Packers Lose By 3 – Again
I have to say that I am really bummed by this Green Bay Packers loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Mostly because I forgot what it feels like to lose a game and because I think I may have jinxed the team.
I posted a story this weekend about Rodgers being the only NFL QB with no fumble https://lombardiave.com/2010/11/27/packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-has-a-grip/. Thinking it was an amazing stat that should be shared among the fans, and having no idea he’d be responsible for goal line rushing attempts. I think he’d probable still have fumbled, even if I never wrote that piece. But just in case it was MY fault… I’m so sorry PackerNation!
The last 5 weeks have been sheer joy. The Packers had won 4 in a row with the last two being blowouts. Now, we’ve lost to the Atlanta Falcons, by 3 points. Which means that all four of our losses have been by 3 points.
What does this say about the Green Bay Packers as a team? They’re good, but not great? We’ve all been good Packers fans, occasionally grumbling when we lost a chance at signing a good RB in free agency or missing the trade deadline to pick up a replacement. We half-heartily accepted the idea that the coaches know best. But we can’t ignore the elephant on the field any longer. We need a running game!
It’s been 11 long weeks since Ryan Grant was injured and we’ve done nothing to try to replace him. Sure, we’ve won some games. Most of those weren’t against playoff caliber teams though. I’ve been blindly going along with the plan, figuring that the coaches and GM know what they are doing, but today, I found myself cringing out of pure reflex when I saw a running play was called. You know, like a puppy does when you swat them with a rolled up piece of paper for being bad.
In order for the Packers to truly compete for a playoff spot and beyond, something HAS to be done. I realize this will probably not happen. I know writing this will make no difference to the team. But if I don’t say it, I’m afraid I’ll suffer an aneurysm and stroke out. This team is good, but there is obviously a piece missing to our post-season puzzle.
Aaron Rodgers was once again the Packers rushing leader with 12 rushes for 51 yards and 1 TD. While our RB Brandon Jackson again was underwhelming with 10 rushes for 26 yards total. To be quite honest, we really didn’t look great in any phase of the game. The coaches missed a couple of challenges that would have extended our drive or ended Atlanta’s. Our defense didn’t have that usual ravenous look to them although they had two sacks. (By the way, kudos to Frank Zombo for the original sack celebration of whipping out a pretend sword and z-ing the mark of Zorro.) The offense was good, with over 400 total yards and 2 TD’s, Aaron’s one yard rushing TD and a pretty toss to Jordy Nelson in the back corner of the end zone. We had opportunities to win this one and we didn’t. We lost again, by 3 measly points.
Atlanta is a good team, they have lost only 1 game at home in the 19 games started by Matt Ryan. But still, it hurts.
Next week, we’ll be back at home to host the San Francisco 49’ers. If this team wants to go further in the post season, they need to win out, especially since the Bears managed to find a way to beat the Eagles. The Green Bay Packers are now 7-4 , while the Bears are now at 8-3 and alone on top of the NFC North, for now.