The Green Bay Packers suffered their second blowout loss of the season and this one wasn’t even as close as the 38-8 score would indicate. The Packers were beaten to a pulp in all phases of the game and certainly do not look ready for the playoffs.
Unlike 2010 when the Packers went on a magical playoff run culminating with a Super Bowl championship this team is simply not playing good football right now. In 2010 the Packers’ got a moral victory in New England by almost beating the Patriots with Matt Flynn at quarterback then ground out two season ending victories to earn the sixth playoff spot. This year’s team is 4-5 since starting the season 6-0 and even the wins during that stretch have not been impressive.
There is no quick fix coming either, it is way too late for that. The Packers are what they are. I believe the main problems for the Packers this year emanate from the ragtag offensive line that has been devastated by injuries and the subpar backup talent. I don’t know what it is about Ted Thompson but he just can’t seem to build depth on the offensive line. Time to spend a high pick on a lineman because I don’t think Bryan Bulaga will ever be good again, he just can’t stay healthy, and David Bakhtiari is far from the stalwart left tackle needed to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside.
I do believe that Thompson’s formula of drafting and developing is good if you want to be consistent and win regular season games, but it’s been clear since 2010 that the Packers don’t have the talent needed to return to the big game. They came close last year so the Packers stood pat instead of taking chances on a few free agents that may have put them over the hump. Add in head coach Mike McCarthy’s idiotic decision to quit calling plays and you have the 2015 Packers.
It is quite possible that last year’s crushing loss in the NFC Championship game may be McCarthy’s 4th-and-26. He may have jumped the shark and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he was gone after next year, either of his own volition or fired by Thompson as he tries to save his own job.
The Packers have two games left and the opportunity for more but no realistic fan can expect this team to make a long playoff run. I think it is quite possible they may have won their last game of the season in Oakland. Sunday they face the red-hot Vikings who are coming off a 32-point thrashing of the New York Giants. Certainly, being a division game, the Packers could win and in the process win the NFC North, but I’m not sure I even want that. The Packers might have a better chance in Washington than they would have at home against the Vikings again or the Seahawks.
Let’s see who shows up Sunday night before we look ahead that far.