Oct 14, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) show emotion on the sidelines against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Packers defeated the Texans 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

It’s a philosophical point as much as it is a football matter: At what point is the offense of the Green Bay Packers no longer the dominant, elite unit to which we’ve grown accustom?

More specifically, what’s missing that is causing the offense to sputter against the Jaguars, one of the league’s least intimidating defenses?

As I predicted in the week 8 game preview, the offense did not function well as Aaron Rodgers didn’t have either of his go-to-receivers. As though you didn’t already know, those receivers are Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings.

Sep 13, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

No one can say definitely whether Nelson’s absence was the cause of the many short drives the Packers experienced Sunday. However, 19 catches for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns went through Nelson his last two games. To expect normal effectiveness after that production is cut out without an adequate replacement is just an unrealistic expectation.

Coach Mike McCarthy said that Nelson was almost ready this past Sunday, so the Packers will likely perform better this week against the Cardinals. That’s only part of the solution, however.

As Ray Rivard touched upon earlier, Greg Jennings’ sports hernia surgery has been delayed as a result of Hurricane Sandy. It’s now expected that this will end up costing Jennings another game as he recovers.

That’s an additional week that the Packers are a Nelson injury away from reverting to the form they displayed against the Jaguars. In the rough NFC playoff picture, that’s not something they can afford.

Aug 19, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Derek Sherrod (78) looks on from the bench during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Cardinals 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

With the injuries to Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Charles Woodson, Sam Shields, Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith, B.J. Raji, and Nick Perry, it’s easy to conclude that the Packers have become the walking wounded. I disagree. In my estimation, they’ve been extremely lucky that through roughly half an NFL season, their offensive line has been nearly unscathed.

It’s been a long time since the Packers had effectively the same five offensive linemen for a entire season: 2003 to be exact. Though the line has been up and down thus far, a single injury anywhere along line could likely result in disaster – knock on wood.

Aug 19, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Derek Sherrod (78) blocks during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Cardinals 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The first man up is Evan Dietrich-Smith, a journeyman who isn’t even replacement level on his best day. His best asset is that he can play any of the interior positions, but what if one of the tackles goes down?

In that scenario, T.J. Lang would move outside with EDS filling Lang’s spot. While Lang has improved considerably since the last time he played tackle, he struggles with finesse rushers. With Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, Chris Avril, and the Giants’ trio of Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Jason Pierre-Paul left on the schedule, it’s a scary scenario.

All of which is why the news that Derek Sherrod is unlikely to play this year is a big blow to the Packers. Sherrod’s return would have given Mike McCarthy a serviceable option at tackle should something happen to Marshall Newhouse or Bryan Bulaga.

Think back to 2009 when Clifton was injured early in the season, Daryn Colledge slid from left guard to left tackle. The adjusted line played terribly, resulting in the aforementioned trial run of Lang as a tackle. Lang’s struggles on the outside led the team to re-sign longtime right tackle Mark Tauscher.

There’s no Tauscher fallback plan this year, and the Packers are just one injury away from needing one.

Sep 13, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji (90) rushes as Chicago Bears guard Lance Louis (60) and offensive tackle Gabe Carimi (72) block during the game at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The Green Bay Packers go into Sunday night’s showdown in Houston without the services of starting running back Cedric Benson – we all know that.

But the jury is still out on the availability of wide receiver Greg Jennings, defensive lineman B.J. Raji and tight end Jermichael Finley.

All of them went down to injury over the past couple of weeks and for a team that’s struggling on both sides of the ball, losing important starters like these guys isn’t going to help their cause at Houston.

Jennings has been a hit or miss over the last three games as he struggles to make it back from a groin injury. As the days wind down to their next game and without him practicing, one has to lean toward him not making it to the field in Texas.

Of all the three – Jennings, Raji and Finley – his loss affects the team the most. I say that because when he is out it hasn’t seemed that any of the other wide receivers, with the exception of James Jones, has really stepped up their play. Heading into the season, wide receiver was seen as the Packers’ greatest strength. Without Jennings it seems like one of its greatest liabilities.

The defensive line received a bolstering when Mike Neal returned, but losing Raji removes its strength in the middle. How Dom Capers adjusts to Raji’s loss will be a key in stopping the potent Houston run game.

Sep 9, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (88) during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field. The 49ers defeated the Packers 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

As for Finley, Packers Nation is so disappointed in his comments today that were taken to diss Aaron Rodgers that most probably don’t care. However, he is a talent the Packers need to help make up for the loss of Jennings. His backups, D.J. Williams and Tom Crabtree, have also been dinged up in the early going, so if Finley can make it back onto the field in time for Sunday’s game that will be a plus.

The real question, however, on the injury front, is how the Packers will fill the void left by Benson. The newly-acquired running back is gone for the next two months and it sounds like the Packers running game will be managed via committee.

I guess we’ll see if Alex Green and James Starks will be able to carry the load. Throw in John Kuhn and hopefully the Packers will be able to throw some different looks at opponents. No doubt, the offense is going to miss the pounding up-the-middle running style that Benson brought so effectively. The bottom line is that Benson will be difficult to replace – as will Jennings, Raji and Finley.

Being a healthy team would go a long way in knocking off the 5-0 Texans, but that’s not what the Packers bring. How the staff schemes to adjust for those losses will be a huge key in how the Packers do against the Texans and down the road.

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Detroit Lions

Corey Smith, DE – Questionable, Hamstring

Paris Lenon, MLB – Probable, Knee

Ernie Sims, OLB – Probable, Ankle

Drew Stanton, QB – Probable, Thumb

Green Bay Packers

Scott Wells, C – OUT, Back

Josh Sitton, G – OUT, Knee

Aaron Rouse, S – Questionable, Ankle

Charles Woodson, CB – Questionable, Toe

Ryan Grant, RB – Questionable, Hamstring

Charlie Peprah, S – Questionable, Hamstring

Ruvell Martin, WR – Questionable, Finger

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, DE – Probable, Knee

Atari Bigby, S – Probable, Bicep

Brandon Chillar, OLB – Probable, Back

Chad Clifton, LT – Probable, Knees

Brandon Jackson, RB – Probable, Concussion

James Jones, WR – Probable, Knee

I won’t get the Packers game on TV today, so I’ll be posting every half-hour, starting at 1:00 ET, on what’s happening around the league and what GameCenter is telling me about the Packers-Lions matchup.