Green Bay Agonistes, the End.

First, we vent.

Yeah, the Packers got screwed by the officials on the game ending play - and on a number of other plays. Sure,Rodgers should have hit Jennings on the first play of overtime and maybe he held the ball too long on the last play. Yes, Capers should have blitzed more; it could have hardly made things worse. Agreed, the offensive line still played poorly. Absolutely, the Packers, at the end, generally had three to four guys on the field who are almost completely incapable of covering NFL receivers.

But ...

We saw one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history. Had Rodgers hit Jennings - a matter of inches - he'd be a national celebrity. He'd have had a place in NFL history no matter where the rest of his career takes him. Perhaps he should have taken a sack on the last play of the game, but he had to know that there was almost no chance that the Packers would have stopped the Cardinals once they got the ball back.

This looks like it was a transitional year. Rodgers emerged as one of the top five quarterbacks in the league. The team learned to play a 3-4 with personnel not quite suited to it.

But there are three things that must happen now. The Packers must obtain one - and perhaps two - offensive tackles. To go into next year thinking that Tauscher and Clifton can get us through another year would be criminal. If they can't be drafted, they must be bought.

They must pick up a cover corner and a competent backup safety.

Finally, they need one more atheletic linebacker along the lines of Clay Matthews. AJ Hawk in pass coverage is painful.

Do these things and hope is alive.