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Packers Fall Apart in 4th: Lose 20-16 to End Season

Paul Edwards by Paul Edwards
January 9, 2023
in Articles & Analysis
23

The Packers struggled with the Lions defense all night and finally in the fourth quarter both the defense and the offense cracked under the Sunday night last game potential playoff pressure. A Liberty Bell size crack that ended the Packer season and now casts doubt on their future. This writer has dumped on Quay Walker all season. His slow recognition skills. His ejection from the game against Buffalo. His recent body slam that was another in a list of penalties that are all stupid, useless, acts of immaturity.

But in the first half, Walker was having his best game as a rookie. Tackles at the line of scrimmage. Decent recognition. Pressure on blitzes. This article could have been a huge mea culpa with praise on his contribution in a tough victory. But Walker and his low Wonderlic score struck again. An ejection for pushing a Lion training staff member the same week a trainer saved the life of Damar Hamlin could not have been a bigger idiot move. The defense looked like it had just been gut punched and collapsed, giving up the game winning score.

Unfortunately, that was not the only gut punch on this night. Packer fans watched big plays by the Packers, a long pass interference, and a couple of great catches by Christian Watson and Robert Tonyan, end up with field goals when the offensive line was dominated in the red zone. Zack Tom was substituted for Nijman at right tackle, but it did not stop the problems. Watson had a very good game; unfortunately his rookie counterpart, Romeo Doubs, did not. Doubs two drops were drive killers.

De'Vondre Campbell tackles Lions running back D'Andre Swift
Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Adrian Amos (left), linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (59) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) tackle Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift (32) at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason/USA Today NETWORK-Wisconsin

The defense played well but could not come up with a game changing turnover against the Lions. The offense tried to go for it on 4th down early in the game and their failure, at their own 32 yard line, led to a Detroit field goal. While the Lions were taking advantage of gifted opportunities, the Packer’s two star players, Aaron Jones and Aaron Rodgers, both gave up critical turnovers to kill opportunities at the end of each half. The score at half was 9-6 Packers. All six points for Detroit were off of Packer offensive failures. Of the final 20 game winning points produce by Detroit, 13 were off of Packer offensive failures and the last touchdown was gifted by Quay Walker.

Aaron Rodgers walked off the field like it might be his last game, which would mean his last pass at Lambeau was a game ending interception. He was lucky there was only the one on the stat sheet as he threw more, but was saved by Detroit penalties.

The Detroit Lions have to be given credit for a tough game in Lambeau Field. During the game, it seemed like the Lions were more active, flying faster to the ball and were more excited when they made big plays. It would have been easy for an uninformed observer to think the Lions were fighting for a playoff spot. But they were fighting for something more basic: respect. As a fan, you had to wonder when the Packers settled for field goals if their red zone frustrations would come back to bite them.

In the end, a field goal attempt by Crosby that bounced off the goal post, without going over, was a turning point. The Lions took the good field position and scored the first of their two second half touchdowns. The Packers answered the first Detroit touchdown, but not the second. This Packer game would end with the same head scratching frustration that saw the Packers lose six games in a row. No ability to consistently move the ball into the end zone. A passing game that looks anemic. And a defense that is compromised by poor coaching decisions. Last but not least, failures and stupid penalties in clutch situations.

Robert Tonyan catches the ball against Lions
Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) leaps to catch a pass over Detroit Lions safety DeShon Elliott (5) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

This 2022-23 Packer season ends with the Packers offense last in red zone scoring. Their two defensive first-round draft picks had two penalties, one being a critical game changing and field changing ejection. Their franchise quarterback may retire, and if he doesn’t, do the Packers want him back? The offensive line struggled with a statistically bad defense and the only game changing receiver on the Packers squad is coming off an injury plagued promising rookie season. The outside running game relies on a 40-year-old tight end. Their two star running backs were outshined by a former Packer they jettisoned two years ago. The Packers have the 14th pick in the upcoming draft and need pass rushers, tight ends, an offensive tackle, a defensive tackle and perhaps a center and a quarterback.

