Game Changing Play of the Week: Packers’ Third Down Woes Cost Team Late

A crucial third-down sack in the fourth quarter was one of the biggest reasons the Packers fell to the Seahawks on Thursday night.

Another week, another road loss, another nail in the rapidly assembling coffin being prepared to contain the coaching tenure of Mike McCarthy in Green Bay. Today’s game changing play of the week is one you’ve probably seen all over the internet already today, but it’s worth taking a look at—a late third down sack that prevented what would have at least been an easy first down if Rodgers had just looked to his checkdown.

The context

The Packers needed a touchdown badly on this drive. The momentum was all with the Seahawks, and the defense was starting to wear down thanks to the Seahawks’ ability to pound the ball on the ground all game long.

Rodgers connected deep with Davante Adams to get the Packers down into scoring territory, but as has happened all season long, the Packers failed to turn a redzone possession into a touchdown, and could not convert a crucial third down, even with a manageable distance to go.

It was something we saw multiple times out of the team Thursday night—the Packers had third and short (or at least third and manageable) and rather than calling a quick passing play to move the chains, or rather than Rodgers looking to what’s given to him underneath, they come up with some kind of contrived downfield tossup play, and Rodgers takes a sack because he refuses to look at what the defense is giving him.

The play

Of the four receivers running routes here, only Marquez Valdez-Scantling is running one that stops him at the sticks. Everyone else is going to the endzone. Aaron Jones is the checkdown here. He’ll slip out of the backfield to give Rodgers a safety blanket, but Rodgers never once looks in his direction.

Right at the start of the play here, it looks like Rodgers is looking at Davante Adams (circled) going inside. Reasonable first option, considering the type of game Adams had been having. But he quickly realizes it’s not there. Given the down and distance, and the fact that Rodgers is going to be getting some quick pressure, he needs to quickly turn to an underneath route instead.

After Rodgers sees Adams is covered, he chooses to look to the corner of the endzone at Equanimeous St. Brown. I’m going to be very interested to see the All-22 of this play when it comes out. Not once in the time leading up to this does Rodgers look to his right—he’s not considering taking Marcedes Lewis on his route at this point, but if he did look to his right he’d see what every Packer fan was screaming at their television: “JONES IS OPEN!!!!”

And we’re not just talking regular old open here. We’re talking nobody anywhere close to the guy. He’s got an easy first down for sure, and potentially a touchdown.

The pressure is on, and Rodgers is still looking to his left. He’s got to at least glance at his checkdown before this, knowing the down and distance and the type of situation his team is in at this point in the game. You can clearly see which way his field of vision is directed, though. Jones isn’t in his sights.

Rodgers sees he’s got plenty of space, so he attempts to take off. By now, it’s too late to get the ball to Jones. But he’s also too late to get out of the pocket and avoid a big sack.

Down he goes. The Packers are forced to settle for a field goal, and go three and out on their final drive of the game to end their shot at an elusive road win, in Seattle nonetheless.

 

 

Taken on its own, this play isn’t particularly concerning. Even great quarterbacks are going to fail to see the open guy every now and then.

But this play is part of a really concerning pattern for Rodgers and the Packers this year. For whatever reason, Rodgers has routinely been missing open receivers, and seems to be focused on an “all or nothing” style of play, where he’s extremely hesitant to take the underneath routes. Meanwhile, McCarthy continues to call plays with long-developing routes, even in situations where it should be obvious that you need to get the ball out quickly and keep moving the chains.

There’s been a lot of talk about how McCarthy’s time is over in Green Bay and how his decision making has been hurting the team, and rightfully so. But someone also needs to get in Rodgers’ ear and tell him that he needs to stop trying to play hero ball and just hit the open man. Yes, you’re going to miss them occasionally, it happens. But it’s happening far too often for a guy who’s the highest paid player in NFL history.

Something needs to change.

 

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__________________________

Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.

