Packers Go Down Swinging

The Packer logo on a Lambeau Field fence. 8/5/09 dwm

Green Bay's season ended in an unlikely place, Santa Clara, California.  The city is home to the stadium where the San Francisco 49ers play.

It's where the Packer season came to an abrupt end after a magical 7 and 2 record over their last 9 games (including round 1 of the playoffs).  49ers 24 Packers 21.

The Niners advance to the NFC Championship game on their home field taking on the Detroit Lions/Tamps Bay Buccaneers this coming Sunday for the right to play in Super Bowl 58.

I'm sorry they lost but my preseason expectations were low.  While my blog forecast predicted 10 that was looking at the schedule through rose-colored glasses.  

This season was learning if Jordan Love was fit to follow Aaron Rodgers as the signal-caller for the Pack.  That was it.  Most of the 'name' players moved on or were cut between the 2022 and 23 seasons.  None of the experts figured a bunch of rookies and first and second year pros would be able to put it together.  

After a slow start, three wins in the first nine games, they won six of the last eight to squeeze into the post-season as the final Wild Card team.  They made if 7 of 9 against the Cowboys and for the first three quarters on a rainy California night, looked like they would register a second straight upset of a higher-seeded team.  

Green Bay scored first but settled for a field goal when they were kept out of the end zone.  They trailed by 1 at half-time then took a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Niners are the one-seed because they earned it with the best record in the conference.  Their offense has a variety of weapons with more experience than Green Bay and the 49er defense has a pedigree that indicated the two teams shouldn't share the field.  

Green Bay missed some plays that would have made a difference.  So did the Niners, which had a kick blocked before half-time and was prevented from scoring at the start of the 3rd quarter.  Maybe the air came out of our tires or the quality of the opposition rose to the occasion but when Love's final pass was picked off with under a minute to play, that's when the bubble burst.

Congrats to San Francisco.  They deserve it.

I can't wait for next season.  No team stays the same but the core of the offense is likely to stay together, especially if an agreement can be reached with running back and team leader Aaron Jones.  I expect improvement on defense and either a better season from our kicker or some competition going into training camp.

As unlikely as it was, it appears the Packers have a third quarterback who is up to following all-stars and Super Bowl winners Bret Favre and Aaron Rodgers.  It will be fun and nerve-wracking, because of higher expectations, to watch.  Go Pack, Go!