That missing element is confidence.

When the kimchi gets deepest, the team mirrors their coach, and becomes distressed.

Matt has a lot of attributes as a head coach, but a steely, measured resolve in the crucible of the most pressure-filled moments isn't among them.

Great question Ken. I'm less critical of the coaching staff now, than previous parts of the season. I think the game plans adjusting for key injuries have been very good. If anything....still around discipline and focus in the heat of moments. On the sideline, in the huddle...what is needed that all 11 players are focused and avoid penalties or blown assignments at key moments when the crux of the game is at hand...and emotions are high. That Brinson facemask was huge, as one example which nullified a deep sack and 4th down. Maybe a lilttle veteran leadership in the huddle...I don't know. I agree. Talent is there, as well as all of the pieces to reach the championship. GB is close. Your question is the question to ask. Why doesn't this team turn out the lights and close the door?

Six straight playoff berths under LaFleur is elite consistency. Thanks to the Vikings embarrassing the Lions on Christmas, we're officially dancing again.

This squad has shown flashes of dominance. With two weeks to heal our remaining guys and let the offense find its rhythm—Jordan Love back slinging TDs, Watson stepping up—There is nothing stopping this team from catching fire like that magical 2010 run. You remember the IR list on that team?

And dont forget our special teams, we....... Ahh crap..... Offense and Defense need to make sure we are up by 3 possessions going into the final last 6 or 7 minutes of a game.

There have been too many close losses for sure, but they are 9-5-1. They have closed out their opponents in several close games.

I was actually hoping the Lions would win yesterday so the Packers would have to do some more work to earn a playoff spot. They are still fighting for a chance at winning the division, though, so it should be all hands on deck tomorrow. Lamar Jackson is listed as "doubtful" for the game, but the Ravens have a good backup, Tyler Huntley, and they are still in the hunt--just barely--for a playoff spot.

Pass rush. Not enough pressure.
With Parsons out, it just got worse.

Thankfully the Packers are a team of effort, that has been a constant over these years. With very good QB play and a sprinkle of offensive talent it has kept us competitive. Ultimately we are not talented enough to consistently play at the higher levels. Offense plays well until it runs into a good defense with a good D-line. Similarly, defense plays well until it runs into an offense with a good O-line.

We can point to a winning record during regular season play when teams are still forming, mistakes govern the day and there is a steady diet of average. There is little room for average teams as we get to December. Watching the Packers unable to exert their will against good opponents late in games tells me they are not physical enough or trained enough. The talented enough should be evident with our stars shining in these playoff style games. Unfortunately we are not seeing enough shine when it matters most.

I am grateful for a competitive team that brings effort and is relevant. I am not seeing a championship quality team. I am not sure how they will get there from here.

I agree its a coaching deficiency in critical situations.

It actually is the President, Front Office and Coaching. They create the culture and none of them seem to wish to make the hard decisions...
Rumors abound that Policy will re-instate Gute though he has been responsible for many questionable roster choices which has created a shaky--OL, DL CB-room and over-spending on average, expensive players with Cap casualties-
MLF would not fire subpar Coordinators, coaches nor pay attention to Special Teams.The team will remain ranked as 8th or 9th out of 32 with these underlying problems. Fans have been made to sound ungrateful or have been criticized if they question the current status quo, but GB's actions do not align with their promises. Change begins @ the GM/HC level and if done well will change the culture-look @ the Bears (Ben Johnson), Jaguars (Gladstone, Coen and Campanile), Rams (Snead, McVay).
The Bears and Jags have made remarkable leaps in one year.

LATE ENTRY: Hafley is a culture-changer-he has been on the level of Ben Johnson, Anthony Campanile and Sean McVay.

If getting to the playoffs isn't enough for fans, you would not have made it through the '70s. Looking at the last two Super Bowl Teams, there was a leader on the defensive side of the ball. Reggie White and Charles Woodson. This year ours may have been Parsons, he is beyond any doubt one of the best players I think I have ever watched, but was he that guy? But with him out, I don't see that presence on the defensive side. Will someone be that guy? IDK.

Team chemistry is a mystery and can't be manufactured. But when it is there, you know it. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Right now, I see a lot of great parts.

We should dominate with Reed, Watson , Golden, Doubs, Wicks , Williams if he isn’t hurt

Golden either isn’t as good as we thought or we don’t pay much attention to him.

Watson , melton Golden fast on the deep balls go make a play.

You watch other teams they run after the catch. Seems like it’s either a long ball or short passes no yac.

Most of the yac went away when South Dakota got hurt.

It’s not the receivers fault . It’s bad angles. Chicago game bad angle to Watson ….that was embarrassing let him come in and break out I….its a Td.

Reed in motion. Doesn’t show much Let him work on a guy from not being in motion.

A lot of times it’s tempo with us

Lions games and parts of commanders game had good tempo

Tempo. Tempo. Tempo.

