Top five performers for Packers in Week 15 loss vs. Bears
By Jesse Fry
The Green Bay Packers’ top five performers in their Week 15 loss to the Chicago Bears.
The glimmer of hope was finally extinguished. The Packers have been eliminated from playoff contention. And for just the third time since 1992, they will spend back-to-back postseasons at home.
The Packers put up a valiant effort but in the end came up short. With just under seven minutes left to play, an Aaron Rodgers pass was tipped and as Rodgers’ streak of passes without an interception ended, so too did the Packers’ playoff hopes.
Down by two scores, the Packers desperately needed a score. Even just a field goal there would have been key with the Packers down 10. Instead, another miscue at an inopportune time ended their hopes for a win and in turn, the slim hopes of reaching the playoffs.
For the first time since 2010 the Bears will be NFC North division champions. Also, for the first time since 2013 the Bears will not finish in last place in the division.
Although mathematics told us the Packers’ chances of going to the playoffs were still alive coming into the game, reality told us it was not going to happen. So, now that reality and mathematics are on the same page, the Packers have nothing left to play for but each other.
The Bears team proved to be as tough as advertised, but here are the top five performers from the Week 15 loss to the Bears.
1. Davante Adams
Another week, another stellar performance for the Packers’ number one receiver Davante Adams.
What should not be forgotten on an otherwise lost season is the play of Adams.
Adams has seen the best cover player of every team he has faced this year and still come out ahead every time. Adams’ eight catches for 119 yards led all receivers in the game. Although he did not catch a touchdown, he did pull down a two-point conversion to tie the game at 14 in the third quarter.
Adams now has 100 catches for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns. With two games to go, he only needs 13 more catches to have the Packers’ single season catch record and 204 yards to have the yards record.
Whether or not Adams eclipses either record, he is still having a top-five all-time season for the Packers.
What I find amazing about Adams’ season is, Jimmy Graham has not panned out to be the impact player we all hoped he’d be, while Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison have been injured leaving rookies lining up on the other side of Adams.
This situation has allowed teams to focus most of the pass defense resources on Adams. Still, he has gone out and produced all season long.