Tommy Marquardt, Staff Writer

Tommy Marquardt:

NFC
I thought the winner of the Packers-Niners would be in the Super Bowl before last week and Colin Kaerpernick shamed the Green Bay defense for 444 total yards himself. I don’t expect it to be so easy this week, but I think San Francisco wins the game with defense this time. Unless Matty Ice can pull out a late win, SF will be losing in New Orleans,  not Atlanta.

SF 24 ATL 20

AFC
Tom Brady and the Patriots play offense like the Packers SHOULD play it. Unless the Patriots allow Torrey Smith open deep as many times as Denver did last week, I don’t think the Ravens can keep up. Patriots win BIG.

NE 41 Ravens 24

Darryl Krejci, Staff Writer

Darryl Krejci: So it has come down to Championship weekend and my picks for the victors.

In looking at the NFC game, my gut tells me to choose the Packers, but everyone says I have to pick a team that is actually playing.  So I am going with San Francisco.  The reason is simple, last year the Giants beat Green Bay to reach the Super Bowl and I see history repeating itself this year with the team that beat the Packers going to New Orleans.  I just don’t see Atlanta having the power to stop the 49ers.  San Francisco is the team that is on the roll and sadly to say will be unstoppable.

In the AFC game, I have to choose Baltimore as the sentimental pick.  I am not a big Ray Lewis fan but it is always nice to see a guy go out on top after so many years in the NFL.  Also (no offense to Grandma Karen in Massachusetts) I just can’t find it in my heart to root for Brady and the Patriots.

I know there is no rational or statistical basis for these picks, but then again, I go by my heart and not my head.  Then again I am still holding out hope that when I turn on the TV, Green Bay will be playing and not the Forty-Niners.  So take my picks for what they are worth.

GO PACK GO.

Ray Rivard, Lombardiave.com Editor

Ray Rivard: Here we are, it’s championship weekend and guess what? The Packers aren’t playing. Yes, it’s becoming a habit losing in the Divisional round and very disappointing. So, we’ve got the 49ers traveling to Atlanta in the NFC and the Patriots hosting the Ravens in the AFC … YAWN!

OK, so I’m a bit jealous of the 49ers as they head into their second straight championship game. Reminds me of the Packers of the mid-1990s. While the Giants got the break late in last year’s championship and carried it all the way to a Super Bowl championship, so will the Niners this season. I just don’t see the Falcons getting a handle and a hand on Colin Kaepernick. He’s the one with the hot hand and so are the Niners.

I see the Niners winning a game that will be close in the first half. Like what they did to the Packers last week in the second half, the Niners will “run” away with this one.

SF 32 Atlanta 17

On the AFC side of things, the sentimental favorite is the Ravens. Yes, they should have won last year, but this is a different year. While everyone would like to see Ray Lewis go out in style, it will be Tom Brady who gets the best in this one. Brady’s been here too many times to let the Super Bowl get away from him again. After all, he won’t have many more chances to get back to this point.

Brady will lead the Pats over the Ravens once again, but I don’t see this one being as close as last year.

Pats 27 Ravens 16 

Patrick Hughes, Staff Writer

Patrick Hughes: Oh to write a prediction about a game that I so much looked forward to the Packers being in, it pains me. Am I being overly dramatic, probably?  But it would have been so fun to cheer the Pack onto a Super Bowl.  Oh the agony of defeat. Nonetheless, I have to make a prediction on who will make their way to Super Bowl XLVII.

The NFC Championship Game, you know the one Green Bay should be playing, yeah that one. The way the 49ers blasted the Packers you would think San Francisco would handle the Falcons without much problem. I think that too. But the Falcons are not going to roll over.

49ers 28, Falcons 24.
As for the AFC Championship Game, logic would say once again the world is going to have to watch the Patriots in the Super Bowl. But I think the Ray Lewis Goodbye Tour has a couple more stops.  Emotion is going to carry the Ravens to victory.

Baltimore 24, Patriots 17

Jason Hirschhorn

49ers at Falcons

For the first time in years, the number one seed is the underdog in a conference championship game. The reason is two-fold: the Falcons have squeaked out many of their 13 regular season wins and their lone playoff victory under Mike Smith and Matt Ryan while the 49ers steamrolled the Packers a week prior.

The combination of these two forces distorts the difference between the two teams. On a neutral field, San Francisco is a likely victor. However, Atlanta has lost at home only five times in the last three seasons including playoffs, and the Georgia Dome negates a lot of the teams’ disadvantages.

The Falcons will have to prevent the second half collapse that nearly sunk them in the divisional round. The 49ers, on the other hand, will likely face real adversity for the first time in these playoffs, and more specifically for the first time under Colin Kaepernick. In the end, there are more scenarios where San Francisco wins than there are for Atlanta.

49ers 34 – Falcons 28

Ravens at Patriots

On paper, this is a fantastic matchup for the NFL. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick go for their sixth Super Bowl appearance while Ray Lewis tries to push off retirement for another game. There are even good sub-storylines as well. Joe Flacco can earn a place at top of the NFL’s quarterback hierarchy – and a massive new contract – with a strong performance.

However, there are just too many mismatches that favor the Patriots. The Ravens defense, decimated by injuries, literally will struggle to keep up with the high pace Patriots offense. On the flip side, the Patriots pass defense has improved enough to disrupt Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin in the passing game.

Unlike last year, this matchup shouldn’t come down to the last play and we’ll finally bid adieu to the cartoon formerly known as Ray Lewis.

Patriots 38 – Ravens 24

We will probably all count this up there with the Playoff losses to Atlanta and Michael Vick, the loss to the Vikings and Randy Moss’s moon, the New York Giants’ beatdown in 2011 and the loss to the 49ers in 1998 when Terrell Owens made his last second, tears-inducing catch.

So, if you’re interested in taking a look at this video produced by 49ers.com, be my guest. Trust me, this isn’t as gut wrenching as the original version. In fact, this is more a testament to the technology behind the capturing of the action than it is about the action itself.

Check it out here …

http://www.49ers.com/media-gallery/videos/Tilt_Shift_49ers_vs_Packers/fc16507f-1889-4548-9684-7d9c038507ec

Saturday night fears of failure were realized as the Packers got stomped by the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. The opportunities that got missed and the things that got swept under the rug over the course of the 16 game NFL season were revealed for everyone to see. The Packers found out that they were not as talented as they thought and like so many times this season they were not very lucky.

The Packers are a better team than they demonstrated Saturday evening. But to consider them one of the elite teams in the NFL is no longer possible. The 49ers on Saturday were simply bigger, faster, stronger and smarter. San Francisco is the team to beat. But they were not the only team to expose the Packers’ weaknesses throughout the course of the season.

Green Bay was not the dominating team that they were during the 2011 regular season. They played several close games and lost a number of games that they should have won. At times they faltered because they seemed to approach games like they just simply needed to show up to win. They also discovered that Aaron Rodgers and his wide receiver arsenal was not all that was needed to be successful.

Their prolific passing attack, although formidable, was not as dictating as it was the year previous. Despite injuries to Greg Jennings and Cedric Benson early on they still had a number of playmakers. What they lacked was pass protection on offense and speed, mean and bulk on defense.

It is clear now that General Manager Ted Thompson missed opportunities to upgrade the offensive line. Despite all their playmakers Aaron Rodgers was continually under duress and often unable to get the ball into the able hands of Cobb, Finley, Nelson, Jennings, and so on. Thompson also missed the opportunity to bring speed, mean and bulk to the defense. Granted, injuries took a toll on the defense. But the Packers can no longer expect to win by simply outscoring their opponents. They need a defense that can take their opponent out of the game.

Green Bay is not a media market like say New York where the smallest of issues become big issues faster than an ill-timed Jermichael Finley tweet. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t distractions inside the Packers locker room. The Packers did try to sweep a few things under the rug.

The biggest being how to handle Donald Driver. Coach McCarthy said a number of times that Driver was a class guy and handled his diminished playing time like a professional. Donald Driver playing or not playing on Saturday had no real consequence on the outcome of the game. But activating him for the NFC Divisional Playoff game simply because it could be his last NFL game or last game as a Packer has got to have some detrimental effects on the psyche of the team. Kind of comes across as a losing mentality. Let’s hope that they find the right way to address Charles Woodson as he enters the twilight of his career.

The other distraction was Greg Jennings. He wasn’t obnoxious in his complaints about his contract. But he was repetitive in his remarks. He came across as putting his own interests in front of the team.  He especially did this at the end of the season and into playoffs. It was off putting to fans and one would guess more than one of his teammates were rubbed the wrong way by his remarks.

An NFL team as they make their way through a season in some regards can be a reflection of day-to-day life. No one sets out to fail necessarily. The team evaluates their resources and then puts together a plan to succeed. They figure, well the situation may not be perfect but with some hard work and some luck things just might go their way. Calculated guesses are made that sometimes work. When they do heroes are born. When they don’t, goats are brought to life instead.

As it goes, maybe next year, you win some you lose some.

Darryl Krejci

Darryl Krejci, a Green Bay Packers fan who frequents Lombardiave.com’s Facebook page wrote a very humorous post that struck me as something special, so I posted back to him that he should write for the site … he took it to heart and put together another piece that he emailed me the day following the Packers loss to the 49ers.

With his permission, I am posting it here on the site with the invitation to him to start writing more.

I really like his style and his understanding not only of the game of football but play of words. I think you will enjoy it, too.

So, without further adieu, give this a read and let us know how you feel by posting a comment here or by checking out and liking our Facebook page and following us on Twitter.

By Darryl Krejci

So this morning I woke up and my heart was full of dread.  I looked out the window and the world seemed the same.  There was no zombie apocalypse, no world economic collapse, or even a sign that the lightly fallen snow was going to lead to the next blizzard of the century.  

So what was it that encompassed my every thought?  It was collectiveness, a oneness.  It was the day after a disheartening loss that would lead to eight months of reflections and what ifs.  It was dare I say it, the start of the offseason!

I like many other members of the Packer Nation were disappointed in the end result, but now, twenty-four hours later I looked inward, using a combination of Zen mysticism, Taoism and my Magic Eight Ball, I think I have come to terms with what happened.   

We failed.  

It was not the Packers and the lack of a pass rush.  It was not a muffed return or even an ill conceived interception.  We failed as fans.  We expected that our pre game rituals, our green and gold attire and our chants of “GO PACK GO” would lead us to the promised land.  We believed that we were better than we truly were and with that we looked through our green and gold tinted glasses and believed that our team was better than they really were.

We did not want to recognize the injuries that decimated us week in and week out.  We looked the other way when we could not muster a pass rush or a running game.  We all believed that history would repeat itself, that injuries would not matter and this would be a repeat of 2010 and another Super Bowl victory.  

We set ourselves up for the greatest collapse because we failed to accept the truth.  We believed too strongly in our team and refused to acknowledge that they are only men, not superheroes.  There may be a discount double check belt on the outside of that #12 jersey, but I am sure there is no “S” underneath it.  

Our collective nation did not want to accept the weaknesses that were not corrected, the mistakes that were repeated and the tackles that were missed.  We blamed others (okay, the replacement refs deserve a lot of blame) but never took responsibility for our own misguided beliefs.  

Now after the loss we turn our frustration and anger towards those in control.  We blame Dom Capers for failing to make adjustments and correct the defense.  We blame Coach McCarthy for failing to close out teams once they are down.  We blame Finley for talking too much and not catching enough.  But take a moment and look inward, search your feelings, use the Force, they did not fail us, we failed them.

We expected them to try harder, but how could they?  It was either do or do not.  When they did we reveled in Victory Mondays.  When they did not seven days stretched forth like an eternity until redemption and the next game.  It was a season of highs and lows; it was the final chapters for some and the first chapters for others.

Now that it is over we need to come to grasp with reality.  The 2012 Packers exceeded where others have failed.  They overcame adversity, ignorance (again, the replacement refs), injuries and certain TV announcers to capture another NFC North title.  

Then in the end what did we give them?  We gave them criticism, our frustration, and misguided anger.  We blamed them for failing to live up to our expectations and capturing a 14th championship.

So now that it is over with and blood pressures have dropped we all need to take a moment, breathe in deeply, and apologize for our failures to our team.  We were like spoiled children, expecting the newest technical gizmo but not appreciating everything else that we were given.  

In the end we failed to appreciate what this season was and where we ended compared to so many others (like the Bears).  We were not reasonable or even appreciative.  We never once collectively said thank you after the clock ran out in San Francisco last night.  Where was our heart and spirit?  

So now on behalf of the entire Packer Nation, to Aaron, Clay, Donald, Charles, Coach McCarthy and the rest of the Packers, thank you for a great season.  Thank you for giving us so much and in looking forward to next season, all we ask for is that 14th Championship!  

Anything less is a failure … I mean we look forward to another great season of Packer football!  

GO PACK GO!

It was a tough weekend for Packers fans. But we carry on through it all. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

For fans of the Green Bay Packers accustomed to waking up and carrying on their Mondays after a big win, this was the most difficult first day of the workweek in quite some time.

So many of us expected to be looking toward participating in, if not hosting the National Football Conference’s Championship Game this coming Sunday afternoon.

Not only did the San Francisco 49ers have something to say about that, but the Atlanta Falcons also miraculously ripped the next round from beneath the arrogant feet of the Seattle Seahawks – at least there was a modicum of sweet justice this past weekend.

So, as you settle into your recliner tonight for a Monday Night Football-less evening of watching “The Big Bang Theory,” thinking about the start of Training Camp or maybe even the Free Agency period or the Draft, here are a few nuggets that stuck out for me today as I perused what was being written about the NFL scene.

