NFC Championship Game--GB @ Seattle

[snowmanny]

Seattle's in a no-win situation.  If they lose, they weren't that good.  If they win, well, Rodgers wasn't 100% and that would have made all of the difference.

Eh.  If they win, they're in the Super Bowl and they deserve lots of credit, and either way they had a great run to get where they are. Most people already think they are the best team, even historically great if you read 538. To my eyes, Green Bay has been more convincingly great this year (edit: but a lot of that has to with the fact that I haven't trusted Seattle's late season competition), but if Seattle wins today by a blowout or by a single point I don't think there's anything to take away from them.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

I don't see this game being close at all. Seattle at home against a hobbled Rodgers and Lacy doesn't give me confidence in GB winning this.

 

[DJnVa]

I don't see either game as being close. Which means at least one of them will be.
 
Any given Sunday...

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

It is pouring the rain here, and it is very, very windy. That could have a big effect on the passing games. Lots of power outages in the greater Seattle area (not me!).

 

[Oppo]

Seattle's in a no-win situation.  If they lose, they weren't that good.  If they win, well, Rodgers wasn't 100% and that would have made all of the difference.

Why would Seattle care how they win? If the pats win today after Luck gets injured on the first drive, are you going to asterisk it?

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

This is the best defense the league has seen since the Ravens of the early 2000's. Great defenses don't have bad days this time of year or fall victim to the randomness of 'Any given Sunday'. The poor run defenses of their potential final three opponents (GB, Pats, Indy,) plays right into their strengths on offense.

 

[DJnVa]

This is the best defense the league has seen since the Ravens of the early 2000's. Great defenses don't have bad days this time of year or fall victim to the randomness of 'Any given Sunday'.

 
That seems very definite.

 

[pappymojo]

If the Pro Bowl were on right now, I think I would watch it.

 

[tims4wins]

If the Pro Bowl were on right now, I think I would watch it.

Shit I would take the puppy bowl

 

[Ferm Sheller]

I'd watch Hugh Millen highlights

 

[mpx42]

I don't understand how the Packers can possible win.

To be fair, I am pretty stupid.

 

[Dollar]

Gotta love closed captioning. Terry Bradshaw: "This goes back to the failed marriage of Golden Tate in 2010..."

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

This is the best defense the league has seen since the Ravens of the early 2000's. Great defenses don't have bad days this time of year or fall victim to the randomness of 'Any given Sunday'. The poor run defenses of their potential final three opponents (GB, Pats, Indy,) plays right into their strengths on offense.

Last year's was, but this edition isn't quite as good. By pretty much any measure there have been a number of teams with better defenses since those Ravens. The pass rush, while good, isn't nearly as good as it was last year. They had 36 sacks and were 14th in FOs' adjusted sack rate.

I mean, they're the best defense in the league but I'm not buying them as an all time great.

 

[semsox]

Last year's was, but this edition isn't quite as good. By pretty much any measure there have been a number of teams with better defenses since those Ravens. The pass rush, while good, isn't nearly as good as it was last year. They had 36 sacks and were 14th in FOs' adjusted sack rate.

I mean, they're the best defense in the league but I'm not buying them as an all time great.

 
They do have a great defense, but it's also really been untested recently. They lost to the Cowboys in Week 6, and since then have played the following offenses:
 
St. Louis x 2, Panthers x 2, Raiders, Giants, Chiefs, Cardinals x 2, Niners x 2, and the Eagles led by Sanchez. Of those, only KC and Philly posted a positive weighted offensive DVOA (and both just barely, at 2.6% and 1.0%). I think any talk of the Packers having no chance in this game is frankly a little silly. 

 

[shawnrbu]

3 penalties on Pete The Poodle's undisciplined bunch.