My Take -> NFC Divisional Round

Greetings, G-Force.

13-3. The road to the Super Bowl goes through Titletown, U.S.A. This team has style. This team has flavor. This team is layered with a rose pungent scent. This team went into Soldier Field and staked claim to the NFC Regular Season crown. I’m proud to say that I’m a Green Bay Packers fan. If you’re reading this blog right now, you should also be walking with football glee. This team is a joy to watch.

As I write, I sip a 2015 Russian River Consecration. Aged in Cabernet barrels. It’s an absolute delight to wet the lips with this black currant goodness. I listen to the Grateful Dead’s 11.07.69 show. My Love light shines for both this team and this Franchise.

Here are my vibes from the last week:

Matt LaFleur. How is he not the Coach of the Year? After the Draft, nearly the entire media and blogosphere — including myself — dogged the Packers for their inability to add weapons on offense. Yet, LaFleur proved that he was smarter than everyone else. He is a master at getting the ball into his playmakers hands in space. He’s as creative as any offensive mind in the League. He led the #1 scoring offense in the NFL.

Aaron Rodgers. He is your undisputed NFL MVP. A magical year by the soon-to-be 3-time MVP. All year, he’s showed complete control of this offense. He’s been more cerebral than any player on the field. He’s directed this offense at the line of scrimmage like an absolute mastermind.

Mike Pettine. I’ve intentionally been quiet on his work in 2020. I’ve quietly waited for this defense’s bubble to pop. But, as I reflect on the 2020 Regular Season, it’s the growth of his unit that gives me hope that the Packers are poised for a Super playoff run.

Watching Davante Adams on the move with the ball in his hands is love fortified.

Once again, the Packers showed that TRUMP CARD rests with great strength inside the visitors locker room at Soldier Field. Since the Packers collected the Halas Trophy at Soldier Field in January of 2011, the Packers have dominated the Bears at Soldier Field. In 2011, the Packers won the NFC NORTH crown at Soldier. In 2013, the Packers again won the NFC NORTH title at Soldier Field. This time, it was in Week 17 on a 4th and 8 48-yard TD pass from Rodgers to Cobb with 00:38 left on the clock. In 2015 and 2019, the Packers opened the season with victories at Soldier Field. In 2016, Rodgers connected with Nelson for 60 yards on 3rd & 11 with 00:31 seconds to set up a game winning FG. Now, we add 2020 to the list as the Packers clinched the #1 seed in the NFC at Soldier Field in Week 17. Oh, the glory.

Watching Jaire stuff Jimmy Graham at the goal line on the last play of the 2020 Regular Season is symbolic of the current state of the union for both Franchises. The Bears may look big and mighty. But, they play soft in the heart. The Packers may be undersized in places, but the players on this team knows their role. They depend on one another. They’re tactically strong. They fight to the finish.

MVS. I guess we have to take the bad with the good. His 72-yard TD was everything we love. His dropped TD was everything that disgusts us.

Big Bob Tonyan finding the end zone in the Gold Zone has been as exciting as any portion of the Packers offense in 2020. His Week 17 TD put LaFleur’s influence on Rodgers on display. LaFleur has taught Rodgers patience. LaFleur has taught Rodgers to trust his teammates. LaFleur has reminded Rodgers to stand tall in the pocket and to read through his progressions even as he feels pressure. The Tonyan TD showed Rodgers’ growth as a QB in 2020. Together, LaFleur and Rodgers are setting the football world on fire.

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

Aaron Jones finding pay dirt makes me smile.

Corey Linsley brings good vibes.

Kenny Clark is playing great football right now.

Adrian Amos with the game sealing pick against his former team at Soldier Field for the 2nd year in a row. All love, yo.

Jaire with the strip! Gary with the recovery!

Dominique Dafney is a prime example of what the 2020 Packers stand for. Catch a TD on one play. Make a vicious special teams tackle on the next. This team is selfless. This team has great leadership. These players know that they have a defined role. They play to their role with exceptional consistency.

Don’t look now, Christian Kirksey has been making plays on a weekly basis.

Have a strong feeling that Kevin King is going to have to make a game swinging interception in order for the Packers to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. I imagine he will be tested in abundance in the coming weeks.

SNACKS! His presence and technique feels different. Here’s the crazy irony: he asked for his release after he was inactive against the Rams in Week 16. Last week - the Rams ran all over the Seahawks. They ran right through the heart of the Seattle defense. Isn’t that where you’d expect SNACKS to be playing? Would SNACKS have made a difference? I believe that SNACKS will make a big impact on the game this weekend.

Aaron Rodgers. 19-24. 240 yards. 4 TD’s. 0 interceptions. I think that’s called sublime QB play.

Gutekunst signing Jared Veldheer is the stuff of legend. Veldheer showing up with COVID is also the stuff of legend.

