It’s hard to imagine anyone saw this coming, except for Steffen, who predicted the exact result this morning. The Green Bay Packers have done what was almost unthinkable in losing to the previously-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-28.
The story is the same that it’s been the entire season for the Packers – poor offensive line play, poor special teams play and poor coaching.
The Packers retooled offensive line with Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher installed at the tackles played no better than it has all season, allowing Aaron Rodgers to be sacked six times, increasing the team’s league-leading total to 37.
Rodgers can be blamed for helping increase that sack total, himself, as he continually held the ball as the pocket broke down around him.
Rodgers helped the Buccaneers defense by throwing three interceptions, and although both James Jones and Donald Driver caught touchdowns, the Packers receivers seemed outmatched by Tampa’s cornerbacks.
Tampa Bay’s defense ranks 28th in the NFL.
The Packers special teams continues to be a weakness. A blocked punt in the second quarter was returned for Tampa’s second touchdown on the day.
Clifton Smith returned two kicks for 106 yards. His long punt return was 19 yards. Meanwhile, the Packers return unit did nothing outside of Ahman Green’s final kickoff return, which went for 37 yards.
Jeremy Kapinos averaged 27.6 yards on six punts.
The Packers’ defense registered one sack and one interception on the day, allowing Bucs’ rookie quarterback Josh Freeman to throw for 205 yards and three touchdowns in his first start. The performance begs the question – is the Packers defense bad or is Dom Capers’ game plan?
A rookie quarterback in his first start – seems like blitzing him silly might be a good idea, especially if your corners are Charles Woodson and Al Harris. The Packers threw some blitzes at Freeman, but the results were nill.
It’s hard to say the season is over, but the Packers are 4-4 at the halfway mark and the wild card playoff berth the team had its sights on just got a little further out of view.
[ad#totalpackers468x60]
25 Comments
man, this sucks
FIRE MIKE MCCARTHY NOW!!!!
FIRE TED THOMPSON YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!
theres only one positive to this whole thing : its one step closer to getting rid of mccarthys fat ass
2010: General Manager Mike Holmgren and head Coach Jon Gruden
It’s unlikely that there will be any major changes until the season is over… but why not cut lose Campen and our ST coordinator?
BTW congrats to Ahman Green…
Same garbage from the Mcarthy..I did not prepare them to win?? Not everyone is cerebral like Bill B. Mcarthy pretends to be, no personality, no sideline presents.. players react to emotions,,, LOMBARDI is the mold to follow.. “What the Hell is going on around here”
It is too bad that Steffan is right about waiting until the season is over to make changes. They need to be quick before all the good GM and coaching candidates are snapped up.
I agree with bald headed granny. What the f bomb? Get rid of Ted Thompson! He should have been gone long before now! And McCarthy’s coaching…what a joke along with the nonexistent offensive line. What an embarrassment. And we can thank Thompson because this is the team he built! Thanks Ted, for another losing season!
I am really doubting the leadership of Mike. I thought that maybe he was a good coach, but now that one piece of the puzzle that was so prevalent in his first years is gone (Favre) he hasn’t done very well. Rodgers is a good QB, he has shown that, but why can’t the team win? I think it comes down to the coach. Our defense was great last year, in the 4-3, now we are horrible? the players haven’t changed much, but the coaching has. I seriously think T.T. needs to get off his high horse, and consider a coaching change. I don’t want to see the Packers go back to the 80’s which is where it is looking like we are headed. Maybe Holmgren would come back?
Say goodbye to those playoff hopes!! I also feared this would happen. Total and complete breakdown.
I made this web site in the summer of 2008 and didn’t realize that it was still up. Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you….tedthompsonblows.com
http://tedthompsonblows.com/
Jizz McCarthy and this egomaniac albino to Cleveland or some other franchise that isn’t the best in the entire history of professional football. Better yet, send them to the depths of AAAA high school football in Alaska.
Both have contracts that go until 2012. We better hope Murphy is willing to throw away all the money that TT has been saving us in cap money the past few years. I say pay ’em and then ship ’em.
Correction…the Pittsburgh Steelers blow the Packers away as the best football franchise of all time. Want proof? Just count the number of REAL championships (i.e. Superbowl victories).
I’ll grant you that G.B., historically, has a slight edge in overall NFL championships but that kind of history holds little water in an era of fast media and win now philosophy. Steelers have won more recently and that’s all any fan today gives a shit about.
Take a page from the Steelers…install mental toughness by hiring Cowher as Coach/ Asst GM.
You know Vijay, I think GB thought they were installing some toughness when they brought in Capers, the 3-4 and certified tough guys like Kevin Green… what a disappointment, no… embarrassment the new defense has been. A total catastrophe.
Now that the Packers season is circling the drain like the shit I just took can we expect more articles about how other fans from other cities are bad?
I’d like to apologize to Charles Woodson and especially Donald Driver, you guys deserve a SB Championship, i just wish we could have done it with you.
No, Eric, no other teams or cities… just yours.
I’m drafting a special article about how Viking fans troll Packer blog comment threads.
By the way, let me get this straight… the shit you took is circling the drain? Not the bowl? So do all Viking fans crap in their sinks?
Eric,
where in MN you live I want to hit you in the face with my closed fist…….
Fans from every team go on to websites of their rival team. Its nothing new. Visit any Vikings site and you will find Packer fans. I would expect you to ignore that fact though when pretending like you’re an amazing person just for being a Packer fan.
And if you want to hit me, queensblow, you have to drive all the way out west to LA. Unless you wait until December then I will be in Minneapolis. Just search for Eric, shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Eric, we’re amazing people because we aren’t Vikings fans. And for the love of God stop defecating in your own sink.
There is a drain in a toilet. I know I got the saying wrong but I’ll give you enough credit to know that.
Eric,
Big surprise. Los Angeles is the only place in the world that contains more douches than Minnesota. At least you are consistent.
Judging people based on where they are from or what team they affiliate with is ignorant.
Does it make you feel good about yourself calling people douches on the internet? People you have no idea who they are or what they stand for?
I have lived in 5 different states and been all around the world. Let me guess, all the states I have lived in are the top 5 douchiest states in America and all the countries I go to are only countries douche bags would visit?
And the charities I support are only charities douches would support? And the volunteering I am doing on thanksgiving day is only something a douche would do?
I’ll take it. If you believing I am a bad person because of where I have lived or the team I support makes you feel better I am okay with that.
I’m pretty sure over half of TP contributors are in L.A.
Eric Im sorry for judging you..
GO PACK VIKES BLOW..