Plays of brilliance, plays of ineptitude, plays of mediocrity. The Packers displayed all three types of plays described above on Sunday in Washington. But when it counted, mediocrity and ineptitude repeatedly reared their ugly heads. Sunday’s Packer game seemed to peel away like an onion. The longer you watched the more your eyes stung. It’s the type of sting that most fans will feel as Sunday roles to Monday and through next week. There are pieces on this team that work. Whether the coaches and players can come together is seeming less likely as each game is played. But this game seemed, in the first quarter, to have the potential of an easy blowout. Instead, the offense, defense and special teams did just enough to lose to the Washington Commanders and their backup quarterback, Taylor Heinicke.
The Packers started Sunday’s game successfully by putting on the Aaron Jones show. In the Packer’s first offensive drive, Jones had his number called on four straight plays. Three runs and one pass gave the Packers a first down and then a third and four. The Packers tried the air to Lazard but Rodgers’ accurate pass to Lazard was dropped, forcing a punt. After a quick three and out forced by the defense that almost saw two interceptions by Rasul Douglas on consecutive plays, Amari Rodgers had a nice punt return setting up the offense. Aaron and company delivered the offense put together a seven play touchdown drive that concluded with Rodgers finding Jones on a short pass.
Jones caught the quick inside toss, then spun free and drove into defenders on his way into the end zone. A moment of brilliance. When the defense came up with a big third down stop on Alexander’s good coverage, knocking a pass away, it looked like the Packers were rolling. Then Rodgers muffed his punt return, and the Commanders recovered. Still, the Packer defense forced a field goal. That was nearly the end of the offense for the Packers, but the defense came up big with a huge pick-six by De’Vondre Campbell. The interception was contested by the Commanders wide receiver, but Campbell high pointed the ball and then turned, running sixty yards for the score. The Packers were ahead 14-3. They were making plays on both sides of the ball. Packers fans didn’t know then that those three points off the muffed punt would prove the difference in the game.

Most Packer fans wished they would have turned the TV off at that point. In three drives started by the offense in the second quarter, their total ended up with negative yardage. Their first drive gained four yards. That was the highlight. The second lost 15. The third lost two yards. The third quarter was worse because the defense gave up a touchdown and a field goal while the offense sputtered. The hype bubble surrounding Romeo Doubs burst in Washington as he dropped two crucial catches ending drives. The bigger question is why the Packers continue to pass on 3rd or 4th and one. Isn’t the run game the strength of this team?
If you had turned the game off you would have missed a nice scramble throw by Rodgers that ended with a spectacular leaping catch by Aaron Jones for a touchdown. Another moment of brilliance. But it was not enough. The defense had two good players get burned repeatedly on Sunday. Jaire Alexander was burned for a long touchdown and then repeated third down conversions that basically ended any hope of victory.
Rashan Gary seemed to get burned repeatedly on outside runs to his side. For a player as talented as he is, it is frustrating to watch him jog after a runner after he blows containment. His best play, a sack and forced fumble, was erased by an iffy home town penalty on Eric Stokes. That penalty was part of Washington’s touchdown drive that spelled the change in momentum in the game.

For the second week in a row, Aaron Rodgers was outplayed by an opposing quarterback. The stats and quarterback ratings may not support that statement, but it was Heinicke that made the clutch throws his team needed, over and over, to win the game in the second half.
Taylor Heinicke grew up a Packer fan and the photos of him as a kid were a highlight during the game. The second stringer was given opportunities to throw after a first quarter pick six and he delivered when he needed clutch throws. As Daniel Jones last week, Heinicke was able to find open receivers on clutch plays to keep drives alive against the Packer defense. The Packer pass rush was a step too late for most of the game, and Heinicke and his receivers made Green Bay pay time and again.
After last week, much was said about needed changes in the offensive line. The Packers made changes. But those changes were sideswiped by David Bakhtiari’s new injury that kept him out of the game. Zach Tom made his first career start at left tackle. Elgton Jenkins moved to left guard and Runyan moved to right guard. Yosh Nijmam made his first start at right tackle and his multiple penalties contributed to the second quarter negative yardage.
