Down The Stretch: The Packers Last Four Games of the 2015 Season

Despite their mid-season swoon on offense (if their injuries at receiver weren't enough, the injuries on the offensive line are a bigger problem at the moment) and their defense's struggles to create a pass rush without blitzing a defensive back, the Green Bay Packers are at 8-4 and a top the NFC North. The main concern is going to be the Minnesota Vikings and winning the NFC North title, though a wild card birth is a strong possibility even if they struggle down the stretch.

With one game remaining against each other, and both the Packers and Vikings are traveling to Arizona for one game, their schedules are very similar. Each team plays another team with a long-shot chance at the playoffs (Packers at Raiders, Vikings host Giants) and another one against a team that's just finishing out the season (Packers host Cowboys, Vikings host Bears).

Confidence is important for a team, not the most important thing but it's a factor, and for what it's worth, the Packers have a lot of confidence after winning a game on a Hail Mary pass while the Vikings completely fell apart at home against the Seahawks. It's never a good thing when a team's star player starts calling out his coaches in public.

Our story on Adrian Peterson's frustration with his number of carries today, and what's behind it: https://t.co/FzyCfOQlpC

— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) December 7, 2015

I'd love to say I know how the next four games are going to go for the Packers but they've been so inconsistent while losing four of their last six games that it's hard to predict. However, the Broncos game being the exception, after every time they've fallen behind recently, they've managed to stage a late game rally or comeback win. So no matter how bad they look (i.e. the first quarter against the Lions) they'll still have a chance to rally. The Cowboys game should be a win but nothing is a given right now. Traveling across the country to play the Raiders feels like a trap game before they visit the Cardinals (which is their toughest remaining game). Then it'll be a rematch against the Vikings which might be the game to decide who'll make the playoffs.

Packers release LB A.J. Hawk

The Packers have released veteran LB A.J. Hawk, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports.

Hawk, the team's first-round pick in the 2006 draft, had been with Green Bay for a good nine seasons, making the Pro Bowl once in 2010.

He also won a Super Bowl with the Packers that year, the highlight of a career the record books will too remember. Throughout his tenure in Green and Gold, Hawk collected 1,118 tackles -- the most in Packers history.

Hopefully he'll find a new job soon. It was kinda fun watching him flip off the camera all those years ago.

Packers release WR Kevin Dorsey

In the wake of yesterday's cutting of TE Brandon Bostick, the Packers have apparently made another move.

The Packers have released second-year WR Kevin Dorsey, reports The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Dorsey, a seventh-round pick out of Maryland in the 2013 draft, struggled to stay healthy during much of his tenure with Green Bay, missing most of the 2013 offseason program with a hamstring injury before later going on injured reserve with a toe issue. 

The youngster was available for most of 2014, however, and played in three games. He caught one pass for four yards, and committed two special teams tackles prior to breaking his foot November 8. 

Reaction: Packers to retire Favre's #4

With it being the early offseason, there isn't much to talk about around the NFL. However, there was one piece of Packers news this week: the overdue but still likable announcement that Brett Favre will have his number retired by the team this summer. 

Ever since the months leading up to Favre's 2008 trade to the Jets, it seems few in the Packers' fanbase are still supporters of the former quarterback. The common argument appears to be that his playing for the Vikings is simply unforgivable, no matter how much he previously did for Green Bay. 

But I guarantee you: those 16 seasons from 1992-2007 would've been a lot worse had Favre not been there.

He won a Super Bowl, simple as that. Some teams only dream of contending nowadays.

We should just admit it, this generation of Packers fans is spoiled. While the Bears and Vikings get a new quarterback every few years, the Packers have been blessed with Favre and Rodgers. They've made us view an 8-8 season as a failure and an appearance in the conference title game as okay. Some people's refusal to like Favre right now is an obvious side effect of their unfamiliarity with losing.

I'm a younger fan, so I'm more attached to Rodgers than Favre. But I will say that if Rodgers takes off in six or seven years to become a Viking/Lion, I'd forgive him. He'd still have done a lot for the organization, as is the case with Favre.

Bottom line: I'm happy Favre's getting his number retired. I don't think it'll be as well received as it should be since some still view him as an enemy, but I'm glad to see it finally happening. 

