Thanks to their 23-20 victory over the Detroit Lions
Womens Jamaal Williams Jersey , the Packers locked up at worst the second seed in the NFC playoffs. However, there remains a glimmer of hope that the Packers could end up atop the conference and staying home all the way through to the Super Bowl.Getting that bye was critical, however. That is one fewer game that the Packers would need to play in a potential Super Bowl run, and it also represents the first time they have been a top-two seed since 2014, when the team went 12-4. That Packers squad beat the Cowboys at home before a game in Seattle that will live in infamy in the memories of Packers fans.In earning the bye, the Packers also earned themselves some valuable rest. The team lost a pair of starting offensive linemen to injuries on Sunday afternoon, as Corey Linsley and Bryan Bulaga left the game with a back injury and a concussion, respectively. Receiver Allen Lazard sat out much of the game’s final drive as well
Womens Aaron Ripkowski Jersey , apparently dealing with an injury of his own, and the week off will be a massive help as the team hopes those players will return to full strength for the Divisional Round.Now, the Packers need to cheer for the same Seahawks that bounced them out of the 2014 playoffs on Sunday night. A Seahawks win over the San Francisco 49ers would give the Packers the NFC’s number one seed and would ensure that the road to the Super Bowl runs through Green Bay. That game will kick off at 7:20 PM Central Time on NBC.Ultimately, though, the bye is the most important factor. The Super Bowl representatives from both conferences in each of the past four seasons have been teams that earned byes through the Wild Card round. And even though the Packers’ last championship came as the six seed — playing three road games to make it to the big game — this provides a much easier pathway to Miami and Super Bowl LIV.Now, if the Seahawks can find a way to win on their home turf tonight, the Packers would guarantee that they won’t have to go to California — or anywhere else — unless they earn a Super Bowl berth.UPDATE: The Seahawks lost a nail-biter to the 49ers, giving San Francisco the top seed and pushing the Packers down to the #2 spot in the NFC. The Packers’ official position was that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would have no input in the search for a new coach. Unofficially
Womens Bart Starr Jersey , well, did anyone really believe that the Packers would hire a coach without getting the approval of their $33.5 million face of the franchise?During Wednesday’s introductory press conference, new Packers coach Matt LaFleur admitted he got a phone call from Rodgers before LaFleur received a job offer.“That’s kind of how I had an idea that maybe I was in the running for it,” LaFleur told reporters, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.“The conversation went great,” LaFleur said. “I can tell he’s a passionate guy, and he wants to win. And I think that holds true for me as well. So I think we’re in alignment there because, like I said before
Dave Robinson Jersey White , this game is about winning. I know that he wants to add to his legacy, and the only way we’re going to accomplish that is to win a world championship.”Coincidentally (or not), the call from Rodgers was followed shortly thereafter by a call from Packers CEO Mark Murphy and G.M. Brian Gutekunst offering the job. LaFleur was riding in a car, his wife driving.“I thought we were going to get in a car accident,” LaFleur said. “She was at the wheel. It was incredible. When I tell you I was speechless, I was speechless because there’s just so much tradition here, and I can’t think of a greater place to be a head coach in this league, and really in all of sports. This is a dream come true for me.”The dream came true partially because of Rodgers. Beyond from the obvious dot-connecting between the two phone calls
Womens Dean Lowry Jersey , league insiders and observers strongly believe that LaFleur became the guy because he’s the guy Rodgers ultimately wanted. And LaFleur is the guy who will let the player in whom the Packers have invested so much money run the offense the way he wants, like Peyton Manning did, especially during his time in Denver.It worked for Manning, by the way. The notion of Rodgers having more control has developed a negative connotation because the Packers have resisted it. Maybe they should just embrace it, because it will now be part of the team’s reality for as long as Rodgers remains on the roster.