extent Clements have not faired well in their promotions and nobody else is a shining star. While it doesnt seem to effect the offense ( because AR makes everybody around him better) the defense seems lost. We all know that injuries are a big factor but the total lack of meanness and an unwillingness to tackle has been quite obvious on the defensive side of the ball. You got to get your nose dirty to get things done. I also am critical of TT's unwillingness to pay fair market value too many times - we have poor Olinemen ( Spriggs) and have brought in other lineman (McCray) and the NFL is full of exPacker lineman playing well. The same can be said of getting rid of Hyde and Hayward and Cook.

But the time is now for Capers to retire. I think that the pieces are there to upgrade the defense and maybe by getting Matthews and Perry to take pay cuts we might get a free agent - but we need to spend a lot of draft picks on the defensive side after resigning Adams. But we need a young and energetic group coaching the D as Moss Perry and Capers are not getting it done.

Sometimes being too close to the problem makes it hard to see the "forest for the trees". McCarthy has done this in the past with Ed Donetel and Slocum the Special Teams coach and now of course the embattled Dom Capers who should have felt the axe 5 years ago. We could all see it but the excuses just kept coming and the putrid Defensive display was allowed to continue. Have the Packers stopped anyone on third down this year?
Have the Packers stopped any screen passes this year?
Opposing offenses have a 100% scoring rate when in the Packers Red Zone 100% really? Do these Defensive players look like they buy into Capers scheme? Just look at the curious case of Clinton Dix as an example, a pro-bowl safety, where has he been? Does he look like he cares?
Opposing receivers running wide open in the secondary with nary a Packers defender in sight. Blown coverages, blown assignments, untimely penalties, undisciplined play, missed tackles, 12 men on the field, 10 men on the field, wasted time outs. Pathetic! FIRE DOM CAPERS!
Thank you for listening my cheesy friends, now I feel better.

Put simply: if Dom Capers is the defensive coordinator for The Green Bay Packers in 2018, there will not be a super bowl title and there may not be a NFCN title. The same is true for our GM, but to a lesser extent.

I will still watch the games. But I did not expect to contend this year because I KNEW the pass rush would kill the team and Capers would not be able to adjust. And I knew we were in trouble the minute the draft finished in May. So I am done hoping this franchise, with it's current leadership, will contend for Lombardi #5. Even when Zeus is at QB.

It makes the inevitable letdown less painful.

I don't feel the way some of you do about Adams. But Davis hit was mind blowing to me. 2 weeks is not enough. We see this year after year. The opponent tries to take out our guys. I'm tired of the cheap hits. Twice on Adams this year. It's time to do the same to the vikings. End their super- bowl hopes! I'm calling for cheap shots on the Carr. Even the safeties. Low knee shots work wonders. Anything to wreck them . The concussions have arrived. Give one to Thelen. Forget the game . Just hurt somebody now. Forget the draft. Forget the sportsmanship. It's time to Get even! Hit somebody even if it's wrong.

If Aaron Rodgers wants another SB win...he should demand a trade to the Browns...they have what he needs...a defense....ready and more able than anything thrown together in Green Bay.

Great posts regarding how it seems the execs are more concerned about revenue than anything else. The motion picture metaphor was very well done. I still maintain Thompson's stubborn talent acquisition policy has a lot to do with the bad defense, but I'm ready for Dom to hit the beach, too. I can't help but wonder if the execs who love to count pennies influence Thompson's stance on free agency. We will never know. I do know that it was consistently painful to watch this defensive unit game after game and frankly year after year. Since 2010--zero top 10 defenses in points OR yardage. Zero. High of 11 for both. Seriously, at what point will there be any kind of change?

There is not much I can add to what I and others have already posted about the Packers and the premature end of yet another disappointing season. However not only am I disappointed with the Packers season, the combination of a futile defense and consistently incompetent and ridiculous officiating has made the games unwatchable.

What is the point of watching games when the league and their officials don't even know what the rules are? Every week in several games, game changing penalties or rulings change the final result. This is unfair to the players and the fans.
Yesterday as an example, the Panthers receiver was out of bounds when he secured the football for a catch, yet the play was ruled a TD.

