Green Bay's title chances

[JonahLomu]

Holding Adrian Petersen away from the single-season rushing record - and keeping the hated Bears out of the playoffs - can be considered "victories" in Green Bay's 37-34 loss to Minnesota Sunday, but the Packers' potential playoff run took a serious hit.

They don't get an extra week off to heal, a vitally important seven days at this juncture in the season. It'd be nice to blame it on pastry thief extraordinaire and the cheating, lying *** of Golden Tate - and the scab who allowed Seattle to steal a win over the Pack - but that's too easy.

The Packers clearly weren't prepared to meet a strong 49er team in the season opener and blew a 21-3 lead at Indy. Injuries and coaching mistakes aside, Green Bay can still get to the Super Bowl. Here's how, listed in order of importance for both the offensive and defensive units:

1-A healthy running game. James Starks, where are you?

2-A healthy running game. Ryan Grant, where were you the second half of the Minnesota game?

3-A healthy running game. It can't come down to John Kuhn, Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb, a fullback, quarterback and wide receiver respectively. The Packers are dangerously close to having that scenario play out.



The Packers must get the ball to Randall Cobb even more in the playoffs, whether it's on a direct snap or two, or run/pass options to his left for the left-handed speedster.


4-The real Gregg Jennings finally made his season debut - in the last game of the season. On at least two occasions, he juked and powered his way to first downs. Hopefully, he's back. Sure, Cobb stepped up and became the focus of the passing game, but he also returns kicks (even in 55-7 wins, smart move, Coach Mike McCarthy, that almost cost you your best offensive player not named Rodgers).

5-If Jennings is really back, that makes Jordy Nelson, a pass-catching machine, and James Jones, a touchdown scoring machine, even more dangerous. Tight end Jermichael Finley may even drop fewer passes and fall down less at the mere sight of of 190-pound corners since he's looking for another team for next season.

6-The offensive line has been a weakness individually for years overall, but somehow play well as a unit. We'll see how McCarthey's timing works out, after replacing center Jeff Saturday just two weeks ago. Nelson, who picked up the red challenge flag McCarthy illegally chucked vs. the Vikes, and Rodgers, who ran past his coach while screaming at him for his screw up, can't save a head coach who doesn't know the rules.

7-The Lambeau Field mystique is gone. Michael Vick started its destruction by dogging Green Bay years ago in a playoff game and Jim Harbaugh and Co. finished it off in Week One. Packer fans must get loud again - through a whole game, please.

8-McCarthy must not manage the game to come down to a Mason Crosby field goal, because one of them won't be kicking for the Packers next year unless they get their clutch back on.

Defensively, the first priority is to lay the wood. Opponents aren't scared of getting hit by anybody but Clay Matthews or being squashed underneath B.J. Raji.

2-A.J. Hawk must do something on first and second downs.

3-Unheralded Mike Neal must become a monster.

4-The no-name secondary must play better, especially when McCarthy idiotically rushes three players.

5-Talented Erik Walden must amp up his football IQ or some ******* personal foul will put the Pack in trouble.

With that said, Green Bay posts a 38-34 first-round playoff win over the Vikings despite a 10-minute possession deficit.

[kehlis]

This isn't something that needs it's own thread, it can go in the team thread.