Game Notes: Packers running out of time to make magic
-- It's been a series of close calls and self-inflicted errors -- seemingly on a weekly basis -- that have kept the Green Bay Packers from changing their fortune in 2018 for the better.
Instead, they slip back below .500 with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night (4-5-1) and head back east for a prolonged week of rest between games.
Thursday night's loss just didn't feel like it was completely dominated by the Seahawks, and that's because it wasn't. The Packers controlled the game for a majority of its duration, only finally trailing for the first time late in the fourth quarter. It was the Packers' game to win, but it was also their game to lose, and evidently, they chose the latter.
Kyler Fackrell is... good.
Words I never thought I'd type in 2018. Yes, the 2016 third-round pick is finally developing into something worthwhile in his third season in the league. He's been the epicenter of a variety of different memes and internet jokes since coming into the league and proving that he was nothing more than a slightly capable special teams player. However, it's as if Fackrell read every single bit of criticism Packers fans have been spewing these past two years.
At times when he has shown no strength or explosiveness off the edge, Fackrell has transformed into a completely different player under defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Fackrell recorded three sacks against the Seahawks, marking the second time this season he registered more than three sacks in a single game. He has more sacks this season than Khalil Mack -- no, I'm serious. Pettine is a guru -- or is it even Pettine? Maybe it's just finally starting to click for Fackrell. Either way, he's been the Packers' best edge rusher this season, and it isn't remotely close.
Aaron Rodgers: Not the solution.
It's become glaringly obvious. While Aaron Rodgers hasn't been the lone problem plaguing the Packers' offense this season, he hasn't exactly been the solution either. No, I'm not spearheading a campaign to have him benched or traded or something moronic like that. Rodgers is incredible. It's dumbfounding the things he does playing his position at such an unprecedented level. But don't tell me he hasn't been a problem.
On one specific 3rd-and-2 late in the fourth quarter -- the last time the Packers would touch the ball in the game -- Rodgers had Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the flat for an easy first-down completion. Instead, Rodgers chucked the ball into the dirt and underthrew him from a few yards away. According to Rodgers after the game, he said the ball stuck to his hand and it wasn't something he could replicate in 100 tries. That was one of the several miscues on a part of Rodgers in Seattle.
He missed throws and missed more underneath targets that could've extended drives, most notably on the Packers' last field goal attempt with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Rodgers took a sack after trying to evade the pocket and completely missed a wide-open Aaron Jones in the heart of the field. It's a consistent occurrence from Rodgers, as is his tendency to throw off his back foot without transversing all of his body weight in the direction he's throwing. It's why Davante Adams couldn't break away on the 41-yard pass completion in the first quarter; the pass wasn't sailed out in front of him.
Defense can only do so much.
The Packers, like many teams this season, were gashed by the Seahawks' running game. Even so, the Seahawks were averaging just 5.5 yards per play Thursday night. Defensively, the Packers were doing everything right for most of the game in forcing Russell Wilson to get creative with his legs and extend plays. Even their bruised and battered secondary kept his targets in check downfield.
But the Packers mustered up 114 yards in the second half and two first downs in the third quarter. 57 of the 114 yards came on one long completion to Adams on a drive that also ended with a field goal.
Rodgers alluded to it following the game. The Packers' biggest disappointments this season have come on third downs and in the red zone, and that was still a theme against the Seahawks. When your defense creates opportunities for you, it's vital that an offense engineered by Rodgers is able to cash in.
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (47)
Bearmeat
November 16, 2018 at 02:24 pm
The defense was without SEVEN starters by the end of that game. I don't blame them one bit for finally spitting the bit.
No. The problem on this team is with two men, and two men alone: Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. Since Mike will be much easier to replace and Aaron has the contract, Mike will be the one to go. I just hope the next coach brings some excitement to the offense, keeps a much tighter rein on Rodgers, and keeps Pettine as the Defensive Guru.
That said, Aaron's body language and consistently making the same mistakes... is really pissing me off. Dude has turned into a Favre-by-04-level-diva. He needs to have his assumptions on how things should be checked at the door.
Barnacle
November 16, 2018 at 05:20 pm
A good young QB, and 6 $5,000,000/year free agents is equal to what we are paying our declining QB. Remember our bleeding hearts thought we should overpay Rodgers to keep him happy and show our family love. Now we have a greatly reduced budget for the rest of our team and a disgruntled declining QB with a fat wallet and a questionable attitude.