A few hours later in the Pats /Steelers game the Steeler receiver caught a pass went down on one knee and stretched the ball over the goal line (a football move) scoring the game winning TD for the Steelers. However after a booth review the pass was ruled incomplete because the ball touched ground after the receiver broke the plain of the goal line. That ruling makes no sense since the receiver secured the ball, made a football move and broke the plain. Once the plain is broken the play is over and the clock stops. Needless to say the Pats won the game as a result of another absurd call by incompetent
officiating, ruining what should have been a great ending to a very exciting game and having an impact on post-season seeding.

The league has created a watered down product with inconsistent and unreliable officiating. How can a winner of a championship or even a game be considered legitimate in this league?

As for the Packers if they won't or can't make the changes to effectively compete against the elite teams in the league during this off-season they will continue to fall in the standings and Rodgers, if he is as smart as I think he is, will sign with a team that is willing to spend the money and do what it takes to support his abilities with championship caliber players on the offense and defense. Thanks, Since '61

I'll be honest: based on recent precedent, that clearly was NOT a catch. First off, he didn't land on his ass....

Seriously, the player caught and in one motion went to the end zone as he was going to the ground. He needed to control the ball through the process of going to the ground, which he didn't do because it popped out when it hit the ground. It was Dez Bryant all over again, but more clear. I thought that one--based on how similar plays have been called--was clearly a no-catch. I don't say I agree with it, but it was a no-catch.

This is the first year I am seeing about 75% of posters call for a total regime change. Used to be about 50/50. I have been calling for It since 2011. I have always though he was way overrated. MM is average. DC is stale. Time to go bye bye. Maybe this is the year....,

Watching the packers panthers game reminded me of why I loath TT. And brougyback memories of the 2007 draft. We took Justin Harrell with the 16th pick. The bears drafted Greg Olsen at 31.

...We took Justin Harrell with the 16th pick. The bears drafted Greg Olsen at 31...

Thanks for ruining my day - arrrrrgh

For Nick's Fire on TT: TJ Watt= He currently has totalled 74 tacks with 6 sacks, 1 FF and 1 interception.

Larry=Dom
Curly=Mike
Mo=Ted

Let's see, Rollins has a history of injuries, belaga, ditto, king, big time shoulder problems. Point is, you've got an army of guys on this team breaking down over and over. Randle, in and out, Mathews, Perry on the bench more than field.
You can't be a contender with the in consistencies injuries cause. O line a patchwork again. Funny the lineman who went to Chicago and Lacy, out most of this year on other teams.
With Rogers this is an 8-8 team at best, the Vikes are no longer two sure wins.

I Love dom capers. Why would we get rid of him? He is the best and most experienced DC ever...Give him a break...DOM. .DOM..DOM....But past history should not dictate the right decision to keep THE DOM !!
Who else will the packers get there is no one ....

Obviously, there is little to add, as most have eloquently stated cases for major changes in 2018.

I will only reiterate that since the SB win in 2010, some colossal fail on the part of the defense has ended every season. Every one. Injuries, undrafted free agent starters and "schemes" are deficits, indeed. But the simple answer is that the modern game of today has passed by Capers.

As far as Ted, I will use an example from this season, to illustrate his issues from the beginning. When it was decided to shut down King in lieu of surgery (maybe 3 weeks too late) Ted replaced him on the roster with Goodson who has not played a down. He's still hurt. All year long we've kept 8 WR's on the roster. Cut Janis or Davis and get a CB, Ted! A healthy human being is more valuable than a one legged Goodson.

Simply put, Mike has lost his effectiveness. Teams know our plays. He doesn't change, of the mind that if you just execute what I called, it should work. Like Dom, the game has changed in the 10 years Mike has coached. Sadly, he has not adjusted.

Guess I had more to say than I thought! Sorry

Green Bay wins the SB, fully loaded for several runs....Collins goes down. Took HHCD in 1st round to get even close to replacing him. Bishop goes down, it's taken until Martinez 2nd year to really replace him. Raji retires, Woodson retired, Thurman loses a step and Shields goes down.

Look at New England and they replace their 2-3 rd tier guys all the time, but they don't mess with the core guys. Green Bay doesn't have their core guys on defense anymore except for CMIII and he's half of what he was that season.

I hear a lot of complaining, but don't hear how you replace two HOF Dbs, an elite pass rusher, an All Pro NT, a shutdown young CB, a solid MLB and keep all the other positions in check? And by the way keep your defense in the top 10 with 7 years of draft picks to replace these guys? I'm sorry I don't like this season either but circumstances count when TT and DC try to fix 25 leaks with 20 fingers.
DC isn't the best guy to run a pressure defense, but might be the best Green Bay can hire. Like FA isn't good for Green Bay, may be the same for the coaches.

