Now, they need to be perfect. No, not literally perfect. The Green Bay Packers margin for error evaporated with Jordan Love’s injury, so the rest of the team has a big talent gap to fill.
The Packers can’t leave 15+ points on the table in the first quarter like they did against Philly. Remarkably, they still had chances late in the 4th quarter despite blowing their best chances in the first. That won’t happen with Malik Willis, Sean Clifford or another random QB pickup.
No Love Reality
Instead of 10-penalties, they’ll need 3 or less. They had great chances after early turnovers went their way. Instead, what could have been 14, turned into 6-points. Inexplicable mental mistakes, like 12-men on the field, also took a touchdown off the board in the first half. Now, they will play without their franchise QB, so dropped passes, dropped interceptions, blown coverages, and badly missed tackles will sink them.
Trying to win without your starting QB is a tall order for any NFL team. In fact, winning 1-2 of the next 4 is a best-case scenario. Before the Love injury, Green Bay would have been favored over their next three opponents. Instead, they’ll likely be underdogs at home versus Indy, and maybe Minnesota. The Tennessee game is probably a coin toss.
Pressure on LaFleur, Hafley, Bisaccia
Maybe the Packers get a pass for sloppy play in game one. Now, that pass is expired. Matt La Fleur needs one of his most creative game plans to minimize a limited quarterback and maximize the rest of his talent. Jeff Hafley needs to solve the uneven linebacker play, while getting his new system to dictate more and respond less. Rich Bisaccia needs penalty and error free special teams’ performances, which hasn’t been the hallmark of his tenure. Obviously, coaches can only do so much. The players will need to all play better to win without Love.
Reasons for hope
Playing three average, to less than great, teams could help. So too, could two of the games being at Lambeau. Green Bay still has a strong roster full of playmakers on offense and defense. They could surprise us in a good way. But the offense is going to be choppy and hard to watch.
They need to play a lot better than they did Friday night, because their margin for error has been eliminated for the near-term. That doesn’t mean they can’t win.