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Seattle-Denver matchup features NFL’s top defense vs. league’s No. 1 offense
By CHRIS HAVEL
If you are a Green Bay Packers fan – especially one who doubles as a Wisconsin Badgers fan – and you are looking for a rooting interest in Super Bowl XLVIII your search is over. The Seattle Seahawks are your team.
There for many reasons, not the least of which is because they slammed the playoff door in San Francisco’s facemask on Sunday.
Did you really want to endure two weeks of 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh’s condescending sound bites? Or the incessant replays of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick? I didn’t think so. Thank you, Seattle. The debt owed on the Fail Mary is almost paid off.
Here are five reasons Packers fans should count themselves as honorary, one-day-only members of Seattle’s 12th Man fan club. After all, Seattle has its CenturyLink Leap, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

#5: Winning Team

It is always nice to be on the winning side and the Seahawks are going to defeat the Broncos. There is precedence for it, the game-time weather forecast supports it, and Seattle’s defense dictates it.
The Broncos opened as the early favorite after their 26-16 victory over New England in the AFC Championship Game Sunday at Denver. Seattle’s last-minute, 23-17 victory at home against San Francisco was much more compelling, but perhaps less impressive than Denver’s showing to a national betting audience.
However, a closer look at the facts strongly suggests a Seahawks’ victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL’s top offense and top defense have met in four Super Bowls. The top defense is 3-1. Furthermore, a total of 15 teams with the league’s top-rated defense have reached the Super Bowl. The top defensive teams are a combined 12-3.
Indeed, defense wins championships. And inclement weather is a rugged defense’s best friend. The most recent AccuWeather forecast says there is a possibility of rain and snow showers coupled with a high of 37 degrees at East Rutherford. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been less effective in cold weather, and the statistical data proves it.
According to ESPN’s John Clayton, Manning has had 15 regular-season games in temperatures below 40. His completion percentage drops minimally (65.5. to 63.7) but in cold-weather playoff games it plummets to 56.4 percent. He also has nine interceptions in cold-weather postseason games.
That bodes well for Seattle’s hard-hitting, opportunistic defense.
The Legion of Boom is waiting.

#4: Packers-Seahawks ties abound.

Packers GM Ted Thompson spent five seasons (2000-2004) as the Seahawks’ VP of football operations. Packers assistant head coach/ILBs coach Winston Moss played his final three seasons in Seattle (1995-97) and began his coaching career as quality control defense in 1998.
Packers LBs Clay Matthews and Nick Perry played for Seattle head coach Pete Carroll at USC. … Seahawks P Jon Ryan played for Green Bay in 2006-07. Seahawks T Breno Giacomini was a fifth-round draft pick of Green Bay in 2008 and played in one game.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and CB Chris Maragos played at Wisconsin. Seahawks GM John Schneider is from De Pere and served two stints in the Packers’ personnel department (1993-96, 2002-09) concluding as director-football operations. Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell played QB at Wisconsin and coached on the Packers’ staff from 2000-05.
The Denver Broncos have ex-Badgers running back Monte Ball. It isn’t even close.

#3: Seattle’s defense plays the way we’d like Green Bay’s defense to play.

When San Francisco’s Kaepernick began running wild in the first half, the Seahawks’ defenders took it upon themselves to man up.
Cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas echoed the following sentiment in post-game comments: “We told ourselves that championship teams rise in these situations, and that we weren’t going to let Kaepernick beat us. We were going to hit him on every play.”
After a dominant first half, Kaepernick threw two interceptions and Seattle’s defense had the last laugh in the final quarter.

#2: More Ties to Green Bay.

The Seahawks play in the NFC, they play in an outdoor stadium and they rely on their fans—the 12th Man—to give them a home-field advantage. They have become what the Packers were in the 1990s, and what the Packers want to become again this decade.
Perhaps Thompson will take a cue from his disciple, Schneider, and at least dabble in free agency. The Packers need to plug several holes, and they need to add experience – especially on defense – if they are going to compete with teams like the 49ers and Seahawks.
Follow the blueprint.

#1: Seattle’s appeal seems wider.

