Identifying unlikely playoff heroes (and an important update about The Leap shirts)

The Packers will probably need contributions from unlikely sources to reach the Super Bowl. Where might those come from?

After a long, arduous process with multiple setbacks, The Leap has reached an important milestone that Peter and I wish to share with you:

We finally have shirts.

You can check them out here at Cotton Bureau. There are multiple size and style options, and they all include our signature logo. For Founding Members, you will receive a code to claim your shirt in a separate email.

Peter and I appreciate those of you who have patiently waited for these to arrive, and we feel thrilled to share them with you at last.

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The Green Bay Packers' season finale against the Detroit Lions means little to either team in terms of the standings. The Packers, who sealed the top spot in the NFC playoffs with last week's victory over the Minnesota Vikings, cannot affect their seeding. Meanwhile, the Lions have already locked up a top-2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and can only move into the top spot with a loss and a Jacksonville Jaguars win in their respective season finales.

As for what the game could mean for the Packers down the line, Peter wrote about the team's plans to play the starters while I discussed the value of a showcase game for Jordan Love. Those articles cover the stakes, such as they exist, for Green Bay this weekend.

At this stage, the Packers' focus has largely turned to the postseason. They won't play another meaningful game until Jan. 22 or 23 and they won't learn of their opponent until roughly a week from now. That leaves a lot of time for self-scouting and tweaking, not always for the better.

But for the Packers to make a successful Super Bowl run, they will likely need contributions from players who have yet to make much of an impression on the season. That doesn't just refer to the team's cadre of injured stars who could return to health in the coming weeks such as left tackle David Bakhtiari, cornerback Jaire Alexander, and Za'Darius Smith. Rather, a heretofore anonymous member of Green Bay's roster or two will have to make a significant impact.