He's talking about a possible Green Bay/New England Super Bowl.

He posed this on ESPN All Night...(paraphrasing)

"What team can fit the ball into tight spots. Which team can best pressure Brady, and who has the best cover guys. What team has a running game that will keep the Pats defense honest? Who in the NFL could beat the New England Patriots?"

It's not the Colts. It's not the Cowboys or Steelers.

Did you say the Green Bay Packers? You'd be right.

The Packers pose the biggest matchup challenge of any team in the NFL. If Charles Woodson is healthy, they have the cornerbacks. They pressure the QB, and as the Ravens showed tonite, that's they way to beat Tom Brady.

The Patriots defense looked slow and old tonite. Green Bay's receiving corps are fast and athletic. Brett Favre is deadly accurate, and could exploit the Patriots defense, which is suddenly looking human.

The Packers in the Super Bowl could pose major problems for New England. Don't be so sure that New England is an automatic win.



At least one person @ ESPN has a good head on his shoulders!!

Dallas poses the same type of match up problems on offense as well. They have a better TE and a decent WR corps.

While yes, I believe when healthy GB has better DB's Dallas also has a better OL.

As usual, everything boils down to health. I had no issues with MM resting Woodson and KGB among others if it means they are there for the playoffs. Same goes with guys like Jolly.

Philly and the Ravens proved that NE is no longer some team that is "head and shoulders" above everyone else. You're talking about 2 teams that arent even elite much less legit playoff teams who nearly beat them. It's no secret what the formula is. And for whatever reason, NE's run defense has taken a serious plunge south. They looked terrible in that respect tonight.

Bottom line. Neither GB or Dallas or Indy or PITT has reason to run in fear and hide. It's not just GB. After the last 2 weeks, I find it unlikely this team in fact goes undefeated. They have been exposed.

Could the Pack give the Pats a run for the money? Absolutely.

But what ended up costing the Ravens last night, was the penalties they kept getting giving the Pats yet another chance to score.

If the Pack makes it to the SB, they have to cut down on the number of penalties. If they can do that, then yes, the Pack could once again beat the Pats in the SB. A very sweet thought in itself.

I agree, SP, that the Pack needs to cut down on their penalties.

I think Andy Reid gave the league a blueprint on how to the beat the Pats, and I think that will prove valuable to a team like Pittsburgh in the playoffs.

I really wonder if they peaked too early and if they'll make it to the Super Bowl. Remember the year the Vikings were the best team in the NFL and didn't get there....

I have to admit, after watching the Patriots shred the Packers defense last year with a guy like Reche Caldwell as their go to receiver, I don't have much confidence that our defense could slow down the Pats much with Randy Moss and Co.

We're much better than last year and yet the Patriots are better than last year too. Certainly, it wouldn't be another 35-0 game. But I just wonder if we've really closed the gap that much that we could actually beat a team as strong as the Pats.

What has changed with the Packers D that makes you think they wouldn't get destroyed like they did last year against NE? Last year they had Caldwell and a few other scrubs and this year they have Moss/Welker/Stallworth. The only way I think they'd have much of a chance would be to kill them on time of possession, much like the Giants did against the Bills in that Super Bowl.

If they couldn't stop the Cowboys they won't be able to stop the Patriots.

quote:

Originally posted by squirrelpee:
Could the Pack give the Pats a run for the money? Absolutely.

But what ended up costing the Ravens last night, was the penalties they kept getting giving the Pats yet another chance to score.

If the Pack makes it to the SB, they have to cut down on the number of penalties. If they can do that, then yes, the Pack could once again beat the Pats in the SB. A very sweet thought in itself.

The number of penalties committed has little to do with the games outcome.

quote:

Originally posted by TheFavreRules:
What has changed with the Packers D that makes you think they wouldn't get destroyed like they did last year against NE? Last year they had Caldwell and a few other scrubs and this year they have Moss/Welker/Stallworth. The only way I think they'd have much of a chance would be to kill them on time of possession, much like the Giants did against the Bills in that Super Bowl.

If they couldn't stop the Cowboys they won't be able to stop the Patriots.

I agree, I'm not sold on Sanders at all. This was billed as a top ten D coming into the season , but they've played far from that. The run D isn't too bad (12th overall just behind the Cards), but the pass D has looked bad all season ... 23rd in the league at this point and barely ahead of the Cards & Bears.

