Wild Card Lead-up : Pack @ Arizona - Sunday, 3:30 PM Fox

[Flames24Rulz]

Agreed, DB. I like Whisenhunt and Arizona but I hope we kick their ass this weekend. He's a pretty well-respected guy so I figured he wasn't actually whining about that.

[LUKE23]

Good strategy by Whisenhunt, IMO.

I could also see the Packers coming in overconfident.

Momentum gained by blowing them out >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cardinals attempt to make us overconfident

Packers aren't going to overlook a playoff opponent.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

From the mouth of Whisenhunt:

"The only thing I was chafing about was the approach of my football team and how we handled it," Whisenhunt said. "I was disappointed with some of the things we did in the ball game as far as how we played. It was obvious to me that Green Bay was more physical than us. That's what was very disappointing to me. I could see where (the writer) would think that I was irritated, and I was, but it certainly wasn't at Coach McCarthy or at the Packers. It was more about how we performed."

Like I said, I like him. He might be my favorite guy outside of GB in the NFL.

That said, I hope we kick the **** out of his team this weekend.

From a Packers fan perspective, this isn't much better. So you're saying you're team got manhandled? Does that mean you guys were trying? Sounds good to me.

[Newz]

Good strategy by Whisenhunt, IMO.

I could also see the Packers coming in overconfident.

Momentum gained by blowing them out >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cardinals attempt to make us overconfident

Packers aren't going to overlook a playoff opponent.

How is he attempting to make us overconfident? I said I could also see the Packers coming in overconfident just on their own, it has nothing to do with what the Cardinals 'tried to do to us'.

I'm saying I think it's a smart move by Whisenhunt to try and motivate his own team by putting them into the underdog role. They shouldn't need any more motivation because it is the playoffs, but playing the 'we are disrespected' angle isn't a bad thing, since that is what motivated them into the Superbowl last year.

[LUKE23]

I don't agree it's a smart move by Whisenhunt. I think he half assed it. Either don't play your starters at all, or try and win the game completely like GB did. He kind of did both, keeping both Boldin and Fitz in to get personal milestones.

I'm big on momentum heading into the playoffs. I think the Packers have more than Arizona does, even if the game was supposedly meaningless last Sunday. The Packers will be confident, but not cocky.

[Newz]

even if the game was supposedly meaningless last Sunday.

Why do you keep saying if it was supposedly meaningless? It was meaningless.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

even if the game was supposedly meaningless last Sunday.

Why do you keep saying if it was supposedly meaningless? It was meaningless.

It was only meaningless in terms of seeding. In terms of momentum and mental edge it was very meaningful.

[LUKE23]

Why do you keep saying if it was supposedly meaningless? It was meaningless.

The momentum that it continued by GB wasn't though. Nor do I think a blowout like that has zero mental effect on players. And to be technical, the game was the difference of one seed for the Packers, so not completely meaningless.

I think MM outcoached Whiz clearly last week. If Whiz was really going to essentially forfeit the game, then don't play your starters at all (and this was highlighted by their injuries as well).

[LUKE23]

It was only meaningless in terms of seeding. In terms of momentum and mental edge it was very meaningful.

Yep. I refuse to believe that a wax like that has no carryover whatsoever to the following week. Maybe it's only slight, but there is some.

[Newz]

It was only meaningless in terms of seeding. In terms of momentum and mental edge it was very meaningful.

I would agree if the Cardinals gave any effort to win the game at all. Warner was benched early and the Cards defense wasn't doing anything. They didn't attack the QB, they were playing way off of the WRs.

I'm not saying the Packers can't win against Arizona, I'm not even saying that they aren't the favorites... All I'm saying is we are going to see a lot more competitive game on Sunday. If you think that the Packers have somehow demoralized and got into the Cardinals' heads, then you are wrong.

[LUKE23]

Not demoralized, but some effect, yes. I don't agree that last weeks game has 0% effect on this weeks.

Not when it is the exact same team in the exact same venue and starters were playing for both teams.

[LarryHarris]

Not demoralized, but some effect, yes. I don't agree that last weeks game has 0% effect on this weeks.

Not when it is the exact same team in the exact same venue and starters were playing for both teams.

Arizona is trying to spin what they are doing. Of course they are, we'd be saying the same things if the situation was reversed, although I don't think McCarthy would have gone as far as Wisenhunt has, or even bring up the issue in the media. Still, their fanbase is obviously going to say that it had no effect and they packed it in early, we'll see we saw blood and we went for it and now they'll be scared to play us again. I think individual players on each team would have different opinions on this matter, for the Packers, this is the first playoff game for a bunch of these guys. The Cards were just there and made it to the Super Bowl. I don't think the Packers destroy them, I think we win, but I can understand why their coach and fanbase has been saying what they are saying.

[MickeyDavis]

Many seem to forget that we were playing for the #5 vs. #6 seed. Maybe not a big deal but Philly is a good team. They could easily win 2 playoff games. If we do the same we get the NFC Championship at Lambeau.

[chuckleslove]

The entire NFC is pretty good and open this year. Probably the most excited I've ever been for the playoffs, not just because I honestly feel like the Packers could win it all but beyond that every single game in the NFC should be good, maybe not quite as much in the AFC but should be some good games there too.

The Bengals vs Jets matchup to me seems like it should be a snoozer but other than that should be a lot of good football.

[LUKE23]

Many seem to forget that we were playing for the #5 vs. #6 seed. Maybe not a big deal but Philly is a good team. They could easily win 2 playoff games. If we do the same we get the NFC Championship at Lambeau.

Yep. Wouldn't Arizona have been 3 seed instead of 4 if they won as well?

[James1980]

And if we lost, we would have played at Dallas, right? I'd much rather play Arizona.

[chuckleslove]

No, if we lost then AZ would have been the 3, we would have been the 6 and the match ups would have been the same. The difference is in the second round match up. If we were 6th then a win would guarantee us a game against the Saints. Right now if the Eagles win and we win then we play the Queens. If Dallas wins then we play the Saints if we win.

The difference for AZ was also Queens vs Saints. Had they won they would have been assured a second week match up against the Queens a team they had already beat and should have some confidence against. As the 4th seed they could get the Saints or Queens in week 2.

[LUKE23]

And if we lost, we would have played at Dallas, right? I'd much rather play Arizona.

We would have played Zona first anyway (that was locked in after Vikings won). It just would have been 6 at 3 instead of 4 at 5.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

It seems like lately more analysts are going with the Cardinals. I was listening to the Herd this morning and both Colin and Sal Palintonio felt like the Cardinals would win.

Edit: Or not, haha

http://www.espn.go.com/nfl/picks

[MickeyDavis]

The money is on the Packers. The line has went from 3.5 to 1. That's a pretty significant move. It will be interesting to see where it's at on Sunday.