The defense will only get worse if they let our QB of the defense, Morgan Burnett go. Good God it's going to be ugly without him. He will be a free agent in 2018.

But don't worry -- he'll go to an NFC rival and we'll be having to watch him flourish for years. After all, safeties can play well into their 30s....but I can't see Ted willing to pay Burnett -- no way. Don't fear though, we'll get a nice comp pick that may or may not pan out after 3-4 year wait. By then, Rodgers will be 40 and we'll be on here discussing his imminent retirement.

The essence of leadership is managing change. It's painfully obvious that our NFC rivals did far better at managing change (esp. the Rams) than we did. Sure, Ted tried to dip his toe into free agency and I'll give him credit for trying -- we needed depth guys like Quentin Dial, Ahmad Brooks, Ricky Jean-Francois, etc. -- but ultimately, it failed.

Managing change involves making hard decisions. The status quo is unacceptable. Capers must go and it's Mike Trgovac's time to take the D-coodinator reigns (at least he's the most logical candidate give in his past D-coordinator experience).

What's most frustrating to me is every season is eerily the same: we dig ourselves a massive hole, have to "run the table" every year to have any chance, our defense ranks in the bottom of the league in every major category, we have a TON of injuries all over the place, etc. Rodgers has got to be frustrated out of his mind.

To top it off, we have an injury prone pass rusher (Nick Perry) and an aging one who really should be playing ILB (Clay Matthews). I don't know what else to say, I'd rather go get some sleep than worry about this lame team.

Love this thread!!
Everyone expressing their anger.
Don't really disagree with anyone.
However, what you see & feel has (in reality) existed for the last seven seasons. The G&G glasses have protected many of you. -- Too bad, now it hurts.
AR is 34 and probably has 4-6 seasons (barring injury) of superior QB play left in him (a la Brady).
THAT TIME will also be wasted if the hierarchy in GB remains the same.
Thank you. -- Since "60.

Wish list - they all go - Murphy, TT, MM & DC. We don't know the inner workings but they are all intertwined.

Prediction - TT and DC go. Murphy, MM stay.

Though I don't discount the possibility of MM resigning on his own. After all, he's "a very successful NFL coach." I won't miss him.

It's official, Falcons won, it's over. Play Hundley, move up in the draft in few spots. Rewatched the last game, AR was taking chances he normally doesn't take, trying to make big plays. He had to, it was the teams only chance to pull out a win and he knew it. Hope they have the brains to sit him the next 2 games.

I'm asking myself one question - what this team would looks like if GM would listen fans...

Browns would look like SB contender to that Green Bay team...

Hello, experts. If you are sure in your football knowledge, I'm sure there is the path you can prove yourself. And that path will bring lot of wealth, if you will achieve success...

I wonder why no one from this group of talented experts (from this comment section) did not take that path...

P. S. I'm not defending anyone - not Capers, not Thompson, not Mike McCarthy... I just try to understand why anybody would like to fire Mike McCarthy - you are giving our opponents second best active coach in NFL to their disposal... So, if you can prove that you are better, please be my guest...

"There’s good luck, bad luck and—to quote Aaron Sorkin’s script for Moneyball—“Then there’s 50 feet of crap. And then there’s us.” "

Actually, Friends beat Moneyball to this by about 10 years.

...it's sad that I know that.

We actually may have to draft a quarterback in the first round this year I mean Aaron Rodgers is 34 years old and time's ticking down he only has four five six years maybe so and we may never get as high of draft pick again so we might have to draft a quarterback guys I know it was kind of a little shock from me when we drafted Aaron Rodgers back in the day so we may have to do the same thing this year I know we have tons of other knees as we usually do but it's going to take 3 4 years just to learn the West Coast offense and things like that I don't know if Hunley is the guy I really don't know what's going on but I do know we have all these issues because we were supposed to get rid of Dom Capers years ago people years ago and now look what we have now just a freaking mess he was supposed to be gone by 2012 that was 5 years ago 5 years ago our system would have been different we would have been drafting different people attitudes would have been different so much I goes into it and now we're just starting all over from scratch with an elder older quarterback absolute joke and now the Minnesota Vikings are on the rise and we may never recover