The safties play has been very poor, I just hope Shotts is gone after this season. I have absolutely no faith in the Packers D shutting down a great passing O like NE/Dallas ... those teams we'd just plain have to out score.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
I agree, I'm not sold on Sanders at all. This was billed as a top ten D coming into the season .

by exactly who? This seems to be a current theme with you. You also also said this saturday:

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
but the Packers D surely haven't lived up to the preseason hype.

You're joking right? What hype exactly are you refering to? That they would be better then last year?



I would really like for you to answer these.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
I have absolutely no faith in the Packers D shutting down a great passing O like NE/Dallas ... those teams we'd just plain have to out score.

Looking at points allowed I like the Packers defensive chances in every game.

The media were saying the Packs D will likely be a top ten, you're still hearing about how good the D is even though it's below average. A good example of that is the above article. You heard it all the time on Fox's pregame shows at the start of the season about the strength of the Packers would be their D

quote:

Originally posted by Hungry5:

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
I have absolutely no faith in the Packers D shutting down a great passing O like NE/Dallas ... those teams we'd just plain have to out score.

Looking at points allowed I like the Packers defensive chances in every game.

In most games yes, but NE and Dallas will get their points on this D. GB will likely have to score 35 to win against either team (which they actually could).

Listen, I'm just worried about the pass D, that's all. It should be better than it is, 23rd in the league in yards given up isn't good no matter how you slice it. The good thing is Oakland doesn't pass to well, 30th in the league, so even though they're a good running team they'll be playing to the Packs strength.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
The media were saying the Packs D will likely be a top ten,

show me these articles that the Packers D would be a top ten defense.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
A good example of that is the above article.

No it's not,it doesnt that they would top ten. All thats ever been said about our D is that it would improved over last year AND it HAS!

quote:

Originally posted by BackThePack:

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
The media were saying the Packs D will likely be a top ten,

show me these articles.

Sorry, I don't have the time to go hunting. I probably heard it more than read it anyway, on the pregame shows (mostly Fox).

You don't believe me, that's more than fine ... put me on ignore please.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:

quote:

Originally posted by BackThePack:

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
The media were saying the Packs D will likely be a top ten,

show me these articles.

Sorry, I don't have the time to go hunting. I probably heard it more than read it anyway, on the pregame shows (mostly Fox).

You don't believe me, that's more than fine ... put me on ignore please.

It was never said in the first place. AGAIN , All thats ever been said about our D is that it would improved over last year AND it HAS!

Oh and I watch the Fox pre-game every week also. All those four have said is that we have had an improved young defense that is playing well and thats one of the factors that why we are doing so well.

Nice try,but no.

BTW your original comment was "This was billed as a top ten D coming into the season"

Now its pregame on fox?

Now go take a long look at the media predications for the Packers before the season started.

Of course the "top ten" thing hasn't been mentioned lately because they are not. The Packs D was hyped at the beginning of the year, for the first few games as being a potential top ten D by the Fox crew (especially by Jimmy Johnson IIRC).

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
Of course the "top ten" thing hasn't been mentioned lately because they are not. The Packs D was hyped at the beginning of the year, for the first few games as being a potential top ten D by the Fox crew (especially by Jimmy Johnson IIRC).

Show us then,show us how someone said that they would a top ten defense. Thats NOT what was said.

The only people that have every said that is some fans on the internet on a few Packer boards. Thats IT! Not the national media,not our local press,not the fox pregame show.

quote:

Originally posted by BackThePack:

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
Of course the "top ten" thing hasn't been mentioned lately because they are not. The Packs D was hyped at the beginning of the year, for the first few games as being a potential top ten D by the Fox crew (especially by Jimmy Johnson IIRC).

Show us then,show us how someone said that they would a top ten defense. Thats NOT what was said.

The only people that have every said that is some fans on the internet on a few Packer boards. Thats IT! Not the national media,not our local press,not the fox pregame show.

I don't have time right now, maybe during the week I'll see what I can dig up, but I did find this ...

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=659165

"Tough on tape
Merril Hoge of ESPN's "NFL Matchup" studied the Packers' exhibition games on tape and came away impressed with the defense.

