Playoffs appear unlikely: Disheartened team out to regain winning feeling
Photo 
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs down field against the Houston Texans in the first quarter of an NFL football game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. The Texans defeated the Packers 24-21.
GREEN BAY — You’d have to be president of the Optimist Club to think that the Green Bay Packers have a chance of making the playoffs this season.
Either that, or be a member of a team clinging to its last hopes.
By virtue of the Packers’ 24-21 loss to Houston—their third in a row and fifth in sixth games—there’s only one scenario in which they would win the NFC North title, their only possibility for making the playoffs.
The Packers (5-8) would have to win all their remaining games (at Jacksonville, at Chicago and vs. Detroit), the Vikings (8-5) would have to lose all their remaining games (at Arizona, vs. Atlanta, vs. New York Giants) and the Bears (7-6) would have to lose at least two of their final three (vs. New Orleans, vs. Packers, at Houston).
In that case, the Packers would win a tiebreaker based on a better division record. Probably the hardest task of them all would be for the Packers to win . . . period.
“We’re the Green Bay Packers, so we’re going to line up and we’re going to prepare,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re going to get in here tomorrow and we’re going to correct our mistakes. Everybody’s going to know exactly what went wrong, what went right and we will apply that as we move forward.
”But we’re going down to Jacksonville to win a football game. We need to win a game around here.“
Perhaps going on the road will help the Packers—it couldn’t hurt, given they are 3-4 at home this season—and getting away from the cold weather. The Packers are 1-3 in their last four games played in temperatures below 40 degrees and they haven’t exactly built up a lot of goodwill with their home fans, some of whom booed them as they left the field Sunday.
The mantra around the Packers’ locker room these days is to take it ‘’day-by-day“ or ”week-by-week,“ which is probably the only way any 5-8 team can take it. It’s not as if they can overlook anybody while dreaming of the playoffs.
”I just want to win one game,“ quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. ‘’We’ve got Jacksonville, and that’s what we’re going to focus on and that’s just about all we can focus on right now.“
Most of the players were searching for answers after losing a game in the final 2 1/2 minutes or overtime for the fourth time this season. Games that seemed to go in the Packers’ favor last year when they were 13-3 have gone into the loss column as their defense collapses and their offense falls flat.
”It’s frustrating in the sense that we’re so close but we don’t finish it off,“ linebacker Brady Poppinga said. ”We don’t win when we have the opportunity to win. You play to win, you want to win. When you fall short of that week in and week out, it starts to build up, the frustration. It’s building up on me.“
It’s anyone’s guess how McCarthy will get his team to find a way to win its last three games, but maybe the pressure will be off them now that they are so close to being eliminated. Some of the players said they wouldn’t need extra motivation to finish the season strongly, although how much motivation has to do with it now is questionable.
”It doesn’t really matter what you (reporters) think or what anybody outside the organization thinks,“ cornerback Al Harris said. ‘’We have to come up with ways to win, to stop these questions you’re asking now. This is a business of production and we’re not producing right now.
“We have to come out and work harder. Whatever it takes, we have to do.”
If the Packers do not win out this season, they will finish with a losing record for just the third time in 17 years. The last time they finished with a losing record the head coach was fired. It isn’t likely that will happen this year, but there will be questions to be answered in the off-season.
Most notable will be whether general manager Ted Thompson and McCarthy made the right decision in not bringing back quarterback Brett Favre.
As for the final three games, the Packers could win them all and be eliminated from the playoffs next week. There isn’t much to be gained from winning some meaningless games at the end of the year, but for now the Packers have to cling to the fact that they aren’t out of the playoffs.
“When it’s going bad, you have to continue playing,” cornerback Tramon Williams said. “You always play for pride, but I’m not thinking about none of that. I’m just trying to win every game I play.”
