Packers’ playoff loss sparks tough questions as the same frustrating storyline continues to repeat itself
It’s the same thing over and over again for the Green Bay Packers.
It was exactly what the Green Bay Packers have been. Not only this season, but as a franchise over the past few decades. A great offensive performance to start the game, a four-touchdown night for the quarterback, special teams mistake after mistake, and the defense couldn’t get anything done.
After all, a 21-3 lead at the half turned into a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears, eliminating the Packers from the playoffs in absurd fashion.
Yes, Matt LaFleur has been a good head coach. Yes, for the first time, it’s understandable why someone would call for his job. This has happened too many times.
Packers’ conservatism on offense continues to be an issue
LaFleur deserves a lot of credit for his work as a head coach. But the most deserving criticism is how conservative he gets when the Packers are leading in the second half. He immediately enters killing-the-clock mode, and the unit’s efficiency goes away.
The Packers scored touchdowns on their first three drives and got Brandon McManus in field-goal position on the fourth, but the offense stopped playing its game in the third quarter. The Bears’ defense deserves credit for adjusting, but this is a trend long enough to admit it’s a LaFleur problem as well.
It was a choking masterclass after an almost perfect first half, and this forces the Packers to do some hard reflection and understand what needs to change. But something has to materially change.
Green Bay’s defense couldn’t generate pressure
The secondary did a respectable job, especially considering the investment and considering who was on the field. But the defensive front couldn’t generate pressure — and when it did, quarterback Caleb Williams escaped it with ease throughout the entire game.
It’s somewhat expected that this was going to happen without Micah Parsons, but it’s just too much investment at a position group with Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness for this type of outcome.
The Packers have to take a hard look in the mirror during the offseason, and it starts with what they have upfront on defense.
Packers’ special teams do it again, and not in a good way
Everything started to go downhill when McManus missed a 55-yard field goal to end the first half. And if you could determine the one person responsible for the loss, it’s the veteran kicker. He missed another field goal and an extra point in the second half, and those points were obviously costly at the end of the game.
The special teams also give up a big return, and this is simply the story of the Packers’ franchise since their most recent Super Bowl win after the 2010 season.
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