Our slow thinking HC gets $6,000,000/year for another season. I hope our management committee(s)has the gonads to send MM home, let him keep his money and get us a real head coach.
Those of you who think MM will be grabbed by any number of teams, let’s hope it is a contender in our division. Let him screw up a competitor. Did you see his predecessor ended up coaching a high school team and was fired after two miserable seasons?
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 08:40 pm
wow, he was really fired?
Donster
November 17, 2018 at 05:59 am
And now Mike Sherman is Head Coach of the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. Almost an even move from being a High School coach!
stockholder
November 16, 2018 at 01:29 pm
Arron Rodgers was criticized by New Englands coach. So was he wrong? He questioned his arm strength. He Lobs throws now. Keep him in the pocket and crush the guards. What did we see last night. Bill was right on how to beat the packers. And Arron had Jones wide open and was criticized by the announcers. Arron has lost his touch. Oh he can throw deep and let the Wrs adjust. But thats not what Bill saw. He saw a weak A-Rod. The packers thought they could buy his way into the Hall of Fame. But the rift was on display with MM last night. Not hitting Jones cost us this game. Not running Jones costs us this game. He only has eyes down field. Thats not knowing the offense. Thats telling your boss that I am the only way you can win. MM more than likely lost his job last night. But the biggest question last night was Arron Rodgers.
Lare
November 16, 2018 at 03:49 pm
Although I agree with the general theme of your post, you do lose a little credibility when you can't spell Aaron's name correctly.
mamasboy
November 16, 2018 at 06:06 pm
Geezus Lare, How many of us misspell and don't correct, when assuming the message we send is understood? Give it a rest!!!!!!!
TKWorldWide
November 19, 2018 at 06:42 am
Grunts and clicks, baby.
Jnhg fcccdd. Jinnhvvcrnmmx.
Ooga booga.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 09:02 pm
I think the Belichick/ Brady comments got in the Packers' heads. The fans sure took notice.
Rick1
November 16, 2018 at 02:20 pm
This season is over they are not making the playoffs! This team is a selfish mess with the coach and qb. Second MM play calling and 12’s execution of the play calls and not taking what defense gives you is totally out of control. How the hell do you let this spiral out of control and waste a season. If Gute changes coaches he better get a coach that tells 12 how it is and It is team first. MM isn’t a terrible coach he and 12 can’t fix it and frustration is rooted deep. Sometimes you must get knocked on your back, to get humbled and motivated again. STRUGGLE MAKES YOU STRONGER!!!
CheesyTex
November 16, 2018 at 09:58 pm
"STRUGGLE MAKES YOU STRONGER!!!"
I'm looking forward to stronger, soon.
Packers0808
November 16, 2018 at 02:46 pm
MM has his problems yes, but all those yelping like little babies all you are saying fire, fire! Who the hell out there do you think is any better who is available to coach the Packers? Until you have some one quit being so foolish with your gibberish and temper tantrums. Christ you can't win EVERY year!
JohnnyLogan
November 16, 2018 at 03:06 pm
That always silly question "Who you think is any better?" If that were true no coach would ever be fired because of course no one better is out there. The second half yesterday was the worst coached and worst QB'd, outside of the bubble gum chewer running around like a headless chicken, I can remember for the Packers. Stupid stupid play calling, gutless decision making at the end, and you might have thought Hundley was out there wearing #12. McCarthy's idiotic offensive scheme, if he even has one, and Rodger's overblown ego that doesn't allow him to take the easy throw have ruined what could have been a decent year. Rodgers will be better next year if there's a coach that pisses down his throat for every showboating play, and if his arm returns to the level it was before he broke his collarbone. Let's hope Gute, or Murphy, have the balls to get rid of McCarthy, and Philbin while they're at it. Should be done immediately to make a last ditch effort to salvage the season, but of course it won't be.
freddisch
November 16, 2018 at 03:47 pm
Don’t forget to Can Zook
TKWorldWide
November 19, 2018 at 08:19 pm
Guns a-blazin’!!!
