2018 Week 13: The Packers Lose in a Shocking Upset by the Cardinals and Mike McCarthy is Fired

At the start of this season, I thought it was low odds that the Green Bay Packers would fire Mike McCarthy. While I've been unimpressed with the overall talent level on the current roster, the return of Aaron Rodgers should be enough for 10+ wins and another playoff run. Obviously I was wrong.

pic.twitter.com/VeBPTv8pRb

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) December 2, 2018

I didn't agree with this tweet until recently. In hindsight, he's right. The greatness of the 2010 and 2011 seasons had been fading for a while. Now looking back at a great 2014 season, I can see how much it was propped up by elite play from Rodgers, Nelson, and Cobb. It wasn't going to be sustainable, and it started to fall apart quickly in 2015 after Nelson was lost for the season. In early 2016, it wasn't McCarthy's fault and once they get Nelson back, Ted Thompson will continue to run a beautiful draft and they'll get back on top.

I had no explanation for why Dom Capers was still the DC after the 2015 season (probably sooner) but I like retaining coaches year after year. This is one of several general assumptions that I need to reconsider.

Though it took a furious finish to get back to the NFC Championship Game in 2016, I wasn't worried. The Falcons had a great 2016 season and once their young players are experienced and healthy in the secondary, they'll have a great 2017 season.

But the 2017 season was lost after Rodgers broke his collarbone, and it should have been clear to me that McCarthy's departure was inevitable. He was unable to coach Brett Hundley into a respectable QB and his team completely gave up on him during their Week 17 loss in Detroit. It was Detroit's players who were rallying around their HC (Jim Caldwell was fired anyway) and it felt like McCarthy should have been fired instead of Caldwell.

Maybe McCarthy would have been fired if GM Ted Thompson wasn't fired reassigned. The beautiful drafts didn't happen. Though the 2016 draft produced three starters, the 2017 draft class might be a total loss other than Aaron Jones. Aside from Jones, the Packers haven't drafted a key contributor on offense since Adams and Linsley in 2014. Maybe Murphy didn't want to change everything that was long-standing at once, and McCarthy deserved another chance.

I'm going to miss loading up #Packers tape on Monday morning and being able to guess about 30% of the plays correctly before the snap. Sigh.

— Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) December 3, 2018

I thought the 2018 season was over when Rodgers's knee was bent back the wrong way in Week 1, but he had a couple of furious comebacks to keep this season afloat. When he complained about the bad offense against the Bills in Week 4, I thought he was underestimating a pretty good defense. He's also had to rely on a couple of rookie wide receivers which was going to be a problem until they're both more experienced.

But the stale offense that couldn't get anything out of Hundley in 2017 was again a problem even with Rodgers. It wasn't awful, but it could and should be better.

Ever since they lost a pair of road games to the Rams and Patriots, I thought the season was over (though not technically). The team was still playing hard, but that stopped against the Cardinals. The thought of watching them play out four more games that looked like 2017 Week 17 in Detroit was an awful feeling, and for that reason I'm glad Murphy decided to fire McCarthy mid-season. He was going to be fired after the season anyway, the excuses that could have been used for 2015-2017 just weren't going to work anymore.

And they'll need time to find the right coach. I'm not a fan of Vikings OC, John Defilippo, or Patriots OC, Josh McDaniels. After what McDaniels did to the Colts this year, I don't think he deserves another HC offer anywhere. The new coach will have to be someone who can engage Rodgers at his high level (Joe Philbin is not that guy) while still being able to team the basics to the young receivers and backs. Murphy probably knows the NFL as well as anyone and right now I'm optimistic. 

I don't know what to expect over the final few games. It's time to give the players who will be the anchors in 2019 to get fewer reps on defense and let players like Oren Burks play an entire game. Finally send Byron Bell to the bench and give fewer reps to Adams. It would seem hard (maybe impossible?) to find an excuse to bench Rodgers. If Philbin wasn't coaching for his job, I'd suggest he hand over play calling to Rodgers and let him try and find a rhythm with the young receivers Tonyan, MVS, and EQB.

I'm surprised at this is how the 2018 season has went though firing McCarthy was unfortunately the right decision.

What Will The Packers Offensive Scheme Look Like in 2017?

