Packers @ Patriots - Preview

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Wow...Useful information from a troll. The Bears trolls were for the most part pretty cool. We need to play the NFC North more often.

After going to the Detroit and Chicago games, I wish we played in the NFC North.

Good fans

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Troll? I don't think so- there's a difference between a fan who comes to talk pure football and a troll who just comes to take a dump.

I use the term broadly to mean anyone who roots for an opposing team who comes to an opposing teams message board. Regardless if they come to talk football or trash. There are good trolls and bad trolls.

 

[VJCPatriot]

The Packers defense, though, was playing damn near lights out. And they will do their best to make it hard for the Pats. AJ Hawk and Chad Greenway are the clear leaders there. Cullen Jenkins is tough as nails on that line.

I heard they got a pretty good guy named Clay Matthews too BTW. Leads the NFL in sacks, or something minor like that.

Anyways the main question is going to be will Rodgers play or not. If Rodgers doesn't start the Packers don't have even a snowball's chance. Flynn is athletic sure, but he doesn't sling the ball nearly as well as Rodgers.

The Packers defense is good, granted. The Pats have embarrassed better defenses and Brady is at the top of his game. They are also playing at home. If Rodgers is out, we're looking at a blowout win. Even if Rodgers isn't out we could still be looking at a blowout win. That's just how good the Pats are playing.

I don't expect a let down game. Pats will be pedal to the metal all the way to the playoffs. It should be a better game than Chicago but I suspect it won't be all that close. Looking forward to see how this defense continues to gel and develop. They've only given up 3 and 7 to the Jets and Bears respectively. Hopefully they will continue to get better and finally pitch a shutout somewhere down the stretch.

 

[Chevelle2]

Hey guys, Packer fan here. Wanted to chime in and I had some questions of my own.

Here are just some random thoughts as they come to my head:

-If Rodgers is out, we are going to get blown out

-If Rodgers plays, we have a shot

-That shot is reliant on us actually calling a good game plan. Time and time again we try and get too cute and get away from our bread and butter

-Our bread and butter, is short outs/slants/ins and YAC. All day long. Problem is, like I said, we try and get too cute sometimes

-Rodgers is second to Brady in deep ball ability IMO. We can hit some off of play action

-Our oline is solid at pass blocking, and terrible at run blocking. We are a bit small at C and old on the left side. Right side is sweet.

-Our running game is non existent for the most part. Jackson sucks, and I'd like to see more of this kid Starks, who had 80ish yards 2 weeks ago

-Our defense is nice. We get turnovers (not that you guys are careless with the ball), and sacks (not that your oline isn't great)

-Woodson/Williams is one of the top CB duos in the league, Collins is a pro at S, and Peprah is ok at the other safety spot

-We are on our 4th string LB opposite Clay Matthews

-Jenkins is probably out on the line. This hurts. He is an excellent player.

-As good as Matthews is, he's a bit knicked up and is getting tired

-Our punt and kick coverage suck, so I wouldn't be shocked if Tate took one to the house

-We have 13 guys on IR, including 6 starters


I can take any questions you have, but I have class and then I have to study, so I won't be able to reply until later.

A couple questions for you guys:

-Is BB as cold as he appears?
-Is Brady as cool, laidback and nice as he appears?
-What is your view on our team? By that I mean, out here in WI, we have a lot of respect for you guys and strive to be like you. What is the view out there of us, and our players if there is any?
-And finally, how are you guys SO GOOD? Promise not to run it up on us?


Talk to you all soon. Oh and one last thing, I'm only 22, and have only been watching football since about 1995, but Tom Brady might be the best quarterback I've ever seen.

 

[Headcase]

After going to the Detroit and Chicago games, I wish we played in the NFC North.

Good fans

You must have been around different Bears fans that I was, the ones in my section were ridiculously moronic.

SSDD

 

[BrewCity Cheesehead]

The Packers D looks very good (some draft pieces coming together in the form of a now veteran defense), and Rodgers is the real deal at QB. I thought they looked like the top of the NFC early on, but they seem to have put up some clunkers since (Redskins, Miami, Detroit - they played the Falcons tough in the Georgia Dome). Any thoughts on why they struggled in those games?

