Green Bay Packers are done for the season. They made it to the final four but came up short. A theme that is consistent over the last 10 years. The only way this game is remembered fondly is if the San Francisco 49ers run through the Kansas City Chiefs in two weeks at Super Bowl 54. If that happens, maybe people can have peace about the Packers not being able to compete. San Francisco ended up being on another level last night as they beat Green Bay 37-20. Packers finish the season with a double-digit loss which has happened more often than not.

FIVE STARS
This team loved each other – There wasn’t much to be happy about with this Packers game, but after the game, the comments warmed my heart. Blake Martinez, Aaron Jones, and a couple of other players spoke about how awesome this season was with the guys. Matt LaFleur did a great job reviving team chemistry. That was missing from Green Bay for the last few weeks. Each guy felt like this is not end by any means.

FOUR STARS
Jimmy Graham – Look, we gave Jimmy Graham a lot of shit this year, but he finished off the season on a high note. He had over 50 yards of receiving for the third straight game. Graham probably shouldn’t come back next season, but it would not surprise me if the Packers decide to live out his contract. Aaron Rodgers and he finally started to gel in the final few weeks. Yes, it took nearly two years, but it appears they’re on the right page.

THREE STARS
David Bakhtiari – People did not say much about the offensive line beside the botched snap, and that’s usually a good thing for an offensive line. David Bakhtiari finished the season very strong. It is clear that the combination of his back injury plus a hip flexor truly bothered him earlier on the year. He was great to finish off the season and continued to play well in the final game of the season.

TWO STARS
Aaron Rodgers – I’ll repeat myself to what I said in the podcast about Aaron Rodgers. He needs to take a step back this offseason and realize he’s in another stage of his career. Rodgers cannot do some of the God-like things he did in the early part of the 2010s. Rodgers needs to take the first option every time and more dinking and dunking versus trying to get major chunk plays.

ONE STAR
Za’Darius Smith – He made a big play in the first quarter and that’s about it. Za’Darius Smith needed to find a way to make himself a factor in defending run but he did not. Not sure if that’s a scheme thing or Smith getting blocked up by the solid San Francisco line. It’s disappointing to see him struggle in the final game after such a strong year.

Mike Pettine – I said this in the PackCap, but I’m not sure that Mike Pettine can come back next season. There is evidence out there to say that he isn’t the defensive coordinator of the future. Pettine received big free agents and a first-round draft pick. All of that amounted in an average defense plus getting rolled in the postseason.

Charlie.