The Packers finally lost a game on Sunday. Losses always rile up the Packers fan base, but folks seem to be particularly riled up after losing to the Chiefs and seeing a chance at 19-0 disappear.
So lets just get it all out there. Take a seat on the AllGreenBayPackers.com therapy couch and open up about what’s bugging you about the Packers.
Nobody is going to judge you and nobody is going to tell you to calm down and relax because the Packers are 13-1 and still the best team in the NFL. We’re also not looking for in-depth statistics or X’s and O’s analysis.
We just want to know what’s bugging you about the Packers and what you think could trip them up in the playoffs.
I’ll start:
Offensive line
Marshall Newhouse is getting overwhelmed and many of his linemates are battling injuries. I hate watching teams with bad offensive lines. It messes up the entire offense and drives me nuts. I’m not saying the Packers offensive line is bad, but there’s only so many injuries a unit can sustain before it starts taking a toll.
Defensive line
Would it kill a defensive lineman to get a pass rush every now and then? I know 3-4 D-lineman don’t rack up big pass rushing numbers, but I doubt there’s a page in Dom Capers playbook that discourages a defensive lineman from getting in the QB’s face occasionally. And unless the Packers put about 10 guys on the line in anticipation of a running play, it seems like no defensive lineman ever makes a play on the ball carrier in the backfield.
Regression to the mean
Was the first part of the season too good to be true? Are we seeing the Packers come back to the pack (no pun intended) because things just tend to even out over time? Are the Packers a very good team that was playing like a great team and is now coming back down to Earth?
There.
I don’t know if I feel better now that all of that’s off my chest, but it’s a start.
What’s bothering all of you? Take a seat and the therapists here at AllGreenBayPackers.com can try and help.
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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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I summed up my feelings about the loss in a post this morning: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/eqgq9m
Me too!
Dear Santa, please give me Olinemen who can block. If this isn’t fixed by next Sunday, AR might be dead.
Dear Santa,
Thank you for giving the Packers Olineman that can block. But please bring them all back healthy in time for the playoffs (especially the two starting tackles).
I’m not disappointed in my team at all. We’re 13-1! How can anyone be mad at that? Gotta love them Packers!
Then why are you on our therapy couch? Leave before I call the police!
I said all along that they do not have a championship defense. I also said that if Rogers and the offense have a sub par day they will lose. The only thing that the Packers defense does well is forcing turnovers. Absent of that they are terrible.
As for yesterday’s game here are a few rants:
Catch the dam ball, especially you Finley.
D Backs can’t cover a no name receiving corp.
Blown coverages all day.
Made Orton look like Montana.
How many times is a screen going to fool you?
How many times his the quick toss to a wide out going to fool you?
How about pounding the ball down KC’s throat?
How about a challenge on that fumble?
Many more but tired of typing.
I feel a little better thanks!
Defense gave up one TD yesterday. They aren’t a great defense, but that had little to do with the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
There’s a whole horde of Packers’ fans who are going on about the horrible defense as the culprit in yesterday’s game… Most of them doing so because all season they’ve said all along that they don’t have a championship defense and that if the offense had a sub-par game they’d lose.
Well, think about that- if the Offense has a sub-par game, it’s the defense’s fault for the loss?
Come on, now. Packers Defense is giving up 21.2 points per game, that’s tied for 14th in the NFL. That puts them in the upper 50th percentile.
To put that number in perspective, if the Packers average just one field goal less per game- a 18.2 points per game average – they’d be ranked #5 in the NFL.
The Packers are an average defense, and that average defense wasn’t at fault for that loss to the Chiefs. Here’s something to think about: if the Packers defense is ranked #14 for ppg at 21.2, wouldn’t that mean that the Packers’ offense only scoring 14 points was a below average offensive showing on an NFL-wide level, while the Defense only allowing 19 was an above average defensive performance on an NFL-wide level?
Sure sounds to me like the Defense wasn’t the culprit. This one is squarely on the Offense.
Valid points duly noted!
absolutely. The defense was what they’ve been all year – the offense wasn’t.
“Are the Packers a very good team who were playing like a great team”.
I think that’s fair. That said I don’t think there is a better team in the NFL. Doesn’t mean we are unbeatable.
Newhouse-he’s an effective rookie and he’s doing ok. No better no worse. I know that sounds ridiculous after Sunday but look at the rushers he has stuggled with-Hali Allen and the Giants D-line. Not a bad group. Add into that the fact that both Rodgers and our scheme are hard on our o-line, specifically our tackles and you can see why he struggles at times. Bulaga had his own struggles last year and he was a first round pic k..
