The Green Bay Packers allowed only 10 points to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field. If I had told you that before the game, you would certainly be pretty confident about a win. But well, for the third time this season, the Packers ended up losing a game where they allowed 16 points or fewer, dropping to 5-3-1 in the regular season — and with two consecutive home losses on their record.

It might still be a playoff team, it might still have a high ceiling. But the offense has real issues, and they don’t apply just for the next few games. Those are real problems for this season and beyond, because they go through the two most important parts of the equation — head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love.

Strategy issues

There has been too much focus on play-calling issues for Matt LaFleur, but it’s probably more about approach, strategy, and decision-making than it is about the plays per se.

At some point in the first half, the Packers had run 16 plays — only three passes. Yes, Jordan Love had his fair share of mistakes — including a costly fumble late in the second quarter. But if Matt LaFleur doesn’t trust him at all against two-high defenses, building an offense like Malik Willis was the starting quarterback is probably not the ideal solution.

It’s understandable that LaFleur might not trust his offensive line, but the group is worse in run blocking than it is at pass protection, so they’re hiding the wrong aspect of the line — even though everything has been mediocre this season. Jordan Love finished the first half with 39 passing yards, and Josh Jacobs had 38 rushing yards.

But the problems in offensive execution went much beyond that. On a key play in the fourth quarter where Christian Watson had them in scoring position, the Packers were called for illegal formation because backup lineman Darian Kinnard reported as eligible and was covered by Bo Melton. Drops, players crossing each other. All that happened, and it was hard to overcome so many issues.

Later in the game, especially with Sean Rhyan replacing Elgton Jenkins at center, the Packers had more physicality upfront and relied more on quick throws, which worked and led to the first Green Bay touchdown of the night — a rushing score by Jacobs.

Jordan Love’s individual performance

On one hand, Matt LaFleur didn’t show much trust in Jordan Love. On the other, the quarterback probably deserved some of the blame for it in his second consecutive week failing against two-high defenses. Against the Eagles, Love missed opportunities with bad reads, was nervous in the pocket with the lack of protection sometimes, and made a huge mistake before halftime with a fumble trying to avoid a sack that cost the Packers three points — which would have been huge considering how the game was going.

It’s in fact a complicated situation for Love with an underwhelming offensive line and without some of his best offensive weapons in Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed, but part of the premise of having a $55 million quarterback is that he will be able to elevate his environment — Love has done it multiple times, but he didn’t on Monday.

Defense did what it could

Yes, the Eagles had a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter constructed on two big plays from Saquon Barkley and Devonta Smith, but the loss doesn’t go through Jeff Hafley’s unit.

Maybe it wasn’t a great night for Jalen Hurts, but the Packers’ defense came to play in a huge way. It was probably the best game from the secondary — Keisean Nixon had some key plays in coverage, including a pass breakup. Edgerrin Cooper forced a monster fumble on Hurts in the first quarter, and the run defense controlled Saquon Barkley for the most part, except that one he broke after a checkdown.

It’s hard to limit an offense as talented as the Eagles’ to zero points through a half and to three points through three quarters, so the defense deserves credit and respect.

The only defensive aspect that was underwhelming was third downs — especially with soft coverage allowing some easy conversions. But that’s not the reason why the Packers lost by any means.

Green Bay Packers News

Matt LaFleur’s future with the Packers turns out to have a much simpler answer than expected

Head coach is under contract through 2026, but hasn’t received an extension this offseason under Ed Policy.

Wendell Ferreira