Jordan Love points out issue that's costing Packers wins
The Green Bay Packers defense is certainly shouldering the majority of the load for the team's two-game losing streak, but Jordan Love and the offense have also played a big role.Their biggest issue has been coming away with touchdowns in the red zone. The Packers offense is converting red zone trips into six points at […]
The Green Bay Packers defense is certainly shouldering the majority of the load for the team's two-game losing streak, but Jordan Love and the offense have also played a big role.
Their biggest issue has been coming away with touchdowns in the red zone. The Packers offense is converting red zone trips into six points at just a 40% clip over the last two weeks. If that were the season-long average, it would rank 31st out of the 32 teams. Only the New York Jets would have a worse conversion rate.
"I think that comes down to the red zone," Love said when asked if the offense was better than the 20 points it put on the scoreboard. "I think we were moving the ball fine and then we just got to the red zone and weren't putting up those points, finishing with seven. So I think that's what it is, 100%. It's just, you know, we're able to move the ball and just couldn't execute in red zone…
"… [It's] definitely some we're going to take a look at and do better at going forward."
It's a stark contrast from the offense's 52.4% conversion rate coming into the New York Giants matchup. The unit is simply stalling once it gets inside the 20, there's no other way to put it.
Below are the Packers' last 10 red zone trips and how they eventually played out. Love and co. were able to get inside the 20 five times in each game:
- TD
- Couldn't convert 3rd and 4
- Sack forces FG attempt
- Sack forces FG attempt
- TD
- Failed 4th down attempt at the goal line
- TD
- Couldn't convert 3rd and 9
- TD
- Couldn't convert 3rd and 4
Couple that with the defense's inability to stop the run or pass and it's easy to see why the Packers have dropped their last two contests. The defense has had it's own red zone issues, as well, allowing opponents to convert 62.5% of their drives into touchdowns.
The Packers can't allow this to linger or else it's going to kill their playoff hopes. They had a 62% chance of making the postseason before the Giants debacle. Now, they have a 25% shot, according to the New York Times' playoff machine.
"Going forward, I mean, it's, a playoff," said Love. "… We have to win every game. So I don't think we'll have any problem the locker room, being able to bounce back and respond."
The Packers will have a prime opportunity to get things on track against the Carolina Panthers in Week 16. Ejiro Evero's defense allows opponents to score touchdowns on 71.1% of red zone trips, which is second-worst in the league.
If the offense can't get it done in that scenario, well, then not only can the Packers kiss their playoff hopes goodbye – they don't deserve to make it that far, anyway.
