GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Sunday provided our initial
full check out the city Packers within the raw. The results were certain.
Unvarnished and currently unprotected by their cocoon, the Packers seem headed
wherever most NFL groups would land in their situation: Associate in nursing
early exit from contest competition.
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| Aaron Rodgers was forced to watch Sunday's loss from the sideline because of a broken collarbone. |
The Packers did not merely lose their beginning
quarterback once Aaron composer broken his clavicle on Monday. They lost their
crutch and, in a very lay sense, their savior in games precisely like Sunday's
27-13 loss to the urban center Eagles.
Don't act like we have not seen a couple of of
those over the years. this is not the primary time that a Packers defensive
back has tipped the ball into the hands of Associate in Nursing opposing
receiver for a touchdown, as Tramon Williams did for DeSean Jackson to open the
evaluation. And, please, we have seen many opponents score against a busted Packers
coverage, as poet Cooper did on a 32-yard play within the third quarter. Oh,
and we have seen Mason Crosby miss 2 field goals in a very game before, as he
did Sunday.
In most cases, players stood within the postgame
room and, in a method or the opposite, acknowledged that composer had bailed
them out. I would like I had a dime for each time I've detected a Packers
player say one thing like, "It helps to possess twelve back there,"
over the past six years.
A few times, veteran Charles Woodson urged the Packers
could not win systematically with such unbalanced production. They did, however
a lot of typically than not, it had been as a result of composer remunerated in
ways in which catapulted him to the highest of the NFL's quarterback rankings.
"You're not getting to sit there and pout
as a result of somebody got hurt," offensive lineman T.J. Lang said.
"You will bitch and complain, however you have to travel out there and
play. ... Injuries suck. They’re a part of the sport. However we've got enough
guys on this team that we are able to still win soccer games. You’ve got to
improve and fill the spot and play."
Lang is one in every of the Packers' straightest
shooters, however I believe we're finding that the Packers -- like most NFL
groups -- square measure a mean team at the best while not their beginning
quarterback. They’re going to want a midseason modification in identity to be
higher than average.
Sunday's state of affairs was absurd even by
Packers standards, of course. Starter Seneca Wallace gashed his groin on their
gap possession, poke former apply squad player Scott Tolzien onto the sphere
for his initial NFL action. Center Evan Dietrich-Smith and right tackle Don
Barclay were each sidelined by knee injuries, forcing Lang to form his NFL debut
at center and throwing beginner Lane Taylor onto the sphere at guard.
But I cannot blame Wallace's injury, nor any of
the opposite personnel problems, for Sunday's loss. Tolzien contend a minimum
of in addition as, if not higher than, anyone may have expected Wallace to
perform. Tolzien created one ghastly throw, behind Jordy Lord Nelson that
resulted in Associate in Nursing finish zone interception, and however
otherwise was correct and by all accounts fluent within the Packers'
complicated offense. McCarthy straightaway named him the starter for next
Sunday's game against the ny Giants, a visible call that would facilitate the
Packers steal a game in Rodgers' absence however is not possible to be a long
success.
The real issue, frankly, is that the Packers are
not equipped -- or they are not mentally prepared -- for an additional a part
of their team to discovery. Obscurity is that a lot of evident than within the
approach their defense has folded in every fourth quarter since Rodgers'
injury. The Eagles ran out the ultimate 9 minutes, thirty two seconds of
Sunday's game in a very two-score game. Mix that with the Chicago Bears'
game-clinching drive last week, and therefore the Packers' defense has allowed
177 yards on forty plays, with a combined time of possession of 21:27, in their
past 2 fourth quarters.
"I've ne'er been a vicinity of one thing
like this," defensive lineman B.J. Raji said, "Where we will not stop
a team within the last period. Want the ball back for your offense and no
matter they ran worked. I've ne'er been a vicinity of one thing like this. Live
and learn and simply march on."
Added linebacker A.J. Hawk: "We haven't
very helped [the offense] out like we should always. They have been serving to
United States of America out forever, it looks like, and that we simply haven't
-- the last couple weeks particularly, however this whole seasoned."
McCarthy stated a "recurring issue"
that he refused to elaborate on, however I believe we're safe in assumptive it
relates to fourth-quarter defense.
"We'll get thereon tomorrow," he said.
"I'm not getting to get into that at once."
It would be nice if McCarthy and defensive organizer
Dom Capers may snap their fingers and restrain their defense. However is that
even truthful to expect at this moment? Over the years, the Packers have won
despite as several things as they need won thanks to. That is simply however
it's, and the way it figures to be, for a jiffy.
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