Love not under center a lot ….doesnt help. …

Wicks big Detroit game and nothing much since.

I don’t want to say it but I will.

Love is starting to remind me of Carson Wentz. One read and throw..

He is far better than Wentz…….but it seems he has went backwards parts of the seasons

Is that coaching. Play calling. A combination of both. Or like the Carolina game looking like he didn’t want to be there.

I think it revolves around not using your players to their best abilities. They hadn't drafted a WR, in the 1st round, for over 20 years. Then, this past draft, they got Matthew Golden. So what do they do? They use him on end arounds and on short slant passes.I have rarely seen, this season, a deep ball thrown Golden's way. We have Watson, who always get the deep ball thrown his way. Why not create plays for Golden, deep? I think they are wasting Golden's abilities at WR, if they don't throw him the deep ball, once in a while. Open up the offense for the WRs. Where has Wicks been, the past couple of weeks?
Another thing that gets me frustrated, is our TE room and their YAC. Tucker Kraft is sorely missed. He is the standard all other GB TEs should emulate. Musgrave is like a train that just left the rails, on his catches. Sure, he can get us 40 yards, but that's because that's where he caught the ball. Once he catches it there is no chance for YAC, as he has lost his balance, or trips over his own feet. Fitzpatrick simply does not catch passes. Now, he's out with an Achilles injury. Who is left in the TE room?
Using their players, to the best of their abilities, IMO, solves a lot of GB's problems. GO PACK, GO!!!

We shouldn’t even be talking about number 2 seed. Number 6. Etc…..

We should be number 1 seed. We flipping had it …..

Lost to panthers ,cowboys and browns Even eagles game

That’s the difference ….

So will have to get Jacob’s healthy next couple of weeks ..to make final push.

I would rest Gary also….get him fresh…

Vikings have 8 wins with bad qb play.

We have 9 wins.

Think about that

Lions 8 wins
Lots of players missing

Packers 9 wins.

What’s missing is players who can control the LOS (both sides).

And coaches who can control the players (both sides).

The Packers will never be consistent winners until they have both of the above.

It.Is.About.Time.

It shouldn't take this long to identify the leader(s). Letz say you didn't know anything about football or the Green Bay Packers (just a coincidence if some of you posters think I am referring to you, I am not:).

Letz say all the Packer players and staff are wearing the same clothes without anything differentiating one person from the other. Just observe...could you tell who is (are the leaderz)?

Maybe, it's behind closed doors. Waitttttt, is that a Conway Twitty song? "When we get behind closed doorz,...."

I love my Packers, through Holiday weight and thin.

Yourz and theirz,

PB

I go to Cheesehead TV thinking I would find a story saying 'Yes! The Packers Made The Playoffs AGAIN!". Instead I find the usual array of Debbie Downers trying to pick a scab that has healed over.

I think a sizeable number of Packers fans simply like to feel miserable so in some twisted way they can feel good.

Here's another take: after a long and very tough season the Packers have fought through the competition to find themselves among the NFL's best teams. Is that so hard to fathom?

Is the team perfect? No way. No team is. But you look at the winners in the league and you find these elements: exceptional talent coached to maximize effort. The Packers are a deep and talented team, fully capable of beating any team. They have proven that this season.

"Any Given Sunday!"

So, to all the naysayers: "The Packers Are In The Playoffs, AGAIN!" Just sayin'. I will give myself a thumbs down to begin the parade of folks who like to feel miserable who will push the thumbs down.

Alright, alright,....

Who, who is gonna be lil' CindyLouWho on the Packers who is gonna tame the Scrooge of past playoff loses?

Pantz

*there is no whining on forumz such as this. Pleaze, no name calling or trying to put another person'z opinion down just because they are different from yourz.

Letz Chevy, Case the Lombardi trophy baby!,

PB

CLEAN THE HOUSE.
we are already late.
the problem Is upstairs.
why love Is playing even if everybody can see willis Is much better??? the only reason is he is playing because gutekunst gave him 55 millions per year so he needs to save his ass.
MR Policy, CLEAN the house please.

Hafley is exceptional and has been a culture-changer which is a big reason he will be coveted by other teams.

My thought is the Packers haven't demonstrated they have that "extra gear"....how to push it to 11. Some teams have it. I don't believe that's about coaching: you don't coach "motor" in developed adults...it's about the motor and resilience of individual players. Some teams have that one (or two) guys who they can count on to make that key play and provide that extra gear. Without Parsons, I don't know who that is for GB. They've got two weeks to find that guy and/or figure out where to get that extra gear.

We can look at every team making the playoffs, and we can easily say that parity is real, but the biased eye refuses to see the difference in play of these teams. The Packers are the friendliest team, as they just won't beat their opponent to the ground, they just want to get a win, and that allows teams the opportunity to not lose. This team hasn't got a killer instinct, especially when they need to show it and declare who they are, no, they shrink Offensively, and play a weaker Defense hoping to survive the assumed quit of the opponent.