Besides the penalties, they kept Rodgers pretty clean, although their average per rush was only 3.2 yards. Of course that was partially because the Packers only ran the ball 12 times. On the third or fourth down and short they passed every time. In the end, the offensive line blocking is not what lost this game. The Commanders’ high ranking D-line did not dominate. It was penalties (9 penalties for 69 yards), incompletions, and dropped passes that contributed to the offense going 0-7 on third and fourth down, that cost this Packer team a victory. This loss is a gut wrencher… and the Buffalo Bills are waiting next week.
Stick a fork in Aaron Rodgers he is done! This is why you draft a Jordan Love in the first round when your franchise QB is on the wrong side of 35. The question isn’t IF your QB will fall off a cliff. But WHEN your QB will fall off a cliff. Aaron Rodgers has fallen off the cliff. It’s all over but the crying and the finger pointing. Can’t blame yesterday on Royce Newman he didn’t play and the protection was actually quite good. Circle your calendar for December 4th game against Chicago. That’s when Jordan Love starts for the remainder of the season. Benching Rodgers will both anger and humiliate him. Going forward what we need far more than a WR is a QB. If Love isn’t the answer then you draft a QB in the first round. Then I set Aaron Rodgers down at my season ending exit interview and tell him to take some time to make his decision about next season but know this. QB will open competition next year and he’ll be expect to be at OTA’s, mini camp, and play in preseason games. He’ll have to beat out Love or whoever Gutekunst drafts. His MVP wards like his lone SB win will be nothing but a distant memory. In short, he’ll be expected to earn his 50 million. Faced with such disrespect he’ll either retire or demand a trade. If he wants to be traded, I tell him find me a team that’ll take on his outrageous contract and I’ll be happy to accommodate him. In the meantime I’ll be scouting college QB’s.
Just shut up !
Ed, you and Kevin hold each other’s hand and pretend Aaron Rodgers is still throwing TD’s to Jordy Nelson and this is all a bad dream. In the meantime, they’re are some hard decisions that have to be made before any of this gets better. It starts with Aaron Rodgers. Unless there’s some unforeseen miracle, Rodgers career in Green Bay ends the way it started. On the bench.
” QB will open competition next year and he’ll be expect to be at OTA’s, mini camp, and play in preseason games.”
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“His MVP wards like his lone SB win will be nothing but a distant memory. ”
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” In the meantime I’ll be scouting college QB’s just like i did when i scored big on Jordan Love”
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Stay in School Kids!!
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“Can’t blame yesterday on Royce Newman he didn’t play and the protection was actually quite good.”
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So, let me get this straight Tommi…You claim Newman is a 10 year starter, then they bench him, and the line plays better?
Hmm…..
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Football logic according to Tommi, i should write that down.
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Yes Tommi…Bench Rodgers and put Love in…..that should fix everything…lmao.
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Oh snap Tommi!!….Never lose that sense of humor!!
You are a 1st class FKG IDIOT!!!!!!!! Rodgers cant carry this Pile of shit anymore that Gutekunst has assembled, ZERO weapons, Turnstile O-Line, Defense littered with 1st round busts & cave in whenever you need’em. Yea it Rodgers fault. Go join pep Rally Bus with Murhpy & admire Titletown snow slide asswipe!
You are absolutely right Mike. Aaron Rodgers can’t carry “this pile of shit.” So let’s see if Jordan Love can. There has been nothing magical in Rodgers first seven games. How much more do you need to see? Love will be starting soon enough. It’s only a matter of time. And since you love Aaron Rodgers so much, why not advocate a trade to a team that really, truly appreciates him. A team that will pay him 150 million dollars, let him call his own plays, give him input on personnel moves, and a fan base that never holds him accountable. Oh wait, he has all that now! Never mind……
I think the brain trust has already made their decision on Love. There is no way you would give a veteran QB a $150 million 3 year contract especially when your next franchise QB is waiting in the wings on a rookie deal. Or maybe the Green Bay brain trust is really that stupid.
It’s ludicrous to think for one second, the Packers need Love to start some games against teams in the regular season…..to see what Love has to offer.
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The obvious as i and others have noted…..the Packers were going to move on from Rodgers, they spent prime draft capitol to do just that. They were so committed to it, they knew they would piss off their HOF QB and said fuck it, and did it anyway.
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Then some things happened…. They got a look at Jordan Love the last 2 years and weren’t very impressed….so much so as we all have stated, that they gave Rodgers 150 mill (in the bank) for at least 3 years. Nixing the original Jordan Love plans completely.
