Packers WILL Make the Playoffs

The Packers are sitting at 8-4 heading into their division final division game on Sunday against the Bears.  The Packers will be able to get into the playoffs with a 10-6 record so that means they only need to win two of their remaining four games.

Two of the remaining four games (Bears and Seahawks) don’t look like they should be much of a problem.  If the Packers go ahead and beat the Bears this Sunday, I believe they will have all but locked a spot for themselves for the final wildcard slot.

NOT SO FAST

The other two matchups are the Steelers and Cardinals.  The Steelers (6-7) are a good football team even though they have lost their fifth straight game.  They will also have 10 days to prepare for the Packers next week after playing this past Thursday.  If the Steelers lose to the Packers next weekend they will be eliminated from the playoffs just a year away from being crowned world champs.

The Cardinals have a very good football team and they are playing good football right now.  They, like the Steelers, are one year removed from playing in the Super Bowl.  Playing this team in the regular season finale helps out the Packers a lot because the Cardinals may be resting their starters during most of that game to ensure they are healthy for the playoffs.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers play the Cardinals the following weekend in the first round of the playoffs.

THE LOW ROAD

The last thing to consider is if the Packers get into the playoffs they will have to do it on the road because they are guaranteed to get no higher than a 7 seed (unless the Vikings collapse down the stretch and the Packers can win the NFC North division).  The Packers are a mediocre 3-2 on the road, so having to play on the road throughout the playoffs may be a problem.

Personally, I am excited for the game at Heinz Field against the Steelers and the game against the Seahawks at Lambeau Field the most.  That’s only because I am going to those two games.  The game against the Steelers is going to be a great game for me because it is my first Packer road game… and it’s only an 8 hour drive!

Keys to Victory over the Ravens

This Monday night game is crucial for both teams.  The Packers and the Ravens are both fighting for their playoff lives right now.  Who needs the win more? I would say the Ravens because they have a harder road to make the playoffs.  The Packers are sitting in the playoffs right now, while the Ravens are on the outside looking in.  Nonetheless, the Packers would have a much easier road to locking a playoff spot up if they win Monday night.  Here’s how I see the Packers being able to win:

1. Continue the success on the offensive line.  The Packers have been doing a nice job of protecting Aaron Rodgers and giving Ryan Grant some running room.  If they can continue their success against the Ravens tough defense, they will much more likely to pick up a win.

2.Continue the success of the defense.  The Packers have been playing as good as any team in the league on the defensive side of the ball.  Creating turnovers, stopping the run, and pressuring the quarterback has all become natural to the Pack.  Continuing that against the Ravens would almost ensure the victory.

3. Use the home-field advantage.  This is the Packers’ first home game in December where playing at Lambeau Field becomes a huge advantage for the Packers.  With freezing weather and snow in the forecast, the Packers should be in good shape to use the weather as well as the fans to their advantage.  The last thing the Packers want to do is play like they are too cold. As long as they get off to a hot start and the fans stay in the game, the Packers should be able to prevent the Ravens from even standing a chance.

Keys to a Victory over the Lions

Not only is today going to be a great day because all you are going to be doing is stuffing your face with turkey, but while you do that there is a Packer game for you to keep you entertained.

The Lions have a record of 2-8, but if there was ever a scary 2-8 team this is the team.  The Lions play well on the Thanksgiving games anyways, and coming off an emotional, come-from-behind win over the Browns on Sunday there is no doubt they will be fired up.

The Packers could look ugly today as they are trying to fill the gaps that Al Harris and Aaron Kampman have left when they were injuried last week.  Both players will need season ending surgery.  There are a few ways that the Packers can pull out the ‘ W.’

1.  Stop Mathew Stafford.  The Lions’ rookie QB was injured last Sunday and was doubtful for the game, but it was just announced that he will be in the lineup.  The Packers looked awful against the Bucs’ rookie QB Josh Freeman and Stafford could make the Packers look the same.  If the Packers rough the young kid up early and shake him up it might be enough to win the game.

2.  Offensive production.  The Packers need to get points from their offense.  On Sunday the Packers had too many field goals and not enough touchdowns.

3.  Defensive adjustments.  Without the Packers starting cornerback or outside linebacker for the rest of the season someone will need to fill in.  This game will be a big game in finding a potential replacement for Harris and Kampman.

Keys To Victory Over 49ers

The Packers have been taking one step forward one week and then one step backward the next.  If the Packers are serious about making a run into the playoffs this game will prove it to not only themselves, but to the rest of the NFL that they aren’t about to go down easy.  I see this game coming down to a close one, but a game that the Packers can ultimately win as long as they do a few things…

1.  Contain Vernon Davis. Davis has emerged as an elite tight end over the first half of the season.  If he has a big game, the 49ers could have a much better chance to pull off a win.

2.  Offensive consistency.  The 49ers’ defensive line shouldn’t give the Packers’ offensive line too much trouble.  I think the offensive production will come down to play calling.  It’s a great coaching matchup, putting  Mike Singletary, the great defensive mind, against Mike McCarthy.  The game could come down to which coach can outcoach the other.

