RolStoppable said:
Now the Packers look a lot like the team that got Mike McCarthy fired. The offense is dysfunctional for the most part and the team as a whole plays worse than its roster would suggest.
The most recent game in Detroit was a case of self-destruction with three interceptions taking three surefire occasions of scoring away from the Packers. Green Bay dropped to 3-6 right before the toughest stretch in the schedule with the Cowboys, Titans and Eagles coming up before a trip to Chicago closes out the time before the bye week. The Packers would need to go at least 3-1 during this part of the season to come out of the bye with their playoff hopes alive. A 10-7 record would probably be good enough to get into the playoffs this year, with some luck even 9-8 could do the trick.
But alas, there's not much hope left. The Packers' losses were usually deserved this season, so it isn't a case of just being a bit better during crucial points in any given game. This is a mediocre team with a below average record and it would take a miracle to get back into the playoff race despite a very mixed NFC where the 49ers occupy the seventh spot in the conference with a 4-4 record, and a 6-2 Giants team that doesn't really look sustainable.
The only bright spot in the loss to Detroit was that the offense was able to move the ball consistently instead of having to punt quick and often. But at the same time the Lions have the worst defense in the league, so even that little success is hollow. The losses to the Commanders and Lions could not be afforded. Two wins in these games would have put the Packers at 5-4 at this point, leaving them with a real chance to get into the playoffs as a wild card team. Green Bay doesn't have the luxury of Tampa Bay, because the Vikings have kept winning all those close games this season. The NFC North title is out of reach at this point, even with the Vikings due to lose a bunch of games in the second half of the season.
But hey, the next two games against the Cowboys and Titans are at home at least. And maybe the underdog role pays off. Hope dies last, as they say. |
One thing I've noticed about the Packers, that nobody ever really seems to talk about...
Rodgers really likes to ballhawk once they get down in the redzone. I mean, tbf, idk if it's the playcalling, or Rodgers making the call at the line, but they get down there in the redzone and everything becomes a passing play. When I watch their games it always feels like Rodgers is just desperate to have passing TDs, instead of giving their RBs a couple shots at punching it in, despite the fact that Aaron Jones is probably their best player, and Dillon is a big guy with strong legs for a goal line push. It's just very odd. Hell, sometimes they have entire drives where it's like all running game down the field, and then boom, they get in the red zone and suddenly there's no more runs.
