Winging into Philadelphia

The prelude is over and it’s time for the opera to begin. The 2010 Playoffs are upon us, and the Packers have the #6 seed in the NFC. 6 seeds usually don’t fare too well. 6 seeds are stiffs, patsies. 6 seeds aren’t supposed to be too scary.

Scratch all the usual pre- game drivel. Seattle, a #4 seed, is better suited to the 6 hole than Green Bay. The Packers, while the #6 seed in the playoffs, are the team no one wants to draw. With the high octane offense and stifling defense they are going to be a handful for anyone with whom they cross paths. The Philadelphia eagles are the lucky recipient of a round 1 rematch of their season opener that saw the Pack hold on to win.

Much has changed for both teams since then.

Both teams come in completely different than the two that squared off when Green Bay hung on to beat Philly in week 1 27 -20. The biggest change is Michael Vick who will have an impact on both sides of the ball as he is a game changer. Vick will be predominantly featured here as he is the heart, soul, and key for Philadelphia. Green Bay’s pasted together and weekly changing lineup has been a headache that shows a different look on a weekly basis.

Green Bay comes in flying high after dismantling the Giants and outslugging Chicago to earn their place on the dance floor. The Eagles had been sitting atop the NFC for a bit under the suddenly surging play of Michael Vick. The Eagles in fact had been eyeing a first round bye until Minnesota and Dallas came in and whacked the Eagles hard.

Packer Braintrust Head Coach Mike McCarthy
and GM Ted Thompson have done a
great job getting the Pack
to the Playoffs

Neither is the same team since week 1. Out for the Packers is Ryan Grant, Jermichael Finley, about 2 dozen linebackers, and maybe 27 more defensive starters. Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have cobbled together a lineup that has been competitive all year long and my just be getting ready to take off. The running game, while still an eyesore, is serviceable at best. That may be enough for GB to advance. MM deserves a heap of praise for even keeping his team in each and every game considering the massive amount of players on IR this year – 16 in all.

James Starks shows some burst and if he can manage to get out of MM’s doghouse long enough he may get things exciting on the field. Word has it he’s not been practicing well. Brandon Jackson has filled in and while not making anyone forget anyone BJax has something. Yes – this is damnation with faint praise. John Kuhn has become a viable play action option, especially in close. That alone gives Rodgers more for his impressive arsenal of weapons.



It's a Bird, It's a Plane...It's AARON RODGERS!!



The Packers offense does not and will not rely on its running game to dictate its fortunes however. GB, under ever improving QB Aaron Rodgers, has become a pass-first team and the run is there to keep the D honest. Whether the D stays honest or not ARod has all the tools to pick apart any D. The receiving corps, led by All Pro Greg Jennings can be impossible to cover when they are playing well as a group. The undoing for the WR’s has been themselves and the occasional games of butterfingers and not playing well as a group. If the Pack can avoid drops against Philly it’s going to be a long day for the Eagles banged up DB’s.

Out is S Nate Allen along with DE Brandon Graham. The Eagles CB’s gamble a lot and have been burnt more frequently than marshmallow and weinies at a camp fire. The matchup here is in Green Bay’s favor, especially if James Jones and Jordy Nelson get involved. Look for Rodgers to test the resolve of the corners with some deep strikes. Philly faithful are cursing their fate at drawing the Packers as the Pack is the one team that can and will air it out. While Philly has the offensive weapons to matchup in a shootout, their Achilles Heel of DB’s will prove to be their undoing.

When Kevin Kolb went down courtesy of a Clay Matthews sack the Eagles turned the reins over to Michael Vick, who responded with an MVP type year. Vick has run, thrown, and led these Eagles into the middle of the playoffs by using his head more than his feet. The Eagles boast of pair of superlative wideouts in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Vick will need time to find them though. The running backs, led by LeSean McCoy and Jerome Harrison are a load to bring down. McCoy will get some yards against Green Bay’s D. That’s a given.

Getting points from the Packers is a different matter. GB has given up points the way Don Rickles hands out compliments.

The Capo de Tuti Capo
 of Defenses -
Dom Capers

DC Dom Capers has done a terrific job this year, and year 2 of his 3-4 D is paying enormous dividends. Both Minnesota and Dallas drew up the game plan to neutralize Vick and beat the Eagles. Pursue, pressure, pound. Vick came out of the Viking game with a bruised quad and how well he can go will be the direct line to the Eagles fate. Expect to see a lot of disguised blitz packages. Clay Matthews III suddenly looks rejuvenated. His ailing shin may be completely healed now, and that spells bad news for the Iggels iffy OLine. If DE Cullen Jenkins’ troublesome calf is healed and he can go that means even more pressure on Vick. TE Brent Celek may be forced to stay back with FB Leonard Weaver to provide extra protection.

All Pro S Nick Collins

It will be up to Tramon Williams, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah to limit the damage done by the Philly wideouts. If Vick is forced and pressured he has shown a tendency to wear down and make mistakes. The Packer Defense forces mistakes. In this game look for a lot of blitzes dialed up by Capers coming from all angles. Woodson and Matthews will be heavily involved in making Vick’s life miserable. If LB Eric Walden can somehow repeat his stunningly unexpected performance from last week (10 tackles/ 3 sacks/ NFC Defensive Player of the Week) it will be a long day for Vick as both Walden and Matthews have enough speed to stay close to Vick. The Eagles may get some yards but getting enough points against the second stingiest team is a different matter altogether.

Rookie P Tim Masthay’s steady improvement throughout the year cannot be underscored enough. Keeping the ball away from and out of a game breaker’s hands like DeSean Jackson is just like last week when Devin Hester was rendered irrelevant by Masthay’s excellent directional kicking and the Packers improved Special Teams coverage.

The ‘X’ Factor in this game is Green Bay’s annoying habit of disappearing for great stretches. Whether it is a slow start or late game blahs or mid game malaise every now and then the Pack Offense just seems to inexplicably become The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight. If this happens it’s anyone’s game. Conventional wisdom says otherwise.

The Lambeau Faithful Giving Their All for the Packers

Let the cheering begin. It's a W in and It’s another rematch in Atlanta.

GREEN BAY 30

Philadelphia 20