Live look at the NFL’s marketing wing seeing that they finally have the Brady versus Rodgers matchup in the playoffs, with a shot at the Super Bowl on the line:



LAY UP DRILL! Not that the NFL needs help promoting a championship game, but come on, this is a ratings DREAM. And you’ve got Mahomes and Josh Allen on the other side of the bracket. Assuming Patrick Mahomes knows what galaxy he’s in after yesterday. But former NBA Commissioner David Stern (RIP) couldn’t have written a better script for the four teams remaining. This is Vince McMahon Wrestlemania central casting. A few notes on the Packer win against the Rams:
- The biggest matchup of the day was the Packer offensive line versus a formidable (even with Aaron Donald not at 100%) Rams front 7. The Packer offensive line dominated. They helped pave the way for 186 yards on the ground (5.2 yards per carry), they frustrated Donald into a personal foul, they kept Aaron Rodgers spotless. Honestly Rodgers could have just hung his jersey right back up in his locker without throwing it in the washing machine. Billy Turner shifting over to left tackle has been relatively seamless, Rick Wagner is holding up at right tackle, Elgton Jenkins might be the best guard in football, and Corey Linsley is the best center in football.
- A lot was made of the Davante Adams/Jalen Ramsey matchup, and while they didn’t line up one-on-one often, when they did, Adams had him in a blender. That touchdown catch was a thing of beauty. Ramsey was looking for someone to blame before the ball even hit Adams’ hands.
- Jaire Alexander allowed 1 catch for -3 yards on the day. Louder for the people in the back: He deserves votes for Defensive Player of the Year.
- At this point I would say it’s 50/50 at best that the Packers bring Aaron Jones back, I think they just have too much money tied up in other players, but he showed again on Saturday why he is indispensable. His 60 yard run to start the second half was a tone setter, and another example of how he’s a home run hitter every time he gets the ball. Plus, he was grinding out yards in between the tackles all afternoon. They drafted AJ Dillon in the 2nd round for a reason, and we love AJ Dillon, but if they can find a creative way to pay Jones, they need to.
- That baby food soft zone the defense plays once the team gets up by two scores is infuriating, but again, the final analysis of the defense was pretty good. 18 points and 245 total yards given up, while racking up 4 sacks. If you give up 18 points and 245 yards, you’re going to win every single game that Aaron Rodgers plays in.
- People who were chirping about the Rashan Gary pick a few years ago have been quieter than a church mouse lately. Kid’s a stud with a high motor.
- We’ve said on this blog almost all season, the special teams have a gaffe every week, it’s just a matter of whether or not that gaffe costs the team a game. This week, thankfully, it didn’t. But JK Scott pitching the ball to Mason Crosby after a botched snap on an extra point isn’t ideal. HOT POTATO!
At the end of the day, the Packers were in control most of the afternoon and rolled up 32 points and nearly 500 yards of offense against the #1 defense in the league. Now can they correct their mistakes from the 38-10 drubbing they received in Tampa Bay in Week 6. We’ll have more on that as the week goes on, but suffice it to say I do NOT expect Aaron Rodgers to turn the ball over twice this Sunday, and I certainly don’t anticipate the Packers losing the turnover battle 3 to 0 like New Orleans did yesterday. The Bucs got a 10 point win, but 21 of their 30 points came off of Saints turnovers that led to VERY short fields. I just don’t envision that happening this Sunday at Lambeau.
PS: Drew Brees is one of the modern day greats, so it was sad to see his career likely end yesterday the way that it did. He just doesn’t have the arm anymore. His mind is still sharp, but it doesn’t look like he has the physical tools at his disposal. Honestly I thought the Saints should have put Jameis in the game late in the 3rd quarter to at least give themselves a chance to push the ball down the field. That said, this was a pretty cool moment between Brady, Brees, and Drew’s kids after the game last night:
This is so cool pic.twitter.com/QKpxEJvrYm
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 18, 2021