But before you read on, just remember that we could be fans of the Buffalo Bills, the Miami Dolphins, the Carolina Panthers or God forbid – the Chicago Bears. Yes, the season ended terribly for the Packers, but I would much rather have lost the way the Packers did than to have been crushed by the type of outcome that the Seahawks or Broncos fans endured.

It could be worse, folks. There is a silver lining in all this and the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel …

Here are some of what I saw today:

It was reported this morning by NBC San Diego that 92 fans were kicked out of the Packers vs. 49ers game Saturday night and of them, 29 were arrested – two of them for car burglary – which brings me to the point of what types of “fans” follow specific teams.

One Packers fan, Curt Cozad, a fireman who lives in the Bay Area, attended Saturday’s game and wasn’t impressed at all with many of the fans who he saw around him at Saturday’s game.

Yes, there are Packers fans who get out of hand, but if you’ve ever been to Lambeau Field you know that it’s a great place to take your kids. Not so in San Fran, according to Cozad.

Here’s an account that he emailed to me of his day at Candlestick Park:

Well, it started well. We got to Candlestick around 12 pm after picking up a friend who was also invited to tailgate with Desmond Bishop’s family. We interacted with numerous 49er fans who commented on my fire helmet and friendly banter with us wishing each other good luck in the game.

We have great seats behind the Packers bench at the 15-yard line in Row 2. As is our standard practice when we go to Lambeau, we headed into Candlestick Park right when they opened the gates at a little before 3 pm.

My wife and I utilized the facilities because once we get to our seats we do not leave until the game is over. There were a few 49er fans mingling in the area where our seats were along with several Packer fans including one sitting right next to us.

My typical pre-game ritual is taking pictures of the team and giving them shout-outs when they get close. Fortunately for my wife and I, Davon House and Desmond Bishop made their way over to our seats to say hello.

So, the game starts and BOOM we get a pick six. Total silence around me with the exception of Packer fans celebrating, but not excessively. Well as the game wore on, the alcohol that was consumed was making numerous 49ers fans feel bolder in their distaste for the Packers.

There was one point where one 49er fan started yelling “faggots” at the Packers players. My response to him was “Really, you do realize you are a San Francisco fan?”
That made several people in the section laugh and I think he realized how stupid that comment was.

We were surrounded by several 49er fans. I was rather disappointed in the PackerNation turnout at the game. I know our fans travel well, but all I saw was seas of red and black with a touch of Gold. There was a 49er fan sitting next to me who was consuming alcohol but was actually able to carry on a coherent conversation about the game without drooling on himself or being obnoxious.

There was another 49er fan sitting in front of us that was quietly watching the whole game and wasn’t boisterous or condescending at all. He did not consume any alcohol during the game. He actually came up to me after the game and told me that the Packers were his team in the 60’s, but after moving to California, he started supporting the 49ers.

A little background about the 49er facility, we were San Francisco Giants season ticket holders at Candlestick park for 8 years before they moved to PacBell Park. This was our first time back since the move. I can see why they wanted to build a new stadium.

We were very concerned by the music that the organization played during TV time-outs and before the game. It was nothing but RAP music that you couldn’t understand and was so distorted, it made our ears bleed. I was thinking, “Is this the kind of clientele that the 49ers cater too?”

During the first 3 quarters of the game, there were a few boisterous fans shouting obscenities and vitriol towards the Packers and us Packer fans near by. That was tolerable considering the amount of alcohol they consumed.

Once the game was into the fourth quarter and when Pickett got hurt, another 49er fan started yelling at Pickett calling him a “pussy” and how he’s faking an injury and just basically making an ass of himself. My wife who is definitely not outgoing in any stretch of the imagination bent over and whispered something in his ear. She wouldn’t tell me what she said, but the 49er fan turned to her and apologized.

Once the game was over, we conversed with fellow Packer fans sitting nearby about the loss, while the Stadium emptied. Once we were leaving the Stadium there wasn’t any issues while still in the confines of Candlestick. There was an enormous police and security presence.

We headed back to the tailgate area where the RV’s were parked to say our goodbyes to the Bishops. We stayed there for about 30-45 minutes while traffic was clearing. We parked our car in one of the auxiliary lots outside the fenced area of Candlestick, so we had a little walk to get there.

That’s where the excitement began. There were numerous groups of intoxicated, young, obnoxious, belligerent, 49er “fans” who were confronting us with imitations of Rodgers doing the “discount double check” belt move. They were also kicking beer bottles toward us as we were walking away from the confrontation.

We heard the standard comments of “rotten cheese”, “Packers suck”, to which I calmly replied, “Is that all you got? Please come up with something original” which seemed to stimulate them into wanting to escalate the confrontation. My wife told me to just keep walking, it’s not worth the trouble.

Once we got into our vehicle, we had to sit for about an hour before the traffic started moving in our area. We were in the line to leave and there were several more intoxicated 49er “fans” who were celebrating along side of the vehicles as they were exiting. Once our vehicle got close, they noticed we were wearing Packer gear and started taunting us and surrounding our vehicle. This auxiliary lot had zero police or security presence.

As we started moving, they were attempting to impede our progress towards the exit. I rolled down the window and asked if he was really willing to get run over, because I was about to oblige. He started being a little more aggressive, but one of his friends talked him down and we were able to exit the parking lot.

I’m not sure if I’m used to the way things are conducted at Lambeau and spoiled to think that’s how all NFL franchise fans should act, but we will NEVER attend another game in San Francisco.

We never did see any children in the stands and from what I’ve heard from other 49er fans that children stopped coming when Montana left. If I was associated with the San Francisco 49ers organization I would be embarrassed to know that a good portion of our fan base is made up of wannabe thugs and gang bangers.

This trip just reinforces to me how great our PackerNation fan base is and why other franchise fans are jealous of our organization.

On a lighter note, here is some news about Donald Driver that hit the wire early this morning and touched me, not only because I love Driver for being the great player and team representative through the years, but because he’s just simply a great person and deserves every bit of the recognition he receives.

Here’s a portion of what was posted in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver will be honored Wednesday by the Brown County Board, which also will say farewell to one of its own.

Driver, the Packers’ all-time leading receiver, has been invited to attend the meeting of the board, which will recognize him for his contributions to the community. Team and county officials said the event is on Driver’s schedule, but it is not guaranteed that he will attend.

“He has given of himself, given of his time given of his money and he’s been a fan favorite,” said Supervisor Bernie Erickson, a Green Bay supervisor who proposed that the board honor Driver. “And it’s a great opportunity to honor someone while he’s still here.”

How’s that for great?

And for one last observation on this Monday after, this was a post that kind of baffled me. Packers general manager Ted Thompson was quoted describing how he felt about the performance of Colin Kaepernick:

The Packers’ general manager told Yahoo! Sports: “That was unbelievable. He did everything. I mean, I had read the press clippings and seen some of the highlights. But to watch what he did, oh my, that was special.”

Well, I’m glad Ted is reading the press clippings and watching the highlights on the NFL Network … maybe that’s what Dom Capers was watching, too! I mean, wasn’t anyone watching film of this guy? Maybe that’s why he ran for 181 yards and led a 49ers offense that picked up nearly 600 yards.

Next time, Ted, why don’t you try watching the real thing instead of listening to Rich Eisen, Mooch and that idiot Michael Irvin on the NFL Network.

Ok, so that’s all I’ve got to say about that. Enough of this. I’ve got to get back to “The Big Bang Theory.”

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs the ball against Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Brad Jones (59) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Times they are a-changing, especially in the National Football League and specifically so it seems, for the Green Bay Packers.

Just ask Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, A.J. Hawk, Charles Woodson, and Jermichael Finley. They are all unsure of their futures with the 13-time NFL champions. After the Saturday night beatdown they suffered at the hands of the better prepared San Francisco 49ers, there will probably be several others, including those who draw up the game plans, who might be reconsidering their futures.

While many are today calling for the head of defensive coordinator Dom Capers, the jury is still out at this point. But judging from his inability to think on his feet against the 49ers and two straight seasons of bad to mediocre defenses, I tend to agree that the possibility for change in that seat has to at least be considered.

After a few hours to digest what happened last night in San Francisco, frankly I’m still baffled. Yes, Colin Kaepernick is a tremendous athlete. Yes, the Packers offense left at least at couple of scores on the field. Yes, the turnovers gift-wrapped 14 points for the 49ers.

Dom Capers (left) shares some words with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

But it seems, at least in these early hours after the game, that it was the Packers’ coaching that failed in this one – specifically on the defensive side. There were no adjustments made in the second half when things really fell apart – even B.J. Raji and Charles Woodson questioned why no changes were made.

“I think it’s the right defense,” Woodson said after the game. “I just think when the game is going the way it is, you’ve got to try something different. It’s hard to just continue to do the same thing over and over again and continue to get burned. That’s what I was talking about going forward. We need to figure out, could we have done something differently as far as our gameplan was concerned.

“It hurts you bad, especially if you’re in a lot of fire zones. If there is a breakdown somewhere, it’s going to turn into a big breakdown. It was just about trying to execute the defense we were running. That’s what it boils down to. If it works, then it works. If it doesn’t, then like I say, maybe you change. If not, you just try to execute.”

Clearly, the Packers had no answer in trying to execute the defense they were in, nor did the coaches make any attempts to fix what wasn’t working.

B.J. Raji questioned the Packers inability to adjust their defensive scheme Saturday night.
Raymond T. Rivard photograpy

When asked about the defensive scheme in place for the Packers defense and the inability to make any changes, Raji said, “That’s a question better left for the coordinator.”

But one quote that really left me wondering came from Woodson” “What we didn’t anticipate was him running and getting out of the pocket the way he did. Those things killed us. Broke our backs.”

Really?

The 49ers have been running the same thing with Kaepernick for the past month. Everybody saw it. Why didn’t the Packers coaching staff? What film were they watching?

When the Packers score 31 points, you expect them to win. The Packers were outplayed, outcoached, outprepared and simply had their butts handed to them in this one.

Clearly, this will be an offseason of many changes on a team that is still among the elite in the league. The difficult part of last night’s loss was the fact that the Packers have, for the second straight year, been knocked in the teeth and knocked out of the tournament in the second round. They are among the eight best teams in the league, but haven’t gotten any better than that since they won Super Bowl XVL.

Cornerback Casey Hayward was a big contributor to the Packers defense this year after serious injuries forced the team to make changes.

In my humble opinion, the Packers are still two offensive linemen, two stud linebackers, two defensive linemen, another defensive back and maybe even a creative defensive coordinator away from taking that next step.

Throw in some luck, a couple of referees’ calls, and the right chemistry in the locker room and the Packers could again be on track for another run at a championship in 2013.

What we have to remember is that winning a Super Bowl is probably one of the more difficult things to achieve in sports. There are 31 other teams with the same goal. With that said, the Packers have consistently been in the running … and that’s because there are a lot of good things going for this franchise.

On the field, you have to start with Aaron Rodgers. His no-quit leadership on the field is the reason the Packers have been so successful. You can add to that the consistent work of head coach Mike McCarthy. I know it’s difficult to acknowledge that fact the day after a humiliating defeat that lands directly in his lap, but what he has achieved during his time with the franchise is nothing short of astounding. We can only expect him to learn from this latest debacle and move the team forward.

And while the Packers will have to adjust to the loss of John Dorsey in their front office, Ted Thompson is among the top five general managers in the league. Like him or not, he consistently surprises us with shrewd drafting and player manipulation – the most recent being the acquisition of DuJuan Harris off the scrap heap of forgotten players. There’s no reason not to think he will continue to pull the trigger on deals that make the team better.

Ted Thompson has been one of the top general managers during his tenure with the Packers. The question is this: For how many more years will he be with the Packers? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The only question is how much longer Thompson will continue to do what he does in the stress-filled life of the National Football League.

So, on this day of mourning following the Packers convincing defeat to the 49ers, we need to acknowledge the need for changes in the coming months. We need to understand that we will never see this group together again.

Rodgers said it best from a player’s perspective: “Now, you stand here and you realize: It’s the last time that group is going to be together. It’ll be a different team next year. There’ll be additions, subtractions. That’s the most frustrating part. Because you spend a lot of time with those guys, you care about them, you care about this a lot. And then to go out and play like that is disappointing.”

But Rodgers also realizes that with disappointment comes the potential for positive changes that should help the team and allow them to take that next step forward.

To begin, those changes will have to start with the subtractions. Whether it’s Driver, Jennings, Hawk, Finley doesn’t matter. The subtractions will be made and then the need for additions will be considered.

We’ll let the team sort through those needs. No doubt, those changes will be well-thought out and made in the best interest of the franchise and we can again look forward to another strong run by this storied franchise in 2013.

Let me know what you think by commenting here, on our Facebook page or by following us on Twitter.

Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., will be the site of the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and 49ers.

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers. National Football Conference Divisional Playoff Game. Candlestick Park, San Francisco, Calif. Aaron Rodgers. Colin Kaepernick. Charles Woodson. Justin Smith. Packers receivers. 49ers physicality.

What more can be said?

Charles greet the fans at Lambeau Field.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Well, both the Packers and 49ers will have much to say by the time this game ends around 10 p.m. CDT and it won’t only be in the form of words – it will be in the form of actions that will be added to the rich history that has developed between these two storied National Football League franchises.

The two teams met in the 2012 season opener at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the 49ers outlasting the Packers in a 30-22 win.

Much has occurred since that warm September day. There have been injuries, tough losses, changes in quarterbacks and a full season of memories for both teams – evenly matched teams that will put it all on the line.

The loser goes home. The winner advances to the NFC Championship set to be played next weekend. The winner will take on the winner of the Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons matchup this weekend.

The stage is set. Now the play is set in motion.