It's been a roller coaster ride for the Green Bay Packers's offense over the past two seasons. The loss of WR Jordy Nelson in 2015 turned a high powered 2014 machine into an offense that produced the lowest completion percentage of QB Aaron Rodgers's career. Eventually the wheels were put back on last season when Nelson returned, but he wasn't the same until late 2016 which coincided with the return of TE Jared Cook and the emergence of Ty Montgomery as a running back. After all three players were in place and back in game shape, the offense clicked. Though Cook is now a Raider, the signing of TE Martellus Bennett should be an upgrade and they'll likely be even better next season.

I focused primarily on the defense this offseason and I've realized that I haven't written at all about the departure of associate head coach Tom Clements. It's telling that he hasn't caught on with another team this offseason when other top former Packer offensive assistants like Ben McAdoo and Joe Philbin have both had head coaches stints after leaving Green Bay. The injury to Jordy Nelson in 2015 took center stage that season, but it's dance partner was Mike McCarthy's decision to give away and then take back mid-season play calling duties. The departure of Clements but the return of DC Dom Capers seems like a sign that Mike McCarthy thinks bigger changes need to happen on offense than defense.

Like I said in today's article--put him in Atlanta's offense and nobody could deal with it. https://t.co/KW10qnZboa

— Doug Farrar (@BR_DougFarrar) June 16, 2017

What makes the situation in Atlanta so much better than Green Bay? Here's what Doug wrote in his article:

It's just that he's operating with a schematic handicap, and it affects not only the entire offense but also Rodgers' faith in what he sees. And when a quarterback has to wait for receivers to get open on their own as opposed to with help from route concepts, it leads to extra defensive pressure as blocks break down over time.

Rodgers still averaged 8.1 adjusted yards per attempt last season, tying for fourth in the league. Watch him on tape and imagine how his stats would surge if he had, say, Atlanta's offense from last season. That's why he's this high on the list: He's a better player than his scheme allows him to be.

It's true, the Packers have been running a scheme that requires their skill players beat the other team's skill players on a weekly basis without much help. That might not be much of a problem in 2017 but it was a big problem in 2015 (and could be a problem in the future if injuries occur). I wasn't expecting them to change their scheme mid-2015 when Nelson was lost in the preseason but it wasn't changed over the 2016 offseason either. Maybe it was effectively changed when Tom Clements wasn't asked back in January.

The Packers haven't given anything away in public OTAs this offseason, and they might not even show any new looks this preseason. During games, the announcers sometimes talk about how many plays there are in McCarthy's playbook. Maybe the Packers intend to explore a different part of that playbook after the departure of Clements with more of the weekly offensive scheme in the hands of McCarthy and hold over OC Edgar Bennett (who as a player thrived in a West Coast style offense that might well suit Ty Montgomery). The offense might look a lot less like it did last season and more like it did when Rodgers was a two-time MVP.

About Mike McCarthy Being "Fed Up" With GM Ted Thompson

There were a few times last season when I wondered if it would have helped if the Green Bay Packers had targeted a free agent or two, on a veteran's minimum contract, who might have helped out at some positions. Notably, the Arizona Cardinals had some success with low-priced veterans like RB Chris Johnson and DE Dwight Freeney in 2015. Apparently Bob McGinn has learned that coach Mike McCarthy was wondering the same thing.

Report: Mike McCarthy is fed up with Packers management refusing to sign free agents https://t.co/KDYJ9mqf7k

— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 24, 2016

It's hard to get too worked up over this report because in some ways it's old news. It reminds me of when almost everyone was upset that Thompson didn't pull the trigger in 2010 on a trade for RB Marshawn Lynch. Thompson turned out to be right in the sense that the Packers didn't need Lynch that season to win the Super Bowl, but Lynch would have still been worth whatever it would have taken to acquire him (the Bills gave up a 4th and a 5th round pick for him).

I wouldn't be surprised if McCarthy is looking for new answers after another playoff loss on the final play of the game. Having a veteran TE, a veteran DB, or a veteran ILB (instead of rotating Jake Ryan and Joe Thomas Jr.) might have made a small difference, but it could have turned one or two close losses this season into wins. Having no reliable inside LB other than Clay Matthews might have been his biggest regret because Bob McGinn specifically mentions the availability of ILB Mason Foster, who signed with the Redskins.

On the other hand, the NFL free agent market is a minefield. A healthy free agent who might be an average NFL player can command a bust-worthy multi-year contract while the true superstar who hits the market will get a cap crushing deal.