Dec 11, 2008 at 10:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
If we don't get rid of Thompson and McCarthy, we will have more of the same next year. The lies that these men told are enough to have them fired, we don't need our losing record to be the sole reason to boot them to the curb. I agree with kiawamohican...Favre was a huge motivator. Rodgers is an infant in this arena, no matter how well he can throw the ball. In hindsight, can anyone say that knowing what the 3 stooges know now, would they do the same thing all over again? NO, Favre would be back where he belongs, even if his last season AGAIN, and the division among the fans would be gone.
Dec 8, 2008 at 6:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
Thompson has made some real great draft picks on defense!
This guy is a freaking genius! He's drafted Justin Harold, and bust after bust on defense, forces out the greatest QB of this decade, does not want to give up a 3rd round pick for the leagues best receiver who your hall of fame QB lobbies to get (Moss). Yet drafts a PUNTER in the 3rd round who was lucky to kick the ball 30 yards. He then proceeds to tell lie after lie about the whole situation, and how they are "moving forward". Idiots then give this guy their full support, and tell what a great job he's doing! (PUKING)
Dec 8, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
whybesad - You are correct. Your offense can score as many points as they want, however, if your defense doesn't stop the other team from scoring it really doesn't matter.
Dec 8, 2008 at 3:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
I always thought you win games by scoring more points than the other team.
Dec 8, 2008 at 12:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
I guess it doesn't really matter anyway. Whoever goes to the playoffs from our division will be going nowhere. We all kinda suck this year. Hey for a minute there I actually thought Detroit was gonna win their first game yesterday. Watch, it will come down to the final game & Detroit will beat us. In Green Bay even. Oh well, as any real Packer fan will tell ya, there's always next year.
Dec 8, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Yes; I wonder where are all those Thompson supporters myself. Wasn't like we ALL called this BEFORE the season. And don't give me this "it's the defense, not Rodgers". It's the same defense from last year. The defense becomes better from how the offense performs!
.
Favre is in the same class as Micheal Jordan in his true greatness. It's NOT his sensational ability as a football (or basketball) player. It's their ability to MAKE TEAMMATES BETTER! GM's never seem to get that. Favre, of course has bad games. The Jets, however, still are tied for the division lead. They were a last place, 4 win, team last year. If the jets make the playoffs, and would go to the superbowl, the Pack gets a token 1st round draft pick. No doubt the drafting "genius" Teddy bear Thompson can select another 1st round pick on a GREAT player like Justin Harold. How has that one been working out?
Dec 8, 2008 at 11:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
Yep, the season is done, THANK GOODNESS!
Ted Thompson and M. McCarthy should be proud, they traded away their DT's because that position was so deep - OOPS!
Then, ran Favre out of town. Nice move boys.
I LOVE IT!
GO BEARS!!!
Dec 8, 2008 at 10:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Don't even TRY to compare rogers to favre,that BOY needs to grow a whole lot more peach fuzz on his face,& still won't be as GREAT!!
Dec 8, 2008 at 10:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
The Packers problem has not been the inability of the offense to score points. It has been the inability of the defense to stop the opposing team from scoring points. That has nothing to do with the decision of starting Rodgers. He has been outstanding for a first year starter. As I hear, Favre had a few problems of his own yesterday and how long has he been a starter?
Dec 8, 2008 at 10:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
Whybesad, i supported the decision to get rid of Favre from the beginning. Think back when Favre started and how sucky he was. I think Rodgers is one of the best first year starting quarterbacks in the league. Is he perfect? No. But, with our defense, i would bet any money that our record would not be any better with Favre.
Dec 8, 2008 at 9:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
How about just getting rid of the defensive coordinator. The Pack have scored more than enough points to win games this season, only to be let down by the swiss cheese defense.
Dec 8, 2008 at 9:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Where are all the people that supported the decision?
Dec 8, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dump the Three Stooges: Thompson, McCarthy and Murphy.
Dec 8, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
Every time the pack loses i get a little smirk on my face. Not that i like seeing the pack lose,i love seeing mcCarthy pout,he screwed up,and his arrogance knows it. FIRE THE BUM. THOMPSON TOO!!
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.