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Should Green Bay Packers Fans Root for Dallas or Philly?
Published: January 7, 2010
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Let’s assume for the sake of argument that the Green Bay Packers are going to beat the Arizona Cardinals and move into the second round of the playoffs. Who would they rather play next?
The two choices are the arch-rival Minnesota Vikings and the explosive New Orleans Saints.
Unfortunately, the next opponent will be decided by the outcome of the Wildcard game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. And should the Packers win in Round 2, the matchup in Dallas will have further implications for the NFC Championship game.
So who do we Packers faithful root for? Let’s take a look at our options.
Dallas Cowboys (Third Seed)
As of right now, the Cowboys have become the clear favorites to win this week. They embarrassed the Eagles last Sunday by shutting them out in a 24-0 win. Philadelphia also has to chew on the fact that Dallas beat them on their home turf earlier in the regular season, which gives them even less chance of winning in the brand-spankin’ new Cowboys Stadium.
So we’ll take the Cowboys winning as the most likely scenario.
If both Dallas and Green Bay win this week, then the Packers will travel to the Louisiana Superdome to take on the Saints, while the Cowboys will face the Vikings in the Metrodome.
The first thing we want to ask is: “Can the Packers beat the Saints?”
Well, if you had asked anyone this question early on in the season, the answer probably would have been a resounding “NO!” But when the Saints gave up their perfect record to the Dallas Cowboys and started resting their starters, both their momentum and mystique were lost.
Additionally, if the Packers beat the Cardinals, then they will have proved they are a force to be reckoned with. And if they beat Arizona by a wide margin, then they could very well be unstoppable.
This, of course, is the point at which Saints fans will remind the Packers fans what happened on Monday Night Football, November 24, 2008, when New Orleans crushed the Packers by a score of 51-29.
If you remember that game, then I’m sure you’ve been trying hard to suppress it.
The Saints’ offense not only dominated the Green Bay Packers defense, moving the ball at will, but their defense picked off Rodgers three times and forced two fumbles.
It is a whole new year, and the Packers have what appears to be a whole new team, but I’m sure that every player in green and gold who played in the Superdome last year remembers the bitter taste in their mouth when leaving that night.
Perhaps in Round Two of the playoffs, Green Bay will exact it’s revenge against Drew Brees and company on a wave of recent success. That possibility is not that far off, and if it does happen, the NFC Championship game could be one to remember.
Because if the Packers come out of New Orleans victorious, and the Vikings defeat the Cowboys (the most likely scenario), then the NFC Championship game at the Metrodome will become the hands-down Game of the Year, and certainly more exciting than the Super Bowl.
In determining the ultimate bragging rights, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers would have a third shot to redeem themselves against Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.
And fans on both sides would relish this opportunity.
Philadelphia Eagles (Sixth Seed)
Let’s not rule out the Eagles, though. If hell freezes over…I mean, if they find their pride and get revenge on the Cowboys, then it will force the Packers and Vikings into their final showdown in Round Two.
While this game would undoubtedly be memorable, the glory of the NFC Championship title would be lost.
Both teams could end up watching the Super Bowl on high definition in the frozen tundra instead of traveling down to sunny Miami to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. The matchup would no longer be an all-or-nothing affair.
However, if you’re one of those fans who would rather play it safe, then the second week of the playoffs would probably give the Packers the best chance of beating Minnesota.
The Vikings would be coming back to their first game after a questionable December run and a bye week. It could easily take them part of the first half of the game to shake off some rust and catch their stride.
And the Packers could take advantage of this.
They would have both momentum and confidence in knowing that their team has improved leaps and bounds since their last meeting with the Vikings. Plus, that chip on their shoulder could prove to be a big motivator.
Let’s say—again, for the sake of argument—that Green Bay gets their revenge on Minnesota. Who do they meet up with in the NFC Championship game?
Well, I don’t know anyone outside of Philadelphia that wouldn’t pick the Saints to win in a Round Two matchup against the Eagles. Sure, anything can happen, especially if the Eagles were able to make it this far, but let’s be realistic.
The Green Bay Packers would again be fighting to avenge themselves and would be the true underdogs: a Wildcard team playing the No. 1 seed for the NFC Championship title.
Who to Root For?
Now that we understand the implications of this weekend’s outcome, it all comes down to this: who do Packers fans root for?
Personally, if I could decide which team wins this week, I would choose the Dallas Cowboys.
Sure, there is the off-chance that the Eagles could make it to the NFC Championships, giving the Packers homefield advantage, but I just don’t see both Wildcard teams making it that far.
Should Green Bay make it to the NFC Championship game, then they will most likely play both Minnesota and New Orleans on the way. The only question is which round will they play them in?
