Bahktiari still questionable for Redskins game Sunday

Quarless and Rodgers started in a two-tight end formation last week, a lineup that the Packers haven’t used much this year. If someone had told you back in September that a Mike McCarthy-coached team with a healthy Aaron Rodgers under center would enter the playoffs with only the ninth best odds at winning the Super Bowl out of 12 playoff teams, you would have called them insane.

Usually postseason questions about the Packers’ viability as a championship contender focus on the defense, but it might be playing its best since Rodgers became the starter in 2008. The 18 players listed on Friday’s report, which constitutes more than a third of the active roster, were a season-high for a team whose season has largely been defined and damaged by injuries.

“We’re going to Washington to win”, McCarthy said Wednesday.

With Sunday’s playoff game looming against the Green Bay Packers at FedEx Field, players were all business – whether they felt well or not. “I don’t know. But I do know (the Packers are) a very experienced, talented team”. However, with that said, I see an upset happening this Saturday night.

My NFL regular season ended with an 11-7 record in Best Bets, 39-33-1 in Top Bets and 93-58-4 overall. I think a big part of his greatness is the emotion he plays with and how he plays.

But hey, they got to the dance with the offense stinking up the joint for the past few weeks anyway.

Last week, the Packers held National Football League rushing champion Adrian Peterson to 67 yards on 19 carries, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to 10-for-19 passing for 99 yards in a 20-13 loss to Minnesota.

A matchup nightmare for most teams’ corners and safeties, Reed could pose a particular problem for Green Bay.

“They’re (keeping) them out of the end zone, making them kick field goals. They’re being aggressive”, McCarthy said about the defensive performance of late.

Titletown’s history might be one piece of motivation upon which the Packers can draw in an otherwise challenging season, especially for the once-vaunted offense. The common complaint is the offense lacks a vertical threat and doesn’t have the speed to win consistently. Going into the game with low expectations can allow Washington to play loose, a risky intangible for the Packers.

Defensive backs Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins have played relatively well for rookies, alongside fourth-year pro Casey Hayward.

“They have safeties turned corners, corners turned safeties”, Redskins coach Jay Gruden said.

It’s not clear what the Packers will do if Bakhtiari can’t play, although McCarthy said this week that the team will leave Josh Sitton at guard after he struggled as Bakhtiari’s replacement against the Vikings in Week 17. “It’s always been constructive and always been two guys who care about winning so much”.

But it doesn’t take a statistician to know that the Packers just aren’t right. The team really hasn’t been the same one that started off 6-0. Their defenders have come up with 16 interceptions this season – which ranks ninth among all 32 teams – and they have deflected 86 passes. But I think Andy Reid figures it out with a good game plan, and the Texans get cold at the wrong time.