3 silver linings from Packers loss to Falcons in Week 2
By Drew Koch
Okay, so Week 2 didn't go exactly as planned for the Green Bay Packers. Leading by 12 points heading into the fourth quarter, the offense went three three-and-out on two consecutive drives, the defense allowed 166 yards and 13 points, and the Packers lose to the Falcons by a score of 25-24.
That's not so bad, right? Don't tell Packers fans that. The folks in Green Bay are not happy after watching their team get run over by the Falcons' rushing attack and losing their first game of the season.
However, there's always a bright side. While it may be hard for Packers fans to see the bright side after a fourth-quarter collapse against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, there are some silver linings. Let's look at three of those right now.
1. Packers offense was 2-for-3 in red zone opportunities
The Green Bay Packers offense was not the problem on Sunday - at least through the first three quarters of the game. Jordan Love was 14-of-19 for 151 yards and three touchdowns heading into the fourth quarter. Two of those three touchdown passes came in the red zone.
The red zone, and the fourth quarter, are where quarterbacks make their money. Obviously, leading a game-winning drive in fourth quarter gets a lot of publicity, but there's something to be said for a quarterback and his offense converting opportunities when the field is condensed. Love did that on Sunday in Atlanta.
The Green Bay Packers were 2-for-3 in red zone opportunities. While some fans and pundits will look at stats like that and claim that it's easy to score in the red zone, that was not the case last season. And that was with a future Hall of Fame quarterback at the helm.
In 2022, according to TeamRankings.com, the Packers converted just over 51-percent of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns. The Packers are tied with the Rams for first in the NFL in red zone scoring percentage this season. That's definitely something Packers fans can be happy about.