The Green Bay Packers suffered a second consecutive blowout loss today and for the third consecutive week it was all on the Packers’ horrible defense. Yes, they did beat the Chargers but that was in Green Bay. Against good teams like the Broncos and Panthers, the Packers looked like the Bears.
You can say the Packers weren’t blown out today but we all know that is not the case. It was 27-7 at the half. The Packers were never in the game even though they actually led 7-3 at one point. I didn’t think the Packers’ defense was for real when they shut down the Chiefs, 49ers and Rams, and the last two weeks proved me right. This is quite possibly the worst Dom Capers defense since he came on board in 2009.
The Packers’ offense, after a slow start, did manage to come alive and put 29 points on the board, but when the defense can’t stop a nosebleed you aren’t going to win many games. Ask Lynn Dickey about that. This Packers’ defense is poorly coached, and as evidenced by the sideline skirmish between B.J. Raji and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, not embraced by the players playing it.
Head coach Mike McCarthy needs to nip this in the bud and fire Capers today. The worst thing that could have happened for the Packers was that they played good defense in the second half of last season. That allowed Capers to survive the greatest meltdown in playoff history in the NFC Championship game. McCarthy fired special teams coach Shawn Slocum, which was the right move, but kept the other culprit in that loss, Capers, survived.
The bottom line is as long as the Packers play defense like this, they are not going to win many games. And until Aaron Rodgers quits worrying about his stats and plays to win, the Packers’ offense is going to struggle. Yes, they battled back today but that was against a defense playing prevent the whole second half.
Rodgers said the Packers made “way too many mental errors” and that is true. He probably made the most of them, however. I hate to get accused of going to the Favre card, but no teammate ever questioned Favre’s will to win. Rodgers needs to look in the mirror if you ask me.
If the Packers lose to the Lions next week in Lambeau they can kiss the playoffs goodbye. The Vikings are surging and the division title could very well be decided on Nov. 22 in Minneapolis. The Packers have lost any chance at home field advantage in the playoffs and really, just making the playoffs should be their goal.
With Capers running the defense I don’t think the Packers will be able to win 10 games, which I think is the number they need to get a wild card berth. This is a season spiraling out of control.