HankScorpio
November 16, 2018 at 03:16 pm
It is not the job of anyone on this board to maintain a list of potential NFL Head Coaches. Most of us have jobs and lives that preclude us from spending the time to make up so much as superficial list that is based on anything other than distant, outsider observations or parroting the takes of "experts".
But many of us have watched a good deal of Packer football and can recognize when something is amiss. We may not have the fixes but we can tell there is a break. I am definitely in that group. And the people arguing against MM are one hell of a lot more convincing than you. They are making points that ring true to my own observations.
Rick1
November 16, 2018 at 03:40 pm
They are a mess right?. Winning is the goal right? It is not being a baby and crying it is the standard that fans have come accustomed too.
Lare
November 16, 2018 at 03:55 pm
There are several articles out there with a list of potential head coaches should McCarthy be fired. Nothing is ever guaranteed but unless you're satisfied with losing records there are several potential candidates that would help this team win much better than McCarthy is this season.
And to be perfectly honest, I only see one poster acting like a baby and crying around here.
Rak43
November 16, 2018 at 04:03 pm
"Who the hell out there do you think is any better who is available to coach the Packers?" Seems to me I remember this argument very clearly when calls were being made to fire Dom Capers and Ted Thompson. Same old same old, who do you think you're going to get who can do better argument. I think Gutekunst and Pettine have already put that argument out to pasture. Packers are 2 for 2 in upgrades so 3 for 3 doesn't seem unreasonable or unrealistic to me.
Samson
November 16, 2018 at 05:07 pm
Packers0808
Please quit posting. -- Your emotional gibberish makes all Packer fans look bad.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 09:00 pm
His decision making has become beyond questionable. Some high pick, long time Packers, even a Pro bowler, were traded away mid season for what amounts to insubordination. Strahan has a 5 min video on the incredibly wealthy team QB, ripping the coach in pressers. Next to no accountability when it comes to his coaching staff. These are enough reasons to call for a change, no matter what, in my opinion.
Your pitcher of kool-aid has been sitting out on the back porch for days, it's full of rain water and bugs.
mvprzy
November 16, 2018 at 02:52 pm
Seems like Philbin, as OC, does not understand how to get the offense coordinated.
I wonder what other OC would come over to GB?
Josh McDaniels from NE would be improbable.
And Rogers just plain did not see a wide open jones, wth? His passes seem a little off target.
MM should have gone to AJ for that last 4th down...
HankScorpio
November 16, 2018 at 02:57 pm
At this point, they are in "run the table" territory. If they do, they'll be in the playoffs.
But they won't even come close to that unless something drastic happens.
Colin_C
November 16, 2018 at 03:30 pm
Playoffs? Playoffs? I'll be happy if we can just win a road game.
Lare
November 16, 2018 at 03:57 pm
I agree, talking about the playoffs at this point seems pretty unrealistic.
TKWorldWide
November 19, 2018 at 08:22 pm
The immortal Jim Mora!
Skip greenBayless
November 16, 2018 at 03:51 pm
The Packers definitely are running out of magic. Right now MM needs a magic wand to bring back these wins to Green Bay. Does anyone at this point believe Mike McCarthy or Aaron Rodgers have a magic wand? Actually now that I think about it maybe they both do have a magic wand. They were able to make Aaron Jones disappear in the 2nd half.
Pierre
November 16, 2018 at 03:46 pm
Rodgers went to A. Jones three straight times on a drive in the 2nd Q covering almost 70 yards and culminating in a TD. Then the whole second half Jones is hardly thrown to or used running.
Is it that Rodgers does not want Jones to be the focal point of this offense? Did anyone else notice this and what is your take on Rodgers not throwing anymore to Jones...even when he was wide open on a third down in the 2nd half?!
Lare
November 16, 2018 at 03:59 pm
According to McCarthy and Rodgers, McCarthy calls all the plays except for under 2 minutes.