IMO. The current state of the Packers is neither as bad nor as good as what's being said by media and fans. The notion of a scorch the earth approach by firing everyone is lunacy. However, the stand pat and continue forward with the same group is doomed. A change must be made in key areas but all is not bad with our franchise.
Before anything, I believe a change at GM is a must. While I've never agreed with TTs 100% dedication to the D and D approach, he has some solid talent on this team. My problems w TT is he doesn't "bid" on critical positional players that he drafts. Letting Heyward walk and holding onto multiple concussed Shields was a move the Packers are still reeling from. That was a flat out bad decision by TT that cost the Packers dearly. Since not resigning Heyward, TT has drafted 3 CBs in the top 2 rounds, blown a legit Super Bowl run bc we had to depend on a UFA CB w 4.6 speed to handle Julio Jones and this trend continues to hurt them this season ala any game against a quality QB.
In turn, TT invested millions in one year wonder Nick Perry who to date will be paid about $10M for every sack he's had this year.
I'll never fault TT for his change in character in dealing w FA market his season. I was as excited as most everyone else at the TE signings. I also liked the Evans signing although some argue that we should have paid Lang his money to stay, D and D, right? But this newfound FA approach is just too little too late. I held hope that he would have learned from his great signing of CWood that help bring us a SB. But for years TT has ignored this FA player market resource by relying solely on his expert knowledge of the college draft. However, in order for this draft only philosophy to succeed, it would require that he hit on every player in each years draft. Time has shown us that this has obviously not happened. The Packers for years lacked knowledgeable veterans and were left with a locker room filled with inexperienced youth. The NFL has two resources for teams to develop a roster: the college draft and player free agency. While all other teams used both these for player acquisitions, TT refused to take advantage of both resources and only used 50% of the tools he had to build a team. His misguided arrogance or lack of assuming any kind of risk cost the team for years and this continues to be the case in Week 16 2017. Earlier this season prior to the trade deadline the Packers were stressed with injuries at CB, King was never 100%, Rollins was out and House was continually nicked up. TT stood firm and left the Packers w a one armed rookie, a hot/cold CB and UFA signings to handle backfield duties. With zero pass rush, the bulk of responsibility landed on our woefully undermanned DBs. We all saw this coming, yet TT made no offers or moves to bring in much needed help. Should anyone be surprised by the end result? His delusional pursuit of finding the next needle in a haystack UFA WR convert into Pro Bowl CB Sam Shields (his roster handling is another issue) has always been an issue. Chasing windmills.
Ron Wolf understood how to work the NFL system. His approach to both draft and sign FAs to keep the roster fresh and deep spoke for itself. A solid mix of vets and youth kept the Packers solid on both sides of the football. It wasn't always up to #4 to pull out victories. Two of Wolf's all time best moves, HOF Super Bowl champion players were originally drafted by other teams. High risk, high reward. Gutsy move.
Ultimately the obvious is that the Packers are only as good as the players they roster. Which means this Packers team approaches being good with a couple of arguably very good players and one first ballot great player. TTs lack of action to backfill the roster with stronger, better, more experienced positional players stresses the coaching staff and limits the teams overall production. I have always had a hard time believing we could not have signed better players than what we pulled up from our practice squad?
As a fan, I can voice my opinion. Some can agree and others will not.
My opinion is that TT has served the team long enough. We need to have a new player strategy for 2018. One that doesn't dedicate itself to a singular minded approach that goes completely dark after final cutdown before Week 1. The Packers need a GM who sees the talent we have, recognizes player deficiencies, values the importance of roster depth with both experience and youth, utilizes all the market tools given ( including cap space) and is willing to take some risk. Unfortunately, none of this describes TT. It's time to move on, #12 and fans deserve better.

I hear the train a comin'
It's rollin' 'round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine
Since, I don't know when
I'm stuck with packers losing
And time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a-rollin'
On down to Lambeau field
When I was just a baby
My Mama told me, "Son
Always be a good boy
Don't ever root for bears"
But I put my hopes in green bay
Just to watch them die
When I hear that whistle blowin'
I hang my head and cry
I bet McCarthy's eatin'
From a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee
And smokin' big cigars
Well, I know I had it comin'
I know I can't be free
But those people keep a-losing'
And that's what tortures me
Well, if they freed me from these losers
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move em all a little
Farther down the line