You should be too. 

McCarthy considering giving up play-calling duties

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy is considering giving up his play-calling duties, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports. 

McCarthy has thrown around the idea of promoting Offensive Coordinator Tom Clements and letting him decide the team's strategies in 2015, according to Demovsky. 

If that plan comes to fruition, WR coach Edgar Bennett would replace Clements in a corresponding move. Bennett has held his current job since 2011.

Nothing is official yet, but expect more to come of this. It can certainly be argued that McCarthy's questionable choices in the NFC Championship Game had something to do with the Packers' losing that contest, so it wouldn't be that strange if this news is in fact true. 

Matthews open to playing ILB in 2015

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews certainly seemed to do well when playing inside this season, and the veteran says he's open to trying it again in 2015.

Here's his full quote, courtesy of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Silverstein:

"I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the change. At the same time, I'm very good at getting after the quarterback off the edge, so I think there's a fine line. So, we'll see. Week in and week out you never knew if I was going to be there 100% of the snaps or only 10. We'll see what that means moving forward."

Packers third most likely team to win Super Bowl 50, Bovada says

The Packers' 2014 season certainly came to a rough end, but the oddsmakers apparently still think they're pretty good.

Or at least that's opinion the online sports book Bovada seems to have, with the website giving the Packers 8-1 odds to win Super Bowl 50 in a list released Monday. 

That line is the third best in the league, trailing only the two teams who played yesterday. The Seahawks are first at 5-1, and the Patriots are second at 7-1. 

As for the rest of the NFC North, the Lions are a low 33-1, and the Bears and Vikings are an even lower 40-1. 

Definitely not bad news if you're a Packers fan. 

Packers QB Rodgers named 2014 NFL MVP

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has been named the 2014 NFL MVP.

Rodgers, who threw for 38 touchdowns and just five intereceptions this season, received 31 of 50 possible votes, by far the most of any candidate. Texans DE J.J. Watt was second with 13, while the Cowboys' DeMarco Murray and Tony Romo each had two. 

Rodgers had a 112.2 passer rating this year, the second best one in the league. He was also second with an average of 8.43 yards per attempt. 

This is the second time Rodgers has won the honor, having also done so in 2011.

Packers fire ST Coordinator Shawn Slocum

In a move you can't call surprising, the Packers have fired ST Coordinator Shawn Slocum, reports Pro Football Talk. 

Slocum, who has worked with the team since 2006, struggled mightily when coaching his guys during the recent conference championship game, letting the Seahawks turn a fake field goal into a touchdown while failing to recover a late onside kick that would've ended it.

Slocum was wished well by Mike McCarthy when the announcement was made Friday, but again, it wasn't at all strange to hear he had been let go. Speculation of Slocum's termination began the moment the Packers lost to Seattle, the reason they obviously aren't playing in the Super Bowl this weekend. 

McCarthy "agrees with the intent" of Burnett's title game slide

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy probably doesn't like that Morgan Burnett slid on his NFC Championship Game interception, but he is still okay with it. 

In an article recently published by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, McCarthy said he "agrees with the intent" of Burnett's decision, which appeared to end the contest at the time. 

Taking place with just over five minutes on the clock, Burnett's now-infamous takeaway likely would have set up a long touchdown if the Packers safety had kept running, not that it was all his fault. 

Green Bay DE Julius Peppers could be seen giving Burnett the "go-down" signal on the play, so he is at least partially to blame for the mistake. Still, it's not like you could really point to it as the sole reason for the loss, as the Packers had plenty of opportunities afterwards to pull away. 

Packers Sign Former Alabama Punter Cody Mandell

The Packers have signed former Alabama Punter Cody Mandell, the team's official website reports.

Mandell, who joined Alabama in 2010 as a walk-on, was pretty good in college, averaging 42.6 yards per punt while solidly landing 58 inside the 20 yard line. 

He was first-team All-SEC as a senior, as well as finalist for a pair of awards. 

He will wear number 9 with the Packers after a brief stint with the Cowboys last offseason, presumably doing so while competing with Tim Masthay for the starting job. 