Skip greenBayless
November 16, 2018 at 04:02 pm
There could be something to that Pierre. Rodgers has a huge ego. He's been the focal point for over a decade now. I know he went extensively to Davante Adams but the one guy he never looked at yesterday was MVS. I have a effin hard time believing a guy who runs a 4.37 40 is not getting open that entire game. I kept waiting for a big strike from MVS and he barely looked at him. Our two brightest and youngest offensive stars (Jones and MVS) were totally ignored the 2nd half. That doesn't make sense to me. If it's because they made some "mistake" that Rodgers didn't like so he purposely ignored them to make them pay than this is beyond ridiculous and I say Mr. Rodgers needs to pay a visit to Dr. Phil. Who the hell knows anymore. This is so frustrating the last 3 to 4 weeks.
packergal
November 16, 2018 at 04:44 pm
Dash,
LOL...Dr. Phil could devote an entire show on AROD ego and his passive aggressive attitude with MM.
Of course, he would also make the reciprocal argument that MM exhibits poor leadership skills for his failure to call out AROD bad behavior.
I can hear Dr. Phil now "C'MON Man!"...
Skip greenBayless
November 16, 2018 at 07:18 pm
lol Packergal, I could hear him saying that too.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 09:04 pm
Must... go.... DEEP!
Doug Niemczynski
November 16, 2018 at 03:54 pm
Season is over. Stop torturing yourself.
Doug Niemczynski
November 16, 2018 at 03:58 pm
3-4 solid TEs. Solid RB. Pretty darn good QB. Good OL. 2-3 Solid receivers. No reason this team should not have been scoring over 30 points per game.
Bottomline: Bad Head Coach
Since'61
November 16, 2018 at 03:58 pm
The situation is beyond magic we need miracles now.
"This is modern times miracles don't happen anymore."
From the movie, Moonstruck
If that is true then we are done for this year. Assuming that we lose again in Minnesota I would shut Rodgers down for the rest of the season and let him heal up for next year. We could play for the draft picks.
Let's just hope that the new HC does not bring Capers back as his DC. Now that would be irony at an incredibly high level. Thanks, Since '61
HankScorpio
November 16, 2018 at 05:29 pm
Physical health is not the problem with Rodgers. He dumped the knee brace a few weeks ago and is moving fine. Come January, he'll have 8 months to recover from the standard aches and bruises that come with completing a NFL season.
Frankly, Rodgers needs every rep he can get to work on his game. His mechanics are a mess and his accuracy is very poor by the standards he has set. He's not going to develop better chemistry with MVS and ESB by sitting on the bench.
Further, it sends a horrific message to the team. There is no telling how many players will check out on the team forever if they bench the highest paid player in the game simply because they don't want to risk him.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 09:06 pm
Rodgers is getting all Tiger Woods on us.
Samson
November 16, 2018 at 05:10 pm
I'm still pointing the middle finger at MM. --- AR looks like $hit on too many plays, but I really think the bottom line issue is the lack of creative & professional coaching on the part of GB. -- That all falls on MM & MMurphy.
Lare
November 16, 2018 at 06:30 pm
Murphy established the entire Packers organizational structure in order to protect McCarthy from being fired from a new GM, just as he protected Thompson from being fired over his poor performance as a GM. We're now seeing how Murphy's decisions are turning out.
Just as with Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder, it never ends up well when you put a businessman in charge of football personnel decisions.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 09:07 pm
Murphy was an NFL linebacker. Just saying. I'm thinking CTE?
badaxed
November 16, 2018 at 05:20 pm
Eric Rosenthal was not shy about his thoughts about McCarthy after the loss. He said, "Can I just say that of all the idiots, in all the idiot villages, in all the idiot worlds, you stand alone Mike McCarthy."
4thand1
November 16, 2018 at 06:37 pm
This is another waisted suckass season. I, like a lot of others, are sick of this bull shit. More change is needed, the writing is on the wall.
LeotisHarris
November 16, 2018 at 07:17 pm
"A suckass season is a terrible thing to waist." -- Dan Quayle
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2018 at 09:15 pm
Between the game changing power NFL officials now hold and exert and Rodgers/ McCarthy's refusal to utilize underneath routes and quick passes on 3rd and short, the Packers sure are getting tough to watch.
I just tune in for the Fackerell show?!
PAPackerbacker
November 19, 2018 at 06:25 am
They are not running out of time this year. Their time has already run out. The Packers may not have enough to even play a spoiler this season. I'd be surprised if they win 3 of their last 6 games. They simply can not play a full 60 minutes of football. It's time to clean house and get the team moving forward again, instead of the same old same old.
TKWorldWide
November 19, 2018 at 06:36 am
Conditioning?