Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley is in his seventh NFL season. He’s also preparing to play in his fourth NFC Championship Game.
Unfortunately for Linsley and the Packers, though, Green Bay is 0-3 in conference title games since he arrived in 2014. The Packers (14-3) hope to change that when they host either New Orleans (13-4) or Tampa Bay (12-5) on Jan. 24.
“The level of urgency is definitely heightened and the desire and everything,” Linsley said Saturday night after the Packers defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 32-18, in the divisional playoffs. “It’s not like it wasn’t there before, but this is a big one for all of us.”
Only two current Packers — quarterback Aaron Rodgers and kicker Mason Crosby — were around when Green Bay won the 45th Super Bowl in 2010. Green Bay has now reached four NFC Championship Games since that memorable 2010 season, as of yet, though, hasn’t returned to the Super Bowl.
Here’s how those NFC Championship Games have played out:
• 2014 — Seattle defeated Green Bay, 28-22, in overtime. The Packers led, 16-0, at halftime and 19-7 with just three minutes remaining before unraveling down the stretch.
• 2016 — Atlanta routed Green Bay, 44-21. The Falcons built a 31-0 third quarter lead and were never challenged.
• 2019 — San Francisco whipped Green Bay, 37-20. The 49ers led, 27-0, at halftime and were never seriously threatened.
Excluding Rodgers and Crosby — who have Super Bowl rings — there’s a large number of Packers that have played in multiple NFC title games who are looking to finally get over the hump.
Linsley, star wide receiver Davante Adams, and offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Lane Taylor are all 0-3 in NFC title games. Bakhtiari is currently on the injured reserve list, while Taylor has been on I.R. at the end of the last two seasons.
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, defensive end Dean Lowry and offensive lineman Lucas Patrick are 0-2 in NFC title games while in Green Bay.
Source : Forbes
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