Unless you are a Denver Broncos fan, or a Peyton Manning fan, the allure of seeing Manning somehow “vindicated” or “elevated” if he captures a second Super Bowl ring seems farfetched. Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Nothing can change that. Seattle’s appeal seems wider.
Love him or hate him, cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Kam Chancellor and the rest of Seattle’s defense play a tough brand of football that is entertaining. Perhaps it is more that way because Packers fans are familiar with offensive fireworks, but defensive explosions are rather few and far between of late.
Here is rooting for the Seattle Seahawks to defeat the Denver Broncos. After what they did to San Francisco on Sunday they deserve that much.

Seattle, San Francisco shapes up to be a defensive battle royale; Green Bay can watch & learn
By CHRIS HAVEL
The NFL’s Divisional Playoff round was at once exciting and educational this weekend.
Each of the eight teams came into the weekend with a Top Ten quarterback to lead them. The Seahawks, 49ers, Broncos and Patriots prevailed because they had more than Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. They had coaching, defense and special teams and the better team won in each case, advancing to the Championship Round this weekend.
The emphasis, of course, is on team. The Packers should have been a divisional qualifier based on the presence of Aaron Rodgers, one of the game’s top quarterbacks. They fell short in the wildcard round because of defensive deficiencies and subpar special teams play. While injuries certainly contributed to that situation, to chalk it completely up to that is not realistic. 
Whether head coach Mike McCarthy decides to continue with Dom Capers as the defensive coordinator and Shawn Slocum as the special teams coordinator is his call. He might be right to stay with them another season, and see how they do with hopefully a more healthy team and an infusion of new talent. But the hunch here is we may be having this same conversation in mid-January of 2015. If McCarthy truly believes that the Packers were on their way at 5-2 coming off the 44-31 victory at Minnesota on Oct. 27 he might now be reconsidering. He thought Rodgers would have his best season, and that the Packers would continue to roll through their schedule. The problem is when Rodgers got hurt, the defense was exposed and nothing can change that fact.
Like all good teams and organizations in the NFL, the Packers need to own up to their deficiencies and learn from mistakes. The Packers’ safeties didn’t have an interception for the first time in 50 years. That’s almost unfathomable in this day and age of the NFL’s pass happy teams. The safeties’ shortcomings are the most glaring, but the entire defense needs a close review. The Packers should add two safeties this offseason: One in the draft, and another in mid-level free agency. If Burnett and Co. fends them off, so be it. If not, the secondary will be that much better for the infusion.
The front seven also needs major alterations. B.J. Raji hasn’t earned the $10 million annually that he is seeking. Josh Boyd’s strong surge late in the season makes him expendable. Ryan Pickett is a valuable veteran and at 34 shouldn’t break the bank. The cast of Datone Jones, Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson need to elevate its play. Mike Daniels was the team’s best defensive lineman and in no small part because he was high energy, 100-percent effort start to finish. Others could learn from Daniels’ example. And Jerel Worthy’s return to form would be most welcome for this unit.
The linebackers’ unit is thin. Clay Matthews is a premier pass rusher but he must find a way to stay healthy. His absence for four and five games at a stretch is too great to overcome given the surrounding talent, or lack thereof. The Packers still hold out hope that Nick Perry will stay healthy and thereby live up to his first-round status. When healthy, he has shown intermittent flashes of big-play capability. Like many players, you’d like more consistency…..doing it some times becoming being counted on to do it when the games are most important and the competition is keenest.
Inside linebacker A.J. Hawk accepted a pay cut before the season and then promptly went out and earned every penny. Brad Jones, his running mate, is OK in coverage but his forte is not taking on ball carriers in the hole. And Jones also has been bit by the injury bug too often. The Packers will be wise to re-sign Hawk at a modest pay increase, and plan on moving ahead with Jones as a nickel linebacker only. Despite the big defensive draft of two years ago, they need help on that side of the ball. They need to draft a safety, an inside linebacker and an outside linebacker in the first four rounds.
On offense, the Packers’ greatest need is a tight end. Jermichael Finley’s healthy return would be a god send, but right now that’s very far from a certainty. And they could easily lose him in Free Agency, if he is cleared to play. Eddie Lacy is the difference maker. The Packers’ offensive line is plenty good enough when it is healthy, and when Lacy and Rodgers are the one-two punch in the backfield. Both elevate the line’s performance, and Lacy gives Green Bay the toughness and tenacity that Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch and San Francisco’s Frank Gore bring. Having Lacy going into next season, and having the offseason to get healthy, will make the Packers a better team. But if they are going to be playing in the NFC Divisional Playoffs next January, they need to shore up the defense, either with or without a new coordinator. The same can be said for special teams.
It’s not an easy call for McCarthy, but it’s why he is entrusted with the Packers’ fortunes in the foreseeable future. He and GM Ted Thompson face considerable challenges in the coming months, but it could be worse. They have a top-rate quarterback, running back and receiving corps. The tight ends are OK, the fullback is solid and the offensive line is good enough if it stays healthy.
It will be interesting to see what McCarthy decides. Who says the off season is boring?

