With the Green Bay Packers mired in a two-game losing streak and injuries forcing the team to perform triage yesterday in Tampa, is it time to hit the panic button? The Packers have lost back-to-back games against 2007 playoff teams and battled the Bucs toe-to-toe despite their lack of ability to run the ball and an offensive line that simply can’t block. Not to mention a defense that has totally forgotten how to stop the run. Simply amazing.
My biggest concern is the inability to run the ball. Many of the problems on defense would be lessoned if the defense wasn’t on the field so much. The last two games the Packers have not been able to get that key first down to keep the sticks moving. Ryan Grant is a shell of his former self or just caught everybody off guard last year. I don’t want to hear about the hamstring, if you are playing then injury is not an excuse. Certainly without Brett Favre at quarterback, teams will play the Packers differently, no knock on Aaron Rodgers, but you don’t earn that kind of respect in four starts. Obviously teams will try to shut down the run and make Aaron Rodgers beat them. Well, Rodgers has won two and lost two. How he learns from these experiences will make or break him as a quarterback.
Since there is no avoiding it, I will chime in on the Favre-Rodgers comparisons that will escalate this week after Favre’s big day in New York. First of all, I know, you know, and Brett Favre knows he would never have had a game like he did yesterday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For those of you who think the Packers would have won with Favre in the game yesterday, you have very short memories. The anointed one is 1-5 his last six trips to Tampa. Many of those losses had playoff implications. To this day Favre struggles against the “Tampa 2″ defense and to think Aaron Rodgers would be any better facing the Bucs his first time is ridiculous. I thought Rodgers played well under heavy pressure for the second straight week. Two of his three interceptions were not his fault and the TD passes were beauties, especially the second one.
If Ryan Grant was worth all the money he signed for he could take some of the pressure off the quarterback and even the offensive line. Right now the offensive line has no confidence. They are giving up penalties at an alarming rate. Left tackle Chad Clifton is responsible for 110 yards of holding penalties just by himself. That is insane. Almost as insane as the missed block on Rodgers’ third interception that nearly got Rodgers killed. If that crap doesn’t stop Rodgers, Favre, Flynn, whoever you want to throw in there, is bound to get killed. I’m wondering if Clifton’s health problems haven’t finally taken their toll on the venerable left tackle. Whatever the case, play at that position must improve dramatically.
The bottom line is the Packers are 2-2. Just like teams like the Chargers, Eagles, Jaguars, and oh yes, Jets. A win over the also 2-2 Falcons next week in Lambeau would leave the Packers pretty much where everybody expected them after five weeks. 4-3 at the bye would be a huge accomplishment considering the schedule. Rodgers is expected to play next week despite a shoulder sprain and if he is 80-90 percent the Packers should be able to beat the Falcons, even though the Falcons are a much better team than last year. Containing Michael Turner will be paramount. I doubt former Packers’ offensive coordinator and now Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski will provide any tips on how to beat his former prize pupil (hehe).
So, I will say it is not time yet to hit the panic button. However, a loss at Lambeau to the Falcons and that button will be smashed. Like the Chargers said before they faced and subsequently clobbered the Jets, this is an early season must-win game.
Wednesday when we know more about the mounting injuries I might have a change heart, but confidence remains high.