We could be satisfied playing the Vikings in Round Two, and it probably would be the best time to beat them if the Packers are going to.
But let’s live a little. Let’s add some fireworks to the playoffs.
If the Packers and Vikings meet again, it should be for the title of NFC Champions. Bragging rights will be secured until next season, and the last chapter of the Brett Favre Saga will be a wild one.
The only way for that to happen, though, is if the Cowboys win on Saturday.
(Oh, and the Packers need to win, too.)
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Rodgers, Roethlisberger Look to Win Through the Air
Published: December 17, 2009
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When the Green Bay Packers travel to Heinz Field on Sunday, Dec. 20, to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, it will be a meeting of the NFL’s top two run defenses.
Ryan Grant and Rashard Mendenhall: Get ready for a frustrating day.
Looking at the statistics, naming the better run defense of these two teams becomes nearly impossible.
The Steelers lead the league, allowing only 84.9 rushing yards per game while the Packers allow 85.0 YPG.
Green Bay gives up just 3.6 rushing yards per attempt, putting them second behind the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh comes in a very close third, surrendering 3.7 YPA.
Both teams are also tied for third, behind the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots, in rushing touchdowns allowed; each with four.
Now this doesn’t suggest, by any means, that coaches Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy should be giving up on their running game.
After all, we’ve witnessed the futility in that strategy more than once this year. It does mean, however, that “Big Ben” Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers will be called upon to drive their offenses down the field.
The question then becomes: whose passing game will be more successful?
Let’s take a look…
Aaron Rodgers vs. the Steelers Defense
The Packers are 9-0 when Aaron Rodgers has been sacked five times or less. Fortunately for Green Bay, the Steelers have only recorded a total of three sacks in the past two games.
The question, though, is whether Pittsburgh will shake off its recent performances and return to being the team that currently ranks second in sack totals, with 39.
Since the Steelers are looking to redeem themselves this week, Rodgers should assume the worst. Pittsburgh will have the most success on defense if they can both contain Rodgers and keep pressure on him.
If, however, Rodgers and the offensive line can avoid the heat, they should be able to move the ball easily.
The Steelers’ biggest defensive weakness is their secondary, especially with Troy Polamalu out nursing a knee injury.
The Packers will be able to create a good share of match-up problems with their receiving corps, as well as make some big plays. They do, after all, rank third in the league for most receptions of 25 yards or more, with 31.
Aaron Rodgers shouldn’t be that prone to interceptions, either, as he only has seven so far this season. The Steelers defense has eight, with zero in the past five games.
The Packers do have 30 dropped passes this season—6th most in the NFL—and that could be cause for concern.
Ben Roethlisberger vs. the Packers Defense
Big Ben and the Steelers’ offense will find their task a little more challenging on Sunday.
The Packers’ passing defense ranks third in the league (187.0 YPG, 6.1 YPA), and their talented secondary gets most of the credit for that.
Charles Woodson is in contention for Defensive MVP of the Year, while Nick Collins has an interception in each of his last four games. And, as we keep hearing, the Packers continue to lead the league in turnover differential (+18).
But the Green Bay defense has a weakness that Roethlisberger has the ability to exploit.
Despite being second in opponents’ completion percentage, at 53.3 percent, the Packers only claim an average of 2.2 sacks per game, ranking them 14th in the league.
Now, some will point out that Roethlisberger has 38 sacks this season, and that Cleveland was responsible for eight of those last week, though something tells me that fixing that problem was a focus during this week’s practices.
Roethlisberger is no stranger to the basic defense being employed by Green Bay, and even when the Packers are able to get pressure on the quarterback, they do have a tendency to lose containment.
If you give Roethlisberger room to move, he will take it and buy some time to let his receivers get open. With the current injuries on the Packers’ defensive line, that could be a very real possibility.
Finally, the Packers need to be at their best if the Steelers offense goes into no-huddle mode; for that is when Roethlisberger is most dangerous.
Prediction: GB 21, PIT 17
In what could be another ugly game, the Green Bay Packers should walk away with their sixth straight win. However, the point margin won’t be a big one, and neither team can hope to win without their strongest effort and concentration.
Ben Roethlisberger will be able to create some opportunities on extended plays, but will also suffer one or two costly turnovers.
On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers should have no problems finding open receivers, but he could easily take four sacks in the game, killing a couple drives.
Receivers on both teams will suffer some dropped passes in the cold weather, and kickers Jeff Reed and Mason Crosby will likely each miss a field goal. Let’s also not count out the yellow flags in what should be a very physical and emotional game.
When it’s all said and done, the Packers defense will once again be the ones to keep things alive and give Rodgers the opportunities he needs to seal up the game.
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