Week 14: Packers Over Redskins 20-15
If you could not watch this one on television in your area, be glad because it was a snorefest. Once again, we saw A Tale of Two Offenses that our own Rob Born has written about and our comments section regulars often note. The first quarter was looking decent with a few big plays and a touchdown in their first two drives — 14 of their final 20 points were scored in the first quarter. For the rest of the game, the Packers’ passing attack was mostly anemic.
S Adrian Amos showed up today with 6 tackles, a sack, and an interception. He seemed like a hot acquisition early in the season, but has been mostly quiet since then. Hopefully, he shows up again next week against is former team, Chicago Bears.
The Packers did manage to use their tight ends effectively. TE Jace Sternberger finally saw some action — when he was targeted in the end zone but could not get the reception. TE Robert Tonyan also saw some action including a completed touchdown pass. TE Jimmy Graham still has plenty of job security though as he claimed 49 receiving yards with a long of 25-yards. Graham would have had another deep reception in the second quarter, but he was overthrown by Rodgers.
Dec 8, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; Washington Redskins safety Montae Nicholson (35) tackles Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham (80) in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Offensively, RB Aaron Jones pretty much carried this game on his own. He had 134 rushing yards with 16 attempts, 58 receiving yards with 6 receptions, and a touchdown. His longest run was 42-yards and his longest reception was 25-yards. It should also be mentioned that Packers’ tight ends helped make some of those happen with some great blocks.
Only one sack for the The Smiths/Smith Brothers — Preston Smith claimed one and Za’Darius Smith did also manage to force a fumble.
For once, I have nothing negative to say about Kevin King. That’s because he did not play.
In other NFC North news, the Vikings topped the Lions 20-7. The Bears are enjoying a bye week so they are refreshed when they come to Lambeau next Monday night to get their asses handed to them.
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I’ll take your word for that azz whoopin on the bears. I dont see that in this team today.
Hopefully, the o-line doesn’t phone it in during the second half against the Bears.
What an absolutely pathetic showing by this Packers offense today — err —- all season, embarrassing on every level (coaching, playcalling, passing, protection). By all accounts this offense has had five (at the most) good showings this season where the passing and running game were both clicking for four quarters — FIVE! For those living on dream street where “a win is a win” your blind confidence is about to run you off the road come January. For the uniformed, here’s how Matt LaFleur’s offense stacks up amongst the rest of the league:
Yards Per/Game – 340 – Ranked #23
Total Points – 13 – Ranked #13
Scrimmage Plays – 801 – Ranked #21
Yards Per/Play – 5.5 – Ranked #17
Passing Attempts Per/Game – 34.2 – Ranked #18
Passing Yards – 3,030 – Ranked #15
I could go on, and the running game isn’t much better, but these numbers are eerily similar to a guy who ran Tennessee’s offense a year ago and coincidentally enough the same lame numbers seem to matchup between the two. Predictable play-calling, stale offensive sets, very little creativity, a quarterback who can’t find open receivers, very few adjustments and constant inconsistency.
I thought LaFleur was brought in to “rejuvenate” Rodgers not preside over his mediocrity? And let’s not argue over “it’s his age” excuse — that’s as tired of an argument as anyone can make for a someone who still clearly possess elite ability level especially when it comes to arm strength and accuracy. I’m not buying it, not when Drew Brees (39), Phil Rivers (36), Tom Brady (41), Matt Ryan (33) and even Ryan Fitzpatrick (35) all continue to play at a high-level at their age. Ryan, Rivers and Brady all have thrown for more yards (a lot more yards) than Rodgers has this year. In terms of yards per/game Rodgers ranks OUTSIDE the top 15 in the NFL on a per/game basis, that is outrageously bad! That’s not age, that’s playcalling, personnel and probably coaching.
I don’t know how in the hell this team is 10-3 but if you’ve been a Packer fan long enough you’ve probably seen this before, ala 2012, 2013, 2015. Those were supposedly “good teams” with a mediocre-to-bad offense. This team is no different for the exception of the running game, which is also incredibly inconsistent.
For a team that boasts Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, Davante Adams and a top-10 offensive line, LaFleur will unquestionably have the worst offense come Playoff time in January. In fact, Green Bay is the only team in the NFL (ranked 23rd in total offense) to even have a winning record, GB’s 23 points per/game average would be the worst of any team in the Playoffs, by a wide margin.
