Oh I loved Jeff's joke. Sorry to not respond better. That was great!
Oh well Packers. They, to me, played with house money all year. New coach, new staff, new system, a fresh start from the dreck that was McCarthy's stifled offense and team from Ted Thompson's dementia dimensional approach to 'buidling' a team meant that this, unfortunately, was a 'learning year' that turned into an NFC Championship game!!

But all the deficiencies from the past 2-3 years on defense and offense could not be turned around in one year of our newly risen GM and head coach. The team still only has 1 WR worth a damn. No TE of game changing worth (I don't care if he caught a big play, or a TD, Jimmy Graham does not have 'it' because 'it' does not show up in every play, nor every game. It's not 2008; he's not great anymore, or at all. Hell, Antonio Gates who just retired after this year would still have been better to have here!!). Our middle of the field defense is weak with our middle linebacker Martinez (and I like the guy, very personable, very team oriented, very much 'that guy' to have on your team, but any other team and he's locked into the #2 rank of that position...or his defense is just bad). Savage is still a young guy learning his safety role.
BUT...as we all say together, "well, there's always hope for next year."
But as more and more writers point out...with a team with such a locked in contract to the QB, there's not enough for the rest of the guys. And more and more...that starts to look like a hindrance. San Fran's defense may be dismantled in a year or more when all those 1st round d-line guys want their money and go elsewhere. Seattle looked really pedestrian this year, but that's because Wilson has all the money and the defense doesn't.
I listened to a great NFL/SI podcast writer journalist thing that talked about this. During the regular season, that near HoFame QB can will you through everything. 10 wins, a division title, hell, that first round bye. But in the playoffs? They remarked on how in the playoffs Peyton Manning alone could not will a team to victory by himself. Only when his team's defense ranked in the top 10 statistically at all for the year did wins and a Superbowl become possible.
We talk about the Patriots and Brady..but honestly, it was the defense that always would carry them to the win. So, I see truth to this.