After rethinking about Sunday’s game against the Commanders, here are three things worth discussing:
1) Stick a fork in the Packers because they appear to be done. Being 3-4 in the surprisingly weak NFC isn’t the problem. Being an unimpressive 3-4 is the problem. An offense led by reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers has sputtered all season, and a defense with seven No. 1 picks and the 8th-highest payroll in the league can’t make a stop when it matters most. The last month should’ve been the easy part of the schedule, yet Green Bay has managed to lose three consecutive games to franchises quarterbacked by Daniel Jones (Giants), Zach Wilson (Jets), and Taylor Heinicke (Commanders). The next five weeks will include matchups against Buffalo (5-1), Detroit (1-6), Dallas (5-2), Tennessee (4-2), and Philly (6-0). The truth is, the Packers are far more likely to be 4-8 heading into December than even a modest 6-6. Rodgers, coach Matt LaFleur, and others said all the right things after the latest embarrassing loss, but as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. And for the past 42 days, what’s happened on fields in three states and two countries screams BAD TEAM.
2) All things considered, the revamped offensive line performed pretty well against a very good front seven on Sunday. With four players at new positions, the quintet of left tackle Zach Tom, left guard Elgton Jenkins, center Josh Myers, right guard Jon Runyan, and right tackle Yosh Nijman kept Rodgers clean and opened up a few nice holes for running back Aaron Jones. That’s not to say there weren’t issues. Rodgers was forced out of the pocket a number of times, and Nijman was called for two holding penalties. Still, if one were to put together a list of problems, the O-line would be near the bottom. Expect the same five players to start against the mighty Buffalo Bills next Monday night. The only possible change would be at left tackle if David Bakhtiari’s troublesome knee allows him to suit up. Speaking of the former five-time All-Pro, it’s unfortunate, but he may simply have to deal with some pain for the remainder of the season and his career. Three operations in the past 22 months still haven’t fixed an injury that occurred on Dec. 31, 2020.
3) The only thing worse than LaFleur’s playcalling this season has been his game management. Why in the world did he throw that challenge flag in the first quarter? Sure, he was right, and the call was reversed, but that “victory” resulted in the Commanders’ offense being pushed back three yards. When the fourth-year coach unsuccessfully challenged a much more important play in the second quarter, the Packers were left with no challenges in a game that still had 38 minutes remaining. Just imagine if the officials, who were terrible all day, made an obviously erroneous call late in the fourth quarter, and there was absolutely nothing LaFleur could do because he fought for 36 inches a few hours earlier. And this wasn’t the first time game management has been an issue. He foolishly challenged an obviously dropped pass by Romeo Doubs in the end zone in Week 4 against the Patriots, and Green Bay continually goes through timeouts the way a new mother goes through diapers. Amazingly, for a coach with one of the best winning percentages in league history, it’s getting more difficult by the week to see LaFleur roaming the sideline and not have flashbacks to Mike Sherman.
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Does anyone believe we’d be running a spread offense with the worst WR group in the NFL if Holmgren was still coaching here ? Think Ron Wolf would allow an MVP QB to have Lazard as his #1 WR ? Think Wolf/Holmgren would keep a PR that can’t catch ?
The mediocrity starts at the top. Gutekunst isn’t good enough, MLF’s coaching isn’t good enough. This organization has nearly zero ability to self-scout or admit errors. Fans have been screaming the WR’s aren’t good enough, A. Jones doesn’t get the ball enough, Amari Rodgers can’t return kicks, Royce Newman and Jake Hansen are awful. So far the organization has only attempted to correct one of these glaring weaknesses.
The Titans are 5-2 because their RB gets 25 touches a game. It works, we should try it. We led the Giants 17-3 and the Commodores 14-3. Staying with the run not only keeps the D off the field for the entire 2nd half but opens things up a little for the pass. No, no, no, let’s go spread with Amari Rodgers and Juwan Winfree instead !
The Packers are publicly owned. The fans deserve better answers than the same post game pablum every week. The overall play from rookies AND veterans is a mistake ridden, mind numbingly, inexplicable comedy of gaffes that should never happen to a professional team. High school teams show more discipline. Washington ran for 166 yards yesterday and I’ll bet half of it came because Rashan Gary won’t set the edge and is crashing into the middle of the line for no damn reason at all.
