Divisional round lead-up: Rodgers Is Hooked - Davante Out - It's ABBY TIME!

[0BobLobLaw0]

The best chance we have is to jump out to a quick 10-0 or 14-0 lead.

No way we can match them score for score for an entire game, so we have to hope that we are riding high and they start slow from essentially being off the past 3 weeks.

That being said..

Cards 28
Pack 17

[Flames24Rulz]

Well, we've been in the same position as the Cardinals have been -- coming off of a week of rest against a team that wasn't great, but got their confidence back in the wild card round. 2011 wasn't that long ago.

Let's hope the Cardinals are as rusty as we were against the Giants.

[jakecronus8]

This could get ugly real quick. Coming back against Washington vs coming back vs Arizona are quite different. It won't be as bad as last time, but I doubt we can pull this out barring a Palmer injury and/or our defense/STs getting a score or two.

[WiscoKing13]

Having our LT back will be huge, the cards typically don't have a great pass rush and not having a turn style at the end will help. We're going to struggle vs AZ compared to the skins because no secondary in the league is that bad, but AZ is really only top heavy now with honey badger out and that's PP. Other than that they don't have great talent on D outside of PP.

Defensively, we have a top 3 secondary in the league, but they had their lapses vs AZ the first time but if we have shields back that will be a big improvement. Pass rush needs to better than it was the first time around. Trent Williams is probably 1A or 1B for best pass protecting tackles and Clay/Perry killed him on Sunday. We need that DL/OLB to Carson moving in that pocket, Carson has never done well on the move.

Only personnel change I'd like to see is Hyde off the dime. While AZ lacks a TE threat, hyde can't cover. He's the AJ Hawk of the secondary, constantly in position but too slow to do anything.

All that said it comes down to the offense and it's simple. A) show the same type of competency they showed in Washington the last 3 quarters. B)Don't turn the ball over over or consistently give Palmer a short field. Sounds simple, but for the last 7 to 8 games, it's really not.

[HKPackFan]

We are going to need some lucky bounces come our way. The D is going to have to get some turnovers. If our D can spot us 10 to 14 pts we can win.

[Sky Bucks]

This game is reminding me of the NFCCG from last year. NFC West opponent in their house in a game that mostly everyone is picking against us.

[RRyder823]

We are going to need some lucky bounces come our way. The D is going to have to get some turnovers. If our D can spot us 10 to 14 pts we can win.

Don't think the Packers need any luck. There's talent on this team. It's just that it has remarkably underperformed this season and that's why many have been frustrated. If they start clicking this team can play with anyone

[HKPackFan]

We are going to need some lucky bounces come our way. The D is going to have to get some turnovers. If our D can spot us 10 to 14 pts we can win.

Don't think the Packers need any luck. There's talent on this team. It's just that it has remarkably underperformed this season and that's why many have been frustrated. If they start clicking this team can play with anyone

They are going to have to have things go their way. They aren't going to be able to climb an uphill battle with AZ, cards are too talented. Packers need to have a close score or lead so the offense can maintain balance between the run and pass.

Although I'm thinking losing 2 major starters in bakteria and shields made the game 2 weeks ago worse than it really was. This is a talented team but losing those 2 made the talent gap too much to overcome.

The Homer in me says the Packers can turn it on like they did Sunday and when Rodgers goes MVP mode nothing is impossible.

It's just the Debbie downer in me thinks we are outmatched and this offense was a mirage with the benefit of **** secondary Sunday. And previous 4th quarter comeback attempts were just soft preventish defenses wasting clock holding a lead. So I'm waffling more than a politician trying to get elected right now.

[RRyder823]

We are going to need some lucky bounces come our way. The D is going to have to get some turnovers. If our D can spot us 10 to 14 pts we can win.

Don't think the Packers need any luck. There's talent on this team. It's just that it has remarkably underperformed this season and that's why many have been frustrated. If they start clicking this team can play with anyone

They are going to have to have things go their way. They aren't going to be able to climb an uphill battle with AZ, cards are too talented. Packers need to have a close score or lead so the offense can maintain balance between the run and pass.

Although I'm thinking losing 2 major starters in bakteria and shields made the game 2 weeks ago worse than it really was. This is a talented team but losing those 2 made the talent gap too much to overcome.

