Packers: Three standout performances from Week 15 win vs. Panthers
By Jesse Fry
Top three performers from Packers’ important Week 15 win vs. Panthers.
Week 15 ended with a win for the Green Bay Packers, although it didn’t feel like it.
A game that started out looking like the Packers would steamroll the Carolina Panthers and possibly put up over 30 points for the fifth week in a row, ended as an eight-point win and leaving some questions about the Packers and their head coach.
Green Bay opened the game scoring on their first three possessions then stalled out right before halftime.
The Packers were then unable to warm up at all in the second half and had four straight three-and-outs before finally cracking, adding to the score with a long Mason Crosby field goal.
It’s hard to say if it was the play-calling by head coach Matt LaFleur or if it was Aaron Rodgers changing the plays at the line but Green Bay got away from what made them successful in the first half and had to rely on their defense to bring home the win.
For only the second time all season, the offensive line was leaky in pass protection, giving up five sacks to the Panthers. Carolina’s first-round picks form the last two seasons, Brian Burns and Derrick Brown, led the way with two sacks each while the Panthers defense harassed Aaron Rodgers all game long.
If there is something to take away from the game as a positive, it’s that for the third straight week, the Packers defense didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher and made many plays in pass defense with Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Jaire Alexander, and Adrian Amos all having pass breakups.
Although the team can be happy about the win, the head coach, offensive coordinator, and starting quarterback have to take a long hard look at themselves to figure out what went wrong in the second half.
The Panthers and the adjustments at halftime deserve some credit but the offense was sloppy, had dropped passes, and worst of all, neglected the hot-hand in Aaron Jones.
Before we look ahead, here are my top three performers form the Packers’ Week 15 win.