It's on to Green Bay

DaBruinz said:

That's why it's my belief that they'll work to contain Lacy. They'll want to keep everything between the tackles.

Click to expand...

Lacy is an inside runner mostly anyway. It'll be a hard game to watch if Rodgers keeps torching us on roll out passes. Flash backs of that play where we missed sacking Stafford 2-3 times.

The Vikings held them to 24 by playing press man and having 7 in the box a fair bit. No disrespect to Xavier Rhodes & Captain Munnerlyn either but they're hardly Revis & Browner so if the Pats do something along those lines they should do a good job against the Packers Offense.

PatsGuy said:

This will be the Pats toughest test playing on the road at Lambeau. All the Networks will b buzzing about this game. I'll b curious as to how Vegas plays this. I suspect the Pats will be a 3.5 pt dog

Click to expand...

I think it will be three points. If they have no idea who's going to win, they seem to default to giving the visitor three points. I can't remember the last time that Vegas opened an NFL game as a Pick-em.

goheels22002 said:

Jonas Gray should have a big game. It will be interesting to see how the young man responds to his very public reprimand for not being professional the week after the biggest perormance of his life. If he gets focused on doing his job and being a leader, he could have a great week, and a couple of great games on the road. San Diego is also susceptible to a power running game.

We know Blount is a very bad man in lousy weather. The Packers will have their hands full.

Click to expand...

I see a similar game to the Colts game, Kill them on the ground with the running game than bury them with play action in the second half.

38-24 Pats

I don't know where I'm gonna come down on this one yet. Like many, I had it as a probable "L" in August, but now I'm rethinking that.

On the one hand, it's almost as tough to beat Rodgers in Lambeau as it is to beat Brady in Foxboro. On the other hand, this means that the pressure will be on the Packers if folks are expecting them to win. I look for BB to get into their heads a bit this week.

One thing to think about: the weather, according to the long range forecast, doesn't look like it's going to be a factor: the game day forecast is mid-twenties at kick off, but clear. The Pats play very well in cold conditions, but I could see snow or sleet giving Rodgers an advantage on a familiar field.

Looking at the results for the two teams so far, I see that

1. Overall Records: Patriots 9-2 Packers 8-3
2. Common Opponents: Patriots 4-1 Packers 6-1 (both beat up on NFC North)
3. 2013 Playoff Teams: Patriots 3-1 Packers 2-1
4. Home Points Differential: Patriots +110 Packers +134
5 Away Points Differential: Patriots +20 Packers -26
6. Opponents W/L Patriots 57-50-1 Packers 52-51-1 (excluding Patriots/Packers)

The teams look evenly matched. Home field advantage looks like the key. The Packers are dominant at home, but the Pats also have a positive point differential on the road. The Packers should be a 3-point favorite based on their home-field advantage.

ExpatPack said:

That's old news which has been disproven by what Rodgers has done this season. If you want to rely on Rodgers not being able to engineer a comeback the moment the Patriots take the lead, good luck. Don't stoop to the level of Skip Clueless, who is just trying to stir up some ratings.

Gronk is incredible. Packers will not be able to stop him.

Click to expand...

rodgers has 7 career comeback wins. like i said, he's the best frontrunner in the league. if the game is close, i love our chances. if we have the lead entering the 4th quarter, we'll win this game. green bay hasn't beaten anyone all season. rodgers is due a few turnovers since he hasn't had one at lambeau all season. think that finally changes cheese head.

i just hope someone covers jordy nelson. seems like he always has a 50 yard catch every game. probably the most underrated wr in the league.

VrabelJr said:

Lacy is an inside runner mostly anyway. It'll be a hard game to watch if Rodgers keeps torching us on roll out passes. Flash backs of that play where we missed sacking Stafford 2-3 times.

Click to expand...

*sigh* That's why I said they'll want to keep everything between the tackles. That wasn't just a reference to Lacy, but to Rodgers as well. I expect a 4 man rush from the Pats and not a lot of Blitzes..

When it comes to running the ball, Matthew Stafford has nothing on QBs like Michael Vick or Ben Roethlingsberger. The Pats will work to contain Rodgers in the pocket and keep him from scrambling. Much like they have done with other mobile QBs in the past. In particular, Ben Roethlingsberger.

If we put Revis on Nelson all game, I wonder if Rodgers will ****y out like he did week 1 by never targeting Sherman

Or, perhaps the approach we took in the Lions game will be applied here. Revis on Cobb, like he was on Tate, and Browner on Nelson with safety help, like with Megatron

Really looking forward to this game (but nervous about it too). If the Pats can win I don't know what could stop them, except injuries (no jinx no jinx no jinx).

DaBruinz said:

*sigh* That's why I said they'll want to keep everything between the tackles. That wasn't just a reference to Lacy, but to Rodgers as well. I expect a 4 man rush from the Pats and not a lot of Blitzes..

When it comes to running the ball, Matthew Stafford has nothing on QBs like Michael Vick or Ben Roethlingsberger. The Pats will work to contain Rodgers in the pocket and keep him from scrambling. Much like they have done with other mobile QBs in the past. In particular, Ben Roethlingsberger.

Click to expand...

I was agreeing with you. No need to be a ****.

PatsFanSince74 said:

I think it will be three points. If they have no idea who's going to win, they seem to default to giving the visitor three points. I can't remember the last time that Vegas opened an NFL game as a Pick-em.

Click to expand...

I think you're right in the ballpark, PFS74.

That said, I also have a feeling that it will be less than 3 pts. Somewhere in between 3 and even--maybe 1.5 to 2?

EDIT: It's actually Green Bay -3.5, so you were dead on.

Not sure this'll have any bearing on the game whatsoever but the Packers have a bit more at stake right now. Currently sitting in the 2-seed but Philly and Dallas are right there and they still have the Detroit game in week 17 that may decide the division. Meanwhile the Pats have essentially a 2 game cushion over the field with h-2-h wins over the three division leaders and KC losing.

Again, I doubt it really 'means' anything, but GB has a bit more incentive to come away with the W.

Wonder if we see Revis on Cobb and Browner and help on Nelson. Sure it will change in game

TBR said:

If we put Revis on Nelson all game, I wonder if Rodgers will ****y out like he did week 1 by never targeting Sherman

Or, perhaps the approach we took in the Lions game will be applied here. Revis on Cobb, like he was on Tate, and Browner on Nelson with safety help, like with Megatron

Click to expand...

I'm guessing that Rodgers and the Packers came away with a lesson of sorts after their poor decision in week one not to target Sherman. Just my opinion. I think it was stupid and allowed the opposition a clear cut advantage. I don't see that happening again.

I'm guessing that we'll be seeing a combination of Revis on both Cobb and Nelson at times.

Interesting the game is on CBS and not Fox

I'm guessing Simms and Nantz get this game?

TBR said:

Interesting the game is on CBS and not Fox

I'm guessing Simms and Nantz get this game?

Click to expand...

That's standard procedure. If an AFC team is on the road against an NFC one, the game is on CBS. Vice versa, and it's on FOX, like yesterday's game.

TBR said:

Interesting the game is on CBS and not Fox

I'm guessing Simms and Nantz get this game?

Click to expand...

Oh lord...please no

supafly said:

I think you're right in the ballpark, PFS74.

That said, I also have a feeling that it will be less than 3 pts. Somewhere in between 3 and even--maybe 1.5 to 2?

EDIT: It's actually Green Bay -3.5, so you were dead on.

Click to expand...

Yes. But I think the spread will narrow as the week goes on.

Weather can be an equalizer... however at this early date, NOAA is predicting..

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 25

Click to expand...