3 Overreactions to the Packers’ Win Over the Panthers

admin | December 26, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The Green Bay Packers were humiliated by the New York Giants.

The Buccaneers made them look bad. The Panthers nearly humiliated them. Green Bay won 33-30 against Carolina on Sunday. It was a critical win not only for its playoff chances, but it also ensures one more crucial game.

Jordan Love and this incredibly skilled collection of young players will make the playoffs at some point. This big-game experience will help them prepare for the big game. This week’s Three Overreactions are as follows.

1. LAFLEUR FLIRTING WITH DISASTER

After last week’s loss to the Buccaneers, coach Matt LaFleur had good reason to fire Joe Barry, but he chose to keep the embattled defensive coordinator. Why? Nobody knows. LaFleur likes to claim that this is a results-driven business, and he’s right, but the outcomes on defense have been disastrous.

Tommy DeVito of the Giants was selected NFC Offensive Player of the Week after defeating the Packers. Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers was selected NFC Offensive Player of the Week after defeating the Packers. If Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had completed the comeback, he might have also been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Kirk Cousins might urge the Vikings’ coaches to let him play against the Packers next week, even if he requires a cane. Josh McCown, Cade McNown, and the complete history of failed Bears quarterbacks from the last two decades could brawl outside Soldier Field for the opportunity to face Green Bay in the championship game.

After a rather hopeful first half on Sunday, Green Bay was completely demolished in the final 30 minutes. The Packers were saved by the bell rather than winning the game. The Panthers scored 30 points after failing to score 20 in four consecutive games. They scored four touchdowns after failing to score in the previous two weeks.

This isn’t just about Sunday’s defensive collapse.

The coin toss, of all things, was a flop. Jaire Alexander, who returned after a six-game hiatus, was not one of LaFleur’s three captains. He went out for the initial coin flip anyhow.

“I don’t think Coach knew I was from Charlotte,” Alexander said.

Oh, he probably knew and didn’t care.

To make matters worse, Alexander messed up the flip. Instead of waiting the decision until the second half, he stated that the defense wanted to play. That is not the same. Fortunately, a pregame meeting between LaFleur and the officials rescued the team from the embarrassment of kicking off to begin the game and the second half.

“I said, ‘I want our defense to be out there,’ and they all looked at me like I was crazy,” recalled Alexander. “What I said was quite straightforward. ‘I want the defense to be present.’ ‘You mean defer?’ they ask, and I say, ‘Yeah, I guess.'”

The Green Bay Packers are a youthful squad. Young is frequently associated with impressionable. With Alexander gone rogue, it’s time – no, it’s past time – for LaFleur and the organization’s top brass to seize control. It’s time to do some spring cleaning. Take over as defensive coordinator. Remove the defensive assistants. And get rid of Alexander and everyone else who isn’t 100 percent dedicated to constructing the next championship team.

2. PACKERS NEED A RUNNING BACK

Aaron Jones’ flashback performance was one of the game’s biggest tales. Jones carried for 127 yards on 21 tries despite being plagued by injuries for the majority of the season. He achieved season highs in carries (1), yards (54), and average (1.4). More than the statistics, he set the tone as Green Bay jumped out to a 13-3 lead.

Green Bay had its first 100-yard rushing or receiving effort of the season. It couldn’t have come at a better moment for the Packers, who were desperate for a win and whose pass-catching corps was littered with ailments.

“That’s huge,” said quarterback Jordan Love. “We all know what kind of player Aaron Jones is. It was significant just to get him back 100 percent healthy, and he had a fantastic day rushing the ball and making some plays in the pass game. Try to get him the ball as much as possible whenever we can get him back 100 percent. We understand the type of player he is.”

Jones remains a top running back when healthy. Jones, on the other hand, is 29; he’ll be 30 by this time next year. Jones has only missed four games in the last four years, so he isn’t an injury-prone runner. Nonetheless, 30-year-old running backs rarely improve or become healthier.

Jones demonstrated what a powerful running back can do for Love and an improving passing game. It will be time to find a 21-year-old Jones in April.

3. RUNNING THE TABLE? NO WAY

The Packers are 10th in the NFC with a record of 7-8. The New York Times gives the Packers a 90-plus percent probability of making the playoffs if they win the Vikings next week and the Bears in the final.

But let’s be honest. The Packers lack the talent to make the playoffs.

In a nutshell, their defense is horrible.

The run defense is constructed of papier-mache. That is not a Barry issue; it is an organizational issue. Since LaFleur took over as coach in 2019, the team has ranked lowest in the NFL in terms of yards allowed per carry.

The pass defense is riddled with holes the size of a brick of Swiss cheese. Last week, the Bucs dismantled Barry’s favorite zone defense. So he played man and was hammered in the second half by a rookie quarterback who had failed to reach 200 yards passing in seven consecutive games and had not thrown a touchdown pass in his previous four.

What will Justin Jefferson do next week if D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen of Carolina combine for 192 receiving yards? What will Justin Fields do when teamed with D.J. Moore if Tommy DeVito has a combined 259 passing and rushing yards?

Meanwhile, the special forces have more flags than the United Nations.

Because of their inexperienced passing game, the Packers appeared to be doomed to miss the playoffs in August. That young passing game is now the only portion of the team worth a damn.