3 biggest takeaways from Packers’ loss to Eagles in Week 12
Embarrassing defense, some exciting offense, an injury to Aaron Rodgers, and an impressive night for Jordan Love highlight a Green Bay Packers performance full of takeaways.
The Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-33, putting them 4-8 on the year.
With playoff hopes almost officially gone, the Packers don’t have much to play for, outside of a view to the future.
But what did we learn from the Week 12 loss?
The end of an era for Packers?
Aaron Rodgers couldn’t finish the game due to injury, and the Packers lost their eighth of the season. With any playoff hopes effectively gone, is this it for Rodgers?
Rodgers is dealing with multiple injuries, so is there much point in him battling through in what are meaningless games to end the year?
And if Rodgers doesn’t play again this season, is that it? Will he return in 2023?
If not, it’s possible Rodgers has played his final snap for Green Bay, which is quite hard to believe.
A glimpse into the future?
But if Rodgers departs in the offseason, Jordan Love will likely be the new QB1 in Green Bay.
Love entered the game on Sunday night, and he looked good, throwing for 113 yards and a touchdown off the bench.
The play of the night came on a 63-yard touchdown connection to Christian Watson. Watson now has six touchdown receptions over the past three weeks.
Could this Love-to-Watson connection be a glimpse into the future?
Most embarrassing run defense yet?
We all remember when Colin Kaepernick embarrassed the Packers’ defense with 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the 2012 playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers had 323 rushing yards and four touchdowns that night.
In the 2019 postseason, the 49ers piled up 285 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. Raheem Mostert had 220 of those yards and all of the touchdowns.
But the Packers’ run defense on Sunday night may be their most embarrassing in recent memory.
The Eagles rushed for 363 yards and three touchdowns. No, that’s not a typo.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts led the way with 157 rushing yards, while running back Miles Sanders put up 143 yards and two touchdowns.
A simply humiliating display for Green Bay’s run defense, which now ranks 31st in the NFL.