Packers loss to Bears in Week 15 sums up entire season

On Sunday the Green Bay Packers suffered another loss, this time at the hands of the Chicago Bears. The sloppiness and errors made in this game were the same exact ones that have plagued this Packers team all season long.

Coming off of a nice win against the Atlanta Falcons the previous week, there was a glimmer of hope that just maybe, this Green Bay Packers team had figured it out.

However to the disappointment of many, the team that we saw in Chicago was the same Packers team that we have seen for most of 2018.

Struggling in the same areas and making the same mistakes.

Red zone struggles

For much of the year, the Packers have struggled to score touchdowns when in the red zone. Something that we have rarely seen from an Aaron Rodgers-led offense.

On the season, Green Bay has scored a touchdown just 59.5 percent of the time when inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, according to Team Rankings. This is less than it was in 2017, when Brett Hundley was the quarterback for much of the year.

Against Chicago these issues remained, the Packers were able to score a touchdown on just one out of the four times that they were in the red zone.

Third down efficiency

At times converting on third down for this Packers team has looked nearly impossible. Green Bay ranks 22nd in the NFL on third down conversions, moving the chains just 36.9 percent of the time (Team Rankings).

Sunday, the Packers converted just five of their 14 third down attempts and had some very poorly timed three-and-outs that shifted momentum.

Special teams errors

Both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball have had their moments this season but the special teams unit really hasn’t.

There have been numerous holding calls, offsides, muffed punts this entire season and against the Bears was no different.

We did see the special teams unit make a fourth down stop, but overall it was another poor performance. In addition to the penalties, special teams gave up a huge punt return to Tarik Cohen just before half that led to a Chicago touchdown.

We also saw Will Redmond run into Randall Cobb after he called for a fair catch. Luckily, it didn’t result in a turnover.

Missed throws by Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has wowed us for years with his amazing throws and ridiculous accuracy. But 2018 has been far from that, where even the simplest of throws have been missed.

Rodgers ranks 28th in the NFL in completion percentage at 61.8, on pace for one of the worst years in his career since becoming starter.

In Chicago, we saw Rodgers miss Marquez Valdes-Scantling deep over the middle on what should have been a touchdown pass. He also missed a wide open Equanimeous St. Brown in the end zone, who had his defender beat.

Even on the pass off of Jimmy Graham’s hands that resulted in an interception was off target. Now, Graham was brought to Green Bay to make contested catches but a well thrown ball may have resulted in a touchdown.

Missed opportunities

Nothing has come easy for the Green Bay Packers this season, and even when the other team helps them out, they were rarely able to capitalize.

After coming back to tie the game, the Packers were gifted a fumble by the Chicago Bears. Instead of taking advantage of the situation and potentially taking the lead, Green Bay proceeds to go three-and-out.

This shifted the momentum back in Chicago’s favor and they did what the Packers couldn’t do, go take the lead.

It has been a disappointing season in Green Bay and one that has a lot of “what if” moments.

Unfortunately, from week to week we saw little change from this team and they continually beat themselves the same exact way.

Given the way that the Packers lost to the Bears on Sunday, it was a perfect microcosm for the 2018 season.