Tonight we will provide here every play of the game, statistics, quotes, pictures and some insight as the game progresses.

Date/time: Saturday, January 12, 7 p.m. CT

Venue: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

TV Broadcast: FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)

Radio: Check this link for the full list of radio stations on the Packers Radio Network.

#Packers inactives: Jarrett Boykin,  Alex Green, Davon House, Frank Zombo, D.J. Williams, Jordan Miller, Jerel Worthy

Donald Driver is active …

#49ers inactives: QB Tolzien, K Cundiff, S Robinson, RB Hampton, DT Jerod-Eddie, OG Looney, DT Williams.

As we said, there’s not much more that can be said at this point other than sit back, relax and let the chips fall where they may.

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

49ers win coin toss and elect to receive

Kickoff by Mason Crosby returned to the 29 by LaMichael James

Two runs by Gore

QB Colin Kaepernick then throws interception to Sam Shields who returns it 52 yards for a touchdown 

Colin Kaepernick 20 yard TD run (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 9:01

Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 3:47

Packers 7 49ers 7

Packers possession

First and 10, Rodgers to Jennings for 7

Second and 3 incomplete

Third and 3, pass incomplete to John Kuhn

Fourth down punt by Masthay, to Ginn big return to the 50, but 49ers called for holding

49ers third possession

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs past Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Neal (96) for a touchdown during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

First and 10 from the 13, Kaepernick keeps it for 3

Second and 7 from 16, Kaepernick in gun, handoff to Gore for 4

Third and 3, Kaepernick keeps it right for 13 and a first down

First and 10 at the 34, under center, handoff to Gore and he’s stuffed by Ryan Pickett for loss of 1

Second and 11, pass to Moss for 11 and a first down

First and 10, pass to Moss, juggles it and catches it for 13 yards and a first down

First and 10, handoff to Gore for 2

Second and 8, Kaepernick under pressure, throws deep to Moss and overthrows him in the end zone

Third and 8, pass toward Delaney Walker incomplete, Shields on the coverage

Fourth down punt by Lee, ball into the end zone for a touchback

Packers second possession

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers running back DuJuan Harris (26) runs the ball for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

First and 10 from the 20, handoff to DuJuan Harris for 2

Second and 8, ball at 22, Rodgers under center, handoff up the middle for Harris for 7

Third and 1, Packers huddle up, Rodgers in the gun, handoff up the middle to Harris for 4 and a first down

First and 10, ball at 33, Rodgers in the gun, Rodgers throws to the left sideline, but Jones doesn’t break off route and the ball is incomplete

Second and 10, Harris for five, flag for face mask picked up

Third and 5, long pass down right sideline to James Jones, juggling catch for 44 yards to the 18

First and 10, handoff to Harris who makes an ankle breaking cut up the middle for the touchdown – 18 yards

Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards in 2:44

Packers 14 49ers 7

Packers kickoff for a touchback

First and 10, ball at 20, Kaepernick 15 throw to Michael Crabtree and a first down

End of the first quarter

Packers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2HojSO1SJ

49ers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2Hojc0wIH

Packers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2HojgTaqB

49ers

First and 10, ball at 35, Gore for 5

Second and 5, Crabtree over the middle for 9 and a first down

First and 10, ball at the 49, Kaepernick under pressure scrambles right throws right incomplete

Second and 10, Kaepernick rushes right, but is chased down by Dezman Moses – three yard gain

Third and 7, from the gun, penalty on 49ers false start on Vernon Davis

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) throws an interception to Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (not pictured) for a Packers touchdown during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Third and 12, from the gun, pass complete, but tracked down by Brad Jones – gain of only 3

Fourth down punt by Andy Lee  to Ross who muffs it and the 49ers recover at the Packers 9 yard line

49ers possession

49ers first down at 9, Kaepernick passes, tipped by Clay Matthews who loses his balance, but still nearly intercepts

Second and goal, ball snapped and Kaepernick doesn’t see it – falls on it for a loss of 4

Third and goal at the 12, Kaepernick over the middle to Crabtree for the Touchdown

Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards in 0:44

Packers 14 49ers 14

Packers possession

Akers kicks off to Randall Cobb – Packers called for holding on Kuhn

First and 10 for the Packers from their own 7, handoff to Harris for 2

Second and 8 from the 10, pass toward Jordy Nelson, but flag thrown against 49ers

First and 10, ball at 23, handoff to Harris for 3

Second and 7, no huddle, Rodgers under center, Rodgers has nobody open, escapes rush and throws ball away

Third and 7, Rodgers in the gun, throws it down the middle, overthrows Jordy Nelson and intercepted by Carlos Rodgers who returns out to near midfield

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) tackles Green Bay Packers running back DuJuan Harris (26) during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

49ers possession

First and 10 at the Packers 49, Gore rushes off left tackle for 6

Second and 4, Kaepernick passes to Ted Ginn but he’s tackled immediately by Brad Jones

Third and 2, Jermichael James up the middle for 10 and a first down

First and 10 to the 25, Kaepernick in  gun – pass over the middle tipped by Crabtree incomplete

Second and 10, fake throw and handoff up the middle to James stuffed

Third and 9, from the gun, Kaepernick rushes up the middle for first down, but Kaepernick flagged for unsportsmanlike penalty of 15 yards

First and 10, handoff to Gore for 4

Second and 6, Kaepernick pass over the middle to Crabtree for the touchdown

Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards in 0:44

49ers 21 Packers 14

49ers kickoff to Packers touchback

First and 10, Rodgers scrambles up the middle, fumbles and recovers

Second and 1, handoff to Harris for 2 and first down

First and 10, pass over the middle to Finley for first down

First and 10, ball at 49ers 49, Harris for 4 and 49ers called for spearing 15 yards

First and 10, ball at the 32, pass to Harris for 6

Second and 4, 49ers offside

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) rushes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) as tackle Marshall Newhouse (center) blocks during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

First and 10, ball at the 49ers 20, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle to James Jones for the touchdown

Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 2:53

Packers 21 49ers 21

Packers kickoff for the touchback

49ers first and 10, Kaepernick rushes right and out of bounds for 2

Second and 8, Kaepernick runs left for the first down

First and 10, from the gun, pass deep to Vernon Davis tipped by Morgan Burnett

Second and 10, ball at 42, pass to Delaney Walker catch along sideline under review – arm hits out of bounds – incomplete

Third and 10, ball at the 42, from the gun, Kaepernick runs up the middle for a first down

First and 10, pass to James for 7

Second and 3, James up the middle for 5

1 minute left, ball at the Packers 33, pass toward Ginn in end zone incomplete

Timeout Niners – second

40 seconds remaining, Second and 10, ball at 27, pass to Walker dropped

Third and 10, Kaepernick up the middle short of first down

FG attempt by David Akers from 36 yards – Packers call timeout – GOOD

49ers 24 Packers 21

1st Quarter

Sam Shields 52 yard interception return for TD (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 12:48 Drive: 0 play, 0 yard in 0:00
Green Bay 7-0

Colin Kaepernick 20 yard TD run (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 9:01 Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 3:47
Tied 7-7

DuJuan Harris 18 yard TD run (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:29 Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards in 2:44
Green Bay 14-7

2nd Quarter

Michael Crabtree 12 yard TD pass from Colin Kaepernick (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 10:59 Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards in 0:44
Tied 14-14

Michael Crabtree 20 yard TD pass from Colin Kaepernick (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 5:26 Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards in 3:53
San Francisco 21-14

James Jones 20 yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 2:33 Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 2:53
Tied 21-21

David Akers 36 yard field goal, 0:00 Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards in 2:33
San Francisco 24-21

Packers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2Hox9FdBP

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2HoxElpki

Second half

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

49ers kick off to Packers – Cobb returns it 26 yards

First and 10, Rodgers in the gun, Harris for 3 – Sitton out

Second and 7, Harris for 3,

Third and 4, Rodgers sacked

Masthay with the punt to the 34

49ers first possession of the second half

First and 10, Gore for 2

Second and 8, from the gun, pass toward moss incomplete – overthrown

Third and 8, pass toward Davis incomplete, Woodson on the coverage tips ball away

Fourth down punt by lee to Cobb – no return

Packers second possession

First and 10 from the 10, Rodgers to Jennings for 2

Second and 8, pass over the middle to Jennings for first down to the 44

First and 10, Rodgers runs right and hits Nelson for 9

Second and 1, ball at 49, pass to Nelson along right sideline for 8 and a first down

First and 10, inside handoff to Cobb who runs for 19

Fist and 10, ball at the 23, another handoff to Cobb for 4 up the middle

Second and 6, no huddle Rodgers under pressure throws the ball away

Packers burn first timeout

Third and 6, Newhouse false start

Third and 11, pass to Cobb for 8

Fourth and 3

Mason Crosby 31-yard FG – GOOD

Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards in 3:18

Packers 24 49ers 24

Packers kickoff – touchback

First and 10 from the 20, Kaepernick to Crabtree for 18

First and 10, ball at 38, in the gun, quick pass to Crabtree left for 6

Second and 4, Kaepernick keeps right and runs 56 yards for the touchdown

Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards in 1:18

49ers 31 Packers 24

49ers kick off to Packers – Cobb touchback

First and 10 from the 20, Rodgers under pressure from Patrick Willis – throws the ball away

Second and 10, pass over the middle to Crabtree dropped

Third and 10, Rodgers runs for 17 and a first down

First and 10, ball at 37, quick pass to Cobb for 3

Second and 7, inside pitch to Cobb for 1

Third and 6, from the gun, pass over the middle toward Finley broken up

Fourth down punt, fair catch at the 7

49ers possession

First and 10, handoff to Gore for 3

Second and 7, Gore for 5

Third and 2, Kaepernick to Crabtree to the 31

First and 10, Gore for 4

Second and 6, holding on williams – automatic first down

First and 10, 2:11 left in third quarter, handoff to Gore for 1

Second and 9, pass down the middle to Vernon Davis with AJ Hawk on the coverage to the 15 for 44 yards

First and 10, Gore takes it down to the 3

End of the third quarter

Start of the fourth quarer

First and goal, Gore off right tackle for the touchdown

Drive: 8 plays, 93 yards in 5:03

49ers 38 Packers 24

49ers kickoff to Packers – Cobb muffs it, picks it up and is smothered at the 10

First and 10 quick pass to Jennings left for 6

Second and 4, pass over the middle to Finley for 10

First and 10, pass to Jennings for 5

Second and 5, pass to Finley for 2

Third and 3, pass to nelson for 9 and a first down

First and 10, Rodgers under pressure throws it away

Second and 10, ball at 44, shovel pass by Rodgers to Harris for 6

Third and 4, pass to Jennings just off his fingertips incomplete

Fourth down punt by Masthay downed inside the 10

49ers possession

First and 10, ball at the 8, Gore for 6

Second and 4, Kaepernick for 16 left

First and 10, Gore for 2

Second and 8, Kaepernick with all day throws to Walker over the middle for a first down

First and 10 from the Packers 47, Gore off left guard for big gain to the 24

First and 10, Gore for 2

Second and 8, 49ers called for holding

Second and 18, Kaepernick for 4

Third and 14, pass to Crabtree for 13

Fourth and 1, Packers jump offside – first down

First and 10, hand off to Gore down to the 2

First and goal, Gore no gain

Second and goal, touchdown 49ers Anthony Dixon

Drive: 11 plays, 93 yards in 7:54

49ers 45 Packers 24

49ers kick off – Cobb returns in 20 yards

First and 10, ball at the , pass to Finley for 5

Second and 5, pass to Cobb for 4

Third and 1, pass to Jordy Nelson for first down and out of bounds

First and 10, Pass to Jones over the middle for first down

First and 10, pass over the middle dropped by Jones

2:14 left, Second and 10, ball at 44, pass to Jones for 7

2-minute warning

Rodgers runs up the middle and is short of  first down

pass over the middle on fourth down, pass to Nelson for first down

First and 10, fake down and pass to Cobb

Second and 5, pass toward Nelson interference against 49ers

First and goal at 3, Rodgers flushes right and throws incomplete in the end zone

Second and goal, Rodgers hits Jennings in corner of end zone for the Touchdown

Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards in 2:37

45-31 49ers

Packers onside kick recovered by Niners

Victory formation for the 49ers

Colin Kaepernick passing: 17 of 31 (54.8%) for 263 yards (8.5 YPA), 2 TDs, 1 INT; passer rating, 91.2.

Packers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2HpMGsUpJ

Final statistics

• Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Sam Shields 52 yard interception return for TD (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 12:48 Drive: 0 play, 0 yard in 0:00
Green Bay 7-0

Colin Kaepernick 20 yard TD run (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 9:01 Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 3:47
Tied 7-7

DuJuan Harris 18 yard TD run (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:29 Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards in 2:44
Green Bay 14-7

2nd Quarter

Michael Crabtree 12 yard TD pass from Colin Kaepernick (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 10:59 Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards in 0:44
Tied 14-14

Michael Crabtree 20 yard TD pass from Colin Kaepernick (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 5:26 Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards in 3:53
San Francisco 21-14

James Jones 20 yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 2:33 Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 2:53
Tied 21-21

David Akers 36 yard field goal, 0:00 Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards in 2:33
San Francisco 24-21

3rd Quarter

Mason Crosby 31 yard field goal, 8:25 Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards in 3:31
Tied 24-24

Colin Kaepernick 56 yard TD run (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 7:07 Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards in 1:18
San Francisco 31-24

4th Quarter

Frank Gore 2 yard TD run (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 14:57 Drive: 8 plays, 93 yards in 5:03
San Francisco 38-24

Anthony Dixon 2 yard TD run (David Akers extra point is GOOD), 3:34 Drive: 11 plays, 93 yards in 7:54
San Francisco 45-24

Greg Jennings 3 yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:57 Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards in 2:37
San Francisco 45-31

Packers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/12/5253/index.html#ixzz2HpL4Eaex

Aaron Rodgers is introduced to the Lambeau Field opening day crowd 2012.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Because it’s the divisional round of the National Football Conference Playoffs, we thought we would have a bit of fun here at Lombardiave.com – at least some of us.

