There are similarities.
The Packers know it. Some of them pass it off as not relevant. Others embrace it. All of them will sign up for a repeat of history faster than a vendor can sell a pack of hand warmers for a December game at Lambeau Field.
When the Packers beat the Redskins, 35-18, in Sunday’s NFC wild-card game at FedExField, it marked their first road playoff victory since 2010.
What happened in 2010? That’s when the Packers, who struggled in the home stretch of the regular season (losing three of their last six) rolled through the postseason with three road playoff wins en route to a 31-25 win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Veteran receiver James Jones was on that team. And, after Sunday night’s win over Washington, he conceded to feeling some similar vibes on this team, which entered the postseason having lost six of its last 10 games.
“We’ll have to wait and see about that,’’ Jones said, “but with the swagger on this team and confidence of this team, yes, it does feel like [2010].’’
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy also conceded that his mind has wandered to that special 2010 run.
“That’s something that we’ve thought a lot about,” he said. “But, we’re the 2015 Packers. So this is our opportunity. We’re a different team, and obviously we’ve got a different challenge going to Arizona.’’
Yes, Arizona.
Saturday night’s NFC divisional playoff game in Arizona is a rematch of a game the Packers would like to forget — a 38-8 Cardinals’ thrashing on Dec. 27 in the desert.
The Packers were as bad as they’ve been since Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre as the starting quarterback. He was sacked eight times behind an offensive line that was missing three starters.
The Cardinals had nine sacks in all that game. The Packers committed four turnovers, including two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns, and a pass that was intercepted in the end zone.
A fresh memory of that horrible game might serve the Packers well — as a lesson learned, and added fuel to motivation that already is running high.
“Everyone needs to realize the taste they had in their mouth the last time we left that
stadium,’’ Jones said. “We went in there and played the worst football we could possibly play. Give them credit, they got after it. But we’re a better team than that.’’
The loss to the Cardinals was part of the Packers’ late-season swoon that left few believing they even could beat the inferior Redskins team, which entered Sunday 0-3 against teams with winning records this season.
“We know what happened last time,’’ Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji said. “Hopefully, we can take care of business this time around.’’
Few are going to give the Packers a chance against the Cardinals, the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC and a team loaded on both sides of the ball, with few obvious flaws. Arizona is favored by a touchdown to dispatch Green Bay and move onto the NFC Championship game.
Still, the Packers are relishing the chance to avenge the Week 16 rout and carry on with what they believe will be a postseason run they can take as deep as the one they made in 2010.
“We kind of felt like this was a possibility — to be able to go back there after that loss,’’ Rodgers said.
“It’s not too many times you get the opportunity to go back and have a redo,’’ McCarthy said. “So we’re looking forward to another opportunity to get back out there.’’
Will this time be different?
“We’re going to Arizona to win, and our guys are excited about that opportunity,” Packers offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett told reporters Monday.
After the Washington game, McCarthy joked with reporters: “When you get to the playoffs, you don’t have to talk about the regular season anymore. I don’t know if you guys got the memo on that.’’
Packers receiver Randall Cobb, who caught a Rodgers touchdown pass Sunday, called it “a new season.’’
“This is playoff football,’’ Cobb said. “You’re a few games away from your ultimate goal. All you can ask for is an opportunity. We were blessed with the opportunity to be here, to be able to have a chance. Now we just have to make the most out of it.’’
Teams only get so many chances to be special. The Packers seized that opportunity in 2010 when few saw it coming. It’s entirely possible they can do it again in the next month.