The move to acquire him was announced by general manager Ted Thompson. 

Shields convinced Bryant made controversial catch

Packers CB Sam Shields isn't exactly taking the side he probably should on Dez Bryant's NFC Divisional incompletion. 

Shields believes Bryant caught the ball, according to a recent ESPN.com article.

Shields called the controversial play a catch in the article, adding it was a "helluva" one at that. The overturned catch, coming on a late 4th-and-2, essentially doomed the Cowboys in the contest, one which they would eventually lose 26-21.

Bottom line: it appears common sense is continuing to trump technicalities when it comes to the play, though said technicalities are in fact part of the league's rule book. 

Matthews fined $22K for block on Wilson

Packers LB Clay Matthews has been fined $22,050 for his hit on Russell Wilson in last week's NFC Championship Game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. 

Coming after Wilson had a pass intercepted by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the second quarter, Matthews blocked Wilson pretty aggressively, and the league has apparently thought it was excessive. 

The knock has been labeled a cheap shot by some, but Matthews doesn't think so.

"I was just blocking whoever and it turned out to be the quarterback and obviously calls are going to go in their direction whether it was a blind-side hit or whatever," he told Rob Demovsky. "I'm just looking to pick up a block and unfortunately that's just how the game played out."

Packers deny Rams' request to interview Van Pelt

The Packers have a denied a request by the Rams to interview team quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde reports. 

Van Pelt, who served as Green Bay's running backs coach for two seasons before changing jobs last year, is currently a candidate for St. Louis' open Offensive Coordinator position, according to Wilde.

Still, this doesn't mean Van Pelt's out of the running by any means, as the Giants were also denied the right to interview then-Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo last offseason before hiring him later. 

Expect more to come of this story in the near future. 

Rodgers to sit Pro Bowl, be replaced by Bengals' Dalton on roster

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has decided to sit out this year's Pro Bowl, according to Bleacher Report.

Rodgers will be replaced by the Bengals' Andy Dalton on the roster. Rodgers has been nursing a calf injury for the last month, and must not have found further injury worth risking for the essentially-worthless exhibtion.

Besides him, it was also reported today that Randall Cobb and Sam Shields will head to Hawaii after two more elected guys chose to stay home.

The Packers will now have six representatives in next weekend's game, with Jordy Nelson, Josh Sitton, John Kuhn and Clay Matthews being the other four.

Sitton Understandably Upset After Loss to Seahawks

Now that the team's season is over, Packers Guard Josh Sitton is pretty upset.

Here are some of his postgames from yesterday's loss, courtesy of NFL.com's Kevin Patra. They're kind of harsh:

"Anytime you feel like you should have won, it's tough to get over. And when it's the last one, it's very difficult to get over. You feel like it's a waste of seven, eight months. What's the point of getting this far? I'd have rather not even made the playoffs." 

"We kicked their ass up and down the field all day. And there's no reason we shouldn't have won the game. Literally one of 10 plays you can pick that if we get it, we win the game. It's frustrating when you should have won the game and you're the better team. And I thought we were the better team all day except for three minutes."

Reaction: Packers give up with seven minutes to play in crushing loss to Seahawks

You guys already know what happened today, so I'm not going to explain it. Still, this is a Packers site, and on it today must be discussed.

Today, the Packers played perfect football for 53 minutes. They picked off Russell Wilson four times, kept the Seahawks to just seven points, and led by 12. They had the ball after a Morgan Burnett interception, and for a second it was all over.

In my own household, there were cheers. Plans for a Super Bowl party were already being made while discussions on the upcoming AFC game took place. For a second, everything was perfect. The Packers, with a half-injured QB in Aaron Rodgers, had upset the mighty Seahawks on their homefield, and memories of Rodgers' famous "relax" comments came to my mind.

Then, all the sudden, something struck the Packers. The team who seconds ago had all the momentum in the world seemed to just turn off. Their attitude could be compared to what always happens with them: they stop playing prematurely, and almost blow the game.

Key word there is almost, because this time they actually did it.

Wilson led Seattle downfield at will to make it 19-14 and the usual nerves began to fill me. As always, I didn't expect the Packers to make it easy for themselves, but still, I was sure they'd find someway to finish it off.

