Packers: What we learned from Week 8 loss to Rams

Immediate reactions to the Green Bay Packers’ Week 8 loss to the LA Rams.

The Los Angeles Rams remained unbeaten on the 2018 season when they topped the Green Bay Packers 29-27 in Week 8.

What did we learn from the game?

Both the safety and the fumble on the kickoff return were egregious coaching failures.

Mike Pettine did a great job of making sure that Brandin Cooks was covered by Jaire Alexander for the vast majority of the game, and it paid off. Alexander had one of the best games any Packers cornerback has put out there since Charles Woodson left. Outstanding at mirroring Cooks’ routes, keeping up with his speed, and winning at the catch point.

I thought Mike McCarthy did a very good job of mixing up his formations, especially early. Good to see Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown still get some meaningful snaps, even with Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison back.

It was striking to see the difference in how quickly the Rams and the Packers get up to the line of scrimmage on offense. It really makes a difference when you have plenty of time to make any necessary adjustments.

Very good job from Mike Pettine on Sunday scheming pressure.

Kyler Fackrell flashed a few times as a pass rusher. Good game from Clay Matthews, too. Meanwhile, Nick Perry continues to be near invisible.

Can we please not live in fear and put Randall Cobb back out there on punt returns? Thirty-five-year-old Tramon Williams, who last returned punts regularly in 2010, just can’t be the Packers’ best option.

Tramon had a tough time keeping up with Robert Woods on several plays.

Aaron Rodgers loves taking shots on third-and-short.

Jimmy Graham has a fantastic catch radius. But he really hasn’t been too impressive this year making contested receptions. That showed up a few times in this game.

Really impressive game from Blake Martinez, pursuing plays to both sidelines and making tackles in space. It would have been nice to see him get off the block and make a play on the long third-and-six run from Todd Gurley at the end of the game, but still an excellent performance.

All the jet motion that the Rams run prevented Matthews and Perry from pursuing runs from the backside.

Rodgers’ ability to subtly maneuver inside the pocket is incredible.

I wish the passing game utilized the middle of the field more, with players other than Graham. Get Davante some more snaps in the slot. Put Equanimeous in there. Feature Cobb a bit more.

The referees really let the defenders on both teams get away with a good amount of contact today. Lots of potential defensive holdings and illegal contacts when uncalled. I appreciated that.

JK Scott is a great holder. Many of the snaps from Hunter Bradley on extra points and field goals just do not seem accurate.

His punt at the end of the game, though, obviously left a lot to be desired.

Josh Jones must be wildly unimpressive in practice to never even sniff the field on defense as a freak athlete second-round pick in his sophomore season, on a team where former undrafted free agents Kentrell Brice and Jermaine Whitehead are regular players.

Whitehead had a rough game. On two plays in particular, he went for the ball on an out route despite not having the proper position to do so, thus making it impossible to even make the tackle once the reception had been made.

Aaron Donald is special.

Kenny Clark played extremely well, and Mike Daniels drawing that holding call at the end of the game was huge.

The Rams ran 75 plays on offense to the Packers’ 52. That’s not usually a recipe for winning. Sean McVay remained committed to the run game, and McCarthy didn’t.

This game leaves you with a similar feeling to the tie against the Vikings. The Packers followed that one up with an atrocious performance against Washington. Mike McCarthy needs to find a way to ensure this team quickly bounces back and is ready to play next Sunday night.