Monday, November 26, 2018

2018 Week 12: Packers Find More Ways to Lose on the Road, lose to the Vikings, 24-17

I could pretty much repeat what I wrote last week when they lost in Seattle by 3 points for this loss in Minneapolis by 7 points.

It was a little bit different. While the offense stayed in the locker room at half time for the 2nd consecutive week and only managed 254 yards of total offense for the game, the defense played a larger role by allowing the Vikings to convert on 50% of their 3rd down attempts and a provide a mediocre pass rush against one of the weaker o-lines in the league. They missed the inside pressure from DT Mike Daniels, probably more than having to play a bunch of rookies at cornerback. In a normal season, underwhelming at Minnesota wouldn't be a big surprise because it's consistently a tough place to win. But this season it was just another one of their disappointing road losses.
Rodgers isn't giving up, good for him, but I thought the season was over after the loss in Seattle. It was on fumes after the loss to the Rams, but wins in Seattle and Minnesota would had me plotting a playoff path. Three winnable home games remain (Cardinals, Falcons, Lions) against teams with losing records, and while they shouldn't win at Chicago, they could sneak a win in New York against the Jets to avoid an 0-8 road record. Still, a record of 8-7-1 isn't going to make the playoffs.

I'm enjoying a nice seasonal winter ale as I write about another road loss and I'll continue to spend time reading articles on the hot head coaching candidates for 2019. At least the Packers haven't lost at home this season and I'll have a win to look forward to against the Cardinals next week.
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Thursday, November 15, 2018

2018 Week 11: Packers Lose Again on the Road, This Time in Seattle, 27-24

With the exception of their opening road loss of the 2018 season in Washington, when they were completely outplayed for four quarters by the Redskins, I'm sick of watching this flawed team manage to find a way to lose on the road.
This week, if it weren't for an opening fumble from the Seahawks (I was going to type RB Carson, but each team had a #32 RB named Carson!) and a huge game from Kyler Fackrell (the transformation of Fackrell in a matter of weeks from an absolute zero to a stud OLB should be one of the major stories in the NFL this season) the defense was a mess against the run and the pass. And both Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark went off with injuries!

This week the offense struggled badly on 3rd down, mostly due to a collapse in pass protection. It's sad to watch age and a bum knee turn RT Bryan Bulaga into a Spriggs-level talent, and Byron Bell was never going to be a plus lineman. A terrible 3 for 11 conversion rate on 3rd down, usually with a sack (except for that last one when Rodgers uncharacteristically threw it in the ground) killed too many drives.

This was never a promising looking game on the schedule, despite the down season in Seattle. The Packers never win in Seattle, they never win on the road (at least this season) and Seattle's the better team in 2018. The early turnover and 7-0 gave me some hope that THIS WEEK IT WILL BE DIFFERENT! When that second drive ended in a missed field goal, I sobered up, realized it wasn't going to be any different this week, and started drinking for real.

I don't know what they should do for the rest of the season. McCarthy will keep pushing each week for the win to try and save his job and Aaron Rodgers isn't going to want to give up. They could turn it around. If the rookie wide receivers can figure it out and the offensive line can be turned into a competent group before year end, the Packers might be able to surprise in a playoff road game as they did in Dallas back on 12/15/2017.

But I can't believe that will happen this season. This isn't the season of R-E-L-A-X. This was a flawed team from the start. Let's enjoy each remaining home game (they can win those ones!), dream of what Gute and his next head coach is going to do with all those draft picks next year, and drink in the meantime. Spotted Cow for everyone!
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