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Green Bay Packers: They must make changes

By Coalter Hansen

January 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws under pressure against Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) during the first half in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws under pressure against Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) during the first half in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Packers not an elite team

The Packers’ season was one marred by bad play and unimpressive wins against average teams. Consider this, the Packers only won three regular season games against teams with a .500 or better record.

All three teams did make the playoffs, however, it isn’t as simple as that.

When the Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks in the second week of the season, Seattle was not the Seattle team that made the playoffs. The Seahawks started the season 2-4 and had ranked near the bottom of total offense during those six games.

The next week the Packers handedly defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, but not the Chiefs that finish the season by winning 10 games in a row, but the team that started 1-5.

The only convincing win was the victory over Minnesota on the road in which the Packers physically beat down the Vikings. But this is also a team that finished with the 29th overall offense and beat us in the last week of the season at Lambeau to clinch the NFC North.

Of the 10 wins, eight of them have come against teams that finished 20th or worse in total offense.

Oct 18, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) reacts after his pass fell incomplete in the final seconds of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) reacts after his pass fell incomplete in the final seconds of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

The two teams that finished higher were the Seahawks (mentioned above) and the San Diego Chargers. For those who remember the Chargers game, Philip Rivers threw for 503 yards against our sixth-rated pass defense.

Offensively the Packers went 2-3 against defenses rated in the top 10. Again, those two victories were against the Seahawks and Chiefs.

All of this without mention of losing to the Lions at Lambeau for the first time since 1991, losing to all divisional opponents at home for the first time since 1968, and the Hail Mary to save us at Detroit.

Why the sudden drop off?

Let’s take a closer look …

Next: Was it the Jordy effect?

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