Packers: Three reasons why they lost to the Patriots in Week 9

Three reasons why the Green Bay Packers lost to the New England Patriots in Week 9.

We all knew following their Week 7 bye the Packers would be facing a tough five-game stretch. After a heartbreaking loss to the Rams the week before, Green Bay was on the road again versus the New England Patriots.

All week this matchup was dubbed as Tom Brady versus Aaron Rodgers. However, this was really a matchup of Packers and the Patriots. More importantly the coaching matchup of Mike McCarthy and Bill Belichick.

After keeping it close through three quarters, Green Bay fell flat in the fourth and lost 31-17. This makes back-to-back losses for the Packers, who now sit at 3-4-1. With more difficult games on the horizon, the Packers are now in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

On Sunday night, the Packers showed again why they are currently pretenders and not contenders in the NFC.

Here are the three reasons Green Bay came up short versus New England:

1. Missed opportunities in the second half

Last week versus the Rams, Green Bay’s defense was dominant in the first half, only allowing the high-powered Rams offense to score six points. In this game versus New England, the defense once again dominated for a whole quarter.

The Packers defense managed to shutout the Patriots offense in the third quarter, including a goal-line stand on the one-yard line. Yet, the Packers were unable to break away from the 17-17 tie.

Finally, Aaron Jones, who has been great for the Packers rushing attack made a pivotal mistake. Jones fumbled while the Packers were nearing the red zone early in the fourth quarter. The fumble changed momentum, as the Patriots scored off the turnover and Green Bay never overcame the deficit.

Unlike Ty Montgomery after the Rams game, Jones took ownership for his mistake after the game.

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2. Questionable play-calling

The inconsistency of the Packers offense this season has been a big reason the team is struggling. With a historical great player like Rodgers as your quarterback, offense should never be an issue. Not to mention the weapons around Rodgers like Jimmy Graham, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb.

There were multiple examples versus the Patriots of terrible play-calling in important situations.

Late second quarter the Packers have a chance to score before halftime, and then get the ball back to open the third quarter. On a third-and-two, Green Bay ran a read-option play with Rodgers, who still isn’t 100 percent healthy. Instead of extending the drive and possibly scoring points, Green Bay went into the half down 17-10.

On the Packers’ opening drive they reached the red zone but settled for a field goal. On third-and-goal from the 14, Green Bay ran a bubble screen to Cobb that went nowhere. When playing against Tom Brady, conceding three points won’t help you win.

When later in the game Green Bay scored a touchdown from 15 yards out, it highlighted how bad this play call was.

Those were just a few examples of bad play-calling, but the Packers offense didn’t score any points after the game was tied at 17-17. Going scoreless for nearly two quarters is a major problem. Mike McCarthy and Rodgers need to find a way to rejuvenate this offense and find new ways to score points.

3. Game-planning by New England

As always, the New England Patriots were very strategic and tactical with their offensive approach, coming out on their opening drive, going no-huddle and just picking apart the Packers defense.

In just three minutes the Patriots went 10 plays, 59 yards and scored a touchdown. Other than their last scoring drive, where they looked to milk the clock, New England scoring drives were all under three minutes long.

New England’s offense was moving so quickly, NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth continuously kept saying the Patriots offense was in ‘hyper-speed.”

Combined with their no-huddle game plan, the Patriots effectively used trick plays. The Patriots used a double pass, flea-flicker and two end arounds in the game. On just four trick plays New England’s offense gained 98 yards, and 10 points.

In comparison, the Packers offense once again failed to commit to the run game. On just 21 carries, Jones and Jamaal Williams combined for 110 yards. Rodgers threw the ball 43 times and didn’t even managed to surpass 300 yards passing.