So You’re Saying the Packers Are Bad on Third Down?

That’s an understatement. The Green Bay Packers are statistically awful on third down so far this year.

Here are a couple stats.

The Packers go three and out 40 percent of the time, which is the highest rate in the league.

For an offense that wants to run a high number of plays, often in rapid succession, that’s a damning stat right there.

This next one doesn’t paint a much better picture.

Overall, the Packers are converting just 34.1 percent of their third down opportunities. That ranks them 27th in the league and would be the worst third down conversion percentage in Mike McCarthy’s tenure if it holds.

As the Packers have trended downward in the past three games, so has their third down conversion percentage. It’s an anemic 25.8 percent over that span.

The Packers’ problems aren’t singular, but if you wanted to point to one of them, this one would be high on the list.

“We have to convert third downs. I have to be more accurate on third downs and give us more opportunities,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “When we’re converting those third downs, it gives us a chance to run the football again on first and second down. It gives us a chance to take some [downfield] shots in the [play]-action game.”

All of that is true.

We’ve discussed the Packers’ lack of commitment to the running game. If they converted more third downs, that issue might take care of itself.

This is, of course, just one issue on an offense full of them.

Good thing the Lions are coming to town.