Week 17: Lions Lead-Up

[WiscoKing13]

Rob Demovsky ‏@RobDemovsky 19s19 seconds ago
According to a source, there is "a little concern" about Aaron Rodgers' calf. #Packers

they down played it all week, but I guess thats to say he would start.

[trwi7]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/549295077697544192[/tweet]

Would anyone else just sit him then? I know we're pretty mediocre on the road but I'd rather have him at full strength for the playoffs on the road than have him get hurt today and not be able to play in the playoffs. Or he plays, isn't very good because of the injury, we lose anyways and then he's still not 100% for the wildcard game.

[WiscoKing13]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/549295077697544192[/tweet]

Would anyone else just sit him then? I know we're pretty mediocre on the road but I'd rather have him at full strength for the playoffs on the road than have him get hurt today and not be able to play in the playoffs. Or he plays, isn't very good because of the injury, we lose anyways and then he's still not 100% for the wildcard game.

No I wouldn't, just because I don't think it's going to be any better next week. Didn't he injure it last week? Plus if you win today, he's basically going to rest it for 2 weeks straight.

[Newz]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/549295077697544192[/tweet]

Would anyone else just sit him then? I know we're pretty mediocre on the road but I'd rather have him at full strength for the playoffs on the road than have him get hurt today and not be able to play in the playoffs. Or he plays, isn't very good because of the injury, we lose anyways and then he's still not 100% for the wildcard game.

I have no idea how serious it is and if there is a chance to risk further injury. If there is a chance that it could cause major injury, then yeah I'd probably sit him.

As it stands I am guessing the best plan of attack is to try and win this game so that he can rest it for two weeks.

[WiscoKing13]

Also going to assume going into it that we're going to see a lot of max protection with Rodgers hurting and the beastly D line the Lions have.

[LUKE23]

You have to play him. That extra week of rest is huge as is hosting a game vs. starting on road. We have no chance to beat this Detroit team with Flynn given how good the Lions are against the run.

[crkone]

Max protection would mean sending 3 receivers into 7 in coverage. Not a good way to win. We need Lacy to beat them early and often so they have to commit a safety at the line.

[WiscoKing13]

Rob Demovsky ‏@RobDemovsky 1m1 minute ago
RT @waynelarrivee: Cobb and Hyde to return kicks according to MM

[rilamann]

For example, when the Packers lost to the Giants a few years ago with a huge factor being three lost fumbles, do you honestly believe that was because of lack mental toughness instead of Kuhn, Grant, and Rodgers simply fumbled because they fumbled as happens sometimes? Like how exactly would some mental weakness issue make them fumble on those given plays, but not fumble on any other plays they had the ball? What mental weakness issue was running through Greg Jennings mind which made him drop a likely game winning TD in overtime vs Arizona in that 51-45 loss, but somehow Jennings had mental toughness in making numerous big catches in the 2010 title run? Is there a magic mental toughness issue button Jennings turned on and off from playoff game to playoff game? Same for Rodgers or other Packers who have won and lost multiple different playoff games? They have mental toughness one year, but somehow manage to lose it the next year?

What you're saying here helps me make my point because the Packers always seem to have these uncharacteristic turnovers and drops ect and never seem to quite be on their game in the playoffs and big games.They seem to lose focus and confidence and be a bit overwhelmed by the pressure of the moment.We seen this most recently in the Bills game,a big game obviously.It's weird though because when it happens it seems to hit a big chunk of the team and not just one or two players.

And yes,being thrown off your game and making uncharacteristic mistakes in pressure situations has everything to do with confidence and mental toughness and it can change from year to year.

You guys don't think a lack of mental toughness is a factor in why the Packers have been so much better at home than on the road this season?

The best part about this debate is we have a huge game today and the Packers have one of their goldenest of opportunities to test my theory.Today's game could go a long way in making me re-consider my take on this mental toughness thing going forward.

You reconsidered after they won the Super Bowl but only until they lost again and the results could fit your narrative so I don't know why today would be any different.