3.  Limit penalties.  Penalties have become a huge burden in nearly every game for the Packers this season.  If they can start to diminish a few of them each game it could go a long way in bringing confidence and discipline to the team.

The game also features a great QB matchup.  Aaron Rodgers vs. Alex Smith.  The 49ers passed on Rodgers for a less productive Smith in the 2005 draft.  Both quarterbacks may want to prove to the other team that he is the better QB.

Keys for a Victory over the Cowboys

Coming off of an embarrassing loss to the Bucs, the Packers could come out with a hangover against the Cowboys.  It seems like every week I say “this is a big game for the Packers,” but this game against the Cowboys can’t get any bigger.  The only chance the Packers have to get into the playoffs this year is to get a wild card berth.  There is a very little chance of the Pack to win their division when the Vikings only have one loss and don’t seem ready to start losing.

If the Packers want to get a wild card berth into the playoffs they will need to win this game.  Not only is it a must win because every win matters in order to have a better record than the other teams fighting for a wild card spot, but the Cowboys are one of those teams fighting for a wild card spot.  If it comes down to the Packers and other teams are in a tie at the end of the season this game could decide whether the Packers go into the playoffs or if they stay home.

Here are the keys to victory:

1. The Packers have to get over the loss against the Bucs, and make sure they are ready for the Cowboys.  They might have lost a lot of their confidence from that loss and if they come out flat, they won’t beat the Cowboys.

2. The Packers’ secondary has to step up and stop the Cowboys passing attack that has exploded in recent weeks.

3. The offensive line needs to give Rodgers time to pass and create holes for Ryan Grant to run through.  Every week it seems this is the deciding factor in Packer games… if the line plays well then the Packers win, when they give up 8 sacks, they lose.

Keys to a Victory Over the Vikings

This game has been called by some “the most important game in Packers’ history.” It’s not a must-win game, but it is as close as it can get. The Packers need to win this game more than the Vikings.  The Packers are a game and a half behind the Vikings for first place in the division.  Losing the game would put the Packers three games behind the Vikings with nine games to play. A win would essentially tie the Packers for the division lead.

If the Packers want to win this game they will need to:

1. Keep Adrian Peterson in check.  Last time these teams played Peterson was held to just 55 yards, which was an amazing job.  If they could do that again it would go a long way.

2. The defense stopped Peterson earlier this season, but Brett Favre was able to pick their secondary apart.  Favre was able to throw for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The Packers need to (and should be able to) do a better job this time around.  They have a healthy Atari Bigby (who was replaced by Derrick Martin) and Clay Matthews is a full-time starter.

3.  Probably the most important thing the Packers need to do is protect Aaron Rodgers.  In their last meeting he was sacked eight times and hurried on almost every play.  The offensive line is coming off of a very strong performance over the Cleveland Browns where they didn’t give up a sack. It was the Browns, but it will nonetheless give the line a confidence boost.

Expect to see another close game between these two rivals at Lambeau on Sunday.  It’ll probably be a high scoring game, but I’m picking the Packers to get their revenge on Favre, 34-31.

Keys to a Packer Victory Over the Browns

This game could be closer than most people think, but the Packers should be able to get the win.

1. Stop Josh Cribbs.  He is dangerous on punt or kickoff returns. Don’t be shocked to see him take one to the house on Sunday.

2. Get the running game going. The Browns have one of the worst defensive lines in the league so the Packers should see an improvement in their running game.

3. Pass protection. The Packers should be able to give Rodgers a little more time against the Browns d-line.

Keys For a Packer Victory Over the Lions

The Packers are coming off of a bye week with a mediocre 2-2 record.  This game is almost as important to win as the game against the Rams.   It’s a game against one of the league’s worst teams and the Packers are in a situation that if they lose this game it could be key in them not making the playoffs.

Games against horrible teams are almost as important to win as games against the best teams.  That’s because the games against horrible teams are games that you look at on the schedule and you say “this is a for sure win.”  There is never a coach in the NFL that will admit that, but when a team has the Detroit Lions as their next opponent they breath a sigh of relief.

Even though this should be a walk in the park for the Packers there are a few things that should happen for a Packers victory.

Keys For a Packer Victory (Bye Week Edition)

I know the Packers can’t lose or win during the bye week, but I think there are somethings that could happen to make the bye week a success.  Read on to find out…

Keys For a Packer Victory Over the Vikings

The Packers (2-1) will be taking on the Vikings (3-0) on Monday night.  The Packers are coming off a much needed victory over the Rams and the Vikings are coming off a win over the 49ers after this miracle throw from Brett Favre.

The Packers need to win this game so they don’t fall too far behind in the division race.  On the other hand the Vikings want to win this game to pull farther ahead of the Packers and make it much harder for the Packers to catch up to them.

Brett Favre wants to win this game to stick it to the Packers for trading him.  Aaron Rodgers wants to win this game to prove to Packer fans that general manager Ted Thompson made the right decision in keeping him over Favre.

…I could continue this list, but I’ll get to the keys of the game for the Packers.