__________________________

4 points
 

Comments (44)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Bert's picture

November 16, 2018 at 06:59 pm

Good job Tim. AR just isn't playing within himself and letting the game to him. No patience. He's like the baseball player trying to hit the 5-run homer on every pitch. Neither he nor MM are having a good year. MM will probably be gone but AR will also needs to get his big head out of his ass.

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

November 16, 2018 at 08:05 pm

I'd argue the opposite, Bert. Rodgers has too much patience, at least after the snap on passing downs.

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Bert's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:08 pm

I see your point John. I was alluding to his lack of patience to take what is available and simply move the chains. He seems too fixated on making the big play regardless of the actual game situation.

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Pierre's picture

November 16, 2018 at 07:36 pm

Any way you look at the Packer loss to Seattle it all goes back to the QB position. It always is when the defense is playing really good and the offense is non existent for a whole half of an important football game. Rodgers was shut down in the second half from scoring a TD because he just could not (and cannot) execute on 3rd and 3-4 yards to keep drives going. He missed seeing wide open receivers short because he was often fixated downfield and then never even tried to run 3-4 yards for a first down and ended up repeatedly taking sacks. Just really poor QB play from Rodgers that cost the Packers this game if you can at all be objective with what your eyes are seeing.

9 points
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Packers0808's picture

November 16, 2018 at 08:22 pm

I don' t think this Gute is all that good! Rodgers WAS great once,, but the decline started a couple seasons ago even before injury and has continued down since. Guess the new boss isn't good enough to have seen it and way over paid! Way too much blame being heaped on McCarthy, after all he isn't playing! Age has caught with Rodgers faster than most expected it too!

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SoCalJim's picture

November 16, 2018 at 08:28 pm

How do you know it’s age, instead of injury impacting AR’s performance?

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Packers0808's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:36 pm

The age is probably what is not allowing total healing, possible, yup! They go hand in hand!

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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:02 pm

Russ Ball is the one that wrote Rodger's new contract. Gute had a great draft bringing in Alexander, MVS, and ESB. JK Scott kicked a 67 yard punt that's crazy. Jackson has committed way too many penalties and takes too many chances but could develop into a decent corner or safety. Burks has flashed on ST hopefully he can contribute at ILB. Moore showed flashes in preseason and if he gets over the drops could be a decent WR next year or the year after. Hopefully we get to see Cole next year.

Gute has churned the bottom of the roster the way he promised he would. He has loaded up draft capital trading away Hundley, TY, HaHa, etc. Bell has been serviceable at RG. Breeland looks like a good pick up. Graham and Wilkerson were disappointments.

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Packers0808's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:39 pm

Umm you have to be not too well tuned in if you don't think Gute had to okay that contract by Ball and Murphy and others I would imagine! I was referring to the handling of Rodgers none of the other stuff you are referring too. Stay with the subject there ok?

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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 16, 2018 at 10:52 pm

Ball doesn't answer to Gute he answers to Murphy same as MM and Gute. You said Gute wasn't doing a good job so I pointed out what I thought went well and what didn't. It's a forum designed to promote conversation I'll talk about what I want. Rodgers doesn't look as good as he normally does but he's still a top 10 QB. That throw to Tonyan was awesome. He just needs to recognize he's not 100% and take more of the underneath rather than constantly looking for the homerun. How many other QBs could have made that pass to Tonyan in the end zone?

1 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 17, 2018 at 09:39 am

Jonathan: 0808's overriding principle is that MM should be extended. Since MM chooses his coaches, I don't think 0808 will blame the coaches very often. That leaves two main targets: the front office in general (with several branching possibilities in Gute, TT, Murphy, and Ball); and individual players, which has about 53 different possible targets.

We all have biases. I had one against HHCD. I recognized it and tried to fight it: just because a TD pass was allowed doesn't mean HHCD was at fault. I probably was not successful in that battle.

So, time will tell if all of 0808 future comments can be explained by this overriding principle, and even if so, whether he can make good arguments for keeping MM. The argument that it isn't MM's fault that AR is declining is a dud. There are 20+ HCs that would love to have that problem. Moreover, AR's $20.9M cap hit in 2018 is a bargain. Lots of inferior QBs make more. AR's $26.5M cap hit for 2019 strikes me as a reasonable amount.

