Green Bay Packers fans: Step away from the ledge

The day following a loss by the Green Bay Packers is always tough. At least today is a Friday and not the dreaded Mondays when we all have to trudge off to work with the heavy load of “what-ifs” on our shoulders.

But in the end, last night’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks is as tough as it gets. The Packers gave us early hope and even at halftime it looked as though the Packers had a chance to catch up.

Take my word on this: The Green Bay Packers will win their share of games in 2014. Things will get better.

Then came the third quarter.

It was ugly. The Packers had lost their starting right offensive tackle, their starting tight end had been banged up and by the fourth quarter when things were unraveling more quickly than a ball of yarn in the paws of a kitten, starting running back Eddie Lacy was concussed and left the game.

The Packers defensive line was mush by the time the fourth quarter rolled around and the loss of starting nose tackle B.J. Raji was becoming more noticeable with each Seahawks multi-yard gain between the tackles.

We all know how replacement right tackle Derek Sherrod performed – like someone wearing cement boots; and not to be outdone, there was the atrocious play of Brad Jones.

Seattle Seahawks tight end

breaks up the interception by Green Bay Packers inside linebacker

during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Not only did Jones have a sure interception knocked out of his hands that could have been a momentum-turner in the first quarter, but he missed three tackles and made only three tackles all night. Pro Football Focus gave both Sherrod and Jones the worst grades of the night for the Packers (-5.2 and -5.3, respectively) illustrating the Packers miserable performances at those two positions.

When you add in the poor performance of A.J. Hawk (-3.2), the inside linebacking effort by the Packers was nothing less than putrid. There will be no stopping the run in the future if that continues.

Consider that in the next three weeks the Packers will go against running backs Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson with the New York Jets, Reggie Bush of the Detroit Lions and Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears.

And that’s not considering the fact that the Packers will be facing Adrian Peterson twice during the season.

But let’s also consider the Packers offense.

Starting well and producing holes for Eddie Lacy and James Starks, the Packers offensive line seemed to be in a groove until Bryan Bulaga went out with a knee strain.

From that point forward, it was all downhill for the offense. Sherrod was horrendous in Bulaga’s stead, and the Packers didn’t seem in sync.

That could be attributed to the fact that it was the first game of the season or that the Packers essentially limited their options to one side of the field because they refused to challenge Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman.

Clearly, it was a number of issues last night, and a number of issues that the Packers will need to address over the course of the next 10 days before they host the New York Jets in the home opener on Sunday, Sept. 14.

So, with all that said, is it time for Packers fans to start panicking? After a single game that was lost in a venue where nobody has won in like two years?

I don’t think so.

Yes, there are plenty of problems with this team, but none so great that we should throw our arms in the air and go back to hoping the Milwaukee Brewers make the playoffs.

Take my word on this: The Green Bay Packers will win their share of games in 2014. Things will get better.

Remember, they played the world champions last night; a team that showed why they are the champions.

catches a pass over Seattle Seahawks cornerback

during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

But they are also a team that will surely have to overcome their own adversity as the season progresses.

So, yes, if you are a Packers fan and you are on that ledge, it’s time to move back to safe ground.

The offensive line will improve. The inside linebacking position must improve. Aaron Rodgers will get on the same page as Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jarrett Boykin. This team will score points. It’s only a matter of time.

As fans, we have to put the Seahawks into the rear view mirror and look for the real Packers team to start showing up when they host the Jets.

And BTW, don’t be surprised to see the Packers facing the Seahawks once more this season when they meet in the Playoffs in January in that same noisy building.