In addition to providing our weekly predictions, a few of the staff have also provided you with their Packers superstitions. We all have them to varying degrees and thought it would be fun to share. We did it earlier this week with a post of various superstitions that fans from our Facebook page provided.

So, here we go. Enjoy.

Jerry Bulone
Staff writer – he’s got so many superstitions that he can barely get himself to sit still for the games.

Jerry Bulone: I am probably the most superstitious person there is when it comes to the Packers, so superstitious that I will not even submit a pick during the playoffs, for fear that I might jinx them.

I have too many to even count. The silliest one is I will switch where I am watching the game when the Packers start to play bad. I moved to six different rooms during the Kansas City game last season, before I gave up and went to bed.

My superstitions get multiplied in intensity during the playoffs, which basically consists of me doing everything the exact same if they win in the opening round.

This year I had to work for the opening game against Minnesota, since I do not work this Saturday, I am relying on something I did in the divisional round in 2010 .. .taking my kids to KOSI (a science museum in Columbus).

I recorded the Giants playoff game last year. Suffice to say, I haven’t recorded a game since … there are just so many, but I realize I already sound crazy enough.

So while I may not be watching the game Saturday, believe me it’s in their best interest!

Tim Thomas: The Packers have an extremely tough game upcoming against the San Francisco 49ers as the winner of this game will be the favorite in the NFC Championship. The Packers offensive line will be tested by the 49ers’ ferocious defensive front 7 as Aldon Smith headlines one of the NFL’s best pass rushing groups in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers will also have the challenge of picking apart the San Francisco defense through the air.

However, the Packers have the NFL’s best receiving corps and this will make the 49ers’ job a lot harder.

Colin Kaepernick will have trouble against the Green Bay secondary as Tramon Williams are known for their ability to force turnovers. Clay Matthews and the Packers pass rush will need to make Kaepernick feel some pressure to make him rush throws and turn the ball over.

The overall experience of the defense will be huge as the Packers know what it takes to go on the road and win in the playoffs. Frank Gore could have a very good game as Green Bay will not be able to cheat on the run this week as Colin Kaepernick is no Joe Webb.

This game has instant classic written all over it as I think the Packers survive and go to the NFC Championship.

Green Bay 28, San Francisco 27

Tim’s Superstitions: I do not have any real superstition but whenever the Packers are in the playoffs, I wear a Green Bay jersey the Friday before and the Monday after playoff games. I also will wear a jersey every day of the week leading up to the Super Bowl if the Packers get the Super Bowl like I did back in January and February of 2011.

Bill Walton, Staff Writer and his family.
Ask Bill about his superstitions and 20 minutes later he might be finished.

Bill Walton’s superstitions: We always sit in the same positions on the couch. We never eat during a game unless it’s during halftime- even when at our local hangout (Tailgaters) for games not available locally (which is most of them). We all wear the same jerseys for every game. Under those jerseys we all wear custom T shirts my wife had made that have a picture of a Cheesehead and “Respect The Cheese” on them.

Always on the couch between us is our vintage Cheesehead, a Packers pillow, and a small stuffed Packers teddy. A Packers Nerf football is always jammed in beteen me and the side of the couch. Whenever it looks as if the Packers need some good juju, we rub the Cheesehead, which is showing some serious signs of wear!

Whenever the opposing team attempts a FG, we hex the kicker. Now obviously we know these things don’t always work, but we’ve been doing things this way for years and don’t plan to change. Why? Simple. Because there is no way on God’s green and gold earth we want to contribute to some far-reaching butterfly effect that ends in the Packers losing a game!

Prediction: I expect the Packers to play the role of last year’s Giants in this year’s playoffs. Green Bay is relatively healthy, they have the best quarterback in the NFC, their defense is improving each week, and at the end of the day they are the only team left standing that has recently climbed the mountain to the top. By no means will this be an easy game because these two teams are matching strengths against strengths. The Packers do have one thing the 49ers don’t. Aaron Rodgers. He and he alone is the single player in this game who can take it over. Both teams will make plays on both sides of the ball. Both teams will score and both will appear to be in control at various times, but in the end 12 will be the difference.

Wife Deneen thinks the Packers will prevail 28-13. Son John believes as well, picking the Pack to pull out a close one 24-20. I think Rodgers goes home in style and adds to his legacy by throwing, running, and outright outplaying the 49ers on the way to a 35-21 Packers victory. Go Pack GO!

Correspond with Bill on Twitter by clicking here.

Jason Hirschhorn, Staff Writer
This law student loves his Packers and for the second straight week picks Green Bay to win.

Jason Hirschhorn – Follow him on Twitter by clicking here

Game Superstition: I don’t really have any special superstition anymore. I always wear a jersey during games, but that’s not anything unique. I did have one, however, during Green Bay’s 19-game winning streak. That streak began on December 26, 2010, when the Packers slaughtered the Giants 45-17. I was in attendance, and it was a particularly cold night, so I wore a pair of long, green thermal socks to keep my feet from freezing. Well, after they won, I joked to my friends that “it was the socks.” They in return informed me I had to keep wearing them. So I did, and the Packers won in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and most amazingly in the Super Bowl. The socks were a funny inside joke, a footnote (excuse the pun) to a memorable championship run.

Well needless to say, the same friends who encouraged me to wear them for the playoffs demanded I wear them during the regular season. I was living in Chicago at the time, and early in the NFL season Chicago can be very hot and humid. Yet I soldiered through it, in long, green thermal socks. I didn’t mind too much because they were winning. While I certainly wasn’t pleased when they finally lost in Kansas City, I was happy to finally give up the silly socks. Now they’re reserved only for cold games in which I am attending in person.

Prediction: When breaking down this week’s Packers/49ers matchup, it’s impossible not to realize that each team has evolved so much that it’s almost a new matchup. Green Bay’s chief problems opening weekend were pass protection, the ability to cover the tight end, and Aaron Rodgers not taking advantage of the easy conversion opportunities the defense was giving him.

The pass protection is not perfect, but it was evident last week against the Vikings – a team with a very good defensive front seven – that the offensive line’s current configuration and scheme is creating clean pockets often enough. While they normally possess a similar if not stronger front seven, the injury to Justin Smith will take a huge bite out of what they do. Smith not only creates J.J. Watt-like havoc from the 3-4 DE position, but he also calls the DE/OLB stunts for the defense. To put it more simply, he’s the one who directs Aldon Smith.

Accordingly, if Justin Smith is able to play it will make Aldon Smith more dangerous. If Justin Smith has to take plays off or leave the game early, this will greatly reduce the pressure on Rodgers from two defensive positions.

As for covering the tight end, there are two elements at work here for Green Bay. Brad Jones, the team’s best coverage linebacker, has taken over not only starting ILB duties in the base defense, but also in the nickel and dime. In addition, since Colin Kaepernick took over at quarterback for the 49ers, Vernon Davis’ role has been significantly reduced. So reduced that over the last quarter of the regular season, Davis’ combined stats essentially match the production he had in the Green Bay game alone.

Finally we come to Rodgers and the short passing game. This has been an issue off and on for most of the season, but it appears stabilized now. Last week, Rodgers found DuJuan Harris and Greg Jennings many times for check downs that turned into big gains. In addition, James Jones has developed into a go-to target on third downs. The combined effect of these progressions will keep the Green Bay offense on the field longer and put more points on the board.

The 49ers probably have a higher ceiling than the Packers, but they are still a very, very young team with inexperienced players at so many key positions. That doesn’t always mean very much, but I think it does here.

Packers 24 – 49ers 21

Tommy Marquardt, Staff Writer
We’re hoping Tommy is enjoying a swig or two of his Wisconsin beer every time the Packers score a touchdown.

Thomas Marquardt:  Even before last week, I looked at the 49ers as our biggest obstacle on the road to the Super Bowl.  I think that is still the case and I think the winner of this game will make it to Mercedes Superdome in New Orleans.

The 49ers best defensive player (DE Justin Smith) is not 100 percent and that will likely be a big factor in the game.  If the 49ers are forced to blitz to put pressure on Rodgers, he will have a field day.

Colin Kaepernick is starting his first playoff game, and while I think he is talented, Dom Capers will show him looks he hasn’t seen.

Prediction: Aaron Rodgers returns to haunt the 49ers and Clay, BJ and Charles finish the job.

Packers 27 Niners 21

Superstition: I always have to have a Wisconsin beer when I’m not at the game.  Miller Lite is OK, but if things aren’t going well, I’ll switch to Pabst, Leinenkugel or Blatz.  I watch games from everywhere, so sometime this can be challenging.

Tommy may be followed on Twitter by clicking here.

Patrick Hughes, Staff Writer
Patrick isn’t as nervous today as he was when the week started. In fact, he’s downright confident that the Packers will make it out of San Fran with a win.

Patrick Hughes: At the beginning of the week I was very nervous about this game. I kept thinking San Francisco has a mean defense. They have a lot of weapons on offense. This Colin Kaepernick kid is getting a lot of press and has been pretty good in the half season he played. The game is in San Francisco. Because of all these reasons the Packers might, gulp … lose.

However, as the week progressed my confidence in the Packers began to rise. The team overall is healthy. The defense for all its misgivings contained Adrian Peterson last week and has steadily improved throughout the season. Though the Packers offensive line is a concern, the offense overall has many weapons. And despite all this chatter about Kaepernick, the Packers have the reigning MVP in Aaron Rodgers.

Because of all these reasons this should prove to be one H-E-Double Hockey Sticks of a game!

What you hope for is by the time playoff football comes around the team functions like a well-oiled machine. Everyone from the equipment manager to Mason Crosby understands that their role is vital to the machine humming along without a breakdown. The key components to the Packer machine are the offensive line and the linebackers. If the O-Line can give Rodgers time he will get the ball to playmakers.

The linebackers are critical to containing Frank Gore and keeping Kaepernick from gaining yards on the ground.

My estimation is that the Packers need to force Kaepernick to beat them through the air. Contain Frank Gore. Get on the score board early, make the 49ers play catch up.

Marshall Newhouse needs to make a name for himself and take the injured Justin Smith out of the equation. If they can do these things I see Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb and Aaron Rodgers making the best music to come out of San Francisco since Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Packer fans’ hopes for another Super Bowl championship will not fade away.

Packers 28, San Francisco 24.  

Catch up with Patrick on Twitter by clicking here

Ray Rivard, Lombardiave.com Editor
Tags in for me this week as it only helps to ensure the Packers play well.

Ray Rivard – Follow me on Twitter by clicking here

I was feeling a lot like Patrick Hughes a week ago. In fact, on Sunday, the day after the Packers dispatched the Minnesota Vikings in their Wild Card Weekend game at Lambeau Field, I dejectedly mentioned to my wife that it’s been a great ride again this year, but there’s no way the Packers could go to San Francisco and survive.

Monday I was feeling a little better. ‘Why not?’ I asked myself. The offensive line played well against a strong Vikings defensive front, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson are back and playing like they should, the team has a full cadre of receivers, the running game is as good as it’s ever been and not only that, but we’ve got the reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers, who is playing as well now as he has at any time during his career.

And when you think about it, as poorly as the Packers played in that first game of the season, they still had a shot at the end to pull out a win.

I felt better and better about things as the week went on and this morning am feeling like this just might be another Packers team that comes from the depths of their injury-riddled season to another Super Bowl run.

So, with all that said, I feel that if the Packers can protect Aaron Rodgers in the pocket, if the play calling gets Aaron Rodgers out of the pocket, if they can spread the 49ers defense out and if the Packers defense can contain both Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore, the Packers have a great shot of leaving Candlestick today en route to the NFC Championship Game.

Throw in a couple of Mason Crosby field goals and I think the Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers will get the job done today.

Packers 26 49ers 21

My superstition: For years, the tags have always had to be facing in … that is, the tags on my bath towel. Each day when I fold and hang my bath towel the tag has to be facing in. If I forget and it somehow is facing out, the Packers play badly. Don’t tell me why, but it seems to work. Like the beer commercial and their “labels out” mantra, it’s only weird if it doesn’t work. Well, this seems to work for me, so it’s not weird.

GO PACK GO!

It surely won’t be fun and games when the Packers meet the 49ers Saturday in the NFC Divisional Playoff game in San Francisco.
Raymond T. Rivard

We here at Lombardiave.com had the opportunity to sit down with Eric He, the editor over at Golden Gate Sports, and talk for a bit about Saturday’s matchup between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.

The Packers will have to slow the 49ers running game to have a chance Saturday.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A. The most debilitating change has to be the struggles of David Akers. After setting an NFL record for most field goals in a season last year, Akers has made just 69 percent of his kicks in 2012, missing several chip shots and potential game winners. The 49ers even brought in Billy Cundiff to compete with Akers for the postseason starting job, but Akers surprisingly won the battle and will kick against the Packers on Saturday (And as I understand, Mason Crosby isn’t doing too well in Green Bay).

Positively, you can’t overlook the quarterback switch to Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is going to be a superb quarterback in this league, and at the very least he is an upgrade to the passive Alex Smith. Switch to Kaepernick has given the Niners the opportunity to go for the big play, and he is very mobile with the ability to scramble for the first down.