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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 17, 2018 at 03:16 pm

TGR: 0808's 1st sentence "I don' t think this Gute is all that good!" Is what I have issue with. I do think MM's tine in GB is up and that he should be replaced. 0808 says that too much of the blame for GB's woes is being put onto MM. My argument is that with the tools Gute was given he's given MM and Pettine fairly loaded rosters. We've seen Pettine do more with less and MM do less with more that for me is beyond frustrating.

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Lare's picture

November 17, 2018 at 03:35 pm

0808 is just a Vikings troll coming here to bother Packers fans. Ignore him/her.

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stockholder's picture

November 17, 2018 at 03:36 pm

Have we ever seen A-Rod like this? The veterans signed are stop gap measures. Williams (Randall). and Graham (Cook or Bennett or Lewis). were replacements. Thats not loading up. It's filling in. Both are not Building blocks. Their here until the building blocks are drafted.

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Pierre's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:03 pm

The problem with Rodgers is all between his ears. I doubt that he even looks at game tapes after games to see himself holding the ball too long trying to throw downfield and then getting sacked all the while not taking what the defense gives him underneath to get first downs and keep scoring drives going. He has so regressed over the past few years I believe the Packers will regret extending him as the highest paid player when he’s at best playing as an average NFL QB. Talk about the pain in watching this guy over the next 4 years while he becomes Eli Manning 02.

2 points
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JRome Coaxum's picture

November 16, 2018 at 11:46 pm

I agree. I have been saying that Rodgers has been playing the game like a Diva attitude and acting as if nothing is never his fault. He has been missing the check down 4 ywars strong now. He got usdd to the sandlot football too much as well as the heroics.

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wildbill's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:29 pm

Agree about Rodgers play slipping but what do we do about it? Maybe a coaching change would help

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Norm's picture

November 16, 2018 at 09:44 pm

While it's clear to me that Rodgers blew this by not looking at Jones, we need to consider the real possibility that if he did throw it Jones' way it might have been at his feet. How many easy throws have we seen him miss badly on the past few years? I just don't get it, he can still make the amazing throws every once in awhile so his arm is still here, it has to be something messed up with his head. I guess we blame Danica now?

1 points
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12guage's picture

November 16, 2018 at 11:29 pm

Somebody needs to get into Rodgers grill and get him playing like hes got a chip on his shoulder again. He just isn't the same QB were all so use to seeing. Mccarthy won't do it or is afraid to do it...so what's next? As fans this season has been so frustrating...especially after the opening win against the bears. Rodgers played superhuman when he got injured that night and not so much since. I just don't understand it. Maybe he needs to have the knee reinjured every game so he can get his head into the game.

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Tundraboy's picture

November 16, 2018 at 11:50 pm

Rodgers is playing like crap, has no fear of answering to anyone, and MM doesn't have the balls to put him or anyone else for that matter in their place or hold them accountable. Rodgers may pay lip service to respecting MM but how could he. Either way at this point,I don't see any reason why anything will change this year, I have lost all respect for MM. If I'm sick of being embarrassed in Seattle, on National TV, why isnt MM fed up enough to pull this team together and make sure it doesn't happen. That 2nd half was the last straw. That it followed the typical late first half lull just makes it all the more painful. More wasted opportunities, and yet again self inflicted.

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NickPerry's picture

November 17, 2018 at 05:03 am

"Meanwhile, McCarthy continues to call plays with long-developing routes, even in situations where it should be obvious that you need to get the ball out quickly and keep moving the chains."

I rewound and played and rewound my DVR on that play several times. I have NO DOUBT Rodgers at least saw Jones out of the corner of his eye. I mean how couldn't you see the thing in BRIGHT white in a sea of green. If Rodgers peripheral vision is that bad then he has bigger problems than I thought.