It will be an interesting off-season for Green Bay. They ended third in their division behind both Minnesota and Detroit. Are they officially in rebuild mode? The press conferences that emerge over the coming week should be interesting to see if management recognizes their current state and what is needed to return to the playoffs. In the last minutes of the game, there was a season defining moment. Coach LaFleur pointing at his own head, screaming at his rookie linebacker to, “play smart”. It was the closing minutes, and the linebacker had just given up 15 CRITICAL yards to put Detroit at first and goal. LaFleur was not pulling him off the field, just yelling at him to play smart, not yet understanding that the foul mandated an ejection from the game. There is no doubt that if the 2023 Packers improve, playing smarter must be part of the equation. That requirement will apply to players, coaches and front office.

Thank you to Total Packers and all of our fans for allowing me to contribute this season. It was a pleasure, despite the season results.

Tags: 2022 NFL Playoffs2022 NFL SeasonDetroit Lions
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Reviewing Gutekunst, the Packers Roster and Coaches: Where Did it All Go Wrong: The Preseason Decisions

Comments 23

  1. Avatar for Tom M Tom M says:
    4 weeks ago

    Thanks for the memories Aaron, now walk away with whatever pride and dignity you have left. You no longer own the Lions and if you come back next year you won’t own the Bears either. Now the finger pointing starts in earnest. Never pointing to the 39 yr old QB himself. Gutekunst can’t fix old. But he can be replaced. Everyone can. Even Aaron Rodgers and his usual 200 yards, a TD, and a pick per game. Look for management to shower him with praise as they show him and his buddies the door. You don’t trade Jordan Love just to endure another year of this. Hate the messenger. I understand the truth hurts.

    Reply
    • Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
      4 weeks ago

      Tom M 1 hour ago
      Hate the messenger. I understand the truth hurts.
      *****************
      Well….that’s why the truth doesn’t hurt, for you.
      Simply because, you don’t understand the truth.

      Reply
  2. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    4 weeks ago

    Finally….Tom got what he wanted, a Packer loss.
    After suffering through 4 Packer wins, Tom can finally use both barrels to disparage Rodgers.
    The first thing Tom commented on after Packer wins, was Rodgers, just like these two new articles.
    It’s like reading a book, you’ve already read 100 times….lol
    .
    It’s true, Gute can’t fix old.
    But what he could do, is sign Rodgers to a new contract with 101 million guaranteed to keep him around.
    Which is exactly what he did do.

    Rodgers is the QB of the Green Bay Packers, because that’s what the Packers wanted.
    Your angst isn’t with Rodgers Little Man, your angst is with the Packers.
    I would have thought your therapist might have explained this to you by now.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
      4 weeks ago

      Since the Packers started winning against the Bears, Rodgers has had an 86 QB rating, which puts him about 25th in the league for starting QBs. That’s above Justin Fields and below Derek Carr. The Packers were not winning because of Aaron Rodgers, they were winning because of special teams and defense.
      –
      It was a mistake to sign Rodgers. If he stays or retires, either way the Packers are screwed. They should have traded him for a couple first round picks, let him be someone else’s problem, now they’ll get nothing for him. I don’t think the Packers would have had any worse year with Love at the helm than they did with Rodgers.

      Reply
      • Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
        4 weeks ago

        You and Tommi should walk in to Packer Headquarters, bang on the front desk, and demand answers.
        .
        For best results: Let Tommi do all the talking 😏

        Reply
  3. Avatar for Tom M Tom M says:
    4 weeks ago

    You can’t blame Brian Gutekunst for preparing for the day Aaron Rodgers fans never thought would come but always does. When heroes finally fade. The money is a thanks for the memories parting gift. And since we’re not paying Jordan Love much. The hit will be tolerable. Aaron Rodgers fans WANTED Rodgers back. Aaron Rodgers WANTED to stay. Gutekunst was prepared however this worked out. And that ladies is a sign of a good GM. Rodgers was paid for the chance to go out on top. It didn’t work out. He’s no Tom Brady. Jordan Love can go 8-9 with this roster without all the drama. Rodgers has been playing like this for over a year now. Next year will be no better. Sadly, no believes the constant barrage of excuses anymore. It’s all so painfully obvious.