San Francisco sneaks by injury-riddled Packers 23-20; Green Bay one play away in wild-card playoff loss
By CHRIS HAVEL
The bone-chilling temperatures, rabid fans and playoff pressure weren’t enough to thwart Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s NFC wildcard game at Lambeau Field, but the ravages of injuries to the Pack lent the Niners a huge helping hand.
With temperatures in the single digits and sub-zero wind chills to contend with, Kaepernick relied on his feet to carry the 49ers past Green Bay and into the NFC divisional playoffs.
Phil Dawson’s 33-yard field goal at the gun lifted San Francisco to a hard-fought 23-20 victory over the Packers. Even that was just inches from being blocked. It was the second straight postseason in which the 49ers and Kaepernick managed to get by Green Bay and eliminate them from contention.
Faced with third-and-8 in Packers’ territory Kaepernick sidestepped a blitzing Jarrett Bush and ran 11 yards for a first down to set up Dawson’s game-winning kick.
Afterward, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers accepted the blame. He was 17 of 26 for 177 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Packers into the divisional playoffs.
“Very disappointing, personally,” Rodgers told reporters. “It’s frustrating not to play your best game in tough conditions. Defense holds them to 23 points. We should win that game.”
If you assess the two teams on the field, considering holes left by injuries, the feeling might be the better team on that field won, but that doesn’t mean the Packers, even though there lineup was devastated by hobbled key players, didn’t have their chances. After Green Bay’s defense bent but didn’t break in the first half, the Packers trailed at 13-10 at intermission. In each of the three previous wildcard games the team that trailed at halftime rallied to win. That wouldn’t be the case in Green Bay as fate continued to deal them a tough hand.
The Packers’ defense managed to keep it close, and Mason Crosby’s 24-yard field goal tied it at 20-20 with 5:06 to play. That’s when the 49ers went on their game-winning drive.
When the Packers didn’t get into the end zone on that fourth quarter drive it opened the door for the 49ers.
Today, many feel that the discussion begins in earnest regarding the futures of Packers’ defensive coordinator Dom Capers, special teams’ coordinator Shawn Slocum and others.
On the defensive side, injuries and other factors need to be considered, of course, in these deliberations. The Defense played significant portions of its season without its dominant player in Clay Matthews, including in this game. Add to that the loss of Sam Shields, Mike Neal, Johnnie Jolly, and a host of others in this or recent games. The special teams’ units also were subpar in coverage and so-so in the return game, so need attention.
Now it’s up to Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to do what it takes to make his vision for this team a renewed reality.
When McCarthy replaced Bob Sanders with Capers, he stressed the importance of playing an aggressive, attacking 3-4 defense. He wanted the kind of defense that plays fast, forces turnovers and especially is good at playing with a lead.
But if the message isn’t getting through loud and clear from a coordinator to the players it’s difficult to blame the entire roster. My gut feeling is McCarthy may well make a change at defensive coordinator.
On the Offensive side of the ball, the Packers were in better health for this game than for much of the year, having Aaron Rodgers (albeit still a bit rusty from an 8-week lay off) and Randall Cobb back, but let’s not forget the impact on the season of losing their anchor at OT in Bryan Bulaga and their play-making TE in Jermichael Finley. In this game, the Packers’ offensive line allowed the 49ers to hit or harass Rodgers on almost half of his drop-backs. That should not happen.
Naturally, McCarthy displayed no frustration or sentiment on coaching changes after the game. That is neither the time nor the place.
“I’m just very proud of this team as far as their ability to continue to overcome adversity,” McCarthy said. “It hit us at every turn, it hit us again today and these guys just keep fighting and fighting.”
The Packers are the only team in the NFL to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last five seasons. At full strength, they are inarguable an elite team. But now McCarthy faces some difficult decisions that may be necessary if this team is to go deeper in the post-season all the way back to the Big Dance.