I've also brought up the 20 and 25 yard routes on 3rd and 2 for the last several weeks. WHY the Packers continue to call long developing plays on 3rd and 5 or shorter amazes me! I mean the Packers currently have Adams and...

They don't have Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Driver, Cobb, Adams, and Finley or a combination of that anymore. They have 2 rookies, 3 if you count Moore who know about 1/3rd of what a more veteran WR knows. MVS has been tremendous and I have high hopes for him and St.Brown as well as long as stops with the stupid penalties. But the Packers ARE LIMITED compared to previous years. These BOMBS on 3rd and 2 have been going on for years. What I'd do for a coach who has a few RPO's ready for 3rd and 2.

3 points
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Bearmeat's picture

November 17, 2018 at 07:09 am

Look how much the defense has benefitted from a different voice. There's not that much more talent on the unit than before - you could argue that Alexander is really the only piece.

Well, the offense has MVS, Graham and Jones, which it didn't before. Where's the offensive change? Hmmmm....

1 points
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flackcatcher's picture

November 17, 2018 at 08:58 am

Based on this season I can make an equally strong case for resigning McCarthy. (Let the exploding heads begin) What I can not explain is Rodgers decisions this season. In many ways it is completely different than how he has played over the past 4-5 years. Even with the redesigned offense of 2012-2013, Rodgers was for most of the time a conservative play caller. This guy we see is playing is not playing smart football. It's almost Farve like, Bad Farve like. Seriously, who is this guy.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 17, 2018 at 10:06 am

I wrote a devil's advocate post for keeping Capers. It wasn't bad, though it was long on what TT did wrong and short on what Capers did right. I think I could write a pretty good defense for MM as well.

But I can't get around what I view as the central issue: MM cannot get AR to play within the framework of the offense. It doesn't matter whether MM calls the right play or if MM put in a creative offense if AR is going to audible out of the play, or, if he runs the play MM wants to be run, refuses to avail himself of all the options inside that play.

2 points
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flackcatcher's picture

November 17, 2018 at 01:15 pm

I have been asking the same question myself tgr. This team still plays hard, overall, we see execution in all phases of the game. Under McCarthy this team has never been out of the game or flat out beaten. And yet we see QB1 doing things he himself would have been critical off. Going though everything else, it has to be ego, at this point nothing else fits. And if it is his ego, then firing McCarthy may do more harm than good. I shudder at the damage Rodgers could do to this team. As another commentator pointed out, we don't know what is going on behind close doors, but someone has to get though to Rodgers before it is too late.

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mamasboy's picture

November 17, 2018 at 05:04 am

Just like His ability to get guys to jump off sides has disappeared, Rogers needs to forget about extending plays by running around. Teams have adjusted, like they always do. "Mr. big play" needs to humble himself and be more like Dan Marino. Forget the "BIG PLAY" and just hit the open man. I'm not sure if Rogers is trying to usher McCarthy out the door or not, but if the next coach has to deal with this selfish bullshit from Rogers, he won't be here long, because Rogers is the GOAT, and does what he wants. Rogers is turning into a clown.

1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

November 17, 2018 at 05:57 am

NIce article...

Now, was that play call wrong? Or the execution? Or somebody try to outsmart everybody and find himself as the dumbest in the field ...

And do not tell me " McCarthy continues to call plays with long-developing routes, even in situations where it should be obvious that you need to get the ball out quickly and keep moving the chains." because it was clearly good call. Call contains easy throw to the one of the best 2 players in the game (Aaron Jones / Davanre Adams) who was openand, had sure 1st down and very likely TD.

That play call was beauty. That play call outsmart Seattle D completely. And you are talking about Mike McCarhy?s playcalling?

Aaaaaaaaaah

3 points
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packergal's picture

November 17, 2018 at 09:27 am

Croat,

I agree with you.
Three receivers deep cleared out Seattle defenders and Jones was open HUGE for both first down and more. Sadly, the picture of Jones standing free and isolated told the story clearly.

However, at his post game presser AROD skirted around the "open AJ" by saying something like: "very few open on that 3rd down play"... (paraphrasing). True but the one receiver that WAS open should have been thrown to!!!

