Packers 41 Bears 25: Game Balls and Lame Calls
Now in command of the division, Pack sets sights on top seed.
By KenLass
Well, it was almost a complete game. For three quarters the Green Bay Packers played their most dominant and complete game of the season. All that remained was to finish off the arch rival Chicago Bears, who had given up and just wanted to go home.
But, of course, the Packers defense would have none of that. In the final quarter they lapsed into one of their usual passive comas. The worst offense in the NFL ran off two long touchdown drives and a two point conversion on the Packers defense, and, incredibly, a 41-10 lead became a two score game with 4 minutes still to play.
Coach Matt LaFleur realized that his defense simply could not close out the game, so he sent his offense out to do it. He had to call pass plays and even have the team go for it on 4th down to finally put the Bears to sleep.
But let us not dwell on the negative, because there were plenty of positives. Most impressive of which was an offense firing on all cylinders. An offensive line blowing holes in the Bears front seven all night for the running game, then not allowing a single sack as Aaron Rodgers picked apart what was billed as an excellent Chicago defense. The aforementioned Packers defense forcing turnovers and even scoring on one of them. Even special teams.......special teams!!!.....played well. Kick returner deluxe Cordarelle Patterson was nailed inside the twenty on his two returns. J.K. Scott boomed punts of 50 and 42 yards with no returns. Davante Adams smothered an onside kick to snuff out the Bears last hope. This was dominant, championship level football.......for three quarters. But we are left to wonder if this defense can retain its focus and intensity for all 4 quarters when a better team is on the other sideline.
GAME BALLS
The Offensive Line
I knew it was going to be a good night when, on the Packers very first drive, they faced third and 1. Jamaal Williams got the hand-off and the O-line blew the Bears back three yards for an easy conversion. David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Lucas Patrick and Billy Turner went on to pave the way to a 182 yard rushing night, and kept their quarterback clean in the pocket throughout. When Linsley and Patrick went out with injuries, Jon Runyan and Rick Wagner plugged the gaps with no discernable dropoff. The O-line is probably the unsung hero of this team thus far.
Aaron Rodgers
Smooth. He's just so smooth when he's in the groove. QB12 went 21 of 29 for 211 yards and 4 touchdowns. He saw the field so well and made all the right decisions. Even TV analyst Tony Dungy gushed about Rodgers' ability to recognize what was coming and adjust to it at the line of scrimmage. Certainly nothing here to hurt his standing in the MVP conversation.
Darnell Savage
For the second straight game Savage was sharp and, this time, he made plays on the ball. He out ran the receiver on a Mitchell Trubisky bomb in the end zone in the second quarter and made the interception. Then in the third quarter, when Trubisky decided to throw into triple coverage, Savage fronted his man and grabbed his second pick. He seemed to be around the ball all evening until his departure with a back injury.
Preston Smith
Welcome back to the ball game, Preston. He held the edge consistently all night. When Za'darius Smith stripped Trubisky of the ball, Preston scooped it up and ran it in for a rare defensive score. His QB sack stopped the Bears first drive of the second half. He's coming around exactly when the Packers need him to.
Honorable Mentions
Speaking of welcome back to the game, Equanemeous St. Brown had some important plays, including a 16 yard catch and run on a crossing pattern to convert a 3rd and long. He also picked up a first down on an end around carry. Then in the third quarter he converted a third and ten with a 26 yard catch and run. Davante Adams was the best receiver on the field, as usual, with 6 catches for 61 yards and a score. Robert Tonyan ran a beauty of a route on a 39 yard TD bomb, and finished with 5 grabs for 67 yards. Aaron Jones averaged over 5 yards per carry on his way to 90 yards rushing. Jamaal Williams chipped in 73, and was a reliable hammer on short yardage.
LAME CALLS
Lack of Aggressive Defensive Strategy Late
Mike Pettine stuck with an ineffecftive 4 man rush for nearly all of the Bears plays on the two long touchdown drives in the 4th quarter. He brought extra pass rushers just twice during those drives, and both times the pressure caused an incompletion. I suppose when you're ahead by 31 points, you just don't care about giving up a few scores, but I can't help but think it fosters a weak mindset among the players on this unit.
SHORT YARDAGE
• An up and down night for cornerback Kevin King. He was soft and late to the spot on multiple plays during the Bears touchdown drive at the end of the half. He also missed an easy interception in the end zone in the 4th quarter. But he did a nice job helping Raven Greene break up a pass in the end zone in the first quarter, and broke up two other shots across the middle in the final frame.
• I'll have to rewatch the game to be sure, but it looked like it was not a good night for Christian Kirksey. He seems to catch ball carriers instead of attacking them. He missed a tackle on the TD pass to David Montgomery.
• That shot taken by Allen Lazard from Kyle Fuller scared me to death.
• I don't care if it was only 500 fans, I loved the signs and the enthusiasm. So is deep crust pizza really overrated?
• Favorite snapshot of the game: Players gathering around Big Dog Marcedes Lewis and barking at him after his TD catch.
THEY SAID IT
Darnell Savage (on his back injury): "On the second interception I landed on it (his back). As soon as we get done here I'm going to go get some treatment and see what those guys (team doctors) have to say and just take it day by day."
David Bakhtiari (on Billy Turner vs Kahlil Mack): "You gotta tip your hat to Billy tonight. Billy went out there against a very dominant player and matched up very well and kept him at bay and that speaks volumes to his preparation and who he is."