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Green Bay’s 33-28 victory propels Packers into the NFL’s postseason
By CHRIS HAVEL
It may not be the single-greatest play in Green Bay Packers history but it certainly is in the conversation.
Facing fourth-and-7 at the Chicago 48 with less than a minute to play, Aaron Rodgers punctuated his return with a pass for the ages. Rodgers took the snap, saw a Bears’ safety roll up on Jordy Nelson, sidestepped Julius Peppers and lobbed a perfect pass to a wide-open Randall Cobb.
Cobb cruised into the end zone with what proved to be the game-winning play in the Packers’ 33-28 victory over the Bears Sunday at Soldier Field. The victory enabled the Packers (8-7-1) to capture the NFC North Division title and earned them a rematch with San Francisco in the NFC wild-card playoffs Sunday at Lambeau Field. It is the Packers’ third straight division title and fifth straight playoff appearance.
“This is a special group of guys who’ve been through a lot,” Rodgers told reporters after the game. “It’s been a rollercoaster.”
The ride ended for the Bears (8-8) in painful fashion. Chicago’s defense brought the house with the game on the line, but a tremendous block by fullback John Kuhn and Cobb’s head’s-up play sent the Bears and first-year head coach Marc Trestman packing.
Rodgers was shaky early in his first start after an eight-week absence due to a broken left collarbone. But after he settled down the Packers and Bears went facemask-to-facemask in a gut-wrenching thriller. The Packers converted three fourth-and-go-home plays on the winning drive, including a diving catch by Jordy Nelson that was reviewed by the replay officials before being upheld. Nelson finished with 161 receiving yards, while James Starks (88 yards) and Eddie Lacy (66 yards) tore up a really bad Bears defense.
Chicago’s Jay Cutler kept the Bears’ hopes alive with a strong performance, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall to put Chicago up 28-20 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Bears running back Matt Forte rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns and also caught four passes for another 47 yards and a touchdown.
Still it wasn’t enough as the Packers’ defense did enough early to keep it close while Rodgers threw interceptions on his first two drives. Green Bay’s Jarrett Boykin scored on one of the most bizarre plays you’ll see. After Peppers hit Rodgers to force a fumble, the officials didn’t blow the whistle because it was a live football. Boykin attempted to pick up the loose football, then kicked it a few feet before grabbing it and running untouched into the end zone.
The second half was back-and-forth before Rodgers’ last-minute heroics. Cutler tried to muster one final drive but was intercepted by Sam Shields to end the game.
Now the Packers host the 49ers with an opportunity to atone for a dreadful 45-31 loss in the NFC Divisional Playoffs a year ago.
Clearly, Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers and special teams coach Shawn Slocum need their units to play better if Green Bay hopes to advance. Furthermore, one or both may be coaching for their jobs. The Packers have been bounced from the playoffs each of the past two seasons because their defense let them down in a big way. I can’t imagine Packers head coach Mike McCarthy will stand pat if Green Bay endures a similar fate this post-season.
But enough of that talk. There will be plenty of time for that if the Packers get KO’d by the 49ers or by Seattle or Carolina if they advance. Right now, karma is on the Packers’ side after a brutal injury-plagued season. It’s no coincidence that Rodgers and Cobb figured in the game’s deciding play. Green Bay’s offense appears to be as dangerous as ever. Now, if the defense and special teams show up Green Bay could be poised to make a deep playoff run.
Bring on the 49ers and say bye-bye to the Bears.

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Green Bay’s 38-31 loss to Pittsburgh canceled by Chicago’s loss to Eagles
By CHRIS HAVEL
The Green Bay Packers chose an inopportune time to take a step back. With the momentum of a two-game winning streak and a snowy Lambeau Field as the backdrop, head coach Mike McCarthy’s Packers were dealt a surprising setback Sunday in a 38-31 loss to Pittsburgh.
While it is true the Packers still control their own destiny, it also is true that the Packers’ ascent toward being a serious playoff caliber team during Aaron Rodgers’ took a hit against the Steelers. The Packers (7-7-1) will capture the NFC North Division crown with a victory against Chicago Sunday at Soldier Field. That is because the Bears (8-7) were blown out by the Eagles 54-11 last night in Philadelphia.
While hope remains alive for Green Bay, the reality is the Packers must play a disciplined, mistake-free, head’s-up brand of football if they hope to compete with the Bears on Sunday. Will Mr. Rodgers return for this one last crucial regular season game? Let’s cross our fingers.
There was some good in the Packers’ loss against the determined Steelers (7-8). It included:

