A failure.
I don’t know too many people who wouldn’t use that term to describe the Green Bay Packers’ season right now.
After running through a 15-1 regular season, securing the best record and No. 1 seed in the playoffs, the Packers came out and shit the bed in their first playoff game, falling to the New York Giants 37-20 in Lambeau Field. The game put a premature end to a season that was supposed to end with a Super Bowl repeat, but instead ended with what was probably the Packers worse effort of the season.
The Giants’ victory, which we’re still stunned by, looked almost easy.
Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks tore through the Packers secondary like it wasn’t even there. Manning threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, with 165 yards and two scores going to Nicks. The Packers came up with only one interception and one sack on the day, and basically gave Manning all day to stand in the pocket and pick the defense apart.
Meanwhile, the Packers high-powered offense totally ran out of gas.
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t his typical self. He finished with 264 yards, two scores and a pick, but just didn’t seem to have the accuracy he had all season. When Rodgers wasn’t overthrowing someone or watching the ball bounce off Jermichael Finley‘s hands, someone was putting it on the ground.
The Packers lost three fumbles on the day, giving the Giants a four-to-one win in the turnover battle. Not exactly what you’d call winning football.
One and done.
It’s going to be a long offseason in Green Bay, home of the 2011 NFL regular season champions.