Why they lost: Green Bay Packers fall to Lions at Lambeau
By Kenn Korb
Nov 15, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Detroit Lions running back
Ameer Abdullah(21) tries to avoid a tackle by Green Bay Packers defensive tackle
Letroy Guion(98) in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Not So Special
After being one of the more noticeable issues for the team in recent years, the special teams has actually been somewhat of a strength in 2015.
As per Football Outsiders stats, the special teams ranked 22nd last season — and all the way at 32nd by the Dallas Morning News’ annual special teams rankings (which apparently is something notable, since it was brought up innumerable times before the season). This year, they sit at a much more mild 12th; not excellent, but far from the detrimental unit it was at times in 2014.
Sunday, we saw some of last year creep back in.
Nov 15, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) misses a field goal in the final seconds of the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. The Lions beat the Packers 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
To start the third quarter, Green Bay kicked the ball off like usual, but allowed a ridiculous 104-yard return to occur; it was stopped short of a touchdown, but seeing as there was only one yard left to gain it isn’t a surprise it eventually resulted in a 9-3 deficit for the Packers immediately.
Across the day there were 9 punts, but those brought about some negative outcomes: a 23 yard return (to the DET 46), a 41 yarder (DET 47), a 25 yarder (GB 47), and a 33 yarder (DET 25) were mixed in there across the afternoon.
A special teams gaffe is what ended the game too, with Mason Crosby missing a 52 yard kick as the clock expired. It appeared at first that it was blocked, but the replays showed that apparently Crosby just somehow hit the ball so terribly that it looked that way.
There were still great positive plays made in the game by this unit; multiple punts were actually decent in terms of the field position battle and the onside kick attempt towards the end of the game was recovered by Green Bay.
Unfortunately, the negatives tended to outweigh the positives in terms of impacting the outcome in this particular case.
With the issues on offense already causing much consternation, the Packers need as much help as they can get from the other areas of the team.