After rethinking about Sunday night’s game against the Eagles, here are three things worth discussing:
1) I went to last night’s game at Lincoln Financial Field and was taken aback by the incredible energy and noise inside the stadium. It was a far cry from what I remembered from my most recent visit to Green Bay in October 2019. The Philly crowd was younger, and nobody sat until the outcome was decided. The atmosphere made Lambeau Field seem like the world’s largest public library. I still hate when coach Matt LaFleur waves his arms like an overcaffeinated high school cheerleader, but it’s more understandable today than it was 24 hours ago. The Linc really does provide the Eagles with a big advantage. Lambeau doesn’t do the same for the Packers, whose outstanding record at home since 1992 is more the byproduct of having a pair of legendary quarterbacks than anything else. Maybe things will change in the coming years as Gen Zers replace Baby Boomers, or perhaps the people of Wisconsin are just different from those of Pennsylvania and South Jersey.
2) It’s time to start Jordan Love at quarterback. The Packers might not be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention just yet, but at 4-8, they have the same number of wins as the pitiful Panthers, who fired their coach last month. Continuing to play Aaron Rodgers makes no sense. He’s obviously affected by the broken thumb on his right hand, so why not let him begin healing immediately – either with rest or surgery? Shutting down the back-to-back MVP would allow Love to finally get a chance to show what he can or can’t do in the NFL. And to be honest, it’s a win either way for Green Bay. If the former No. 1 pick from Utah State performs well and picks up a few Ws, he’ll either provide the organization with a legitimate alternative to Rodgers in 2023 or increase his trade value, which is pretty much nothing right now. And if Love stinks and the Packers keep losing, that would improve their position in next April’s draft. If cleared to play in six days against the Bears, would Rodgers, who left last night’s game in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury, agree to start his offseason a month early? Who knows, but he shouldn’t be given a choice.
3) It was impossible not to think about Jim Leonhard while watching the Packers give up 40 points and 500 yards to Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Would the former Wisconsin player and just replaced interim head coach be interested in succeeding Joe Barry as defensive coordinator two years after turning down the job? Would LaFleur even be willing to go down that road again? And should he? While Leonhard is an extremely bright guy who played 10 seasons in the NFL, he’s never coached at this level. With LaFleur’s seat at least a little warm after losing nine of his last 13 games, he might prefer a more proven commodity. Somebody like Vic Fangio, for example. As for Leonhard, you’d have to think coming to Green Bay would be a lot more appealing now that his dream job is no longer a reality. So will it happen? I kind of doubt it, but the possibility will at least give fans something to dream about as this nightmare of a football season continues.
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The only way Rodgers won’t play Sunday against the Bears is if he’s not cleared by the doctors. He wants to play, and I don’t think anybody in the organization has the guts to tell him no. Love has been a loyal soldier for three years, and he deserves an opportunity now that the season is basically over.
I also feel he deserves a chance to finish the season as the starter after what our directionless GM has done to the early start of his career. Should the kid have to wait 5 years to show what he does or doesn’t have? Three years out of the kids career is enough sitting in my opinion.
I really wish we’d quit calling timeouts out the end of the half when the other team has the ball. Obviously excepting fourth down. This always seems to bite us in the butt and did again last night.
Nothing to do with the snap judgement article but just one thing I’ve noticed over and over.
Down two TD’s and once again, LaFleur has Aaron Jones on the bench.
The score is 34-20, we’re threatening near the Eagles 10 yd line. A swing pass incompletion to Dillon and two runs up the gut. Not one pass into the endzone. I can’t even begin to fathom what LaFleur is thinking here.
Justin Hollins actually set the edge on one running play. He was taught this at another team and brought it with him. Quite a concept, actual coaching. Maybe we should try it.
The tackling on this team is atrocious. Then again, if you’re playing off 10-12 yards consistently and then have to run up 3 or 4 yds to make a tackle on a guy already running, odds are you’ll miss a bunch of them.
As soon as Watson caught that crosser from Love I said, “he’s gone.” The Eagle DB’s did have an angle but Watson gets a foot or two on you and it’s house time.
It was really odd watching Love {or any GB QB for that matter}, throwing on time and in rhythm.
They said the Eagles had 367 yards rushing. At first I thought they had the stats confused with the Alabama- Wofford matchup.
4th and short for the Eagles and our DL’s go high. Barry refused to get out of Nickel using two DL’s as we’re getting run over.
I’m trying to think of a game where we HAVEN’T given up a TD on the opposing team’s opening drive. Maybe once this year ? This is 100% on Barry. WTH does he do all week ?
Our secondary {Alexander, Savage} tackles like they’re afraid to get hurt and they’ve been doing it for a while. Think Mike Vrabel would tolerate it ? LaFleur does.
I’ve finally figured out Barry’s scheme. By playing soft coverage and allowing multiple easy 3rd down completions, it runs clock. Gets the embarrassment over sooner.
Another wtf about the game: What in the world was Lazard doing blocking a guy 5 yards behind Watson on his long td? Very close to a penalty.
I agree there’s no good reason to keep playing Rodgers, but the Packers are stuck with him next season and there’s no way Gutekunst and LaFleur are going to want to piss him off. So if 12 wants to play, he’s going to play.