If you can’t throw the football come January, it’s going to be a quick exit. It’s nice to have an ‘average’ run game but that’ll only take you so far. Green Bay was barely competitive vs a SF team that just lost to Baltimore and had 46 points thrown up on them by New Orleans. You could make the case Green Bay hasn’t played anyone, for the exception of SF and a Mahomes-less Kansas City team, all season. They have snuck by with bad wins over Washington, Chicago, Minnesota, Carolina, and Detroit (a game they should have lost) and have been outplayed by Philadelphia and a really bad LA Chargers team. Maybe you’re too blind to see it but Matt LaFleur and this Packer team are the pretenders of the NFC, and the NFL for that matter, this season. Statistically, I’m not so sure anyone can honestly say the offense is ‘that much better’ than the 2018 Packer offense, really for the exception of the running game at times, this offense might actually be worse.
Next week vs Chicago is going to be another game where, mark my words, Green Bay will play tight against bad team and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trubisky out play Rodgers (again) — and then we all know what’ll happen the following week in Minnesota, where Rodgers has never won, and then this team is ticketed for another early round Playoff exit. If you’ve watched long enough you know what’s coming.
I’m calling it and I don’t care what anyone else thinks but Matt LaFleur is as bad as they come. He’s inept offensively, he can’t coach and there is no way he’s got the respect of Rodgers —- three things he was brought in to do. Lucky for him his 10 wins have overshadowed that up until now but I’m warning all Packer fans that shit will be hitting the fan here over the next month. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for this offense.
So you are saying I shouldn’t order Super Bowl tickets?
Save the receipt
There’s no way LeFleur is going to reign in an ego the size of Rodgers’! We’ll be watching this bullshit until either LeFleur or Rodgers is gone! Guess who’s going to go first?
Yardage isn’t exactly the best indicator of success. The cowboys lead the league in offensive yards I believe, but are middling in points. Crab legs is toward the top of the league in passing yards, but so has turned the ball over an insane number of times
crab legs…lol
So, this team will finish this season with a unexpectedly good record and a visit to the playoffs and then next year they will be rewarded with a more difficult schedule. Then we’ll see if they really can win consistently against better match-ups. It will be interesting to see if they can improve, if they develop more into this new system, if they can hit on more than one or maybe two draft prospects. So far I’ll take this, but I’m not a true believer yet.
Hey, it is tough to win in the NFL. We should be happy that our team is putting up Ws with a new, first year head coach, a new system, and a team in need some roster rebuilds. The TP crowd is a tough sell. There are too many smart and wise posters on here and hardly a one would have suggested this record and playoff potential. Pragmatically positive is what I wrote before. That hasn’t changed.
It tickles me pink when our prized tight end gains 49 yards in one game (over achieving). He would have had another long completion if he wasn’t slow as molasses when Rodgers threw a perfect ball (watch it).
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Credit should and will be given to Jimmy G on his second reception. Something i haven’t seen, but Jimmy actually got past first contact after Landon Collins best T Willy impression. Giving Jimmy free reign to pick up some yardage. Unfortunately Jimmy lost his feet and fell to the ground after about 3 yards.
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I look forward to watching Jimmy tear it up in the Pro Bowl when they don’t play much defense
That’s the only place Jimmy will tear it up. It’s not his fault, but he’s seen his best days as a pro. He acts like every catch he makes has just won the superbowl. We should have moved on before this season but we’ve already spent the money.
Well, when they gave him his 5 million dollar roster bonus in March, that told us the Packers were all in.
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Like a gambler who is down 3 grand playing blackjack, he can do the smart thing and say NO MORE, or he can go to Customer Services and get a cash advance from his credit card to chase his lost money.
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Gute went and got more cash.
Yeah this game sucked and I didn’t really pay attention to it as coming in it had the look of a shitty game.
14 pts during a fast start was nice but after that the wheels fell off
Stop fucking waiting for the play clock to go down to 1 on every snap.
I hate to say it but this offense was actually better without Adam’s… 12 is 100 percent keying on him. Love 12 but his game appears to be slipping….that aaron Jones miss with zero coverage on him js as bad as it gets.
Keep in mind, it may be hard to believe, but other franchise QB’s also over throw receivers, short pass into the ground, throw behind, etc. Nobody is perfect.
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I also figured they’d have the play clock figured out by now. Now i’m wondering if they’re doing it by design, to advance the clock, but idk.
It tickles me pink when I’d like to give the game ball to a punt returner. Positive yards, it’s about time.
For once, we saw Rodgers (i) throwing it to the middle of the field, (ii) throwing it to TEs, throwing it to someone not named Davante. The exact opposite is the norm here, so I waas positively impressed.
One of the sacks was a botched asignment between Bulaga and Turner, not Rodgers waiting for the 40 bomb to develp. A guy went past them unblocked.
Without being the second coming of Devin Hester, the new punt returner at least netted positive yardage. That’s an improvement right there.
In other news McRib is eyeing a coaching comeback….Detroit is my vote.
I wonder if the Browns are on the table, or maybe that bridge is burnt, idk.