The Homer in me says the Packers can turn it on like they did Sunday and when Rodgers goes MVP mode nothing is impossible.

It's just the Debbie downer in me thinks we are outmatched and this offense was a mirage with the benefit of **** secondary Sunday. And previous 4th quarter comeback attempts were just soft preventish defenses wasting clock holding a lead. So I'm waffling more than a politician trying to get elected right now.

Don't get me wrong the Cardinals are a damn good team and the Packers definitely need their A game. It's just that if we click on offense with how our D has been playing I think we can play with anyone.

It's a big IF at this point I'll admit but if theirs a time to go "all in" it's now. IF we do happen to win i want to be on the bandwagon allready with my front row seat cause I guarantee all the "doom n glooms" are going to be trying to jump on even if i think most should just stay off.

Its the playoffs. If now isn't a good time to bring the homer out when is? Come over to the light side young one

[humanrefutation]

We're gonna get blown out.

[neiLz]

Have a feeling we will get blown out. However, I remember when teams would not dare to blitz the packers because rodgers could pick them apart. AZ blitzes a lot, I believe, this could potentially have a similar feel when the packers went into ATL in the playoffs and they blitzed the **** out of Rodgers and we all know what happened.

Any word on Shields and Davante?

[Sky Bucks]

Adams doubtful to play with a possible MCL sprain.

[jazzfanWA]

I think at game's end there won't be one person saying that the Packer's were the better team. There will be no debate. Just like no one is saying Washington was the better team last Sunday.

[Turk Nowitzki]

I don't think we're going to win but if we somehow pull it off only to lose to Seattle at Lambeau I'm going to quit football.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Maybe I'm foolishly optimistic but I like their chances. I could see AZ coming out a little over confident and if the pack can throw the first punch it can put them on their heels.

[humanrefutation]

Even in that Falcons game in the 2011 playoffs, the Packers had previously played Atlanta at the Georgia Dome and lost. Except, in that case, it was with a game-winning FG in a game we arguably should have won. It wasn't by 30 points.

Another comparison has been drawn with 2009, when we played Arizona back-to-back in Glendale (Week 17 and the WC Round). We blew them out in Week 17, and lost 51-45 in OT in the WC Round. But in Week 17, the game was a moot point and the Cardinals pulled most of their starters in the second quarter.

With GODGERS, anything is possible. But we haven't seen him this year.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Adams doubtful to play with a possible MCL sprain.

Makes you wonder if Montgomery would have been healthy for this game. Would have had him sit and cut the 3rd tight end we never use if there was any shot he could've played.

[Kerb Hohl]

Even in that Falcons game in the 2011 playoffs, the Packers had previously played Atlanta at the Georgia Dome and lost. Except, in that case, it was with a game-winning FG in a game we arguably should have won. It wasn't by 30 points.

Another comparison has been drawn with 2009, when we played Arizona back-to-back in Glendale (Week 17 and the WC Round). We blew them out in Week 17, and lost 51-45 in OT in the WC Round. But in Week 17, the game was a moot point and the Cardinals pulled most of their starters in the second quarter.

With GODGERS, anything is possible. But we haven't seen him this year.

I agree that I'm predicting a loss. The difference between Atlanta 2010-2011 and this Arizona team is that that Atlanta team had a joke of a defense and survived on an easy schedule. This Arizona team is legit.

That said, Rodgers 2010 regular season was barely better than this regular season. As I've said on the last 100 threads, let Rodgers throw it in an up-tempo offense and anything is possible. Try to "establish the run"/control the clock and we'll eventually get boat-raced and Rodgers will have a too little, too late comeback. Last game in Arizona we started to move the ball in the 3rd quarter but the line issues/turnovers cost us.

It was similar to the Carolina game where we were not very aggressive early, were kinda in it in the 1st quarter, things got worse in the 2nd, and by the 3rd quarter we were in panic mode. Rodgers moved the ball in both 2nd halves, but in the Arizona game, the shoddy OL play/injuries made it get ugly, fast. Also, in Arizona, our lack of any redzone target killed us.

[BigDee]

Adams doubtful to play with a possible MCL sprain.

Well that sucks when possibly Adams was just starting to turn the corner.

[humanrefutation]

Maybe this will give Aaron some additional confidence: She said yes!