Coach Mike McCarthy will have his team ready to play.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A. In my mind, the Week 15 win at New England was the most pivotal one for the 49ers this season. They beat the Patriots 41-34 on the road in a wild shootout that saw Tom Brady lead New England on a 28-point comeback, but ultimately it was the 49ers that prevailed. This win showed that the 49ers were serious contenders and could compete with best of them. Plus, given the fact that it was nationally televised, experts everywhere were calling the 49ers “Superbowl favorites.”

Of course, that title quickly dropped the following week, when they traveled to Seattle and were devoured 42-13. They had absolutely no answer for Russell Wilson and the dynamic offense of the Seahawks, revealing that their defense is not invincible. That loss put the NFC West up for grabs with the Seahawks, but fortunately the Niners beat the Cardinals in the final game to clinch the division and save some face.

Quarterback Alex Smith has been replaced by Colin Kaepernick.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A. Harbaugh switched quarterbacks because he is Jim Harbaugh, and only he would have the guts to make such a decision. After Alex Smith suffered a concussion vs. the Rams in Week 10, Kaepernick spelled him for the second half and led the 49ers to a tie. But he really shined the following week, when Smith was still out with the concussion and the 49ers played the Bears on Monday Night Football. Kaepernick threw for 243 yards in a 32-7 blowout, and everyone began salivating at his potential. He was named the started the next week (when Smith was fully healthy), and proceeded to light up the Saints on the road. Harbaugh then gave him the starting role for the rest of the season.

I feel that it is not the right move unless the 49ers win the Superbowl this year. Smith was doing perfectly fine, leading the league in quarterback rating and completing 70 percent of his passes before he got hurt. It looked as if he was ready to take this team to the Superbowl, until Kaepernick swooped in and took the job away from him. So unless Kaepernick leads them to a championship, I think Harbaugh was wrong to replace Smith.

A. Honestly, it’s going to be the kicking game between Akers and Crosby. Both have struggled mightily this season, and I feel that the game will come down to a few points, and those kicks will really matter.

I can’t speak for Crosby, but for Akers, he needs to regain that mojo he had in 2011-2012. He will go down as one of the greatest kickers of all-time (dare I say), and he needs to forget about the past and focus on the present on Saturday.

With or without QB Alex Smith, the 49ers will be a team with which to contend for many years in the NFC.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A. There is no doubt that this team will be competitive for years to come. With their defense and superb running game, they will be contenders for at least the next five years. If Kaepernick develops into a franchise quarterback, like Aaron Rodgers has in GB, I would warn the rest of the league to watch out.

A. Packers 21, Niners 17. I think Rodgers and his veteran experience will be the key against an inexperienced Kaepernick, playing in his first playoff game. Yes, the Niners did beat the Packers in Week 1, but that was ages ago and a lot has changed since then.

To be honest, it will probably be in a negative light; there will be missed FGs and the team that misses the least FGs will win the game Saturday night. The real difference could be that the 49ers brought in a challenger and the Packers didn’t. Will that make a difference? That is yet to be seen. Mike McCarthy’s approach has been to profess public confidence in Mason Crosby, an average kicker, while the 49ers brought in Billy Cundiff (an NFL castoff) to challenge Akers, one of the (historically) best kickers in the NFL.

I know it’s a tired line and it’s not a positive note, but kicker can win for you or they can lose for you. Crosby has been horrible from 40+ and worse than that from 50+. He’s made 6 in a row and 8/9, but you can call me a skeptic until he kicks a second 40+ FG in the 49ers game. In my opinion the biggest part of the kicking game is managing momentum. When a drive stalls around the 35, it is great to have a kicker who can make a 52 yarder, but when the kicker’s confidence is down the right move is to punt or go for it on 4^th down. I reference the Giants game, where a missed 55yd FG changed the momentum at MetLife stadium.

After trading TDs in opening drives, the Packers held the Giants for a 3 and out and (thanks to a nice 15 yd return by Cobb), started at their own 46 yd line. At that point, the Packers had a chance to silence the crowd and seize an advantage. An end around by Cobb gained 12 and put the Pack in Giants territory with a 1^st down. The drive stalled and Mason Crosby came on and missed a 55 yd FG. Eli Manning and the Giants used the short field and scored a TD, energized the crowd and the rout was on. It ended as the worst loss for the Packers in years.

The crowd matters and the Packers need to play to quiet the crowd early, whether it be on offense or defense. MM almost always defers when winning the toss, so I expect the same this week. A defensive stop will go a long way, but absent an ensuing TD drive, I’d rather have Tim Masthay kicking from the 35 than Mason Crosby.

A perfect solution would be for the Packers to get TDs on their first three possessions and stifle the 49ers offense, but that is a pipedream. Crosby’s leg may be what makes the difference between the Packers hosting the Seahawks at Lambeau and watching the NFC Championship from the couch.

Follow me on twitter @PegLegPilot Follow us all @lombardiave; you may also follow us on Facebook.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and Aldon Smith this Saturday will continue the memories that so many Packers vs. 49ers games have brought. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

For those of us who remember the Green Bay Packers teams of the 1970 and 1980s we understand how lucky we have been to have watched as this franchise has become the symbol of excellence in the National Football League.

Many of us remember those teams coached by Bart Starr and Forest Gregg. They always seemed to be respectable, always competed, but could never get over the hump to win games that needed to be won. Too many times, it was the Minnesota Vikings or the Chicago Bears that would dominate what was the the NFC Central Division during those two decades. The Packers were an afterthought and the butt of many jokes.

It was tough being a Packers fan during those times. But we held firm. We understood that time would help; that one day the Packers franchise would once again rise to the level of prominence we remembered from those fabulous teams of the 1960s.

Those days arrived in the early 1990s when Reggie White and Brett Favre stepped off the plane in Green Bay. The jokes faded away and ESPN actually uttered the name of our revered Mecca and did it without having to attach the word “loss” to it.

This weekend, the Packers travel to San Francisco to renew a playoff history that helped lift the Packers from has-beens to elite status. If you remember that history from 1995 until today, you will remember several Packers vs. 49ers playoff games, beginning with the one that made people sit up and take notice.

The date was Jan. 6, 1996, and the Packers had just finished winning the NFC Central with an 11-5 record. The Detroit Lions finished right behind the Packers with a record of 10-6. To start the playoff season right, the Packers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 37-20 to earn the right to advance to play the defending champion 49ers at Candlestick Park.

Nobody gave the Packers a chance, but from the moment CB Craig Newsome picked up a fumble on the 49ers first possession and rumbled into the end zone to give the Packers a 7-0 lead, the gloves were off and it was the Packers time.

Brett Favre

Before the Niners could get their bearings, that gunslinger from Kiln, Miss., had thrown two touchdown passes, one to tight end Keith Jackson and the other to the other tight end, Mark Chmura, the Packers were in complete control of the game and on their way to the championship game at Dallas.

Though Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and company would win the game, it was the momentum the Packers earned in that playoff run that led to their 1996 Super Bowl Championship over the New England Patriots. It would also act as the springboard that would propel the Packers to becoming one of the most revered and competitive franchises in the league. It would lift Brett Favre to three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards and would not only endear Reggie White to Packers Nation, but would put an exclamation to the end of his career.

From that January game in 1996 to Saturday’s matchup, the Packers and 49ers have played many memorable games – in both the playoffs and regular season.

This Saturday’s game no doubt will continue the tradition between the two teams. Again, we have to playoff-caliber teams going head to head in their biggest game of the season. Many are saying this could be Super Bowl as either the Packers or 49ers will most likely defeat either the Seattle Seahawks or Atlanta Falcons.

That’s debatable and will be debated, but regardless of how you feel about that, Saturday’s game, once concluded, will most likely be viewed as another one to log in the memory banks … no matter which team wins.

Just like the 1996 game that propelled the Packers to prominence, the game this coming Saturday should be one that will be talked about many years from now.

Both Packers and Niners fans should enjoy the ride … while it most likely will come around again, staying at the top of this league is a fickle thing.

We here at Lombardiave.com are proud to say that the Packers are still playing in January and that the future for both the Packers and Niners looks bright indeed.

Our hope is that we will be here in another 18 years looking back on that Jan. 12, 2013, as one of the best ever.

Here’s a rundown of every game between the two teams:

Here is a rundown of every result in the history of this series:

November 26, 1950: Packers win 25-21 (GB)
December 10, 1950: 49ers win 30-14 (SF)
December 9, 1951: 49ers win 31-19 (SF)
December 14, 1952: 49ers win 24-14 (SF)
November 22, 1953: 49ers win 37-7 (Mil)
December 6, 1953: 49ers win 48-14 (SF)
October 10, 1954: 49ers win 23-17 (Mil)
December 5, 1954: 49ers win 35-0 (SF)
November 20, 1955: Packers win 27-21 (Mil)
December 4, 1955: Packers win 28-7 (SF)
November 18, 1956: 49ers win 17-16 (GB)
December 8, 1956: 49ers win 38-20 (SF)
October 20, 1957: 49ers win 24-14 (Mil)
December 15, 1957: 49ers win 27-20 (SF)
November 23, 1958: 49ers win 33-12 (Mil)
December 7, 1958: 49ers win 48-21 (SF)
October 11, 1959: Packers win 21-20 (GB)
December 13, 1959: Packers win 36-14 (SF)
October 23, 1960: Packers win 41-14 (Mil)
December 10, 1960: Packers win 13-0 (SF)
September 24, 1961: Packers win 30-10 (GB)
December 10, 1961: 49ers win 22-21 (SF)
October 21, 1962: Packers win 31-13 (Mil)
December 9, 1962: Packers win 31-21 (SF)
November 24, 1963: Packers win 28-10 (Mil)
December 14, 1963: Packers win 21-17 (SF)
October 11, 1964: Packers win 24-14 (Mil)
November 15, 1964: 49ers win 24-14 (SF)
October 10, 1965: Packers win 27-10 (GB)
December 19, 1965: Tie 24-24 (SF)
October 9, 1966: 49ers win 21-20 (SF)
December 4, 1966: Packers win 20-7 (Mil)
November 19, 1967: Packers win 13-0 (GB)
December 1, 1968: 49ers win 27-20 (SF)
September 28, 1969: Packers win 14-7 (Mil)
November 1, 1970: 49ers win 26-10 (SF)
November 5, 1972: Packers win 34-24 (Mil)
November 26, 1973: 49ers win 20-6 (SF)
December 8, 1974: 49ers win 7-6 (SF)
September 12, 1976: 49ers win 26-14 (GB)
December 18, 1977: Packers win 16-14 (Mil)
November 9, 1980: Packers win 23-16 (Mil)
October 18, 1981: 49ers win 1303 (Mil)
October 26, 1986: 49ers win 31-17 (Mil)
December 6, 1987: 49ers win 23-12 (GB)
November 19, 1989: Packers win 21-17 (SF)
November 4, 1990: 49ers win 24-20 (GB)
January 6, 1996: Packers win 27-17 (SF) (Divisional)
October 14, 1996: Packers win 23-20 (OT) (GB)
January 4, 1997: Packers win 35-14 (GB) (Divisional)
January 11, 1998: Packers win 23-10 (SF) (NFCCG)
November 1, 1998: Packers win 36-22 (GB)
January 3, 1999: 49ers win 30-27 (SF) (Wild card)
November 29, 1999: Packers win 20-3 (SF)
October 15, 2000: Packers win 31-28 (GB)
January 13, 2002: Packers win 25-15 (GB) (Wild card)
December 15, 2002: Packers win 20-14 (SF)
November 23, 2003: Packers win 20-10 (GB)
December 10, 2006: Packers win 30-19 (SF)
November 22, 2009: Packers win 30-24 (GB)
December 5, 2010: Packers win 34-16 (GB)
September 9, 2012: 49ers win 30-22 (GB)

So many Packers fans have a superstition they feel helps the team and prevents them from losing. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

This week, I decided that I needed help from my Green Bay Packers family. I knew that I had a superstition problem, but I also knew that I wasn’t alone.

So, with that in mind, I threw out a call to all Packers fans to offer their own superstitions when it came to the Packers. Needless to say my superstition of the need to be sure my bath towel label always faces in wasn’t the only unusual superstition.

There were those who told us about their need to close their eyes, the need to face away from the television and to only watch replays; the need dress their children in specific clothing.

But without giving away too much, I thought it important to allow the folks who responded to our post to speak for themselves.

Check them all out below:

• 

   Allison Leapard Recently I’ve been closing my eyes during field goals….seems to be working.

  Yesterday at 9:00pm · Unlike · 3
• 

  Chance Zombor The Pack tends to lose when I’m not watching (or at least following the game). Sounds funny, but they seem to need my psychic energy.

  Yesterday at 9:01pm · Unlike · 4
• 

  Matt Burke I rub the “G” on my Packers hat like a talisman should the team ever get behind. LOL

  Yesterday at 9:03pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Sharon Chartraw Vlasak My dog has to be wearing her Packer bandana. It’s not often I forget it, but when I do – we lose.

  Yesterday at 9:06pm · Unlike · 1
• 

  Lori Kitzhaber I can’t wear Packer stuff on game day UNLESS I am AT the game! Seriously!!

  Yesterday at 9:10pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Sal Parker 5×7 framed pic of Vince- with lit candles next to it !

  Yesterday at 9:11pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Melodie Peltier-Thorp Every game we have lost I had my Rodgers jersey on. Got a new Jersey (Cobb) and those are winning games.

  Yesterday at 9:13pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Victoria Ahuna I have to be in team colors by kick off and remain in them. If i spill something on myself I have to wait until halftime to change and I have to change into other Packer clothes, not just green and yellow.