They were hit HARD by injuries early in the season (12 players on IR, 7 starters). The depth that GM Ted Thompson put on this team was tested and for the most part, they've overcome those injuries... especially on defense where guys like Desmond Bishop and Charlie Peprah have been playing out of their minds. The one that is still hurting the most is losing Ryan Grant week 1, as they haven't been able to have anything resembling a running game since, which really hurt against Atlanta and Detroit. Losing Jermichael Finley for the season was huge and it took a few games to re-organize the offense accordingly. The loses to the Redskins and Dolphins were pretty similar, because during the Washington game they lost Finley, Nick Barnett, Morgan Burnett to IR. Clay Matthews injured his hammy against Washington and sat out against Miami and the pass rush went from awesome to none. Also it seems that the Packer offense is sometimes one of the best in the league, and other times one of the worst. Most of the time they click, but sometimes they look out of sync.

This season is looking like the "what could have been season" since their 5 loses are all by 4 points or less (4 loses by a field goal, two in OT). They've looked the worst they have this season yesterday at Detroit, but I'm still hopeful they can make the playoffs. The division is attainable, but they need the Bears to lose at Minnesota (thanks for the shellacking you guys laid on the Bears yesterday BTW). Otherwise the wildcard is likely, but they need to win at least 2 more with some help.

I'm not expecting a win next Sunday night as we'll be coming into your guy's house when you're playing your best football all season. The Packers have the talent to get the W, but it'll be by far their toughest game this season.

 

[Stop Being A Jerk]

-Is BB as cold as he appears?
-Is Brady as cool, laidback and nice as he appears?
-What is your view on our team? By that I mean, out here in WI, we have a lot of respect for you guys and strive to be like you. What is the view out there of us, and our players if there is any?
-And finally, how are you guys SO GOOD? Promise not to run it up on us?


Talk to you all soon. Oh and one last thing, I'm only 22, and have only been watching football since about 1995, but Tom Brady might be the best quarterback I've ever seen.

1. No. He's always seemed a good guy to me, even before he'd won anything (I was against hiring him in 2000 or whatever...we gave up a first round pick...lol). He just has no time for the mediots. People who ask stupid questions and want stories laid out for them; the same people who eat up Rex Ryans BS, in other words. I get the feeling that he enjoys talking x's and o's when he gets a good question in a press conference. But take the other week for example, against the Jets; I think it sums him up nicely: a reported asked what he thought about Rex Ryans comments that he wanted to "kick Belichick's a**" Belichick said, "Is that some big story? The Jets want to win and the Patriots want to win?" Makes sense to me. It was a complete nothing that the media wanted to make into something, but BB wouldn't rise to the bait. Also keep in mind that a lot of today's commentators on ESPN and NFL network have a dislike for Belichick anyway: Marshall Faulk hasn't gotten over losing in 2001, and Tom Jackson was told to "f*** off" by Belichick. Does that play into your perception of Bill? It shouldn't. Earlier in that first Super Bowl year, Tom Jackson said that the Patriots "hate their coach". So at the Super Bowl when Jackson approached Belichick, he told him to f*** off. I'd have done the same.

To summarize: I thought BB was pretty cool before he won anything, despite being against the hiring; he has no time for feeding the media stories (so they claim he's arrogant and so on); and there is an effort by certain television commentators to build continue the myth that he is some sort of heartless robot.

2. Pretty much, although...laid back? I guess at the podium after a game. But during the game he's the heart and soul of the team. He's the one who wants to stay in when they're up 50-0. He's got fire and a desire to win that is matched only by Belichick, which is why they work so well together.

3. I like the Pack. When the Pats aren't playing, I try to tune into the Packers game because they're usually among the best played. Rogers is a top QB, of course, and you've got some stars on defense. Plus you're a cold weather team and we like that here.

4. Brady and Belichick. It really is that simple.

 

[jsull87]

-Is BB as cold as he appears?
-Is Brady as cool, laidback and nice as he appears?
-What is your view on our team? By that I mean, out here in WI, we have a lot of respect for you guys and strive to be like you. What is the view out there of us, and our players if there is any?
-And finally, how are you guys SO GOOD? Promise not to run it up on us?


