Packer fans take loss in stride Eagles fans warm themselves before the start of the Green Bay Packers-Philadelphia Eagles NFC playoff game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy) Sunday's close brush with a championship game leaves Packer fans hopeful for next year By Jessica La Plante News-Chronicle Embracing the motto of "winning isn't everything," Packer fans who congregated en masse at sports bars and movie theaters Sunday afternoon to share in the excitement of Green Bay's game against Philadelphia went home Sunday night feeling slightly disappointed, but not discouraged. Overall, most fans agreed that although Sunday's game against Philadelphia could have ended happier, just witnessing the Packers make it to the second round of the playoffs left plenty to celebrate this year and much to hope for next season. A handful of Packer fans who took in the game at the Historic West Theater Sunday afternoon stopped to share their sentiments on a game that left them with plenty to talk about long after the final score was settled. Dan Schneider, a life-long fan and regular customer at the West Theater, said it was both frustrating and exhilarating to see the Packers get within three points of a championship game. "There were so many close yardages where you go for it or you don't ... where one yard loses the game," Schneider said of the overtime cliffhanger. Although Schneider's hopes for a Superbowl this year were dashed when Favre threw an interception in overtime, he said just seeing the Packers come this far gave him great confidence in next year's prospects. "They exceeded (my expectations) in getting to Philadelphia," Schneider said. "Just in December, it was well worth it. I think as long as Favre's playing, they can definitely go back and challenge (them) next year." Mike Shaw, another local fan who spent Sunday night taking in the game at the West Theater, also said he has high hopes for next season. He said the last two games, both of which were heart-stoppers, made up for the Packers slow start. "As the season went on, I thought they were a Super Bowl-caliber team," he said. Shaw said his expectations for a Super Bowl ring this year started wavering as soon as the game went into overtime. "Overtime doesn't always go your way," Shaw said. "The first one went our way, and I hoped this one was going to go the Packers' way, but you aren't going to win them all in overtime." Although Sunday's game might have lacked a victory, he said it lacked none in excitement. "It's been high blood pressure for the past two weeks between Philadelphia and Seattle." Sarah Gallenberger of De Pere, a 15-year season ticket holder and West Theater attendee, also said the close score compensated for the disappointing loss and proved to the nation that Green Bay deserved to be in the playoffs. "There were past years where there were teams drawn in by the wild card that shouldn't have been there," Gallenberger said. "This year, the scores proved that every team that got into the playoffs should have ... it was a good game; the whole playoff season was." Bev Roulette, a 40-year season ticket holder whose seen more than her share of exciting games from the seats of Lambeau Field - including the legendary Ice Bowl - said the hair-splitting closeness of Sunday's game was gratifying in itself. "Watching the Packers is exciting no matter what," she said. "We're lucky we got this far ... they've exceeded my goals, and even if they hadn't, it'd still be exciting."