    Reply
  4. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    4 weeks ago

    Ok lol…, let me see if i got this straight.
    .
    Gute signed Rodgers to a 3 year 150 million dollar deal that forces Love to keep sitting on the bench.
    .
    And your stance is…..it was just a parting gift?
    So what did Gute tell Love?
    To just STFU and keep sitting on the bench quietly like a good boy?
    .
    Tommi Logic!!
    .
    Well the seasons over, what to talk about….
    I suppose we could compare Love and 7th round pick rookie Brock Purdy
    I remember back when 1st round pick Love was a rookie, he couldn’t beat out Tim Boyle
    .
    Thanks 🛴

    Reply
  5. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    4 weeks ago

    Next order of business, Jordan Loves 5th year option.

    Reply
  6. Avatar for Tom M Tom M says:
    4 weeks ago

    I’m sorry Kevin. This isn’t about money no matter how much you want to make it so. It’s about winning. Rodgers has two options. Retire or play. He gets paid either way. If he retires he walks away with his pride and dignity. And fans like yourself always blaming management for not making the team perfect for him. If he returns, then he’ll eventually get benched in favor of Jordan Love because there’s no indication he plays better next season than he has for over a year now. While everyone gets a “get out of jail card free” for this season, the pressure will be on to right the ship next season and they’ll be no time for letting Rodgers have his second “last dance” as we stumble to another 8-9 season. There’s a possibility he could be traded to an AFC team but if he can’t beat Jared Goff, what makes anyone think he can beat Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, or even Trevor Lawrence? He can’t. There’s just too much to lose and very little to gain by playing next year.

    Reply
    • Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
      4 weeks ago

      “Rodgers has two options. Retire or play. He gets paid either way.” – smartest football fan in his trailer park.
      .
      In what world Goober, will Rodgers get paid if he retires?
      *******************
      Why is it Scooter, you try to talk with authority, telling us what will happen in the future, when you’ve been wrong so many times, we’ve lost count.
      .
      Find a new psychic Little Man.

      Reply
  7. Avatar for MMSUCKS MMSUCKS says:
    4 weeks ago

    Thank you Paul for the article, well stated. I saw this train wreck coming 10-plus years ago (along with a few others in here). It has been a real treat to see two generational HOF QB1’s in a row. Too bad that the Packer brass didn’t appreciate them enough to give either of them the requisite talent to WIN multple Super Bowls . . . Now for the mediocrity to begin . . . well, it already has thanks to poor drafts from Gutekunst. Nice 4 game turnaround though, that was fun. Too bad it ended in the usual 4th quarter bed-shitting.

    On another note, I stopped buying Packer merchandise after “Gutey” drafted Love. That was a real bad decision that the Packers have suffered from since 2020.

    Here’s to brighter seasons ahead (once Murphy and Gutekunst are gone!) Until then, sundays will be a little less “Packer” centric . . .

    Oh! and fuck Tom M. What a shameless Gutekunst lickspittle he is.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
      4 weeks ago

      Although almost all the people on this board hated him at the end, a lot of the success of the Packers the last 30 years of solid Packer football can be attributed to Ted Thompson and his ability to scout QBs. In the week before the 2005 draft, Thompson realized Rodgers may fall to the Packers and started in depth scouting of him sitting in a room alone and reviewing tapes of him. Ron Wolf, who realized the Packers were desperate for a QB and was talking in the news about drafting Rick Mirer and David Klinger, had then-scout Ted Thompson review the film on Favre. It was Thompson who recommended Favre to Ron Wolf.
      –
      Thompson is long gone. It may be a long time before the Packers are competing for playoffs again.

