The Green Bay Packers have laid claim to 13 National Football League Championships which is more than any other organization in the NFL. In the 1960’s the Packers would win five NFL Championships including the first two Super Bowls. This success led Green Bay to be dubbed “Titletown”. Lambeau Field is the home field of the Packers and it has served as a tremendous home field advantage for Green Bay as it has been named the “Frozen Tundra”. The winters in Wisconsin can be brutally cold which will make the playing conditions at Lambeau extremely tough for Packer opponents. In the 1967 NFL Championship Game the Packers hosted the Dallas Cowboys. The game time temperature at Lambeau Field was minus-15 degrees with a wind chill that made it feel more like minus-48. The game would go on to be dubbed as the “Ice Bowl” and the Packers would defeat the Cowboys 21-17. From 1921-2002 the Packers had a stellar home playoff record of 13-0.
That changed on January 4, 2003 when the Atlanta Falcons rolled into town and defeated the Packers 27-7. Since the 13-0 start to their home playoff record the Packers are 3-5 at home during the postseason including this past Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Once upon a time each year starting in late November the Packers could count on defeating some of their opponents that came to Lambeau Field just off of the weather conditions in Green Bay, but that is a thing of the past as opposing teams are better equipped and mentally tougher. Each of the five Packers losses had a common theme as they were out toughed by their opponent.
In Sunday’s loss to the Niners, the Packers hung tough with the defending NFC Champions, but they couldn’t make the key plays when they needed to.
For the majority of the game the Packers defense did not have an answer for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick accounted for 325 total yards this past Sunday including 98 rushing yards as he turned Lambeau Field into his personal playground.This was illustrated in the fourth quarter when Kaepernick led the Niners on two scoring drives that included the final drive of the game which resulted in the game-winning 33-yard field goal from Niners kicker Phil Dawson. It was the same tale from last season’s playoffs as well. Last season the Packers and Niners met in the NFC Divisional Playoffs in San Francisco and it was once again the 49ers who came out on top by a score of 45-31. In that game Kaepernick accounted for 444 total yards and four touchdowns as Packers head coach Mike McCarthy could only look on in disbelief.
After starting the season with a record of 5-2 things looked good for Green Bay as they were once again a favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. But that changed in Week 9 when Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone. In Rodgers’ absence the Packers were 2-5-1, but neither the Chicago Bears or the Detroit Lions could assume control of the NFC North. Rodgers returned in Week 17 to lead the Packers past the Bears to claim their third consecutive NFC North Title.
Rodgers is a difference maker and going forward it will be vital for him to remain healthy. Outside linebacker Clay Matthews had to deal with injuries all season and a thumb injury kept him out of the playoff loss to San Francisco. Matthews missed five games this season and the Packers defense reflected in that as they were the 25th overall defensive in the NFL. All signs point to beleaguered Packers defensive coordinator returning in 2014, but this defense must improve; namely in finding another pass rusher to offset Matthews who constantly faces double and triple-teams from opposing offenses.
Hands down Rodgers and Matthews are the leaders of the Packers. Along with Packers general manager Ted Thompson, McCarthy will head into the off-season looking to build around both Rodgers and Matthews. In regards to keeping Rodgers healthy, Thompson and McCarthy must do a better job of protecting him. This past season Packer quarterbacks were sacked 45 times which was 9th highest in the NFL.
Thompson and McCarthy know how to put a team together as the two combined to lead the Packers to a Super Bowl Championship during the 2010 NFL season. These two men will once again put on their thinking caps now and we can expect to once again seeing the Packers contending for a Super Bowl Title in 2014.
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