I’m more concerned with the defense.

The Lions will come to play… but might they get to amped up? They haven’t had many prime time performances yet… just a thought.

The 49ers also have yet to play the Steelers (week 15 in SF), so a 15-1 finish for the 49ers is anything but given at this point.

Also, a home game and first-round bye have been much more important than HF in the championship game. Frankly, I think whatever team the Packers play in the divisional round (assuming they get the bye) will likely be more dangerous than the 49ers.

D∈T

Rodgers has an “off” day & still has freakish numbers. Not bad.

If anyone still has the game DVR’d or TIVO’d (or videotaped if your still in thye last century) go back & count the number of time you hear Buck or Aikmen say “Josh Freeman to a wide open……”. Defense needs some serious help. I’m beginning to worry about Shields & Peprah

I thought the key to the offense turning this game around was Rodgers going to the check down in the early 4th quarter. Tampa was playing deep coverage and their LB’s were quickly dropping deep into zone coverage because our run blocking was atrocious. Those check downs forced those LB’s up and opened up the passing lanes down the field.

Offensive line really struggled again. Two weeks in a row where the interior of the line played worse then the T’s. Sitton has been below average the last two weeks and the middle three were terrible in run blocking until late in the 4th.

Capers seems to have little answers this year to problems that are happening week after week. Maybe it is a function of the Packers playing with a two score lead most games and he plays soft to avoid the big play but this defense seems to be getting beat in similar ways each week. I think maybe not having Collins covering the back-end limits Capers also. ????

I thought Tampa played inspired enough to win this game and the Packers played sloppy enough to lose it. Those two goofy onside kick failures really helped the Packers put enough points on the board to salvage a win.

Crosby’s streak has had me worried. A certain Vikings kicker went 38/38 in the regular season before missing a short field goal to seal the NFC championship game. They went on to lose that game in OT. Kickers are all about getting their mind strait and maybe this miss takes some pressure off!

I think a win on Thanksgiving viewed by a national audience really will ramp up the perfect season pressure on this team. It would be nice to get a win and essentially clinch the division but a loss would be far from a disaster and may actually have some positive benefits in their quest for a championship. I guess that is the luxury of having a three game lead with six to play.

2) It seems to me it’s always better to play on the road against a contending team coming off a win. If they’re coming off a loss, they’ll be mad and put more effort into preparation.

3) Reports are out Jay Cutler broke the thumb on his throwing hand, possibly requiring surgery, which would put him out 6-8 weeks. It’s Caleb Hanie time in Chicago!

D∈T

TE are the problem. Neither Hawk or Bishop is great at covering an athletic TE.

Neal’s return to the field should help. If he can get a push in the middle they will improve immensely.

The coverage wasn’t great, but the pass rush is still the problem. They just didn’t get home often enough.

If there was a doubt… there should be one now. TT needs to spend the first few picks on defense.