      Reply
      • Avatar for MMSUCKS MMSUCKS says:
        3 weeks ago

        I actually agree with that summation Deepsky. Although Murphy allowed TT to stay longer than he should have IMHO. Now with Gutekunst? That is another story.

        Reply
  8. Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
    4 weeks ago

    This game reminded me a lot of Favre’s last game with the Packers. An indifferent QB who looks old in the cold, throwing a pick as his last play in a Packer uniform.

    Reply
  9. Avatar for Tom M Tom M says:
    4 weeks ago

    Let me ask you this MMSUCKS. If the Packers start Jordan Love next season does he get the same bullshit excuses lover boy got for the last five years why he can’t win in the playoffs? So your answer is to continue to trot out 50 million dollar game manager Aaron Rodgers at QB with a non threatening backup QB like Kurt Benkert next season. Yeah, that’s dumb. Look at the playoff teams and tell me what you see. I see Mahomes, Burrows, Allen, Herbert, Lawrence, Hurts. All young ascending QB’s. And a month from now one in that list will be a SB winner. While Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and even Tom Brady times have passed. At least Gutekunst can face reality. Rodgers fans not so much.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Arch Stanton Arch Stanton says:
      4 weeks ago

      If Gute can face reality why did he pay Rodgers $150 mil to hang around for three more years after he drafted Love?

      Reply
      • Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
        4 weeks ago

        Why can’t Tommi face the reality that it was Gutes decision to keep Rodgers around longer, thus keeping Love, sitting on the bench….longer.
        That was Gutes doing.
        .
        Could it be (GULP)
        That maybe it isn’t Tommi’s fault.
        Maybe he’s just too damn stupid to understand it.

        Reply
    • Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
      3 weeks ago

      Good point about whether any Rodgers fanboys will apply the same excuses about lack of receivers or play calling or special teams or defense or whatever if Jordan Love loses games. I bet they won’t.

      Reply
      • Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
        3 weeks ago

        Yes broken thumb.
        Poor receiver situation.
        Poor O line play.
        Poor play calling.
        Poor goal line running game, too many times, 1 and goal at the 1 or 2 and run 3 times, …field goal.
        .
        As Tommi noted, all bs excuses.
        The receivers are top 5,
        The O line was top 5.
        The play calling was Coach of the Year worthy.
        .
        There was no broken thumb…
        .
        All bs excuses.
        ***************
        Love won’t get a chance to start.
        When he finds out he has to sit on the bench another year, he’s going to demand to be traded!!
        .
        Just ask Jason Wilde….he’s “confident” about that….lol

        Reply
    • Avatar for MMSUCKS MMSUCKS says:
      3 weeks ago

      I will continue to blame Gutekunst, MLF, Barry, or whoever continues to fuck up. My allegiance IS NOT with Aaron Rodgers, I just continue to believe that the Packers did NOT get Rodgers the requisite talent on Defense, special teams, and offense at the same times when all three phases of team football must play well for a team to win a SB. Oh, and good coaching helps . . . A. Rodgers was hurt, and burned out. One person at that position CANNOT win a SB. You are a dunce.

      Reply
  10. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    4 weeks ago

    There are a lot of IF’s when your dealing with Tommi.
    .
    IF, Jordan Love can play the rest of his career, like he played in those 6 pass completions (when he proved himself) then he’ll go to the HOF – Barney

    Reply
  11. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    3 weeks ago

    Tom M 1 day ago
    While Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and even Tom Brady times have passed. At least Gutekunst can face reality.
    .
    Yes Tommi….the realty that Gute kept Rodgers here another 2 years at least by giving him a winning lottery ticket, knowing pretty boy Love will have to sit on the bench for a 4th year.
    The reality that Gute made a huge mess of a valuable 1st round pick and so far, has pissed it away along with a 4th round pick.
    Apparently Gutes confidence in Love must be pretty low.
    .
    That reality Tommi?

    Reply

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