  Yesterday at 9:13pm via mobile · Unlike · 3
• 

  Ken Walden Not allowed to use the restroom during the game or else the opposition gets a big play against us

  Yesterday at 9:15pm via mobile · Unlike · 2
• 

  Dinger Mueller Have to have the Packer flag posted on the front porch. Have to be wearing Packer gear. Can’t miss kickoff, Whether it’s on tv or I’m at the game. Nitschke picture has to be near or on the t.v. Also, since I’m a teacher, any Packer pictures the kids drew for me are displayed near the t.v. That pretty much covers it.

  Yesterday at 9:21pm · Like · 2
• 

  Sheryl Elizabeth Kolka I HAVE to have my Donald Driver Jersey on… it’s a must..

  Yesterday at 9:21pm via mobile · Like · 1
• 

  Mary Pat Rohde Every time I sit in a chair to watch the game, the Packers lose. So I sit at my computer, my back to the tv, and only turn around for replays or at commercials. I have been to 1 game at Lambeau, and they lost that one. I just can’t watch the actual game. So please keep me posted on game day; I won’t be watching.

  Yesterday at 9:31pm · Unlike · 3
• 

  Renato Priest Carter I put on some Green Bay Gear and watch the game.

  Yesterday at 9:41pm via mobile · Like · 1
• 

  Marcie Mullen Hummel Rodgers T-shirt, GB earrings, necklace, slippers, flag out front, dogs collar on ALL season and her jersey if necessary at half-time, drink in hand! I think that’s it!

  Yesterday at 10:00pm via mobile · Unlike · 2
• 

  Loreeli Kennedy Swoboda It is not lame! Whatever you do, is something you should continue to do, it’s tradition. I do two things before every game, no matter even if I’m able to watch the game that day. One, before the game, I find a quiet spot and I pray for the Packers, I pray that The Lord will be with each player, to not get hurt, for all the coaches, & I pray that He will put His hand upon each one & that He will guide them to a win, if it be His will! Then every time, they are struggling I pray again! I also thank The Lord for every TD, FG, & interception, every challenged call that goes our way, I give Him the praise & say, To God Be the Glory! I believe that everyone has a gift & the Packers have a gift & I really believe that The Lord provides for them & helps them, it’s only through Him we are blessed! Then I wear my Packer shirt or sweatshirt all day that day of the game. I have so many, but I also have my favorites. I try to get everybody to that I’m with to wear theirs as well. At our families Group home, when I’m with the Residents & have a party for them almost every game. I get them excited! We hang one of the Residents signed Jersey of Jordy Nelson on the fireplace for good Luck! It’s worked almost everytime. The times I haven’t been watching, they seem to lose! Haha! Now that’s a big superstition, but it’s mine & I’m sticking to my story!

  Yesterday at 10:07pm via mobile · Unlike · 4
• 

  Darryle Brown I “gear up” with my Cheesehead hat. I’ve worn it every game since the first several games and they have been on a winning streak ever since.

  21 hours ago · Like
• 

  Daniel Stuntz During the 2010 Super Bowl run, I grew a beard and didn’t shave for nearly two months until they won. I had shaved just before the loss to the Pats, but they won out all of they’re remaining games…

  15 hours ago · Like
• 

  Kris Aguilar Like Allison above, I’ve started closing my eyes during Crosby FG attempts, and he hasn’t missed one since. I also seem to subconsciously hold my breath from the snap of the ball until the play is complete–to prevent turnovers, y’know!

  15 hours ago · Like
• 

  Stacey Ehlenfeldt During the 1996-97 Super Bowl Run we put our 3 month old baby in a larger fitting Packer outfit. We noticed every time he didn’t wear the outfit the team would lose SO we kept stuffing him in the same outfit all the way through the Super Bowl. A few years later we sent the outfit to Favre to be signed. We got it back 7 months later signed. We have it framed, hanging on the wall in a hallway. Very Cool!

  6 hours ago · Like
• 

  Stacey Ehlenfeldt If I wear my Grant jersey during the game, they lose. I wear anything but that jersey now.

  6 hours ago · Like

“I don’t get no respect!”

The famous catchphrase of legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield and seemingly the theme to the Green Bay Packers 2012-13 NFL Playoff run. The media and the pundits are snubbing their collective nose at the Packers. Can this work to Green Bay’s advantage?

Granted, the Packers have been their own worst enemy at times – losing games they should have won and losing games on national TV. Their 11-5 record was not incredible in the regular season, but in reality it was a blown call by an official and a couple of game winning field goals away from being the best record in the NFL.

Yet thus far in the playoffs the Packers seem to get the “text me later” from the media. On Saturday after it was learned that Joe Webb would start in place of Christian Ponder for the Vikings, Tony Dungy prattled on and on about how Webb would be the difference maker in the game. Rationalizing his logic with the idea that the Packers had not seen any film or prepared for Webb and he would be able to disrupt the Packers defense with the read option. The reason the Packers had not seen any film on Webb is because he was on the bench. He couldn’t even beat out Christian Ponder.

Earlier in the week leading up to the Packer versus Vikings game all the talk was about how Adrian Peterson was going to run wild on the Packers defense. It almost seemed like the Packers were the underdog to the Vikings. Now granted there is some precedent here, in two games the Packers defense did not demonstrate they could even remotely control Peterson.

But in Week 17 the Vikings played their best game of the year. They played hungry and desperate. But Week 17 did not represent the Vikings’ 2012 body of work. The Packers put themselves in a position to lose to an inferior opponent.

Leading up to the NFC Divisional Playoff game in San Francisco the Packers are once again chopped liver. This week former New London, Wisconsin, resident and current quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, is being hailed as the second coming. Like Joe Webb, he is a new age quarterback that can be effective running the read option and can pick up yards on the ground or through the air. However, unlike Webb, he actually has a considerable amount of talent. But the amount of media attention around a guy who really only played half a season and put up very good, but not incredible numbers is well, peculiar.

Thankfully the media has not gone as far with their praise of Kaepernick as his coach has.  Jim Harbaugh recently said Kaepernick is ‘Savant’ like. This coming from a guy who when asked about San Francisco’s other quarterback Alex Smith lacking confidence, said, “That’s just a lot of gobble, gobble, turkey…”  With that said, take it for what it’s worth.

What makes the buildup of Kaepernick even more anomalous is that Aaron Rodgers, the Super Bowl XLV MVP and 2011 NFL MVP will be opposing him. Nonetheless, one of the most “trusted” football analysts Greg Cossell goes on San Francisco radio station KNBR and says, “I don’t think Aaron Rodgers is playing particularly good football.” And adds, “He’s leaving an awful lot of plays on the field.”

Now Rodgers’ numbers are down a bit from last year, but he still threw for 4,200 yards, 39 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. Even with Saint Kaepernick in tow, you’d have to think the 49ers are still kicking themselves for picking Alex Smith over Rodgers.

The thing is this lack of respect is probably a blessing in disguise. Rodgers feeds off of being shortchanged. And the Packers as a whole seem to have a bit of a superiority complex. Maybe being kicked around a bit will give them greater focus, something to prove.

At the end of the day the only way to get to respect is to earn it.  It’s a sure bet the Lombardi Trophy would silence the critics.

Patrick Hughes covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardiave. Additionally, Patrick writes for Oregon Sports News, oregonsportsnews.com. Follow him on twitter @phughespdx. Also Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow Lombardiave on Twitter.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy congratulates Randall Cobb following the second-year player’s punt return for a touchdown in the Packers’ first game of the season against the 49ers at Lambeau Field. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Mike McCarthy met with the press this evening as part of his daily conference. Though there was no talk about injuries, it was known by the press going into the conference tha Jermichael Finley was at practice and moving well, but WR Jordy Nelson did not practice.

Many of the questions at today’s conference focused on the Packers preparations heading into the middle and later parts of the week.

McCarthy was asked about last year’s offseason and the team’s ability to get ready for the 49ers for their first game of the year, a game the Packers dropped. “Going through the offseason, we have the opportunity to study those first four teams going into week one. The 49ers are a very good football team,” McCarthy said. “They play the game of football the right way. They play to their strengths.”

McCarthy also praised Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his ability to communicate with his teammates and run the offense, especially when playing with the younger guys. “Aaron’s ability to communicate … is a real strength on how we play offense. It gives us the ability to do things at line of scrimmage home and away,” McCarthy said.

He also touched on the game planning taking place this week and the opportunity to utilize and break down game film from the first meeting. “I think any time you play an opponent in the past … there’s definitely some application to game planning.” However, he also said that both teams have changed significantly over the course of the season and admitted that neither team is exactly the same as when they first met.

McCarthy also took some time to praise 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. “the things they are doing are very similar. Kaepernick is an outstanding young quarterback. He’s gifted, makes all the throws, big athlete. I see why he’s playing.”

In addition to talking a bit about the kicking situation with both teams, McCarthy didn’t want to delve too deeply into the subject, saying that they look at every position and the unique skills needed by the individual to play those positions. “I can’t speak about the 49ers. I trust what I see everyday and go on the information that I have.”

He also talked about bit about the opportunity to head back to San Francisco to play a team with which he worked for a season. “It’s a neat place; special place; I was only there one year,” he said. But he also called the stadium nostalgic and said those he worked for and with were good to him. ” … This is about the Green Bay Packers …” he concluded.

He finished out his conference by saying that WR Greg Jennings is back in full force. “Greg looks like he’s back. He’s in a rhythm. He also said the Packers didn’t execute in the first game like they are capable, indicating the team was nowhere near where they needed to be at that point in the season. “There were things we can do better,” he said.

He was also asked about the playoff history that exists between the two teams, but indicated that dwelling on the history wasn’t his style. He did say he remembered watching the Packers get beaten on the last play of the game at Candlestick Park when Terrell Owens caught the pass from Steve Young that defeated Green Bay in Mike Holmgren’s final game of his Packers career as head coach.

“That was a well played game on both sides of the ball. [The catch by Owens] probably shouldn’t have happened, but it did.”

He did express pleasure just before leaving the podium when recalling his Packers team defeating the 49ers at Candlestick during his first year with the team. Having come from the 49ers to take the Packers job, McCarthy said that win in his first season was satisfying and helped propel the team to four straight wins at the end of that season and gave the team momentum heading into the offseason and the next year.

This pretty much says it all in describing the first round of the Playoffs for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings

The Green Bay Packers did what most thought they would do Saturday night – they held Adrian Peterson under 100 yards, throttled the Minnesota Vikings’ passing game and scored enough points to give them the first round of the NFC Playoffs.

Though they were far from blowing the barn doors off, the Packers did enough to score 24 points and coast through the second half, thanks to the really bad play of Joe Webb, the substitute quarterback who stepped in for starter Christian Ponder who couldn’t take the stage because of a bum elbow.

Nobody’s really sure if the Vikings would have been as pathetic with Ponder in charge, but everyone knew that the Packers would do enough to earn a second round trip to San Francisco. With the help of an invigorated Charles Woodson, the Packers defense contained Peterson and forced Webb into some really bad decisions. Though the Packers gave up a garbage touchdown at the end of the game because of broken coverage, it didn’t matter in the end.

Now it’s on to San Francisco, where the Packers hope to take the next step – another trip to the NFC Championship Game.

Like Aaron Rodgers said after the Vikings game: They need to clean up some things on the offensive side of the ball, but if they do that, this is a team that could roll into SF and come away with a convincing win. We’ll know more next Saturday night.

Let the fun begin.

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Football fan Will Knutson , age 9, from Atlanta throws a football in the parking lot outside of Lambeau Field before the NFC Wild Card playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Minesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Two touchdowns by fullback John Kuhn and a swarming defense that kept all-world running back Adrian Peterson to 99 yards was enough to lift the Green Bay Packers to a 24-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL Playoffs Saturday night.

Aaron Rodgers
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers, who said the offense has some things “to work on,” was complimentary of the defense, saying they were playing at a championship level. Charles Woodson, who had been out since Oct. 21, came back for this game and seemingly brought a new energy and stability to the unit.

“The defense played at a championship level; offensively we’ve got some things to work on,” Rodgers said. “We’ve got a tough test next week in San Francisco; had some guys go down tonight; we cut it off in the third quarter … we’ve gotta put a team away.”

Woodson was thankful for the win and felt like the team is ready to roll. “I felt good,” he said. I thought I moved around well. We wanted to continue the ride; the energy level was at an all-time high; this week we made the tackles; kept putting the heat on (Peterson).”

Coach Mike McCarthy also thought the defense played the way they had anticipated.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Webb (14) is tripped up by Green Bay Packers safety Charles Woodson,
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It comes down to playing with discipline, trusting the guy next to you … I think our defense was extremely disciplined tonight. We didn’t do whole lot of work on (Webb) … it didn’t change the game plan a whole lot. It’s a game of football, and we play whoever they line up with. The players and coaches did a hell of a job.”

Though Rodgers only threw one touchdown tonight, he was 23 of 33 for 274 yards and moved the team sharply in the first half to build what would be an insurmountable lead. The Packers did have to settle for a field goal when the Vikings shut them down inside the 10 yard line, but that was one of the few missteps by the Packers.

They took the air out of the ball in the second half and the Vikings scored a garbage touchdown late in the game on a broken coverage pass to make it a two-possession game, but it wouldn’t get any closer than that.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frasier said his team “played hard … and we’re extremely proud of the football team the way they represented the organization; these guys didn’t put limitations on what they could achieve. Because of the character of the men on this football team there’s a lot we can learn from 2012 season.”

In looking ahead to next Saturday night’s game in San Francisco, Rodgers said,  ”It’s going to be fun to go back to the West Coast. hopefully get a lot of cheeseheads from Chico coming down for the game.”

