I agree with you. People like to blather about how often we made the playoffs in the previous era. Granted -- but how often in those years were we actually in a realistic position to advance in the playoffs? The numbers were deceiving because for most of those years, the NFC Central/North was abysmal and we fattened up our record on pathetic teams. So we'd get our obligatory playoff berth and have no realistic chance of putting in a decent showing. So what was the point? All it did was set the team back another year in acquiring quality talent through the draft.
The bromide "Anything can happen in the playoffs" annoys me. Anything can happen during the regular season too.
By the way, for the people who scoff at those of us who carp about poor play even during wins, I present this game as Exhibit A. When you look sloppy during games, you set the stage for ugly defeats later. Like today. I want to see my team playing
well during wins, not surviving by the skin of their teeth.
I hope this game represents a turning point in the season, the darkest before dawn. But I fear that this team might instead be going gently into that good night.
I hope I am wrong.