Talk to you all soon. Oh and one last thing, I'm only 22, and have only been watching football since about 1995, but Tom Brady might be the best quarterback I've ever seen.

1.) No. To the people who have spent the most time around BB they know him as a really great guy. The reason he seems like a **** to most people (in my opinion) is he hates the media... and they are the people who project his image. He is just a guy who has an immense focus on his job and his way of doing things and when he gets questions like "what do you think about what chad jackson said yesterday" or "did you see x or y on the weekend" he doesn't care because it doesn't apply to his football team and his goal of winning the next game. Watch some of the videos of trainnig camp and pre season on patriots.com you see him interacting with the players and he seems like a great guy in my opinion.

2.) Yeah brady does seem a little to good to be true doesn't he... i guess thats why you'll find most of the people on this board love him so much (me included) and why we laugh so hard when a jets of dolphins poster pre season goes... sanches/henne is the next elite qb and this is the year they become brady... the guys is just awesome and there are few is any like him.

3.) My view of GB is that they have an aggressive D based founded on getting turnovers by a great CB duo and an effectively schemed and executed pass rush... i have heard however that the run D isn't as good as you would want and that the secondary sometimes does get over aggressive and make mistakes (not a BB philosophy). But then again if you have been listening to the media the pats have the worst D in the league... not exactly true.

I believed your O would be the best in the league this year... you had so many weapons in the passing game and rogers was playing lights out pre season. But i didn't realise the struggles your Run game was having.

4.) Run it up? BB just wants "60 Fu**in Minutes" haha

 

[Patspsycho]

1.) No. To the people who have spent the most time around BB they know him as a really great guy. The reason he seems like a **** to most people (in my opinion) is he hates the media... and they are the people who project his image. He is just a guy who has an immense focus on his job and his way of doing things and when he gets questions like "what do you think about what chad jackson said yesterday" or "did you see x or y on the weekend" he doesn't care because it doesn't apply to his football team and his goal of winning the next game. Watch some of the videos of trainnig camp and pre season on patriots.com you see him interacting with the players and he seems like a great guy in my opinion.

BB doesn't hate the media (although he could be said to have disdain for them) he just avoids them, and gives out answers or statements that one would be hard put to use against him or as bulletin board material. Unlike most people in the NFL, he seems to realize that the media isn't on anyone's side and is only after a story, whether or not it hurts the subject of the story.

The less fodder they have, the less distraction he has, and the more he can focus on his job. However, in the right place and at the right time, with the right writer, he does open up from time to time.

 

[DaBruinz]

FYI, Chad Greenway plays for the Vikings. Think you mean Clay Matthews.

DOH.... You're right. I meant Matthews.. :bricks: on me..

 

[karran_s]

We don't need McCourty to beat the visiting Packers... with or without Rodgers, the pats will beat them easily, imo, with their current momentum.

The pats are cutting through other teams like a hot knife through butter and I see little opposition until they meet the opposing NFC team in the SB.

This team looks unstoppable to me right now

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

A couple questions for you guys:

1, Is BB as cold as he appears?
2. Is Brady as cool, laidback and nice as he appears?
3 What is your view on our team? By that I mean, out here in WI, we have a lot of respect for you guys and strive to be like you. What is the view out there of us, and our players if there is any?
4.And finally, how are you guys SO GOOD?
5.Promise not to run it up on us?

1. No BB isn't cold. But like most compeitors he doesn't do well after tough losses. And he doesn't suffer fools gently, and that is a problem with some of the media, which are blithering idiots. He is actually quit witty. However, his style of humor is unlikely to go over well in the midwest. I live in MI for three years and I found I often offend people with dry humor or sarcasm. n the Northeast it play better.

2. Brady is cool. But I have seen him get fired up too.

3. Honestly I don't pay that much attention to the NFC. Rodgers has certainly earned my respect. When you first got rid of Brett and he went to the Jets, my first though was, "what fools are running GB, they were idiots for letting Brett go and replacing him with AR". Now I think you guys were stupid for not doing it sooner. I certainly consider you the toughest team remaining on our schedule. (Granted as the other two are the Fins and Bills that ain't saying much)

4. Bill Belichick.

5. I promise that if we have an opportunity to run the score up on you, we will. Anything else is disrespectful.

 

[ausbacker]

We don't need McCourty to beat the visiting Packers... with or without Rodgers, the pats will beat them easily, imo, with their current momentum.

