Packers fans are furious at Joe Barry after defense blows victory vs. Falcons
The Green Bay Packers blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead to suffer their first defeat of the Jordan Love era. Joe Barry's unit had no answer for the Atlanta Falcons' run game in the second half and has to take most of the blame for the loss.
Atlanta rushed for 211 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. It was the same old story for Green Bay's defense under Barry. The Packers can dominate when offenses are one-dimensional and forced to pass, but when Green Bay needs to regularly stop the run, it's game over.
The Falcons scored on four of their five second-half possessions, dominating time of possession with a heavy dose of the ground game. The Packers had no answer, and the blame falls on Barry after yet another defensive disappointment.
Head coach Matt LaFleur surprisingly stuck with Barry during the offseason, and Packers fans aren't happy after his defense struggled with all the same problems we've seen over the past two seasons.
Packers fans blame Joe Barry for loss to Falcons, and they are right
After an awful second-half performance by the defense, Packers fans are furious with Joe Barry, and who could blame them?
I would like to understand the thought process of keeping Joe Barry.
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) September 17, 2023
3rd and 15 and Joe Barry says "Did you see Colorado State give up a 98 yard drive last night? That's the call."
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) September 17, 2023
I'm officially much more concerned Joe Barry will crater the 2023 Packers than I am Jordan Love.
— Kris Burke (@KrisBurke) September 17, 2023
Joe Barry is playing his classic “winning by 2 so let’s allow them to slowly move into easy FG range” defense
— Jacob (@NotionsOfJacob) September 17, 2023
I mean, everyone in the world outside of 1265 Lombardi knows exactly who and what Joe Barry is and what the ceiling of his defenses is, no matter how much talent you provide. None of this is surprising. Maddening, yes, but this should always be the expected outcome.
— Tim Backes (@timbackes) September 17, 2023
I'm so tired of Joe Barry, Dillon, and Savage. I want them all off my team. They do absolutely nothing to help the Packers win 90% of time and they need to be gone. Wish Joe Barry could learn to adjust and not play the corners off 10 yards like a fricken moron every game. I'm so…
— Big B (@bigpackers4x) September 17, 2023
I’m not going to say fans always get it right.
— Tanner Nestle (@NestleIsTheName) September 17, 2023
But AJ Dillon and Joe Barry were two huge blind spots for the front office. They have shown us who they really are time and time again for years now and they’re still here.
Perhaps the play that sums up Joe Barry's defense came on a third-and-3 late in the fourth quarter. Star running back Bijan Robinson lined up out wide, and he was covered by De'Vondre Campbell. Barry had Campbell give Robinson a huge cushion. The results were predictable, with the rookie running back picking up 10 yards on Desmond Ridder's easiest completion all day.
LaFleur stuck with Barry, a decision that didn't go down with the fanbase. Performances like this don't help.
Green Bay has all the defensive talent in the world, but it still can't stop the run. Once again, Barry's defense is left with more questions than answers.
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