Why did they give Rodgers so much money you might ask….here are some thoughts.
1) Doing so beat the alternative of sticking with Love.
2) They were clinging to one last hope of getting a SB win under Gute. Which very well would explain why they keep pushing money down the road which is very unlike Green Bay.
3) The Green Bay brain trust is just that stupid..as Arch noted.
4) How do you move on from a HOF QB that just won MVP (twice) and replace him with (cough) Jordan Love?…Really?
5) All of the above
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Here’s an improbable, outlying scenario.
Even though the Packers nixed the initial Jordan Love, 2 or 3 year plan, they could view him as a longer term investment. This scenario would HAVE to entail the Packers had/have some faith in Love’s abilities for these reasons.
The Packers would have to give (or not) Love his 5th year option after this season.
Which would give him a guaranteed salary of slightly over 20 million for 2025.
So with both Rodgers and Love on the roster in 2050, the Packers would have over 60 million in cap money between the two.
So with Loves rookie contract, and his 5th year option…the Packers will/would have committed over 32 million to Love. To keep him around for the new “Five year plan”.
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I just don’t see that happening. But with Murphy, Gute and Ball…dumber shit has happened, so who knows.
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The Packers, in hindsight, especially now….
Are probably wishing they would have traded Rodgers to the 49ers in 2020 and reaped all the benefits that would have afforded them.
But then again, i’m not smart enough to be a GM, so what do i know 😕
*2025
A friendly reminder about 5th year options. When a team exercises the 5th year option, the 5th year becomes guaranteed for injury only. The player then has to be on the team’s roster at the start of the league year in the 5th year option season. If the player is on the team’s roster on the first day of the new league year , then his salary for the 5th year becomes fully guaranteed for skill, cap, and injury.
For example the Packers exercised the 5th year options for Savage and Gary. If one had a devastating injury this year that did not allow them to play their 5th year they would receive the 5th year option value even though they may not be available for part of, or the entire year. If neither was injured this year and the Packers cut one of them (savage) before the first league day of the 2023 season the Packers are not on the hook for the 5th year option cost.
The same could be said about Love. The Packers may exercise his 5th year option. Love probably won’t play much, so he probably would not have a serious injury. If the Packers STILL did not like what they saw they can cut Love before the 5th year season start and not be responsible for Love’s 5th year option cost.
5th year options need to be looked at as a two part contract.The first part does not bind you to the player for the 5th year unless the player has a serious/devastating injury in his 4th year. If the player regresses or does not improve skill wise in his 4th year you just cut them before the first league day of their 5th year.
If this team is 4-8 after 12 games and out of playoff contention Arch, explain to me the benefit of staring Aaron Rodgers the final 5 games. To pad his stats? To avoid upsetting him? The Packers have bigger problems than Rodgers fragile ego. Even if the Packers know what Jordan Love is wouldn’t you want to play him to confirm that evaluation? We’re going to find out who’s really running this team if Rodgers is still starting come December. Rodgers looks exactly like he did last January when he lost to the 49ers and that was with Davante Adams. Old and tired. He’s now saying “I don’t know what we’re doing out there.” Dude, your driving the bus and you don’t know where your going? We need a new bus driver…..
This is where Howard shines usually, the fine print……
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I then have to research, to see the error of my ways on occasion. But that’s what i appreciate…..
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This is what i went by when i last looked at the 5th year guarantee.
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“What does a fifth-year option mean in the NFL?
After a player’s third full season in the NFL under their existing rookie contract, their respective teams have the option to pick up or decline the player’s fifth-year option. This wrinkle also means that all fifth-year options are fully guaranteed once the team picks it up.”
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“The decision to pick up options is more complicated because the new NFL collective bargaining agreement has changed how fifth-year options operate.
Beginning with 2018 first-round picks, the fifth-year salary is fully guaranteed when the option is exercised. A player’s fourth-year base salary will also become fully guaranteed at the time the option year is picked up, if it wasn’t already.
Previously, the fifth year was guaranteed for injury upon exercise of the option.” – Joel Corry
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-a-guide-to-fifth-year-option-decisions-for-2019-first-round-picks/#:~:text=Participating%20in%2075%25%20of%20offensive,salaries%20at%20a%20player‘s%20position.
