porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
9 years ago
Lambeau Field and home-field advantage are synonymous with each other, yet the hollowed grounds of the iconic stadium haven’t been as kind to the Packers in the 21st century as they were in the 20th. While Green Bay continues to win a large majority of their regular-season home games, they’ve posted just a 4-5 home playoff record since the turn of the century.

A once prominent home-field advantage faded to being just noise in the background.

Maybe that’s about to change.

Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 2014 Packers seem well on their way to restoring home-field dominance. They’re averaging nearly 44 points per game at Lambeau, and have been so good that Rodgers has actually missed large portions of the fourth quarter in four of five games.

For opponents, the fear of going up against one of the greatest quarterbacks in the game today outweighs the appeal of playing at the same venue that once housed Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Reggie White.

The job is far from finished, though. Winning in the regular-season doesn’t mean a thing if they don’t take care of business in the postseason.

The Packers are clear favorites to win the NFC North, despite holding the same record (7-3) as the Detroit Lions. The Lions and Packers will meet in the regular-season finale. Because the game is at Lambeau, Green Bay has an advantage in the divisional race.

Additionally, the Packers are just two games back of Arizona (9-1) for the conference‘s top seed. The Cardinals, who are without quarterback Carson Palmer for the rest of the season, play four of their final six games on the road.

Next to winning a Super Bowl, re-establishing playoff dominance at Lambeau would be the finest achievement the 2014 Packers may ultimately make.

Let’s hope they have the opportunity in January.

Turning Point

The Packers put forth one of their most complete efforts of the season, scoring in every phase of the game. They threw and ran for touchdowns on offense, scored two defensive touchdowns, and received a huge boost from Micah Hyde who returned a punt 75 yards for a score. Hyde’s return gave them a 17-0 lead, and was the first indication that the rout was on.

Stud of the Game

I know it’s repetitive to keep signaling Rodgers out as each game’s stud, but he is playing a level of football that few have ever achieved. Rodgers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, bringing his season totals to 28 touchdown passes and 3,149 yards. He’s on pace to throw for about 4,397 yards and 45 touchdowns. Consider him your MVP frontrunner.

Play of the Game

Hyde’s punt return, and outside linebacker Julius Peppers interception return for a touchdown are worth consideration, but the nod goes to running back Eddie Lacy’s 48-yard catch and run for a score. Lacy barreled toward the end zone like a bowling ball. Only instead of knocking over pins, he was running over Philadelphia defenders. I counted as many as five missed tackles by the Eagles.

Looking Ahead

For the first time in over 30 years, the Packers will play outdoors in Minnesota as they take on the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Last week, the Vikings allowed 330 passing yards to Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler, and 117 rushing yards to running back Matt Forte. Bet on the Packers putting up big offensive numbers again this Sunday.

The defense will get its first look at rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater is currently struggling, but he has all the tools to develop into a very good starting quarterback. His mental capacity is especially great. Coaches gave him free reign over the offense at Louisville. He hasn’t received that kind of accommodation in the pros, but I suspect he will sometime in the future.

While you can expect to see flashes of talent from Minnesota’s young quarterback on Sunday, he remains years away from going toe-to-toe with the game’s top player.

Please visit Row12.com  for weekly articles done by myself on college and fantasy football. I currently have Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon III No. 2 in my Heisman Watch . We also have a great staff of writers that covers every major sport.
Zero2Cool
9 years ago
I would go with the turning point being when LeTroy Guion sacked Mark Sanchez 2nd and 6 in the first quarter and wasn't called for helmet to helmet or roughing the passer. The Packers were up only 3 - 0 at that time and if you give them a first down at what the ~50 they might be able to keep moving into a scoring opportunity. They could have tied the game or took the lead with a touchdown.

However, Guion was not flagged and the Eagles threw incomplete on 3rd and long they had to punt. The Packers then went on a 13 play 88 yard touchdown drive to go up 10 - 0 and the Eagles felt the pressure and it was over.