Brady, who has four Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs and two league MVPs, allegedly studies film for as much as 16 hours/week with both his PC and his HC before a game and discusses "best execution options" for EVERY situational play call...doubtful that AROD does this with GB OC and HC since he seemingly has little respect for each and publicly throws shade when he can.

As I mentioned in previous posts BOTH AROD and MM continue as the problem and change is required.

AROD needs to put the team above himself and MM needs to hold AROD accountable for his poor play.

Since neither is likely, change will make one of the two issues resolve itself.

3 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 17, 2018 at 09:55 am

Yup. Nothing wrong with the play call, just no execution.

Since I don't like MM (smiley face) and the problem isn't poor execution, it is no execution, I can still blame MM! The HC has to get in AR's face and tell AR that it is okay to take the easy pass for the easy first down (maybe TD). More than it is okay, MM has to force AR to pull the trigger on easy first reads when they are open.

1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

November 17, 2018 at 04:50 pm

TGR, I agree completely with you! Main issue I have with Mike McCrathy is his overloyality.

1 points
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Pierre's picture

November 17, 2018 at 06:54 am

It’s time to move on from Rodgers as QB as he’s been ineffective in consistently moving this offense and scoring TDs in games. Unless something seriously changes in terms of his playing the QB position better the Packers will never get close to a SB with him.
When is the last time the Packers have just dominated a team in out scoring them in a game? You just don’t see it do you? How many times do you see Rodgers trying to come back and win in the fourth quarter? Ever think it through and realize it’s because he rarely plays 4 straight quarters of leading this offense to scores in one game? It’s often his poor play puts the Packers behind in a game in the first place and then he’s always in a position of having to score late to “pull out a victory!” When pressed by the constraints of time he does seem to make some amazing plays to get scores and may pull out a victory. He just does not seem to play with that same sense of urgency for 4 quarters in one game...therefore the games are always close or the Packers are behind in the 4th!
How come an elite QB cannot lead this Packer offense to just dominate another team by scoring TDs and have a blowout game? Why is there always a lull the GB offense gets into during a large part of each game? This is a pattern that has gone on for several years now and so many just make excuses for his poor QB play and do not see that he (himself) is the problem.
Before you could say the defense was poor and that ‘Rodgers “had to do everything”. Against Seattle however, the Packer defense played superb, and this team could have easily...and deserved to win that game l...except that Rodgers played the second half as a shell of himself! It was atrocious to watch how many scoring drives he just could not continue due to poor QB play and his judgement out there. Utterly pathetic!! While he’s playing QB for the Packers they will just be another run of the mill NFL team and not be a threat for a SB at all. Get used to it..

3 points
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Since'61's picture

November 17, 2018 at 11:30 am

OK, so let's chuck Rodgers and see how many SBs we win with Kizer or maybe bring back Hundley because that worked out so well.

Yes Rodgers was the problem when we ran the table in 2016. That season would have ended 4-12 with another QB for the Packers. Again Rodgers was the problem in 2017 when he was injured after he had the team at 4-1 and they went 3-7 without him. Then again he was the problem in 2014 when he won the MVP award and played on one leg throughout the playoffs.

You want the QB to produce TDs on every possession, now that's Fantasy Football to me. Name me one QB who has ever accomplished that. As I've posted here many times before if every player on the Packers roster played their position as well as Rodgers plays his position we would be undefeated SB champions. But of course Rodgers is the problem.

The Packers defense played very well against Seattle but not superb. If they played superb they would have held the lead that Rodgers and the offense built for most of the game. That's what superb defenses do.

Let's look at our defense. So far in 2018 our defense is allowing 24.1 points per game.

2017 = 24.24 PPG
2016 = 23.94 PPG
2015 = 20.19 PPG
2014 = 21.75 PPG

Now I am no fan of Capers and I wanted him gone way before this season however points are what matter in football and while Pettine's defense looks better than Capers they really aren't doing that much better than Capers defense in terms of points of allowed. In fact they are doing worse except for 2017. Think, if it's possible for you, what the defense would be allowing if Rodgers had thrown 8 or 10 picks, like most QBs, instead of just 1 so far this season.