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

Buzzkill to see Tavon putting the ball on the turf.

I’m ok with Pettine’s keep everything in front of you and make the tackle strategy. As long as this defense doesn’t give up the big play, I have confidence in someone making a great individual play to keep the opposition out of the end zone. Let’s hope he continues to rush 4 and stays in man coverage. I like the way the defense matches up with nearly every team in the league on a man to man basis.

I will forever wear a wide grin when Marcedes Lewis catches a pass.

The MVS end around for 4 yards. Love the call. Keeps the defense honest.

The 2020 Regular Season was as entertaining as any I’ve ever witnessed. Regardless of how the playoffs end, I’ll always be grateful for the thrills that this team has given me. I hold out immense hope that when it’s all said and done, we will be able to compare this team to the 1996 team as the best Packers team that we’ve witnessed in the last 40 years.

Matt LaFleur has entrenched in this team that there is no “I” in team, but there is a “M” and an “E” - so, me better do my part each week. This locker room epitomizes the word team.

This week - it’s the Rams. The best scoring defense against the best scoring offense. Something has to give.

Rams Defensive Coordinator, Brandon Staley, is as under appreciated as it gets across the NFL. I’m happy to see that he’s getting Head Coaching requests. He brings an innovative mind to the defensive side of the ball. He has a lot of pre snap movement, not unlike what we see from both the Rams and Packers offenses. Don’t underestimate him potentially being minimally distracted as he receives Head Coaching interview requests. These guys are professionals, but they’re also human.

There’s no debate, the Rams have the best defensive front in the NFL. The Packers OL must hold up. And, LaFleur must help them out by establishing the run early on. The run sets up the play action pass and slows down the pass rush. I fully anticipate that we will see a heavy dose of Aaron Jones early on.

All year, Matt LaFleur has been one step ahead of the defense. I anticipate that it’ll be the case again on Saturday afternoon. And, if the Packers can grab a 2-score lead in the 2nd Quarter, much like they have most of the year, it’ll be extremely difficult for the Rams to catch up. They aren’t built for that brand of football. Barring a defensive or special teams score, of course.

The Rams will want to eat clock. Expect a lot of Brown and Akers. Enter: SNACKS and Kenny Clark. Defensively, Pettine should start with a 5-man front. Gary, Lowry, Clark, SNACKS, and Za’Darius on the field. They play the run. Man coverage in back. Expecting play action. Look for a 3 and out.

If the Packers can limit the run game on early downs, Pettine can rush for and wait for a Goff mistake. In order to stop the run game, they’ll have to watch the cut back to the left side of the Rams OL. The Rams love to have David Edwards and Andrew Whitworth collapsing the left side of the OL to free up the cutback. Defenses often over pursue and Rams RB’s find chunks of yards because of it. McVay requires a back with excellent vision and instincts. The run is designed to the right, but if the hole isn’t open, McVay expects the cut back to be free. The Packers ILB’s must stay disciplined.

Look for Allen Lazard to make a couple of key receptions for 1st downs. So much has been made about Adams v Ramsey and MVS on the deep ball. Or Tonyan’s unbelievable season. I’m expecting Allen Lazard to have a big game as a forgotten man.

Yes, I’m calling it: Aaron Jones and Allen Lazard will have great games for the Packers this weekend.

Many people fear the Rams. I do not. Kupp, Reynolds and Woods are all very good system WR’s, but I’m not worried about them. I believe that Sullivan, King and Jaire match up really well against them. I’d like to think that Sullivan’s length will swallow up Woods in the slot. The Packers secondary must stay disciplined and not get fooled by play action and motion eye candy. Play man. Mark your man! Know your role, play your role. Be better than the man lined up against you.

Aaron Jones on the pitch. Aaron Jones on the screen. Aaron Jones on the draw up the middle. Aaron Jones on the pass in the flat. Aaron Jones on a double move go route.

The media is building this game up talking about Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Jalen Ramsey, and Aaron Donald. Rightfully so. But, if I’m seeing this game correctly, Aaron Jones will be the most impactful player on the Field. LaFleur has been saving Jones, keeping him fresh. This weekend, Jones will be a workhorse.

The Rams appear to be getting a break with the weather. It’s expected to be in the mid 30s. Thankfully, there should be minimal wind. Regardless, I can’t see the Rams putting up more than 20 points. And, it wouldn’t surprise me to finish with less than that. Yes, the Rams defense has been great, but I have zero reason to believe that the Packers won’t score at least 27 points. I believe in this offense.

Goff will give the Packers an opportunity. King makes the play.

Jones rushes for 2 TD’s. Rodgers hits Lazard off play action.

The Packers are hosting the NFC Championship Game!

Packers 30
Rams 16

Go Pack Go!

Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com