Typically the players who receiver one-year contracts aren't good or haven't been healthy for a while. Foster's a minor success story but other teams handed out one-year contracts to former Packer ILBs Desmond Bishop (released in early September) and Jamari Lattimore (played only on special teams for the Jets) without finding a starting caliber ILB. The Jets did well with ILB Erin Henderson, who could only get a one-year deal after a string of drinking and driving arrests ended his Vikings career, but obviously not every player with a checkered past is able to put it behind them. The Vikings signed Casey Matthews to compete at inside LB but he was hurt before the season even began. Signing a veteran on a one-year contract is much more likely to be a bust than even a mild success.

It's an odd time for this story to come out, on one hand, because this is the season that the Packers did sign WR James Jones to a one-year contract after his release from the Giants, and WR Jordy Nelson was lost for the year. I'm not sure any team in the NFL this season had a better one-year, unrestricted free agent signing than Jones. It's too bad he couldn't have played inside linebacker too.

McCarthy is used to having a deep bench to call on. The lack of depth at offensive tackle and inside linebacker were obvious, and the failure of WR Davante Adams to develop was disappointing, but these things don't always work out. The big takeaway for me in from Bob McGinn's article is that the Packers have really high standards, and if nothing less than a Super Bowl season is a disappointment, then you feel the same way as coach McCarthy.

Mike McCarthy Announces New Coaches, Tom Clements Will Do Play Calling

I don't think this is a very big deal for the Green Bay Packers. Mike McCarthy, Tom Clements, and Aaron Rodgers have all been working together since 2006, and Rodgers calls many of the plays on the field. It looks like McCarthy is acknowledging that his future is secure in Green Bay, he was recently extended through 2018, and he's comfortable being a back seat driver on offense. As head coach, he still has plenty of responsibilities anyway. Here are the complete list of the coaching changes.

McCarthy: Tom Clements will call the plays. #Packers
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) February 12, 2015

I thought the Packers might hire a new wide receiver coach (after Edgar Bennett was promoted to offensive coordinator) but instead Alex Van Pelt will coach quarterbacks and receivers. I guess if the Packers re-sign both Randall Cobb and Matt Flynn, Van Pelt will have a lot of experience on the roster and should be fine as the position coach for both positions.

The special teams unit was awful last season so promoting Ron Zook from within to special teams coordinator (though he's still somewhat underemployed as a former college head coach) doesn't seem like the best idea. Though the leaders in special teams snaps in 2014 might all be gone next season. The top five special teams leaders by snap count were Sean Richardson (free agent), Jarrett Bush (free agent), Brad Jones (should be released after a terrible 2014 season and after being exposed on the fake field goal during the NFC championship game), Brandon Bostick (should be released; same reasons as Jones except blown onside kick), and Jayrone Elliott (undrafted rookies often struggle to make the team next year). Zook might get a blank slate to work with in 2015 and prove himself.

There were also a couple of assistant position coaches hired/promoted (Jason Simmons, Mike Solari, Jerry Montgomery) to round out the staff.

I don't know where the Packers rank in coaching consistency but as I watch the annual NFL coaching carousel go round-and-round, they've got to be one of the most consistent. The firing of special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum counts as the biggest shake up since 2009 (the firing of DC Bob Sanders) but still it's nothing compared to the turnover some teams see on an annual basis. It's big news for the Packers but a small change in context.

McCarthy considering giving up play-calling duties

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy is considering giving up his play-calling duties, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports. 

McCarthy has thrown around the idea of promoting Offensive Coordinator Tom Clements and letting him decide the team's strategies in 2015, according to Demovsky. 

If that plan comes to fruition, WR coach Edgar Bennett would replace Clements in a corresponding move. Bennett has held his current job since 2011.

Nothing is official yet, but expect more to come of this. It can certainly be argued that McCarthy's questionable choices in the NFC Championship Game had something to do with the Packers' losing that contest, so it wouldn't be that strange if this news is in fact true. 

Packers fire ST Coordinator Shawn Slocum

In a move you can't call surprising, the Packers have fired ST Coordinator Shawn Slocum, reports Pro Football Talk. 

Slocum, who has worked with the team since 2006, struggled mightily when coaching his guys during the recent conference championship game, letting the Seahawks turn a fake field goal into a touchdown while failing to recover a late onside kick that would've ended it.

Slocum was wished well by Mike McCarthy when the announcement was made Friday, but again, it wasn't at all strange to hear he had been let go. Speculation of Slocum's termination began the moment the Packers lost to Seattle, the reason they obviously aren't playing in the Super Bowl this weekend. 

McCarthy "agrees with the intent" of Burnett's title game slide

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy probably doesn't like that Morgan Burnett slid on his NFC Championship Game interception, but he is still okay with it. 

