The Green Bay Packers’ season in the abyss continued Thursday with another embarrassing loss at Lambeau Field. This time to the resurgent Chicago Bears on a night the Packers honored Brett Favre by unveiling his now retired number on the facade of the NFL’s most storied stadium. Too bad the Old Gunslinger couldn’t have suited it for the Packers’ last drive. The OG would most likely have gotten the Packers in the end zone and pulled the game out. After all, it’s what he did.
I braved the steady rain and cold wind just so I could see Favre return to glory and also witness the last visit of the Packers’ other Hall of Fame quarterback – Bart Starr. I’m thinking it will be the last number the Packers retire in my lifetime. The only current play with a chance at that status would be Aaron Rodgers, but failures like last nights don’t bode well for that happening. Even another Super Bowl win probably wouldn’t merit such an honor.
I believe the biggest problem is the Packers simply don’t have any quality receivers with Jordy Nelson out for the year. Randall Cobb has failed to step as the No. 1 guy and Davante Adams is becoming a borderline bust. He is the biggest disappointment if you ask me. Injuries haven’t helped either. Ty Montgomery looked like a player before spraining his ankle and may or may not return this year. Jared Abbrederis was starting to look like a player but he simply can’t stay healthy. The fact that general manager Ted Thompson didn’t try to address this unit prior to trading deadline is baffling.
On the bright side, running back Eddie Lacy appears to be back in form, racking up his second consecutive 100 yard game. He did have a costly fumble however, which certainly played a big part in the outcome. And for the third straight game the Packers’ defense was outstanding. Three straight times they have held their opponents under 20 points only to see the offense falter in two of those games. It’s like Bizarro World at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
All’s not lost, yet, they might very well make the playoffs this year. But the case can be made it might be better off if the Packers’ don’t make the playoffs. The once talented offense is in need of an overhaul at wide receiver, tight end and even offensive line. Drafting in the mid 20s every year won’t help that cause.
We’ll see where the season goes from here, but this certainly doesn’t look like a team that can win a Super Bowl.