Where Capers defense really failed is that over the years they allowed 36 PPG in playoff games that the Packers lost. But obviously to you Rodgers has been the problem for years.

Maybe we should have sat Rodgers for Scott Tolzein since 2013. Yes, we would have won numerous SBs with him.

I realize that Rodgers is not having a good season by his standards but he is playing hurt, with a torn MCL and we don't know if his shoulder is 100% or ever will be again, his OL is porous at best and he has had one legit WR in Adams. Yes, MVS is coming along nicely but he is still a rookie, Graham has proven to be too slow and ineffective, Allison is gone for the season, Cobb has been out injured more than he has played and he has had to lobby MM to get Aaron Jones more snaps. But all of that plus the stupid penalties and even worse officiating and bone headed plays by Monty, Greene and others all make Aaron Rodgers the problem.
Ok, that makes sense to you. Good. Come back and post when you actually understand what you are watching until then stick with Madden and find another QB for your FFL team. Thanks, Since '61

3 points
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Pierre's picture

November 17, 2018 at 02:18 pm

Yes, I do think that Kizer or Boyle could easily have done as well or better than Rodgers playing the QB position against Seattle. If you have any objectivity at all you can see that Rodgers is playing very inconsistently in leading this Packers offense. His body language and mechanics are poor as well as his judgements as QB, especially on 3rd downs in the second half against Seattle, a huge game for the Packers, that was there for the taking.
The Packer fan who is really a ‘fanatic’ and drinks the cool aid every day sees Rodgers throw a long TD pass to Tonyan and goes about bragging what a great throw he made. (Not even upset that they blew the game). The Packer fan who appreciates the team and has the ability to be objective in evaluation, agrees it was a great pass and catch, but then can rightly ask why did Rodgers not even target Tonyan previously, nor for the rest of the Seahawk game!?? Same with MVS, with his speed and leaping ability, why wasn’t Rodgers targeting him in the passing game?? Why will Rodgers not run this offense to convert third downs as a priority? He lost that Seattle game and no one else.
Why don’t you watch Brees play the QB position as he had his team up 35-7 vs Cincy last week at halftime; 5 possessions, 5 TDs! Now that’s how Rodgers is being paid by the Packers to play the QB position but you will not see him doing that. When is the last time you have seen Rodgers play like that? Can’t remember, can you?

0 points
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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 17, 2018 at 03:32 pm

"When is the last time you have seen Rodgers play like that? Can’t remember, can you?" Talk about selective memory and not being objective.

I saw Rodgers play like that the 2nd half of the game against Chicago and the 1st half of the game against Seattle. Jones was shredding Seattle why did MM/Rodgers ignore him the entire 2nd half?

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Pierre's picture

November 17, 2018 at 09:52 pm

Yes, one half of one game out of 9 games this season...and because they were behind and he was pressed by the time clock. That’s what changes Rodgers and he knew he could not scramble so had to just throw the ball quickly to his receivers. But he does not play with that urgency on his own initiative for 4 quarters in any game this season or last. He just doesn’t and cannot...for whatever reasons you can come up with.

2 points
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Since'61's picture

November 18, 2018 at 08:35 pm

Brees is a HOF QB who is having a great season with some great weapons to work with. The Packers current weapons are no where close to Brees.
BTW, did you watch Drew Brees play for the 3 consecutive seasons that the Saints went 7-9? Or did you forget that.

said in my post that Rodgers is having an off year by his standards. So yes, I admit that he is not playing well, again based on the level we have seen for his entire career. The last time I saw Rodgers play extremely well was during the Packers 8-0 winning streak in 2016 when they made it to the NFCCG championship game against Atlanta. They fell apart in that game because they had no players left after playing 16 consecutive games without a bye week.