Here’s how we started the day:

Wild Card weekend is here as the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in Saturday night’s nationally televised game. For the second time in as many weeks, the Packers play the Vikings, thanks to Minnesota’s 37-34 win in the final game of the regular season. The win kept the Chicago Bears out of the playoffs and made a place for the Vikings who turn around and have to travel to Green Bay.

The signs were out early in Green Bay.

The story of the night could come down to several things: Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, and whether Vikings QB Christian Ponder plays. He had been struggling with elbow bursitis all week and was questionable going into Saturday night’s game.

Stopping Peterson will be key as will slowing whoever plays QB for the Vikings. The Packers also need to get out to a quick start on offense, establish their run game and play defense like it’s the last game of the year – which it is if they can’t do any of those things.

• A full house of about 73,000 is expected for the 7 p.m. game at Lambeau Field. Gametime temperature was to be around 29 degrees and dropping slowly through the night.

• Packers team-elected captains for today: James Jones, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, Jarrett. Bush and Jamari Lattimore.

Joe Webb
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Packers vs. Vikings First half 

Joe Webb starts for the Vikings; Ponder out.

Clay Matthews in an interview just before gametime: “Have to be disciplined, hold up the edge.”

Packers won the toss and deferred to the Vikings

Beginning of the first quarter

Packers kickoff to Vikings – Sherels returns to the Vikings 33 – way too much yardage on opening kickoff

First and 10, Webb under center, hands off to Adrian Peterson who takes it up the middle for 3

Second and 7, Peterson for four off right tackle

Third and 3, Webb is caught in backfield, but gets away picks up first down breaking tackles. Is this a picture of what he will bring to this game?

First and 10 at Packers 44, handoff to Peterson for 6 off right tackle

Second and 2, Webb under center, hands off to Peterson who runs for a first down

First and 10 from Packers 29, Peterson for 11 off left guard

First and 10, Webb fakes handoff to Peterson and rushes for 5 off right tackle

Second and 5, Handoff to Peterson, Woodson hits Peterson in backfield for loss of 2

Vikings timeout – first

Third and 7, from the Packers 15, Webb in gun, under pressure Webb throws it away

The Donald Driver seems to be over in GB.

Tonight’s inactives.

WR Jarrett Boykin, CB Davon House, RB James Starks, LB Frank Zombo, WR Donald Driver, DT Jordan Miller, DE Jerel Worthy

FG By Blair Walsh GOOD from 33 yards

Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards in 5:34

Vikings kickoff to Packers

Jeremy Ross returns it to the Packers 31 up the right sideline

Packers first possession of the first half

First and 10 from the Packers 32, Rodgers from the gun, quick pass left to Randall Cobb for 7

No huddle, second and 3, handoff to DuJuan Harris for 2,

Third and 1, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle low and away dropped by Harris. Not a good pass by Rodgers who thought about running and then tried dumping it off to Harris.

Fourth down punt by Tim Masthay, Sherels returns it from the 16 to the 33

Adrian Peterson
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings second possession

First and 10 from the 33, Webb fakes handoff to Peterson and rolls right and gets the edge for 11 yards

First and 10, handoff to Peterson who shuffles right and gets tackled after 2 yards by Morgan Burnett

Second and 8, play action pass to the left side to TE Kyle Rudolph for 6

Third and 2 from the Vikings 48, Webb tackled by Walden, Webb throws a duck into the air and it falls incomplete. Clay Matthews was the closest player to the ball.

Fourth down punt by Chris Kluwe to Randall Cobb who returns it four yards to the Packers 17

Packers second possession

First and 10 from the Packers 16, Rodgers under center, handoff to Harris for 4

Second and 6, Rodgers under center, pitch to Harris to the left, breaks a tackle and takes the ball for 5

Third and 1, handoff to Ryan Grant, but Vikings are offside, lined up in neutral zone – first down

First and 10, ball at Packers 31, Rodgers nowhere to go, runs it up the middle for 3

Second and 7, soft screen to Harris for 16 yards and a first down

First and 10, ball at 49, inside handoff to Harris for 1

Second and 9, ball at the 50, pass over the middle to Jermichael Finley for nine and a first down

First and 10, Rodgers in gun, hands off to Harris up the middle for 2

Second and 8, Rodgers dumps ball over the middle to Harris for 15 and a first down

First and 10, ball at Vikings 24, pitch to Grant left, hit, turns it back inside and loses 1

DuJuan Harris
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Second and 11, Rodgers under center, Screen right to Grant who takes it down to the Vikings 10, gain of 17

First and 10 from the eight, pitch to DuJuan Harris who cuts it back left and takes the ball down inside the 1, might be a touchdown – McCarthy challenges and the call on the field is overruled – Touchdown

Crosby with the extra point

Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 6:11

Packers 7 Vikings 3

Packers kick off to Vikings – Crosby kicks through the end zone

Vikings third possession of the first half

First and 10 from the 20, handoff to Peterson off right tackle for 1, Dezman Moses with the tackle

Vikings

Packers

End of the first quarter

Second and 9, Webb drops back to pass, nothing open and runs up the middle for 10

First and 10, Peterson for 4 to the 35

Second and 6, Webb under center, Webb is forced to the outside and sacked by Clay Matthews

Third and 15, Webb under pressure tosses the ball away and is called for intentional grounding

Fourth down punt by Kluwe, Cobb catches it at the 30 and returns it 6 yards to the 36

Packers third possession

First and 10 from the 36, Rodgers under center, handoff to Harris for 8,

Second and 2, Rodgers dumps ball to Harris over the middle for first down

First and 10 ball at Vikings 49, pitch to Harris who runs right and is hit by S Harrison Smith with the nice tackle

Second and 11, Rodgers under center, nobody open and the Vikings sack Rodgers for loss of 8

Third and 19, pass over the middle to Jennings, but he is five yards short of the first down

Fourth down punt by Masthay and fair catch by Sherels to the 14

Vikings possession

First and 10 from the Vikings 14, Webb under center, pass toward Michael Jenkins knocked away by Sam Shields

Second and 10, Peterson hit at line of scrimmage, dances around and is hemmed in for no gain

Third and 8, Webb in gun, pass to Jerome Simpson two yards short of the first down, Tramon Williams on the coverage

Fourth down punt to Cobb at the 18, returns to the 26. Cobb runs 50 yards to get 8.

Packers fifth possession

First and 10 at the Packers 26, Rodgers in gun, inside handoff to Cobb off right tackle for 4

Second and 6, Rodgers in gun, Rodgers fakes handoff left, rolls right and then hits Tom Crabtree who hurdles for the first down

First down and 10, Rodgers has lots of time and hits James Jones for 20

First and 10, another inside handoff right for 2

Second and 8, pass to Jones for 3

Third and 5, ball at Vikings 34, Rodgers in the gun, thows toward Nelson who was nowhere near the ball

Greg Jennings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Fourth and 5, Packers go for it, Rodgers passes to Jennings who breaks tackles and rumbles to the 3 for first down to the 3

First and goal Rodgers hands off to Kuhn for 2,

Second and goal, pass to Finley falls incomplete

Third and goal, Rodgers under center, quick handoff to Kuhn goes nowhere

Crosby for FG – GOOD

Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 6:11

Packers 10 Vikings 3

Packers kick off to Vikings – Sherels returns to the 33, but Vikings called for holding

Vikings possession

First and 10, ball at the Vikings 12, Peterson up the middle for 5,

Second and 5, long pass toward Jerome Simpson well overthrown

Third and 5, Webb in the gun, Webb under pressure first by BJ Raji and then forces him up in the pocket and Erik Walden gets the sack

Two-minute warning

Fourth down punt by Kluwe to Cobb – line drive rolls to a stop and downed by Vikings

John Kuhn
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Packers Sixth possession

First and 10 at the 38, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle to Jordy Nelson for 23 over the middle

First and 10, Rodgers passes to a wide open Jennings to the 26 and another first down

First and 10, Rodgers fakes handoff left, rolls right and hits Nelson to the 3

First and goal, Rodgers thinks about running, backs up and throws incomplete

Second and goal, Rodgers in the gun, inside handoff to Kuhn for the touchdown

Crosby extra point

Packers 17 Vikings 3

Vikings possession

First and 10, Webb throws over the middle to Peterson for 8

Vikings timeout -second

Second and 2, Webb airs it out with nobody in the zip code

Third and 2, 22 seconds left, Peterson gets a first down and runs out of bounds to stop the clock

16 seconds left, first and 10, ball at 44, Webb under pressure throws ball over the middle low and nearly picked by Williams

10 seconds left, Webb throws to left sideline incomplete

Last play of first half, Webb throws incomplete

End of first half

Packers 17 Vikings 3

Packers

Vikings

Packers

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2H9twvYjF

Vikings

1st Quarter

Blair Walsh 33 yard field goal, 9:26 Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards in 5:34
Minnesota 3-0

DuJuan Harris 9 yard TD run (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:00 Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 6:11
Green Bay 7-3

2nd Quarter

Mason Crosby 20 yard field goal, 3:25 Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards in 5:01
Green Bay 10-3

John Kuhn 3 yard TD run (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:38 Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards in 1:10
Green Bay 17-3

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2H9todQCg

Aaron Rodgers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Second half

Vikings kick off to Packers to Jeremy Ross – takes a knee and a touchback

Packers first possession of the second half

First and 10 at the 20, Rodgers under center handoff to Harris for 4

Second and 6, Packers in no huddle, Rodgers under center hands off to Harris for 4

Third and 2, Rodgers in the gun, quick pass over the middle to James Jones for a first down

First and 10, ball at 37, Rodgers in gun, Rodgers sacked

Second and 14, Rodgers in gun, nobody open, runs up the middle for 11

Third and 4, pass over the middle to James Jones for 19 yards and a first down

First and 10, Rodgers in the gun, dump off to Harris for 4

Second and 6, pass over the middle to Harris for first down to the 20

Rodgers under center, handoff to Harris for 6

Second and 4, Rodgers in the gun – calls timeout at 9:45 mark of third quarter – first

Second and 4, ball at the Vikings 14, Rodgers fakes handoff left, rolls right, but can’t find anyone open and throws it away

Third and 4, pass over the middle toward Finley knocked down by Harrison

John Kuhn (30) runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Crosby FG attempt – but before the attempt 12 men on the field penalty call against the Vikings that gives the Packers and first and goal

Packers first and goal at the Vikings 10, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle to Kuhn over the middle for the touchdown

Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards in 5:35

Packers 24 Vikings 3

Packers kick off to Vikings – Sherels downs it in the end zone

Vikings first and 10 from the 20, Peterson stopped for 4 yard loss by Erik Walden

Pass over the middle to Simpson for 12

Third and 2, Peterson over the middle for 2

First and 10 from the 32, Webb pass over the middle for 13 yards and a first down to Rudolph

First and 10, Webb attempts pass down left sideline for John Carlson is incomplete

Second and 10, Webb under center, handoff to Peterson who is hit at the line, bounces it outside but tackled by Sam Shields for 2 yards

Pass over the middle to Wright for first down

first and 10, ball at Packers 45, Webb under pressure by AJ Hawk, ball incomplete over the middle

Second and 10, Peterson bounces up the middle for 2

Third and 8, Webb passes short to Wright, but short of first down

Fourth and 3, Webb in gun, Matthews hits Webb, Webb fumbles and Matthews recovers

Packers take over on turnover

First and 10, ball at the Packers, handoff to Harris for 3

Second and 7, Harris hit in backfield, bounces off the tackle, runs left and hit by Harrison Smith for a loss

Third and 15, passes toward Cobb low and incomplete right at the first down marker.

Fourth and 15, punt by Masthay, Sherels fair catch

Vikings possession

First and 10 at the Vikings 19, Peterson up the middle for 5

Second and 5, Webb under center, handoff to Peterson who runs left for the first down

First and 10, Peterson for 3 off right tackle

Second and 7, Webb throws incomplete

Third and 7, Webb drops back but runs for a first down with a run up the middle

First and 10, Webb rolls left, throws long down the left sideline and it’s intercepted by Sam Shields

Stats through the third quarter

Vikings

Packers

Fourth quarter

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Packers possession

First and 10 at the Packers 8, Harris gets the pitch left for 2 yards

Second and 8, Rodgers under center, Harris for 4

Third and 4, pass toward Jennings incomplete

Fourth down punt, Sherels muffs the punt and Packers recover

Packers possession

First down and 10, Harris for no game

Second 10, Harris for 1

Third and 9, pass toward Nelson down right sideline incomplete

Punt by Masthay, Sherels fair catch

Vikings possession

First and 10 at the 9, Webb passes long to nobody

Second and 10 at the 9, handoff to Peterson who cuts left, loses his balance and falls with no gain

Third and 10, Webb in the gun, under pressure, Webb runs up the middle for 8 to force a punt

Fourth and 2, Vikings were going to go for it, but punt instead, Cobb catches at the 29, runs sideways and returns it two yards.

Packers possession

First and 10, ball at the 31, Rodgers quick pass to Jennings for 2

Second and 8, Rodgers pass over the middle is tipped incomplete

Third and 8, Rodgers in the gun, hits Kuhn over the middle, but he is two yards short of the first down

Masthay punt to Sherels to the 21. Fair catch.

