The Green Bay Packers dropped a 27-13 decision to the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Sunday. Pathetic and embarrassing are a couple of words that come to mind about the game.
But a lot of other things come to mind as well, so let’s get to it.
What happened to the front seven?
I don’t really know where to put the blame here, but the Packers were stuffing the run earlier this season. They’ve now allowed 100-yard rushers in consecutive games. On Sunday, the gave up 155 to LeSean McCoy. He averaged 6.2 per carry. A week earlier, they gave up 125 to Matt Forte. He averaged 5.2 per carry. The Packers defensive line isn’t getting it done anymore. Neither are the linebackers. Tackling is an issue. Not to mention they can’t get off the field in the fourth quarter. What’s the solution here? Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell you.
We’ve got three bright spots.
You probably expected this whole thing to be negative, but there were some positive developments that should be pointed out. First, Jarrett Boykin continues to be a baller. Eight catches for 112 yards on Sunday. That’s his second 100-yard game of the season and who thought Jarrett Boykin was going to have two 100-yard games this year? Second, Datone Jones is finally doing what a first-round pick is supposed to do. He’s wreaking havoc. Jones has been invisible for most of the season. On Sunday, he notched two sacks. That gives him three in his past two games. Welcome to the party, bro. Third, we should welcome Brandon Bostick, too. Three catches for 42 yards and touchdown on Sunday. Bostick can stretch the field better than Andrew Quarless. We expect to see more of him going forward.
Welcome back, old Mason Crosby.
Boy, was Mason Crosby tearing it up this season. Until Sunday, that is. Crosby missed two of his four field goal tries, which probably reminded you of the Mason Crosby of last season. You know, the one who only hit 60-some percent of his kicks. Not that it matters, but if Crosby made both of those tried he missed, the score is 27-19. A one-score affair. That changes the whole complexion of the game.
The Packers will need to throw to run.
Yeah, we’re stating the obvious here, but you saw how teams are going to play the Packers without Aaron Rodgers under center. They’re going to stack eight in the box in order to stuff Eddie Lacy and James Starks. Lacy ran well enough on Sunday, gaining 73 yards, but he averaged just 3 per carry. Starks got even less room to run. Four carries, five yards. Scott Tolzien is going to have to whip it around and makes some big plays in the passing game in order to open up the running game. The good news is he should have plenty of opportunities against single coverage to do so. He needs to take advantage of those.
We said it yesterday, but feel the need to say it again.
The Packers secondary is awful. I don’t even know where the weak link is anymore. They’re all weak. Can’t tackle. Can’t create turnovers. The Packers didn’t even have a pass defended on Sunday. Oh, and let’s not forget the two Philly TD drives that lasted less than a minute. The one time a DB got their hands on a ball, it was like a scene from Keystone Cops. Tramon Williams and Morgan Burnett converge on a sure interception and instead run into each other and knock the ball up in the air for a DeSean Jackson touchdown. The Packers defensive backs have a total of two interceptions on the year. A total of 24 individuals have more interceptions than the Packers secondary has combined this season. That’s pathetic. Again, I don’t have an answer here.
Oh, and here’s a bonus. Mike Carey. Worst official in the NFL. So many shitty calls on Sunday. Both ways, although there were probably more against the Packers. Can someone explain to me how this guy has a job at the NFL level?