I’d like to see us help the o-line out-chip with TE’s shorter passes, work Grant and Starks but I suppose I cheer as loudly as anyone when we sweep down the field -and it’s not MM’s style. I’d like to see more of a pass rush but don’t see that getting fixed this year to be frank so on D at least stop the run and make the opposition gamble a little where our ballhawks can make plays..
We’re flawed. Less flawed than most though and still with a great chance to go all the way
I hate losing. If GB plays the way they can the rest of the way, we’ll still be talking about one of the best Packer seasons ever.
I hate losing. Don’t want to experience it again.
Did I mention I hate losing 🙂
Newhouse is to weak & slow he drives me. Also playing zones to much is y our secondary is getting beat on 1 on 1
Dear Packers receivers,
Please catch the ball. I know you are one of the best, if not the best, receiving corps in the NFL right now. So when Aaron delivers a catchable ball, please come down with it…I’m not naming any names.
I know I couldn’t do what you do, but you guys are amazing and incredible—we want to see your magic happen.
Rain or shine, I love my Packers. Get healthy, do your thing you’re known for, and let’s go for another Lambardi Trophy!
Signed, Wisconsinite from birth, diehard fan, season ticket waiting lister, and most recent, stock share-holder (how cool is that!)
Rodgers doesn’t get a free pass here. With a make-shift line and Newhouse facing one of the top 3 pure pass-rushers in the game how many times does Rodgers (and McCarthy) believe they can stand at the top of a 7-step drop and stare down coverage? Chiefs rushed 4, dropped 7. Rodgers and McCarthy didn’t adjust.
Also, when you don’t chip, double and run right at Hali you’re begging to get Newhouse killed. Bad, bad game management from beginning to end.
This is the only chink in Rodgers otherwise flawless armor that makes an appearence at some point every year: holding the ball and ignoring the checkdown. When you see deep zones in the form of cover 2, 3 & 4 with a make-shift line you’re really tempting fate by ignoring either (or both). He and McCarthy paid for it.
The whole game felt like the Redskins game from last season or the Bengals game from 2009 (or was it 2008?). One D-lineman killing Rodgers, Rodgers holding the ball, McCarthy not adjusting the game plan and a bunch of injuries.
CSS, that was the story of this game. Everyone blames the drops and the defense, but this was a game that could have been won with a less stubborn adherence to the original game plan. It also hurt that Starks and Saine were out from a receiving standpoint. They could have won this game with screens, flares and other passes to the running backs underneath the coverage. Grant just can’t run a proper route to save his life and we all know about his hands. Under the circumstances, Grant should have been given 25 carries – but no – lets keep trying to throw 15-20 yard passes without our #1 receiver on a day when the opposing secondary is shutting things down.
It’s OK that they lost, I’m not bitching about losing the game, just commenting on what I saw and what I thought could have been done differently.
Agree almost 100%. One very minor thought Grant’s hands have been remarkably good this year it’s been weird…
Dropped 7 and rushed 4. 4 sacks, many hurries and as many hits. I guess GB’s 5, 6 or sometimes 7 blockers rate an F grade then.
I’m very disappointed at the Packers loss to the Chiefs…O-line was plagued by injuries and did not protect A-Rodg well,on defense there was no pass-rush at all,gave up too many plays,Finley kept on dropping perfectly thrown passes.Jordy Nelson had 2 pass interference calls on him,overall it was Horrible!!!!!! Still love my team though!
So I take it you weren’t one of those idiots tweeting nasty comments to Newhouse and other Packers players… Good! Go Pack!
Don’t have any hopes for Clifton coming back. On 1250AM Butler was saying not this season….I hate to say it but it may be one and done in the playoffs due to both sides of the line and the drops especially by Finley, but I wish otherwise.
They lose one game and now you think they are one and done in the playoffs? I bit knee-jerky, no?
I’m not on the one-n-done train, but I don’t know how knee-jerky that thought is if you’re thinking about the playoffs starting next sunday with the O-line in the shape it is currently in.
Before the game, I was ready to say (and did say) that I’m finally comfortable with the fact the Packers are going to run the table, there’s not a team they can’t beat projected to make the playoffs. Clearly, god likes to punish me when I make brash statements.
Anyways, by the end of this game, I was VERY concerned.. And that has little to do with the loss.
I think a good number of people are going to be worried about this team getting knocked out of the playoffs because of the health of the offensive line.