9:05 left in the game

Joe Webb
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings possession

First and 10 from the 21, Peterson falls again, bounces outside and picks up 17

Peterson up the middle and tackled by Woodson, but not before he picks up a first down

First and 10, Woodson nearly sacks Webb, but he throws ball away

Second and 10, pass down the right sideline nearly intercepted by Williams

Third down and 10, Webb tries to pass, is pressured by several Packers, but forced out of bounds after picking up 1

Fourth down and 9, Packers’ Mike Neal called for encroachment

Fourth and 4, 6:30 left, Webb in gun, passes incomplete – Packers take over on downs

Adrian Peterson (28) is tackled in the backfield by Green Bay Packers strong safety Charles Woodson (21) in the first quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Lambeau Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Packers possession

First and 10, handoff to Ryan Grant for 7

Second and 3, handoff to Ryan Grant and a loss of 5

Third and 8, ball at the 45, Rodgers in the gun, Rodgers sacked

Fourth down punt by Masthay to Sherels. Runs it back to the 34

Vikings possession

First and 10 at the 34, Webb throws incomplete

Second and 10, quick slant over the middle to Jenkins

First and 10, Broken coverage and a 50 yard touchdown down right sideline for a touchdown

Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards in 0:36

 3:39 to play

Packers 24 Vikings 10

Vikings with a pooch kick picked up by Jeremy Ross who runs out of bounds

Packers possession

First and 10, handoff to Ryan Grant for 2

Vikings timeout

Second and 8, Grant for 3

Third and 5, 3:25 left, Rodgers in empty backfield and gun, pass to Nelson for a first down; Nelson limps off the field

First and 10, Rodgers trips handing off to Grant who loses 2

Two-minute warning

Second and 12, Rodgers under center, fakes handoff and throws complete for 1

Third and 11, handoff to Grant to the 31

1 minute left

Packers punt with 28 seconds left, Sherels fair catch at 32

19 seconds left

Vikings first and 10, Webb in gun, completes gun to Jenkins

Webb spikes ball with 1 second left, pass to Rudolph complete and tackled at 20

Final score: Packers 24 Vikings 10

Peterson kept to 99 yards

Final Statistics

Vikings

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2HAHOtxC8

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2HAHX4kzX

Vikings

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2HAHbuzam

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2HAHgEKG4

Patrick Hughes
Staff Writer

Patrick Hughes: Round 3, Green Bay Packers verses the Minnesota Vikings. This is sure to be a classic black and blue division brawl. At mid-week Green Bay was a 7.5 point favorite on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. But I don’t know if I would bet against the spread in this one.

In two games between these two teams Green Bay has yet to demonstrate that they can even remotely keep Adrian Peterson in check. The Packers’ coaching staff said the problem in last week’s game was overpursuing Peterson, allowing him to zig and zag and run past defenders.

There may be some truth to this, but many people this week pointed the finger at Tramon Williams. Some even went so far as to call Williams scared of Peterson. I can’t say that I’d blame him if he was. Whatever the case may be the Packers need to contain Peterson.

For my money, I would put the onus on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ high-powered offense to win this game. For the first time in what seems like forever the Packers will have Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones and Finley healthy and on the field at the same time. You’d have to believe that the only thing that can cool these guys down is the crisp Wisconsin weather. And that could be the case.

Ray Rivard is predicting that DuJuan Harris will become the Packers’ not-so-secret weapon. He could be right. However it plays out, the best defense against Adrian Peterson will need to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense.

This is a tough one. Last week I was confident, obviously a bit overconfident, that the Packers would get the job done. They came out flat and allowed Peterson and the Vikings to control the game. If the Packers hope to win this game they need to score early and often and make Christian Ponder try to beat them.

Big exhale …  the Packers offense shows up and gets it done.

Packers 28 Vikings 20

Dan Turczynski
Staff Writer

Dan Turczynski: An old-fashioned showdown between bitter NFC North rivals will once again take place in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs. Last time these two teams met in the playoffs Packers fans saw a “full moon” and an old-fashion beatdown courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings, 31-17 at Lambeau Field.

Vikings’ quarterback Daunte Culpepper lit up the Packers defense for 300 yards and four touchdowns, while Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre threw four interceptions and was sacked twice. Fast-forward to 2013 and what does this all mean? Nothing. Saturday night these two teams will fight for a chance to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. The two teams split the two matchups during the regular season each winning on their home turf.

Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson has lit up the Packers’ run defense in the two meetings, accumulating more than 400 yards on the ground. At the end of the day the playoffs are a completely different animal for football teams to tackle. Personally I would take a veteran that has a Super Bowl ring on his finger and four playoff victories, over a quarterback who will be making his first career playoff start.

I think the Packers rally from a poor defensive performance last week thanks to all-world quarterback Aaron Rodgers and advance to the second round where the San Francisco 49ers will be waiting for them next Saturday evening.

Packers 24 Vikings 13

Thomas Marquardt
Staff Writer – and lucky enough to be attending today’s game

Thomas Marquardt (who will be at Lambeau Field, BTW): This week in Lambeau will be a different story.

The defense played soft in the secondary last week, and Rodgers was frustrated by the slow spots as they tried to run the no huddle. I expect those things to change this week.

Pressure on Ponder and less selling out to stop Adrian Peterson will make for better overall defense and maybe a turnover or two. I will temper my prediction with what I saw last week.

Packers 27 Vikings 21

Ray Rivard
Lombardiave.com – who wishes he was at the game

Ray Rivard: Last week, the Minnesota Vikings played their best game of the season, Adrian Peterson ran roughshod all over the Green Bay Packers’ defense and they still needed a last second field goal to secure their win-to-get-in victory over the Packers … on their home field.

No matter how many yards AP gets in tonight’s nationally televised Saturday night showdown at Lambeau Field, it won’t be enough. An ailing Christian Ponder will be nowhere near where he needs to be to be a a Packer killer and Green Bay’s defense will get enough pressure on the second-year quarterback to force him into at least a couple of mistakes.

In addition, look for RB DuJuan Harris to do some damage for the Packers in this one – I expect the diminutive back to pick up anywhere from 60-90 important yards to help the Packers balance their offensive attack. I also expect Aaron Rodgers to play lights out, throwing at least three touchdowns and for 300 yards. For the first time in recent memory, Rodgers will have his full complement of receivers available. The Vikings will have serious issues attempting to cover – somebody’s got to be open.

The Vikings will run the field, but only between the 20s as the Packers defense holds them to field goals all the while the Packers offense gets into the end zone. It will be close through the first half, but Rodgers and the Packers offense opens it up in the second half.

Packers 31 Vikings 13

Jason Hirschhorn
Staff Writer who has come back to the fold this week to pick the Packers

Jason Hirschhorn: The question of whether the Packers can stop Adrian Peterson is immaterial. They cannot. Similarly, it is of no use wondering if the Vikings have an answer for Rodgers. They don’t. Rather, as proven by the two earlier matchups this season, the deciding factor in a Packers/Vikings game is the play of Christian Ponder.

Ponder will almost certainly not be as bad as he was in their first matchup, nor is it particularly likely his play will be as stellar as it was this past Sunday. Ponder is more or less a league average quarterback who faces favorable looks due to the presence of Peterson. That’s enough to be competitive at the quarterback position even if it strongly indicates that team is not a championship contender.

We’ve (prematurely) broken down the return of Charles Woodson, and we believe he’ll have a positive effect on defending Ponder. Statistically, opposing offenses have feasted on Green Bay when passing to their top receiver. Before anyone blames Tramon Williams, it’s not specific to any one defender, left or right side of the field, or type of receiver.

It’s a scheme driven problem, and everyone has been burned. This is an issue that may sink the Packers this year. Fortunately, the Vikings do not possess any obvious top receiver with Percy Harvin on IR. That coupled with the harsh weather should be enough to tie down the Vikings passing game. Unless Peterson has a 300 yard game in him, this one should go to Green Bay.

Packers 28 – Vikings 17

Bill Walton
Staff Writer with his family of Packers backers

Bill Walton: The Vikings come into Lambeau Field for their playoff game with the Packers with confidence that they will be able to beat Green Bay. That confidence comes primarly from their recent win at home in the last game of the season.

If the Vikings can run the ball with Adrian Peterson as effectively as the did last weekend, they have an excellent chance of winning this game. However, if they are forced to lean on QB Christian Ponder, either because the Packers finally start tackling or because the Packers offense starts well and the Vikings are playing catch-up football, their chances of winning fall dramatically

The Packers are aware of their situation and what they need to do to win this game. For the defense it’s simple. Tackle. Tackle again. And tackle some more. Offensively the Packers will have all their primary weapons back on the field. Number 12 in green will be looking at the best group of four receivers in this or any other league, and he’ll be dealing to all of them. Toting the rock will be DuJuan Harris, Alex Green, and Ryan Grant. McCarthy will stick with the hot hand, but in the weather expected at Lambeau tonight the hot hands had better be securely wrapped around the pigskin. Ball security will be paramount.

Wife Deneen says the Claymaker will have a big game tonight. She sees the Packers winning 28-17. Son John thinks the Packers will take their first step toward Super Bowl XLII when they win 35-14. I’m convinced that the Packers will win 33-21. Go Pack GO!

Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) passes against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Not everyone from the other side are viewing Saturday Night’s Wild Card Playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers through purple colored glasses – at least Dan Zinski, the editor over at The Viking Age, is seeing the light.

Christian Ponder
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Q. Christian Ponder played his best game of the season last week, but the Packers backed off on their normal blitz packages. Do you think Ponder has it in him to turn in another performance like he did last week?

The blitz question is the key thing. The Packers sort of let Ponder operate. He didn’t have the kind of pressure in his face that he’s had at times this year. And you saw that on a couple of occasions when the Packers did get pressure he didn’t make good throws. That one fluke throw that popped up in the air and Jarius Wright came down with, that was with a man in his face. That ball never should’ve been thrown. If the Packers bring more of that it could really be a problem. But if they just play back I think the Vikings can work the passing game. Bill Musgrave did a good job last week of getting guys open. And of course there’s the whole Adrian Peterson factor. The things he forces a defense to do. If Ponder gets the time, he can play another good game.

It’s hard to predict 200 yards for any player, even Adrian Peterson. I think he will have a good game because the

Adrian Peterson
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Packers simply are not a good tackling team. I don’t see them cleaning those problems up in one short week. Let’s put it this way. If the Vikings’ plan works, Peterson may very well get 200 yards, because the plan will be to get up early and run it to work clock and keep the ball out of Aaron Rodgers’ hands. So Peterson will get a ton of carries.

The Vikings will be in trouble without Winfield. He’s the guy they count on to cover the slot in the nickel. We saw with the long pass to Jordy Nelson how a team like Green Bay can exploit third corners trying to cover the slot. Marcus Sherels had no chance on that. Winfield has the unique ability to both cover small slot men and be physical enough to handle bigger receivers when teams slide them into the slot looking to create match-up issues. Winfield can come up and pop big receivers at the line and disrupt timing. The Vikings don’t really have another corner who’s capable of matching up that way. Josh Robinson was the guy they drafted to sort of slide into that role but he’s not gotten it done. I think we might see a lot more playing off with the corners if Winfield isn’t in there. We might see less rushing and more dropping into Cover-2 and just letting Rodgers dink and dunk.

Josh Robinson (21) tackles Green Bay Packers wide recevier James Jones.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Q. The Packers’ offensive line was so-so again last Sunday, especially in pass protection. Do you feel the Vikings will bring everything they have against Rodgers or will the defense sit back and hope for some coverage sacks?

This relates directly to the last question about Winfield. Being able to blitz is really about trusting your DBs. I’m not sure Alan Williams will have the same trust with Winfield not out there. And Harrison Smith is also nursing a bit of a bad shoulder. So this could be a rush-four kind of game. We know how deadly Rodgers can be against the blitz anyway. The Vikings have done well with a more aggressive approach but you need the personnel to play that way.

I’m going to get crushed for this by any Viking fans who happen upon this post but I’m taking the Packers. I’m taking the Packers by a lot. I just think the Packers have too much on the line in this game. The Vikings have played well the last month but they’re banged up physically now and I just don’t see the offense clicking for a second straight week. I think the Pack will bring some heat against Ponder and force turnovers. Adrian Peterson will get his yards but they will be dry yards. Lots of good running between the 20s and settling for field goals.

Packers 31 Vikings 13

Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) throws during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

I couldn’t have been more wrong about last week’s game at the MallofAmerica/HubertHHumphrey Metrodome.

I underestimated the motivations that the Vikings had in their favor and, quite frankly, underestimated the Vikings. I also underestimated the Vikings fans, as I thought they might have sold their tickets for the Packers game before it became a meaningful game.

I was wrong.

It’s not the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but while I counted on AP to be great, I didn’t count on Christian Ponder to beat the Packers. It isn’t necessarily reflected in the stat line, but Ponder beat the Packers, not Peterson.

Adrian Peterson
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings played the possession game and did it very effectively using AP. Keeping Rodgers and the offense off the field is part of any effective game plan against the Packers, but as dominant as AP was, it took Ponder to extend drives on third down. The Vikings converted 50 percent of their third downs and ALL of those were either completions or scrambles by Ponder (he also scrambled for nine yards on third and 10 and AP did the rest on fourth).

My point is, Peterson played like himself, but Ponder moved the chains. I did notice lapses in coverage, which may or may not have been a result of attempting to shut down Peterson, but the fact is that Ponder completed throws he usually wouldn’t be able to make.

AP averaged 4.7 yds on first down, but while he made a first down in four of those carries (four carries for 62 yards). He gained only 2.7 YPC on first down otherwise. Christian Ponder had to make plays to rectify that and he did. While AP’s numbers were nearly identical to the game at Lambeau, Ponder was better at the Metrodome.

Essentially what it comes down to is this: In order to win the game, we need to stop Ponder, not Peterson, though stopping Peterson would help. There is a reason the Packers won by 11 at Lambeau and lost by 3 in Minnesota. At Lambeau they played to win and let AP be great. In Minny they played to stop AP, as great as he is, and they allowed Ponder to beat them.

If the Packers focus on stopping AP instead of playing solid defense, the result will be similar to last week. If they want to play in San Francisco they need to stifle the rest of the Vikings offense.