If you actually watched the game against Seattle you might realize that MVS could not get separation during that game. When Rodgers did throw to him the Hawks took him down for no YAC.

You blame Rodgers for the Seattle loss, that's OK. After all that he has done for this team almost by himself over the years I can accept the fact that he cost us one road game playing with one starting WR and a porous OL, and a weak running game. As for Kizer and Boyle, as of now they are both preseason MVPs and nothing more. If you think that either of them can play better than Rodgers there is no sense for me wasting any more time with your posts. Thanks, Since '61

1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

November 19, 2018 at 01:41 am

Since, yes, I agree, Aaron Rodgers has down year. Do I believe that Aaron Rodgers is done? NO! He can play on high level in the future for sure. But it really looks like he lost (or forgot) his patience in game. Patience is not keeping the ball in own hands for a minute, the patience is to move the chains by few yards at the moment. When you got that huge plays will come... Aaron Rodgers starts the game and O series with long plays which brings team to 2nd and 10... That is not how the game plan were made, be sure.

You mentioned MVS. Why do you think Tonyan had that long TD or why Adams had several long (huge) plays? When you look the tape, Seattle was more on stopping MVS for long plays than Adams or anyone else. They knew they can catch Adams, Jones, Tonyan, ESB, Graham, Lewis if they catch deep ball. If MVS catch that deep ball, he is gone. And, they were right. But, on short field, they doubled Adams and pay attention on Jones (but not to much attention!).

I blame Aaron because he do not want to accept that age take him down a little. He is not quick nor fast as he was in the past... Every year spent on IR cause larger diminish of his capabilities. He need to be patient with himself and to adjust his playing to his abilities. Some of those can be back. It requires time for that.

I'm not for playing Kizer or Boyle. I'm sure that Aaron can fix it. But he needs to change attitude and adapt himself to his capabilities at this moment of his career...

1 points
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Amy Berk's picture

November 17, 2018 at 07:12 am

Getting rid of Rodgers is not the answer. They need a stronger coach who is going to hold Rodgers acountable instead of being intimidated by him

And call in sports psychologist.

I live in Denver now and on the sports channel out here they said yesterday that the rumor is to hire Josh Mc Daniels as the head coach next year.

That guy was awful when he coached the Broncot for his 1 and only year

Has anyone in GB heard this rumor too ?

From GB....

0 points
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Jonathan Spader's picture

November 17, 2018 at 03:34 pm

Amy, yes that rumor is going around WI as well. McDaniels is low hanging fruit and they always speculate him for a HC job. I really doubt he'll be the Packers next HC. I'd never heard of MM before he became GB's HC I'm sure the Packers have someone in mind who isn't an obvious choice.

2 points
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Lare's picture

November 17, 2018 at 03:38 pm

Bruce Arians

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flackcatcher's picture

November 18, 2018 at 03:31 am

Retired for health reasons, I heard hypertension and bad ticker.

0 points
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Doug Niemczynski's picture

November 17, 2018 at 08:42 am

How about John Harbough?

Might be his last year with Baltimore. ..
Flacco sucks.

-1 points
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Jamie Freier's picture

November 17, 2018 at 12:57 pm

I think of it as 3rd and sack now.

1 points
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ILPackerBacker's picture

November 19, 2018 at 08:47 am

that is a pretty bad break down even without the all 22.

First, there are only 10 defenders showing in your first picture. Yet it is completely obvious that the seahawk on the hashmark on the 3 yard line is keying up on Jones who is behind, behind not at, the LOS. Behind and who would need to wait if in fact it possible to for him to get a pass, but clearly by your picture 4 the play is committed to the other side and even so there are feet on the five yard line at the sideline just in case Jones did get targeted. A defender facing forward can react over 7 yards and close in the time it takes the ball to get to the receivers and for the receiver to adjust and move.

The CB is also looking as if he is passing his man off and going to play a short zone. The all 22 would clarify that

So you can "OPINE" all you want but the facts are there, you are wrong and when the QB reads and looks one way it does not make defenders on the other hash mark vanish from the field

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