• Eddie Lacy rushing 15 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns before aggravating an ankle injury. He exited late in the third quarter, and while James Starks performed OK (10 carries, 47 yards), Lacy was missed.
• Micah Hyde’s clutch 70-yard kickoff return that gave Green Bay at least a chance to perhaps tie the game in the final minutes. Hyde was active defensively and is an up-and-coming player.
• A.J. Hawk’s nifty one-handed tip-and-catch for an interception afforded Matt Flynn and Co. at least a chance to keep hope alive. Hawk was the Packers’ best linebacker on the field Sunday. (By the way, why were the Steelers throwing the ball at that point? We were asking similar questions about the Cowboys seven days ago.)
• Flynn’s two turnovers were brutal, but on the whole he played OK, and one pick (returned for TD) occurred because Flynn’s own blocker hit his throwing arm as the ball was released. Flynn completed 21 of 39 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. His quarterback rating of 69.6 is not as hoped for, but he still made several nice plays despite being constantly harassed and sacked three times.

That said, the Packers’ mistakes and self-inflicted damage caused them to fall short. Due to the Bears’ loss later Sunday, the Packers’ outcome wasn’t as deflating as their performance. A team with playoff aspirations, in a game with playoff implications, can’t make that many mistakes and expect to advance beyond the first round.
The Packers and McCarthy are getting painfully thin on time to get these recurring problems cleaned up. The most prominent miscues included: The offense running just one play during a critical 40-second span at game’s end.
“I don’t know what happened, really,” Flynn told reporters after. “The operation seemed kind of weird right there.”
The Packers received a false-start penalty which moved them back to the Steelers’ 6-yard line, and a 10-second runoff that went with it.
Then, Flynn didn’t get the snap off until there were three seconds to play. That shouldn’t happen at the high school level, let alone the NFL.
To make matters worse, it seems the Packers were robbed of clock time by inept officiating at the end, painfully reminiscent to the Wisconsin Badgers at Arizona State last September.
Flynn’s interception after being nudged by tight end Andrew Quarless that was returned by Cortez Allen for a 40-yard touchdown. It capped a 14-point Steelers’ outburst in a 14-second span late in the third quarter.
The Packers gave up three first downs by penalty. B.J. Raji’s selfish retaliation by throwing a punch wasn’t smart. Neither was Nick Perry’s false start penalty that kept the Steelers from kicking a field goal before Pittsburgh eventually scored a touchdown.
Here is a stat of concern for the Green Bay defense: Kicker Mason Crosby made more tackles (one) than B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Mike Daniels and Nick Perry combined (zero).
The special teams were painful to watch except that Hyde’s 70-yard kickoff return was a thing of beauty. Otherwise, it was a tough day for the special teams.
The Steelers fooled the Packers with a fake punt. They also blocked a field goal, although the play was negated by a very fortunate “batting” penalty against Pittsburgh. Perry’s offside didn’t help, and the kick coverage was rough.
Other than that, it’s a wonderful life for George Bailey and Shawn Slocum, I suppose. Given the Packers’ 38-31 loss and the Bears’ 54-11 humiliation coming into Sunday’s game, it is possible we could see a high-scoring, once-in-a-Packers/Bears lifetime-freewheeling affair. 
It sounds like fun. It also sounds like a Chicago Bears’ victory if the Packers’ defense and special teams don’t tighten up, if AR doesn’t play and if Matt Flynn doesn’t find a way to quit giving it up. Through it all, McCarthy must feel a bit like George Bailey in that memorable holiday classic movie. He has seen what life for the Green Bay Packers would be like if they lost Aaron Rodgers (or $8,000 as in the movie), but just when despair is upon him, McCarthy finds a way to lead the Packers to victory and a division title.
The Packers’ fans celebrate mightily while the Bears are vanquished, and an angel gets his wings. At least I think that’s how the movie ends, Green Bay-style.