Leader of the Pack
January 10th 2011 19:14
It's hard to believe it when you first hear it, but the 6th-seed in the NFC just might be the team to beat in the conference playoffs. The Green Bay Packers left Phili out in the cold of their own city, having beatin' the Eagles and comeback player of the year Michael Vick, whose interception in the waning moments left the Eagles and their boisterous crowd stunned and silent. There would be no comeback here.
Meanwhile on the other side were the Packers, maybe the hottest team there is right now, celebrating their win over the 3rd-seed. Along with being a scorcher team, nothing less can be said for the outstanding play of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had three touchdown passes to finally pick up his previously elusive first playoff win.
In my mind, beyond the likes of Brady, Manning, and maybe Brees, Rodgers is the best there is. If the Packers were trying to find that foundational rock, they found a perfectly crafted meteor. That's how good this guy is. He out-played Vick hands-down, and is slowly creating his own legend in Green Bay, bringing himself into the light and out of the shadow of Brett Favre.
Now that Green Bay's running game is showing signs of existence, a more well-balanced Packers club could easily go all the way. Their toughest contender, the Atlanta Falcons, will welcome them in next week for the second time in the Georgia Dome this season. The Packers previously lost by a field goal to Atlanta, despite Rodgers strong showing.
The clear difference was the Falcons' Michael Turner, one of the best running backs in the game. With the loss of Ryan Grant to injury early in the season, the Packers didn't even have a running back, or so you would have thought. Mix Turner in with Roddy White and a QB close, if not equal to, Rodgers' skill in Matt Ryan, and the advantage was clearly to the Falcons. Now things are a bit different.
In one week, James Starks has practically become Tony Stark to Green Bay's Super Bowl chances. 123 yards on the ground might as well be 223 for the Packers. If you're the Falcons, you still want to make Green Bay run the ball. Atlanta is slightly better against the run, besides they don't want to give Rodgers too many chances to use his golden arm. Everyone also knows what Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jordy Nelson contribute.
The Packers also possess a very good defense against the pass, but stopping Turner from eating up yardage is the key.
With all due respect to the Seahawks and Bears, this is pretty much the NFC championship. It will be a great game, and though the Packers have a tough challenge, I think they're up for it. It's a whole different game than it was a couple of months ago. The Packers are that much better. People are starting to rave about them, and to think their just the 6th-seed.
Meanwhile on the other side were the Packers, maybe the hottest team there is right now, celebrating their win over the 3rd-seed. Along with being a scorcher team, nothing less can be said for the outstanding play of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had three touchdown passes to finally pick up his previously elusive first playoff win.
In my mind, beyond the likes of Brady, Manning, and maybe Brees, Rodgers is the best there is. If the Packers were trying to find that foundational rock, they found a perfectly crafted meteor. That's how good this guy is. He out-played Vick hands-down, and is slowly creating his own legend in Green Bay, bringing himself into the light and out of the shadow of Brett Favre.
Now that Green Bay's running game is showing signs of existence, a more well-balanced Packers club could easily go all the way. Their toughest contender, the Atlanta Falcons, will welcome them in next week for the second time in the Georgia Dome this season. The Packers previously lost by a field goal to Atlanta, despite Rodgers strong showing.
The clear difference was the Falcons' Michael Turner, one of the best running backs in the game. With the loss of Ryan Grant to injury early in the season, the Packers didn't even have a running back, or so you would have thought. Mix Turner in with Roddy White and a QB close, if not equal to, Rodgers' skill in Matt Ryan, and the advantage was clearly to the Falcons. Now things are a bit different.
In one week, James Starks has practically become Tony Stark to Green Bay's Super Bowl chances. 123 yards on the ground might as well be 223 for the Packers. If you're the Falcons, you still want to make Green Bay run the ball. Atlanta is slightly better against the run, besides they don't want to give Rodgers too many chances to use his golden arm. Everyone also knows what Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jordy Nelson contribute.
The Packers also possess a very good defense against the pass, but stopping Turner from eating up yardage is the key.
With all due respect to the Seahawks and Bears, this is pretty much the NFC championship. It will be a great game, and though the Packers have a tough challenge, I think they're up for it. It's a whole different game than it was a couple of months ago. The Packers are that much better. People are starting to rave about them, and to think their just the 6th-seed.
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