This teams' best attribute for opponents, is its deepest weakness, they always leave the door ajar, whether by coaching, or player failings. The mantra in the opponents' locker room, pregame and halftime, The Packers love to leave the door open to be robbed of a win, and it doesn't seem to take much effort.

What’s missing is full consistency. Going 17-0, with every game won by a score of 35-0.
Then a run through the playoffs and a SB win by a score of 28-7, after which, some fans would be whining about how they underachieved in the Super Bowl, questioning the playcalling, and calling for a major housecleaning.

Well, we've clinched a playoff spot with two games remaining. How many teams can say the same thing?

It's that time of year when we've almost made it through the hap-happiest time of the year. In my neck of the woods, the weather vacillates between "ugh, it hurts to go outside" and "crap, now everything's covered in ice." It's the time of year when my inner voice calls to me to lie on my side and eat brown food. BUT, there is light in the form of the Green Bay Packers. And, the Green Bay Packers are headed for the playoffs. Again.

I think this team, this group of men, with these coaches, and all the challenges they've faced this year so far is in a position they have never been before. It's not the same as any prior season. Every player and every coach is bringing something new to this collective effort. Nothing stays the same. So, for this team, and for me the direction to look is forward. The Packers have an opportunity to beat the Ravens, and then defeat a Vikings team that will surely want to play spoiler. Go do it, and see where that leads.

GPG

I don’t know what it is, but gawdanmit ima gonna complain about it.

Maybe it's lack of attention to detail or having the proper mindset in crucial situations. Like, "Nobody is taking this ball away from me when I'm running in the red zone", or "If that onside kick comes my way, that ball is mine, even if I can only smother it and curl up in a fetal position."

Ken, I believe an organization's success is a function of leadership, which can occur at various levels. The Giants' success in the 1950s was based on the leadership of the DC (Landry) and OC (Lombardi). The 1990s Packers were successful because of Wolf and Holmgren; and once Holmgren was replaced by Rhodes (a HC with an easier manner), things went south in hurry and he lasted only one year. The overnight transformation of the Broncos by Payton is a good example of strong (ruthless?) leadership. It's a long season. Coaches should be intimately familiar with their players' strengths and weaknesses, and place them in situations that will produce individual (and organizational) success. And should know how and when to motivate each player. And the coaches should be very familiar with the strengths and weakness of their opponents, and plan accordingly. I feel good about the Packers' chances this postseason. It's up to MLF to provide the leadership to bring it home.

"The Lass Word: Something's Missing"

Yes, the something missing part is we haven't had the last word in the last two games.

Don't worry about starting fast, work on finishing strong.

Peace to all and let's have some fun while we are at it.

Reporting as eligible,

Pantz

*as a friendly reminder: if you have been carrying the G for years, make sure to switch hands every now and then so as to not have one arm much longer than the other.

Since Murphy installed the Football Committee in 2018 and made himself Chairman and Acting GM, the Packers have been very status quo. The team will win more than they lose in the regular season and lose more than they win in the playoffs. And as long as the Chairman/GM is satisfied with the results...well, carry on!

Chairman/GM Murphy has been most responsible for the Packers results since 2018. As Captain of the SS Titletown he hired both Gutey and LaFleur into their current roles. Lots of status quo records, coaching, organization structure over this time.

Committees encourage status quo management as long as the Committee is satisfied with the results. I often imagine how Wolf and Ted would have managed the last 6 years. Wolf was not status quo. Ted was at times.

What will Ed's new "policy" be after spending the last Season in the Captain's Chair?

What’s missing is a bus ticket for MLF. TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE.

I hate the negative stuff but if this or any team was perfect there wouldnt be any. IMO and many wont agree, the achiles heel of this team has been the secondary. Poor tackling skills, lack of quickness to play press coverage and the reason for this silly zone D of Hafwits. Valentine cant tackle, Nixon is too slow to the ball and misses assignments via mental mistakes, McKinny plays center field hoping for interceptions but when he has the chance he drops them early and often. And these are the stars of the secondary I'm talking about.

I did not see the game tonight and I know they ran for td's but I would bet the Ravens moved down the field at will via the pass and then ran when close to the goal line.
The bears beat us last week passing like crazy the last three minutes of the game.
People arent beating us with the run, they are beating us with the pass.

My take the packers have two more games this season, next week a loss to the Vikes as their defense is flat out winning games for them and whomever we play in round one. Thats it. Season over because both those loses will be due to secondary play. We can score points and compete but we cant stop good passing teams from scoring the points faster then we do. Again my opine.
Fix that problem and you have a totally different packers team that at least becomes hard to beat.

Ken, That picture may be more prophetic than you realize.

I disagree. It is the coaching. Nothing brilliant about passing on close field goal attempts and going for it on 4th down and turning the ball over. The player talent is there. Penalties are almost predictable when the team gets into scoring position after a long drive. Disipline is missing on both sides of the ball.