You gave Rodgers $150 mill. You pushed ALL your chips into the middle of the table. But by God, no way will we part with a 2nd or 3rd rd pick now to get a legitimate WR threat in here. Gutekunst has no qualms about WASTING picks and trading up for stiffs like Jordan Love, Oren Burks or Darnell Savage. Or throw away an extra 2nd for Watson because you won’t sign a legitimate veteran at WR in the off season. If you intended to only sign Sammy Watkins and draft rookies then you should have signed MVS to at least keep a legitimate downfield threat to keep defenses honest. MVS, Lazard, Cobb, etc probably works. Yes, I get it, Rodgers play is sub-par, very sub-par. However, he’s been through this before and can pull out of it. However, he needs help.
If the packers don’t make a trade this week they’re telling the fan base we’re junking the season. We thought we’d go all in with Rodgers for a couple more years but decided a 2nd or 3rd rd pick is just too valuable so we’ll try again next year. San Fran just traded for McCaffrey. At least they’re trying. I’d rather have that then 1265 write the season off 7 games in.
What are you going to do ? Disassemble the team while Rodgers is still your QB ? Think he’s hanging around for a rebuild ? He retires next year and you’re in cap hell so Bahk, Lazard, Cobb, Watkins are all gone too. Rebuild with what money for the next two years of cap hell ? They already made the call, it’s All-In or bust.
NP40 – you’re spot on the mark with your comments. We have the worst WR group in the NFL – but Gutey won’t make any trades – you think we’re all-in, but we’re not. At this point, I’m ok if they don’t win another game to show Gutey how stupid he is and we get a top 5 pick in the draft. Also, don’t care if we lose Bahk, Cobb and Watkins. Keep Lazard. Also, Defense Coord needs to take a hike. We should be doing much, much better with all of the #1 picks on defense.
it is still October, i think that there is still time to right the ship. i think the offense needs consistency in its blocking.. there is hope for that.. especially with the new guys up front. the receivers need to hold onto catchable balls. Aaron needs to consistently and accurately hit the open guy(s). scheme needs improvement.. not very well respected secondaries have been stone-walling the Packers passing game. DCs seem to be well prepared for the Packers. probably my biggest area of concern is the Packers’ pass defense.. i am aware that statistically they are OK here, however, it seems like the biggest key plays have come against the Packers’ secondary. and look at the number of interceptions the Packers corners and safeties have had over the last month (0?). it may simply be a matter of consistency here too.
containing Josh Allen seems daunting. this weekend, i’d like to see the Packers put their best game forward at the IL position. Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell have talent. the DL is showing signs from different folks. if the Packers pull an upset in Buffalo, it could really change narratives for the season.
finally, i could be wrong, but i don’t see a trade helping the Packers much this season. i see teams trading for RBs now.. i think RB is the best position to improve at this stage of the season.. as long as Aaron Jones is healthy, i don’t see the need.
That, too, was my reaction to Sunday’s loss: stick a fork in them, they’re done. As I said to a friend before the season started, I don’t have much of a read on this team – it could be a super bowl or missing the playoffs. It appears to be the latter, but I haven’t given up quite yet. On Sunday the Packers had just about everything go against them. And it was clear that they lost their cool, which is embarrassing – not how top teams should look.
As crazy as it may sound, not having Cobb in the lineup was big. Not quite as big, but still important was Watson’s absence – he stretches the field whether he’s being thrown to or not. Losing Lazard was just too much for this offense to overcome. And sooner or later, the defense just can’t keep up when the offense can’t sustain anything. What I’m most surprised about this season is that LaFleur has failed to really center A. Jones in this offense. It’s almost downright bizarre.
Looking around the league it’s becoming clear, that for the most part, it’s awfully hard to sustain winning football. The 2020 and 2021 seasons were really this team’s window. And I still do believe that Bakh’s knee is the cause for not winning at least one super bowl in the last two.
It’s unfortunate to see players who I thought would step up – Stokes and Dillon come immediately to mind – instead take a clear step back.
Not their year this year and right now it appears that Gutey made the wrong move in not trading Rodgers (assuming that there was in fact a trade partner). I was on Gutey’s side with keeping Rodgers but right now it’s looking like a horrible deal.
I would’ve bet my house on the Packers not losing three in a row to the Giants, Jets, and Commanders. I’ve been a fan for 20 years, and I can’t remember going into a game feeling like the Packers have no chance to win, but beating Buffalo off a bye week seems almost impossible.