Yes,I had no choice to reconsider after the Super Bowl but that was almost 4 seasons ago now.

In the 3 seasons since,not counting this season because it's still in play the Packers have been one and done twice and were humiliated in the playoffs twice.Based on that I've reconsidered my original stance prior to the Super Bowl.

And to clarify once again,I don't expect the Packers to win the Super Bowl or make it to the Super Bowl every season obviously those would be unrealistic expectations.All I want is for the Packers to maybe win a playoff game against a legit team once in awhile or show up in the playoffs and at least be competitive unlike we saw vs the Giants in '11 and the 49ers in '12.

If I felt the Packers that the Packers played their game and gave it their best shot but simply lost because they weren't the better team I would have no problem with them losing,but from what I seen in those games and in the Bills game most recently I don't feel that was the case.

Feel free to disagree but that's how I see it.

And I only feel this way because I feel that the Packers are better than they've showed in the playoffs and better than they showed in that Bills game.I don't know,maybe I am over-rating the Packers.Maybe I am over-blowing this mental toughness thing and maybe the Packers just aren't as good as I think.

[rilamann]

Just so we know going into the game, is this a big game or not? I have a feel if Jordy makes a huge catch to win the game, this game doesn't matter since we were already in. But if he drops it, it was a playoff like game that we choked. Is that how it works? Still can't understand how people act like the Bills game was show of true character and the Patriots game wasn't.

The hyperbole in this post is so over the top it almost doesn't deserve a response yet it's so over the top I almost have to respond.

Again,this is obviously a huge game and the only way I'll have a problem with it is if we see a bunch uncharacteristic turnovers and drops and the Packers come out flustered and off their game.

If the Packers play their game and are the team they've been most of the season and give it their best shot and lose because they are not the better team today and the Lions simply play better than us I'll have zero problem with it.I'll be disappointed that we lost but I'll have no issue about it.If the Packers are who they are though it's highly unlikely they'll lose this game.

And yes the Patriots game was big and I thought the Packers had really turned the corner after that game,but then the Bills game happened and we seen the uncharacteristic things we've seen from this team in some of the big games the past few seasons.


I'm done talking about this for now,no one is going to change anyone's opinion on this anyway.Let's just enjoy this game today and hope the real Packers show up and get the win,and hope that the Rams can pull off the upset.

I think the real Packers stand up today and get the win.

[Newz]

I'm done talking about this for now,no one is going to change anyone's opinion on this anyway.

No one is going to change their opinion to your opinion because your opinion makes no sense.

[Finn]

How are they mentally tough one week but weak the next? Seems to me, if mental toughness was a real thing, one would either have it or not regardless of the situation.

[rilamann]

I'm done talking about this for now,no one is going to change anyone's opinion on this anyway.

No one is going to change their opinion to your opinion because your opinion makes no sense.

Well I guess you're entitled to that opinion too...

I stand by what I say but I think the Packers are getting better with their mental toughness and have a chance to build some momentum at home today and then build some more back at home in the divisional game so we'll see.All I want is to see the Packers play Packer football when it matters and if they don't win it all go out with a fight.

[Newz]

How are they mentally tough one week but weak the next? Seems to me, if mental toughness was a real thing, one would either have it or not regardless of the situation.

He could just be a logical person and realize every team in the NFL has up and downs. Every team has weeks where they play like they are contender and weeks where they play like they have no chance to win the title.

The whole "Yeah, we beat New England and I felt good after that... but then we lost to Buffalo, so now I assume we aren't mentally tough" thing is just pure stupidity. The Packers played well one week, they didn't play well the next week. It's the NFL, crazy **** happens and the best team doesn't always win.

I guess I don't get how if you watch the league for even a year or two you don't get that.

The Packers are good, they are a top 5 team, they have as good of chance to win it all as any team besides Seattle... and maybe the Patriots, since the AFC is a lot softer than the NFC.