That no call was very huge in stopping the Eagles momentum and the Packers did an excellent job punching them in the throat the next drive.



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wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
9 years ago

I would go with the turning point being when LeTroy Guion sacked Mark Sanchez 2nd and 6 in the first quarter and wasn't called for helmet to helmet or roughing the passer. The Packers were up only 3 - 0 at that time and if you give them a first down at what the ~50 they might be able to keep moving into a scoring opportunity. They could have tied the game or took the lead with a touchdown.

However, Guion was not flagged and the Eagles threw incomplete on 3rd and long they had to punt. The Packers then went on a 13 play 88 yard touchdown drive to go up 10 - 0 and the Eagles felt the pressure and it was over.

That no call was very huge in stopping the Eagles momentum and the Packers did an excellent job punching them in the throat the next drive.


Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



What is most amazing about the play is that crew of refs is noted for calling the most penalties this year.
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yooperfan
9 years ago
Very well written, a quality recap.
Thanks once again.
DoddPower
9 years ago

What is most amazing about the play is that crew of refs is noted for calling the most penalties this year.

Originally Posted by: wpr 



It was a great no call, and would feel the same if it went against Aaron Rodgers. Let me guys play! It wasn't overly malicious, imo.
Zero2Cool
9 years ago

It was a great no call, and would feel the same if it went against Aaron Rodgers. Let me guys play! It wasn't overly malicious, imo.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 



By rule, it should have been flagged. The rule is stupid. There is too much gray area crap with having so many rules. The damn quarterback lowered his head, how are you supposed to adjust your angle and where you're hitting him? All a QB has to do is lower their head and throw you off your game and then tuck an run or chuck it up. It'd be a fake out.
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TheKanataThrilla
9 years ago

By rule, it should have been flagged. The rule is stupid. There is too much gray area crap with having so many rules. The damn quarterback lowered his head, how are you supposed to adjust your angle and where you're hitting him? All a QB has to do is lower their head and throw you off your game and then tuck an run or chuck it up. It'd be a fake out.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 



That is becoming an issue in hockey as well where they call penalties on head-shots. It seems a tad ridiculous that a player can instigate a penalty against themselves by lowering their head to change a legal hit to an illegal one.

I hate all the marginal calls that give the refs too much power.

My biggest grief is the "illegal contact" penalty that comes with an automatic first down. Not sure why this gets an automatic first down, but to me it allows the refs too much control. How many times in a 3rd and long this crap penalty is called and the chains get moved (eventually a TD is scored). Seems like score fixing for a weak call especially when the WR never gets a call for instigating contact after the 5 yards. Sorry for the rant.
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Zero2Cool (12h) : Chase Young to sign $13M contract with Saints
Zero2Cool (12h) : Yosh to Panthers what noooo. Wait he didn't do crap
wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : Almost like taking QB in 2020 even if you don't need one is good move.
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : A conditional 6th rounder? I remember Bears fans arguing they'd get a day 2 pick at worst lol
dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Bears are trading Justin Fields for a 2025 6th-round pick that goes to a 4th-round pick based on playtime, per sources.
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Former Packer Jarrett Bush opens Wisconsin’s first blow dry bar in Green Bay
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Justin Fields to Steelers?
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Kenny Pickett. Eagles. Done.
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : They can claim best two WR tandem.
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
dhazer (15-Mar) : Campbell signing with 49ers
dhazer (15-Mar) : I love how the Bear Fans are now claiming they have the best skill players in the NFC North lol
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Vikings made a move to get a 2nd first round pick
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : MLB Devon White science with the Eagles
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : But that was before FA started
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : Dhaze, I thought Kurls would be their #1 target when I read that he was an Amos comp (jack of all trades guy)
dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
Zero2Cool (14-Mar) : AJ Dillon re-signing with Packers.
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