In an article recently published by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, McCarthy said he "agrees with the intent" of Burnett's decision, which appeared to end the contest at the time. 

Taking place with just over five minutes on the clock, Burnett's now-infamous takeaway likely would have set up a long touchdown if the Packers safety had kept running, not that it was all his fault. 

Green Bay DE Julius Peppers could be seen giving Burnett the "go-down" signal on the play, so he is at least partially to blame for the mistake. Still, it's not like you could really point to it as the sole reason for the loss, as the Packers had plenty of opportunities afterwards to pull away. 

Lacy probable for conference championship game

Packers RB Eddie Lacy has been listed as probable for Sunday's conference championship game in Seattle, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports.

Lacy has been experiencing soreness in his right knee this week, according to Demovsky. However, team Head Coach Mike McCarthy isn't concerned about his health, assuring the media Friday "he'll be ready to play."

Lacy rushed for 101 carries on 19 carries in last week's divisonal playoff against the Cowboys, including one on which he ran for 29 yards. As for his entire season, he recorded 1139 yards on 246 carries, reaching the endzone nine times while fumbling thrice.

Rodgers' Calf Won't Affect Packers' Game Plan

Well, this is pretty relieving.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers' calf won't affect the Packers' game plan in tomorrow's divisional playoff against the Cowboys, according to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn. 

Here are some quotes from team Head Coach Mike McCarthy, courtesy of McGinn:

"We have a game plan and he looks like he's moving fine to me. Right now, we're not going to change anything in our approach on how we want to attack Dallas' defense."

"Aaron came through the practice everything OK. He feels good today. He's progressing forward and I feel he will be available for the game."

Rodgers: Possibility of Bye Week Motivated Me to Come Back in Lions Game

Aaron Rodgers knew he was hurt Sunday, but wanted the bye week for rehab.

At least that's the reason he gave The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Tom Silverstein for why he came back from the calf injury, one which bugged him last week as well. Here's his full quote, courtesy of Silverstein:

"As bad as I felt, I thought if I can go out there and be able to do some things and we win, I get another week to rehab. That was definitely in my mind. Obviously, that doesn't enter the minds of the medical staff. They're thinking about what's in the best interests of the player. But Doc and I have a great trust between each other and we did a little fist pound, and after I told him I felt good and Mike said OK, he just trusted that I was not going to do anything stupid."

McCarthy Assures Media: Adams' Recent Drops Not Part of Him Hitting Rookie Wall

Packers WR Davante Adams has no doubt struggled with drops lately, but team Head Coach Mike McCarthy doesn't think he's hitting a rookie wall.

Here's his full quote, courtesy of The Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood:

"Rookie wall? I would think with the CBA and this new schedule we're on, it doesn't exist. I think the education that's in place with today's rookies gives them the chance to get through that first year, which when you break it down, it's remarkable what a rookie goes through. He finishes his (college) season and he's training for the combine, and then he goes from the combine and then he's training for the draft, and then he gets drafted and he goes right through."

Facing Orton, Packers Expect Sunday's Game to be Close

Kyle Orton has given the Packers some trouble over the past few years, so it's that surprising they're expecting him to give them all he has Sunday.

"I've always thought he's been very productive," team Head Coach Mike McCarthy recently told ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. "We've obviously played against him in Chicago, Denver, Kansas City. Played very well against us in Kansas City down there in 2011. He has complete understanding of the offense. He can make all the throws. He can still sling it. I think he does a very good job with their offense." 

Orton's led his overall-unamazing Bills to a 7-6 record this season, so it's only reasonable to expect him to keep things close this weekend. How close is expected by many to be the only mystery, though, as the Packers have won each of their last five by a total of 88 points (a 17.6 per game average). 

Lacy a Limited Participant in Practice Thursday, But "Making Progress"

Packers RB Eddie Lacy is still recovering from a hip injury he suffered in Monday's win over the Falcons, but may be nearing a recovery.

According to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, Lacy was limited participant in the team's practice Thursday, something that's not necessarily good considering how late in the week it is.

He is, however, "making progress" in the words of Mike McCarthy, which can't be bad. Lacy was one of the biggest reasons the Packers won their last road game over the Vikings November 23, rushing for two first downs in the final minutes to run out the clock.

Let's hope he gets a chance to do so again this Sunday, when the Packers play arguably their toughest contest left on the schedule in Buffalo.

Packers Injury Updates: Shields Questionable, Perry Probable For Monday

Injuries probably won't affect how the Packers play that much Monday, but nonetheless, there's a few of them. Here they are, courtesy of ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde.