Hoge declared what he learned.

"I want people to listen up to this," Hoge said. "Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders of the Green Bay Packers is going to orchestrate one of the top five defenses in football by the end of this year. They do a couple of things that I love. First of all they challenge every player on every snap. They get in your face."

Hoge then showed tape from the Packers-Jacksonville Jaguars exhibition game that showed the defense in man-to-man press coverage.

"The Packers' defense is a secret right now," Hoge said."

FWIW, I believe Bob McGinn, in his article stating that the Packers could finish 13-3 or 14-2, may have stated that the Packers should become a top ten defense by the end of the season based on the level of the offenses they were playing in the second half of the season. That article was printed early in the season if anyone thinks its worth the time to track it down.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:

quote:

Originally posted by BackThePack:

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
Of course the "top ten" thing hasn't been mentioned lately because they are not. The Packs D was hyped at the beginning of the year, for the first few games as being a potential top ten D by the Fox crew (especially by Jimmy Johnson IIRC).

Show us then,show us how someone said that they would a top ten defense. Thats NOT what was said.

The only people that have every said that is some fans on the internet on a few Packer boards. Thats IT! Not the national media,not our local press,not the fox pregame show.

I don't have time right now, maybe during the week I'll see what I can dig up, but I did find this ...

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=659165

"Tough on tape
Merril Hoge of ESPN's "NFL Matchup" studied the Packers' exhibition games on tape and came away impressed with the defense.

Hoge declared what he learned.

"I want people to listen up to this," Hoge said. "Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders of the Green Bay Packers is going to orchestrate one of the top five defenses in football by the end of this year. They do a couple of things that I love. First of all they challenge every player on every snap. They get in your face."

Hoge then showed tape from the Packers-Jacksonville Jaguars exhibition game that showed the defense in man-to-man press coverage.

"The Packers' defense is a secret right now," Hoge said."

Ok I give you that one,but just one guy? I'll point out another the almost said it, Look at Bob McGinns predications for this year and that article.

But if your telling me,that its,I wouldnt call that exactly Hyping by alot of people.

However, I recall Hoge picking against us a few times this year on NFL Live. For a guy that had so great things to say about us,I am not sure why he continues to pick against us.

IIRC,He picked against us in the Chargers game stating LT was going to be too much for us.

quote:

Originally posted by atticus:
FWIW, I believe Bob McGinn, in his article stating that the Packers could finish 13-3 or 14-2, may have stated that the Packers should become a top ten defense by the end of the season based on the level of the offenses they were playing in the second half of the season. That article was printed early in the season if anyone thinks its worth the time to track it down.

actually he basically said the same thing that hoge did. Both used the same reasons that very well could still happen also. I still dont understand how this defense this year is such a let down either like some are trying to claim. They have improved over last year. It hard to knock something that has shown improvment. They are a very big reason why we are 10-2 right now.

As I said, I don't have the time right now to go internet searching. Hopefully I'll be able to find more as the week goes on without having to spend too much time, because I don't think it's that important. I could give you 5 examples and you'd still pooh pooh them.

It's something I heard more than read, about the Packers having what could be a top ten D. Don't forget, their D finished 12th last year IIRC ... someone correct me on that if I'm wrong.

But, if you think the Packs D is playing up to it's top potential, especially the pass D, then that's all that matters.

quote:

Originally posted by Packhead:
As I said, I don't have the time right now to go internet searching. Hopefully I'll be able to find more as the week goes on without having to spend too much time, because I don't think it's that important. I could give you 5 examples and you'd still pooh pooh them.

It's something I heard more than read, about the Packers having what could be a top ten D. Don't forget, their D finished 12th last year IIRC ... someone correct me on that if I'm wrong.

But, if you think the Packs D is playing up to it's top potential, especially the pass D, then that's all that matters.

Thats correct,they finished 12th and I am not "Pooh Pooh" your comments,I am merely pointed out that they are improved over last year and hyping up a defense to be top ten was really wasnt exactly true. You had a couple guys stat that. Most people just said they would be improved and they have shown that.

Your telling us that its not improved over last year? They shown improvment dating back to the last four games of the 2006 season. I am no fan of shotty but obviously something those defensive coaches have/are doing has worked.