You are correct as usual PF4L. The new collective bargaining agreement revised 5th year options. I guess the NFL and NFLPA felt with 1st round picks NFL front office gurus should know by the end of the 3rd year if they have a 5th year keeper or not. I think the Packers know what they have in Love, but nothing would surprise me.
Here’s the thing Howard, about how the Packers feel about Jordan Love. What the Packers decide to do with Loves 5th year option, will pretty much tell us how the Packers feel about Jordan Love, period.
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IMO…the Packers keep Love around through Rodgers tenure or at least through 2024. I don’t think Gute is looking forward to cutting Love, or even trading him for a 5th,6th round draft choice.
Because that will only bring up discussion of the whole Jordan Love debacle, and it won’t show Gute in a good light as it will be talked about Nationally. Everyone remembers that move because everyone expected a receiver to be drafted.
“Circle your calendar for December 4th game against Chicago. That’s when Jordan Love starts for the remainder of the season.” – Scooter
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Ummm..lol…so, the Packers are going to bench, a healthy Rodgers in Dec. for Jordan Love?”
Is that what you’re saying sweetheart?
Let me know what happens next….lol
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Do you just dream this shit up at night Tommi, or does it just come to you when you play chutes and ladders with your grandma?
Tom M 12 hours ago
“You are absolutely right Mike. Aaron Rodgers can’t carry “this pile of shit.” So let’s see if Jordan Love can.”
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“If Rodgers can’t do it, Jordan can!!” – Tommi…cheerleading (screaming) from the sideline at Lambeau Field.
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😏 So entertaining!
You obviously don’t get the gist of my comment, Tom M. If the Packers are 4 – 8 and out of the playoffs who gives a rats ass who is starting at QB. The bottom line is the brain trust must think that Love isn’t the answer. How else do you explain the Rodgers absurd $150 million contract. They f’ed up to cover a previous f up. It’s time for this piss poor brain trust to be held accountable. I’m not going to hold my breath for it to happen however.
Ok Arch, if you don’t give a rats ass who starts at QB then let’s start Jordan Love once we’re eliminated from the playoffs. It’s time to look to the future. A future without Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers always represented the present. How’s that looking Arch? Aaron Rodgers was always plan A, the present. While Jordan Love was plan B, the future. It’s why you pay Rodgers and draft Love so you have a plan if one plan doesn’t work you can transition to the other plan. It’s time to transition to Jordan Love. If he can’t do it either. Then It’s time to ditch both and draft a QB in the first round. I don’t presume to know what management thinks about Jordan Love. I know what you and the girls think of Jordan Love. Due to your love of all things Erin, your hardly objective. You maybe right, but I need to see more. Especially if I’m looking to draft a QB in the first round in next years draft. Alias, it won’t be a WR.
Tommi…
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Instead of trying to convince everyone here that Love just be starting….
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Why not start an online petition for Love to start, where people can sign it, then when you get your 2 or 3 signatures, submit the petition to Packer Headquarters. I think that could go a long way.
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Make sure you put in the petition…as “just cause” for removing Rodgers, you educate them and tell them that Rodgers couldn’t win a SB with Adams, Nelson, or Jennings.
Then they’ll surely take you seriously, as i’m sure your intelligence and knowledge will no doubt impress them as it does all of us.
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I think you have a winner!!
Please….keep us updated.
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Good luck
I hear va, they shoulda traded Love when they had a chance, now everyone has seen him play, be Lucky get a late 7th or $100.00 cash?
Actually Mike, they should have traded Aaron Rodgers when they had a chance. Even Sean Peyton wouldn’t take him now. Can you blame him?
Its so ridiculous we haven’t had a Defense or Special teams since the Reggie white days. I posted last week my thghts on A. Rodgers returning Punts. I said its either a FC, fumble or he gets blasted after 2yd gain. He adds NOTHING, why is he even back there????
If a player is under performing on the field (defense or offense), his last chance to remain on a roster is special teams.
If the player doesn’t contribute, or screws up on special teams, he then is usually shown the door.
See Jeff Janis
Little Tommy –
Tell us about your Queens team and Kirk Cousins.
Yea that Lavender Trash with penis logo helmet, That debris shd be in CFL or Arena League