Out – LB Jamari Lattimore (ankle), DE Luther Robinson (calf).

Questionable – CB Sam Shields (concussion),

Probable – DT Josh Boyd (knee), G T.J. Lang (ankle), LB Nick Perry (shoulder), G Josh Sitton (toe), DT Mike Daniels (back), G Lane Taylor (illness).

According to Wilde, Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy thinks Shields "still has a chance to play," and will if everything goes right.

If he can't, though, Davon House will be the one who takes his place, Wilde writes.

McCarthy Praises Packers After Win Over Patriots: "This is the Most Consistent Team in My Years Here"

Yesterday's win over the Patriots wasn't perfect, but nonetheless, it improved the Packers' record to 9-3.

Mike McCarthy had this to say in response to that fact, courtesy of ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.

"I think this is clearly our most consistent football team in my nine years here," McCarthy said. "Just from the fact that the way they prepare, you don't have a bunch of personalities that go up and down. It's a very focused, disciplined group." 

The victory was McCarthy's 97th as the head coach of the Packers, the third most in franchise history. Vince Lombardi is second on that list with 98, so it's very likely McCarthy will pass him by the end of the year. 

And really, he should, as the Packers remaining games take place against relatively-beatable opponents in the Falcons, Buccaneers, Bills and Lions. 

Reaction: Packers Hang on Versus Patriots for Fourth Straight Win

It wasn't as pretty as I thought it would be, but I'll take it. Here are my takeways from yesterday's win:

1. The Packers Are Actually Stoppable At Home:

At least kind of. They still emerged victorious, but it wasn't like they did it easily. Say goodbye to games like the ones against the Bears and Eagles, I guess.

2. McCarthy Almost Blew it Again:

Seriously, he's gotta work on getting the last first down late. For the second week in a row, he almost found a way to go three and out with Green Bay up by less than a touchdown in the final minutes, but again, he was bailed out by a nice play. Last week it was Eddie Lacy who made it, this week it was Randall Cobb. Thank you for that.

3. We Can Expect This Winning Streak To Continue:

The Falcons won't beat the Packers on Monday Night Football next week. Enough said (?).

Leave your thoughts below.

Packers Injury Updates: Adams, Bostick Probable for Patriots Game

Some Packers injury updates for Sunday's game against the Patriots, courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

• OLB Nick Perry (shoulder) questionable
• WR Davante Adams (heel) probable 
• CB Jarrett Bush (groin) questionable 
• RG T.J. Lang (ankle) probable
• LG Josh Sitton (toe) probable
• TE Brandon Bostick (hip) probable

Speaking to the media today, team Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Perry is "making progress", and that more information on him will come tomorrow.

Perry has 12 tackles this season, the third of his career. He had 20 all of last year, so a good last five games could certainly give him a new personal best. 

Rodgers Expected to Play Sunday

The Packers expect team QB Aaron Rodgers to play in Sunday's game against the Bears, ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde reports.

Rodgers apparently did "everything" in Green Bay's practice Monday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy told Wilde. 

McCarthy then said today that Rodgers, whose Pack currently sit at a somewhat mediocre 5-3, feels good and is ready to go.

The 30 year-old three-time division champion suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8's loss in New Orleans. It has not been made known whether he would've been able to take the field with it if the Packers had had a game last weekend.

Rodgers a Fan of McCarthy's New Extension

Unsurprisingly, Packers QB Mike McCarthy is a fan of Mike McCarthy's new extension. 

"It'd be something to play with the same team your entire career, and then also start for the same coach," Rodgers said Tuesday on his weekly ESPN Milwaukee radio show, via The Green Bay Press Gazette. "And, if Ted [Thompson] was able to stick around, have the same general manager. That'd be something right there. I think that would definitely speak to consistency there."

Rodgers, since he became the team's starter, has never been coached by anybody else. So yeah, his reaction here isn't that unusual, but still, it's news. We might as well here about it.

Packers Give McCarthy Multi-Year Extension

The Packers have signed Head Coach Mike McCarthy to a multi-year contract extension, the team's official website announced earlier today.

McCarthy, 50, has worked for the Packers since 2006, leading them to six playoff appearances (four division titles and two wild card berths) during that time.

Along with those accomplishments, obviously, is the win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, which surprisingly came after the team went just 10-6.

In total, McCarthy has 93 victories as the head of Green Bay, the third most in its history. Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi top that list with 212 and 98, respectively.