I don’t think that’s knee-jerk, though it might not be clear thought. People are forgetting there’s still a few weeks for the Packers to get healthy again before the first play off game. But if they had to go into the play offs in the shape they are in right now? I wouldn’t be confident in that Oline with Newhouse and EDS on Rodger’s left….
IF the playoffs started next Sunday, I’d be worried. But they are 28 days away. Plenty of time to get Jennings & Bulaga back and possibly Clifton, too…
One and done? C’mon dude.
could happen if it’s the eagles.
Against the Eagles? Seriously? They of no Linebackers, no safeties, no offensive line?
I’m much more worried about the Saints. But since we’ll only play them in January in Lambeau.. not worried…
If we get healthy, we should win it all.
1962. Its a wake up call. Just hope they don’t hit the snooze button.
AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRAAAAAWWWW!!!! @#$%&@*^£:S&#$@%!!!! Wow, that did feel good, thanks Adam, I’m ready for the playoffs
Has there even been a REAL pass rush this year. NO!
Did you see how many times Clay went back into coverage? Many!
Last year Pickett and Raji were always in the backfield. Not this year. Did Jenkins make that much difference? I think not but it would be nice to see who ever lines up on the right side to get their head out of their you know what and PUSH into the backfield. And I wonder what Williams does in the defensive backfield. I watched him live at the Denver game and that guy gets burned so many times because he is always watching the damn quarterback instead of watching his receiver like he is suppose to. Wants that interception total to go up at the cost of a touchdown or big gainer. Watch him if you can. Its true.
And what ever happened to Matthews moving around from end to end and rushing the weak side. Not this year that I have seen so far. Seems like Blitzing Don has forgot what made him famous!
This defense (and I don’t care about there points against) has to get there act together if they want to win the Super Bowl. Lot of the Packer backers up here are really getting worried that they can’t repeat. Not with this defense.
As for the Oline, that has been a problem all year. Healthy or not. Rodgers has been hit WAY too many times this year. Not just in this last game.
The running game should have some huge holes to run through but that has happened very little.
Anyway, there has to be some major work done if we want to even get to the Super Bowl. You can say what you want but look at the supposedly good teams we beat this year. They were having problems like we are now. I don’t want to take anything away from this great team but that is just something to think about.
This team can do a lot better on defense and now will have to with the problems in the oline. Its not going to get any better for Rodgers in the playoffs if the Oline can’t protect him.
Blitzing Don has to go back to what made him a great coach. PRESSURE, PRESSURE and PRESSURE
Mark, come back from the ledge my friend. As long as GB gets healthy, they should be fine. The outstanding areas should overcome the weakspots…
Oppy, your right, yesterdays loss was much more the offenses fault then the D’s. But that dosn’t mean this defence is not the Achilles heal of this team. This defence has been pushed around all year. Yesterday they gave up a lot of time of possession as they got man handled. Once again , No pass rush with the front 4, and thier infamous ‘let’s leave receivers WIDE open’ pattern showed up once again. If you feel great about this defence for the playoffs, I think your one of the few. The offence has been covering up for the D all year. Yesterday the O had an off day and needed the D to bail them out. The D responded by giving up 430 yards, no turn overs, no sacks, no pressure, over 36 mins of time of possession, 19 pts,and no big stop at the end of the game to give the ball back to the O. All this against the 3rd worse offence in the league. The chiefs have a respectful D, their offence is absolutely horrible.
The only thing that REALLY bothers me are “Packers fans” going to twitter to harass the players.
That disgusts me to no end.
Come on we all love the packers or we wouldn’t bother, so everyone chill,now lets get going and kick the hell out of the bears, OK
PackersRS, your right, anybody that is harassing our players on Twitter are not true Packer fans, I may get emotional about the Pack at times and vent constructively on a blog such as this, but I would never diss discourage our players like that…Big O, your right also, let’s get this loss behind us and move on, we have a Superbowl to chase. The Pack has a better chance then any team if they can get healthy and the D plays pissed off the rest of the year.
I have been a Packers Fan my entire life. We in The Great White North have Faith, do not bitch about any O or D line, drop of a ball in the numbers, or a poor game plan. Look folks, we are 13-1… Hammer dem damn Bears to lock up home field than embarrass Lions in Lambeau. The Big Bowl goes through GB, Wis. I believe this lethargic loss will fire things up. It better! Niners / Aints look good. Tough gig on that frozen tundra come January. Coach Better start running practice outside. Give the guys that rugged edge. That’s how we get to Indy.