Then Bostick dropped the onside kick, and I, probably along with the rest of the Packers' fanbase, knew it. The Packers were screwed, or any other word you would like to substitute there. 

Seattle scored again without trouble and went for two. Fortunately, on this play, Wilson ran back to the 20, so it could be assumed he had no chance of converting the play. However, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, having the game of his life, thought differently, and decided to play what can only be described as stupidly for the first time all afternoon. He let a receiver catch a lob pass the receiver had no business catching, and the score became 22-19. Game over, right? Nope, the Packers still weren't done screwing with our heads.

Because Rodgers, refusing to let his uninterested defense ruin his season, amazingly got the Packers all the way into field goal range within the next minute, setting up a Mason Crosby 48-yarder to tie things. Hope, I thought then. Maybe this'll just be a really awkward victory that we'll still appreciate.

No, because by chance the Packers then lost the coin toss (not sure which genius thought that idea up 100 years ago, but that's another story), and the Seahawks had the ball. I wasn't happy about this, but I tried to be optimistic. The Seahawks had had multiple worthless possessions up to that point, so maybe the Packers could force another. 

But remember, this is the Packers, and consistency is not one of their values. Indeed, after somehow forcing the Seahawks to face a 3rd-and-6, Green Bay gave up a pair of deep pass plays, the latter of which put six points on the board. And just like that, the dream was dead. The idea of watching TV personalites talk about the Packers' brilliance became nothing. The two weeks in which I was looking forward to writing about every aspect of the Super Bowl: nothing as well. 

Basically, the Packers let me down in this one. I appreciate the division title and the Cowboys win and all, but really, I don't. Had they lost this game in the first quarter, I'd be fine. They gave it their best shot and got this far and all, but just weren't good enough in the end. 

Only they were good enough. Maybe that's why I'm so upset right now. They had a chance to write a story. They had a chance to shock the bandwagon fans of the Seahawks, (Yeah, I'm calling you out. There were not this many Seahawks fans before last year) and play Tom Brady for their own trophy. But no, they traded it all away, essentially all their hard work since the summer, because they thought it was over. 

Bottom line: this season should be remembered for Rodgers' greatness, Davante Adams' emergence, Eddie Lacy's refusals to go down, and the 12-4 record. But it won't, at least not in the minds of Packers fans. Instead, it'll be seen as the lost season, somewhat of a forgettable one.

And after today's fourth quarter, maybe it should be.

Packers/Seahawks Final Prediction

My final prediction for tomorrow afternoon's NFC Championship Game:

Score: Seahawks 28, Packers 21

I want to see the Packers win this one, but then again, I have to be realistic here. The Seahawks are the better team, therefore they'll probably score more points.

Why?

Simply because the Seahawks are unbeatable at home and the Packers are just okay on the road. Not to mention, we still don't know how well an injured Rodgers will perform against Seattle's defense, good as he was last week. I still think it will be close, but that's about it. 

Let's hope I'm wrong.

Lacy probable for conference championship game

Packers RB Eddie Lacy has been listed as probable for Sunday's conference championship game in Seattle, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports.

Lacy has been experiencing soreness in his right knee this week, according to Demovsky. However, team Head Coach Mike McCarthy isn't concerned about his health, assuring the media Friday "he'll be ready to play."

Lacy rushed for 101 carries on 19 carries in last week's divisonal playoff against the Cowboys, including one on which he ran for 29 yards. As for his entire season, he recorded 1139 yards on 246 carries, reaching the endzone nine times while fumbling thrice.

Lang fined by league for hit in Cowboys game

Packers OL T.J. Lang has been fined $8,268 by the league for his personal foul penalty in Sunday's divisional playoff against the Cowboys, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports.

Lang knocked Cowboys DT Nick Hayden over in the contest's third quarter, resulting in a flag and a 15-yard loss for Green Bay. The incident sparked a minor scuffle between the two teams, though Lang was the only one to get penalized on it.

The play essentially ruined the Packers' drive, and can be blamed for the fact they were forced to settle for a field goal on that possession.

Lang, however, has claimed he didn't think the hit was late.