The pats are cutting through other teams like a hot knife through butter and I see little opposition until they meet the opposing NFC team in the SB.

This team looks unstoppable to me right now

Call me crazy but apart from a few completions and the PI Butler and Arrington were OK against the Bears on the weekend. If McCourty needs the rest give it to him.

 

[BrewCity Cheesehead]

I certainly consider you the toughest team remaining on our schedule. (Granted as the other two are the Fins and Bills that ain't saying much)

You know it might not be a bad strategy for the Pats to sit their starters for the GB game... even if you lose to GB, you'll easily beat Miami and Buffalo and still get the #1 seed over Pittsburgh. Trust me!!! :halo:

 

[terabthia2]

I use the term broadly to mean anyone who roots for an opposing team who comes to an opposing teams message board. Regardless if they come to talk football or trash. There are good trolls and bad trolls.

No, a troll is by definition bad, someone who just comes into a forum or discussion to stir up ****, so therefore IMO there's no such thing as a "good troll".

Just people who root for the wrong team, however well-intentioned they are otherwise.

 

[ATippett56]

You know it might not be a bad strategy for the Pats to sit their starters for the GB game... even if you lose to GB, you'll easily beat Miami and Buffalo and still get the #1 seed over Pittsburgh. Trust me!!! :halo:

Belichick will not sit his starters in a regular season game. Belichick will sit starters who are injured, if justified. However, the McCourty injury could be troubling for the New England Patriots secondary if Aaron Rodgers plays quarterback.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I'm thinking 70-30 that Rodgers plays next week. It is his 2nd concussion this year, but neither one appeared all that serious. The first one came on a quarterback sneak and he was practicing the next Thursday with no symptoms. This last one came from hitting the ground when he was tackled on a run (WHY DIDN'T YOU SLIDE??? YOU ALREADY HAD THE FIRST DOWN!!!)

Supposedly, the more concussions you have, the longer it takes to come back from one, but this is only the 2nd concussion in his life, so I think there's a very good chance he'll be ready to go by Sunday night.

70-30 is way too optimistic. At this point in the week it's 50-50 (at best) with the rest of the week too be determined.

There's no such thing as a concussion that's "not serious."

 

[ATippett56]

-We have 13 guys on IR, including 6 starters

I can take any questions you have, but I have class and then I have to study, so I won't be able to reply until later.

What is the view out there of us, and our players if there is any?

The Green Bay Packers were considered one of the Super Bowl favorites from the NFC prior to the start of the 2010 NFL Season. However, injuries to the tight end position has hurt the Green Bay passing attack and the loss of Ryan Grant has devastated the Green Bay rushing attack. Greg Jennings at wide receiver is a stud and the New England Patriots actually traded up to select wide receiver Chad Jackson from Florida in the 2006 NFL Draft. Donald Driver is an excellent veteran wide receiver.

-And finally, how are you guys SO GOOD? Promise not to run it up on us?

If Flynn plays quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, it may get really ugly, really fast for the Green Bay Packers.

 

[SuperPatsFan]

Hey guys, Packer fan here.

Welcome!

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

You know it might not be a bad strategy for the Pats to sit their starters for the GB game... even if you lose to GB, you'll easily beat Miami and Buffalo and still get the #1 seed over Pittsburgh. Trust me!!! :halo:

We ain't the Colts. They give out losses as Christmas presents, not the patriots. If you want to win this game there is only one way to do it...come ready to play, play hard, play for 60 mins, and execute better than the NEP. It can be done. It has been done. Just ask the Brown and the Jets.

And if you don't want us to run up the score, keep playing defense even when you are losing. Cause BB never takes the foot off the gas.

But hey that's the way the game is suppose to be played.

Plus we are on our revenge tour. Last week we got revenge for SB XX this week its revenge for SB XXXI.