THE
POST
PATTERN
Published by the Impeccables since 1975 / Rebooted in 2022 / Week 18 Edition
Post Season Edition!
The regular season has finished, seedings have been decided, and a winter storm is upon us. In our last (planned) edition of the season we will recap the picking battle, talk Packers football, and make one final trip to the 1979 vault. While rummaging through our files, we noticed a publication that was out of place so we have included that extra Edition to the Vault (1979 Edition 9 and 1979 Final Edition are posted). We do not have a Buboltz sports kids update this week we plan to release a special edition later this spring on their continued accomplishments. Side note, the Buffalo Bills have nothing on our kids. While Buffalo let a little foul weather delay their post season game, we have reports of multiple Buboltz kids putting in fine performances despite the conditions.
Steve Simmons is Champ
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Week 18 made it official - Steve Simmons is the Al's Pals picking champion of the 2023 season. With a record of 186-86 (68.4%), Steve finished 7 games ahead of sisters-in-law Amy Wilma and Tracy Buboltz in our 2nd rebooted season of competition.
Behind a much improved 2023 season, Blake Vanderhoof is our champion in the juniors division with a record of 178-94 (65.4%) Blake finished 3 picks ahead of Jack Wilma. Blake improved his results by 29 picks from the 2022 season.
Finally, in our Impeccables division, Bryce Buboltz and Nick Simmons tied (173-99) for the lead, one pick ahead of Collin Vanderhoof.
Several of our pickers asked about a "post-season" for our pickers. We spend some time in the offseason last year working on a playoff format but we did not finalize anything in time for the season. We will work on this for the 2024 season, and welcome anyone's input in a format that would work.
Congratulations to Steve on a well earned victory. The trophy presentation will be made at the 3rd Annual Buboltz Reunion this summer. This year we will have a few more rewards in store for a few of our pickers as well.
Packers in the Playoffs
Ok, time for a bit of a truth check here. How many of our readers, with the exception of the ever-optimistic Coach V, believed this Packers team would make the playoff s way back in Week 7 when they had slumped to a 2-5 record? Certainly not our editor! He was working on scouting reports of college prospects who would be available when Green Bay would have picked in the top 10 (or higher).
In recent history, you'd be hard pressed to find a more remarkable turn of fortune for the Packers franchise. Many fans will remember the famous "R-E-L-A-X" comment from Aaron Rodgers in the 2014 season. That commentary came early in the season though when the team was 1-2. It may be somewhat ironic that the 2014 Packers faced the Dallas Cowboys that post-season in the famous "Dez Dropped It" game (which was just on NFL Network this week).
What Matt LaFleur and his team have done this year is nothing short of amazing. After that rough start, LaFleur was able to coax improvement across the board from his team. From the offensive line and wide receiving corp to the pass rush and the secondary, the team has demonstrated growth since about the halfway point of year, culminating with consecutive wins vs division rivals to secure a trip to the post season.
Green Bay now finds itself in the enviable position of playing with "house money" this weekend vs the Mike McCarthy lead Dallas Cowboys. Having already exceeded many external expectations, the team should have little pressure whereas rumors already are in motion that a loss to his ex-team could result in McCarthy seeking new employment next season.
Regardless of pressure, Dallas will be a tough out for the Packers. Sporting the league's best home record (undefeated), the Cowboys boast one of the league's best offenses. Dallas comes in with the 4th most points scored and 5th best mark in yards gained. Their defense is also a strength, ranking 5th in both points allowed and yards gained. Read on below to see some commentary from Coach V in our "Tale of the tape" to see where Green Bay might look for some advantages.
Remember This?
Due to NFL restrictions, I'm not allowed to embed this video into our website, so here is the link for highlights from a particularly memorable Packers/Cowboys game.
Heard in the Crowd
THIS (The Post Pattern is not a fan of TikTok...but we'll make an exception here)
You can't stop Bo Melton. You can only hope to contain him.
If your car gets stuck in the snow, there is a better than zero percent chance Jordan Love will bail you out.
Aaron Jones is a great football player, he is equally as a good a human being (Matt Schneidman wrote an article for the Athletic this week on #33)
302 receptions, 3,642 receiving yards, 31 receiving TDs...that's the production GB got from 1st/2nd year players this year (most since the merger!)
Offense looks great. Defense is improving. Special Teams is still less than special.
Anyone else wishing the game was at Lambeau today?
Go Pack Go!
Coach V's 7 reasons why Green Bay will win
Dallas is middle of the road vs the run. MN and CHI have been much better vs the run and GB did well against them.
Cowboys are 19th in red zone defense.
Packers are 5th in 3rd down offense. Cowboys defense is 14th.
Cowboys RT Terrence Steele has allowed the 3rd most pressures by a lineman this season. Rashaan Gary has 60 pressures this year.
Joe Barry led GB defenses have allowed 13.8 PPG in elimination games the past three seasons.
Packers are 3rd in in sacks allowed, and especiallly good in the past few weeks. Coach V is confident they can stop the Cowboy pass rush.
The only playoff teams Dallas beat this year were the Lions(tackle eligible play), Eagles (split), and Rams.
Dallas feasted on bad QBs. Got torn up by Brock Purdy, Geno Smith, and Josh Allen.
Letters to the Editor
We think our fans are likely still contemplating the questions posed in our last letter so we'll let them slide this week. If you're looking for any motivation, we have a especially pointed LTTE in the Vault this week.
