The Green Bay Packers entered the playoffs last season as arguably the best team in the league and one of the overwhelming favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Armed with the NFL MVP and perhaps the best quarterback on the planet in Aaron Rodgers, the 15-1 Packers were expected to defend their Super Bowl title in Indianapolis.
Instead, they fell flat on their faces.
The Packers lost to the New York Giants — in pretty convincing fashion — in New York's quest to another Lombardi trophy. Now, at least one Packer player is saying that things probably should have gone a little bit differently.
"We picked the most inopportune time to play our worst ball," Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews told Yahoo! Sports. "The fact is, [the Giants] didn't beat us; we beat ourselves. We need to play our best ball when it counts. This year, I expect us to be right back where we should be."
The fairly innocent comments eventually found their way to Albany, N.Y., where the defending Super Bowl champion Giants are preparing for this season, while doing so in the considerable shadow the New York Jets.
Defensive end Justin Tuck was asked about Matthews' comments on Wednesday, and he wasn't afraid to respond to the linebacker.
"Thank you for giving us the game, Clay," Tuck said sarcastically in response to Matthews, according to The Associated Press. "I appreciate it a lot."
"When they fumbled the ball, I think it was us that stripped it out," Tuck added. "When we sacked them, I think it was us who beat their O-linemen and got to Rodgers. So, I don't think they just ole'd everything and gave us the game. I think they were trying to win."
Tuck also added that "talk is cheap," while making reference to the fact that the two teams will eventually meet again. They could very well find each other again the playoffs this season, but they'll also tangle on Nov. 25 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