Aaron Rodgers (on surpassing 50,000 yards passing): "I remember Favre talking about some of the milestones like this just meaning you've been around a long time and played a lot of games, but there's also the consistency aspect and being able to stay healthy for a decent amount of my career.....there's a lot that goes into 50,000 yards. I'm proud of it. It's more of a longevity record."
Matt LaFleur: "Until we get that perfect game we're going to continue to coach our butts off and our players will keep working to try to get better and better, but I thought, all in all, it was a pretty good performance throughout the entirety of the game."
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
__________________________
Comments (56)
porupack
November 30, 2020 at 06:33 am
Nice summary Ken. You nailed it.
Of all the performances tonight, I think the two most pleasant surprises in your game balls list: the Oline performance despite 2 in-game adjustments, and the run game w AJones/JWilliams. Loved your quotes and highlight on Turner vs the 'once in a generation KMack'. For the Oline to handle the asset that even makes the Bears at all competitive (bear's defense). (However, it would be quite different if that other DT was in the game.)
The other cool thing about your summary is the team contribution on offense. No one player had a stand-out game with high stats. It seemed like AJones had over a 100 yards, and same for Adams, and Rodgers. But then, all were involved with very solid contribution. That seems to be the key advantage for the packers the rest of the season, being able to develop a corps of solid, above average contributions week to week.
jhalwas611.com
November 30, 2020 at 08:12 am
I agree with this summary. The only thing that stands out to me all season long that showed again in this game is the only member of this years draft to contribute was Runyon. He did a great job.
PeteK
November 30, 2020 at 09:27 am
Martin, Barnes, and Scott have been chipping in.
jannesbjornson
November 30, 2020 at 05:49 pm
The Love pick, beside a value selection, provides a Hedge against the Covid-19 uncertainty. If the QB corps was
affected by an infection this guy can fill in better than a WR who played Quarterback in high school in a wishbone offense.
NickPerry
November 30, 2020 at 06:32 am
Game Balls...ESB...IF that dude can get it going, catch the football, AND Rodgers gaining some trust in EQ, this offense is going to be damn near unstoppable. EQ runs after the catch REALLY well and with some speed. I loved the pick at the time and am still holding out hope.
MLF play calling... The Packers scored 3 straight drives of 75, 60, and 75 yards. I thought MLF did an excellent job of mixing it up and Rodgers did equally well making sure the Packers ran the right play.
Preston Smith... It was AWESOME to see PS show up the way he did last night. IF he plays like that the rest of the way, this defense will be better.
Savage... THAT'S exactly the way he needs to play the rest of the way. Both interceptions have been plays where he's dropped it in the past.
Lame Calls...4th quarter defense but THIS IS Mike Pettines scheme and it's not changing. If Preston and Savage can keep it up and maybe another player or two start to step up, it can be good enough. Plus I'm not going to piss all over a GREAT offensive effort.
RCPackerFan
November 30, 2020 at 07:24 am
You can tell EQ is starting to feel comfortable again. He is settling in which is only a scary thing for defenses. Especially with Lazard and MVS on the field as well!
With EQ now back, we have EQ at 6'5, Lazard at 6'5, Tonyan at 6'5, MVS at 6'4. Those are some big targets for Rodgers.
PackEyedOptimist
November 30, 2020 at 08:04 am
I was thinking the exact same thing during the game last night, RCPF! Gute likes tall, strong receivers, and we finally have all four of them on the field at once! (probably should throw in Big Dog, too). Not only is that a lot of height to try to counter with DBs, they are also big, strong blockers, often outweighing their DB by 20+ pounds. That's great for the run game!
RCPackerFan
November 30, 2020 at 09:12 am
Yeah, I didn't even mention Big Dog. He is 6'6-6'7ish. Another big target.
You bring up another great point. All those WR's can block really, really well! There is a huge. Lazard makes a huge difference as a blocker.
This offense is very dangerous! We didn't even mention our stars Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. And the key contributors like Jamal Williams and Tyler Ervin.
PeteK
November 30, 2020 at 09:30 am
MVS probably was not thrown to because of his achilles strain , but he sure blocked his butt off.
PeteK
November 30, 2020 at 10:17 am
Don't forget Sternberger 6'4". Great to see all receivers chipping in on a up and down day for Adams.
jannesbjornson
November 30, 2020 at 05:52 pm
Don't mind the wing spans ,but can they get to the spot as fast as Tyrek Hill, Hardman and Watkins. Speed kills as they say.
PeteK
November 30, 2020 at 09:32 am
Yes, I love those long sustained drives. When the running game is on , we are unstoppable.
Slim11
November 30, 2020 at 06:39 am
Two things...
The defensive strategy in the fourth quarter didn't bother me. Yes, the Bears had two long TD drives in the 4th quarter. Yes, they closed the margin making the game appear closer than it was. But, the key is "long TD drives..." Those drives took more time off the clock than the Bears could afford. That Bears offense couldn't put together anything except those time-killing drives.
Second, deep crust pizza is overrated!
dobber
November 30, 2020 at 08:03 am
"The defensive strategy in the fourth quarter didn't bother me"
I tend to agree. The fact that the Bears needed a 13 play and 15 play drive (almost 10 minutes of game clock) to score those TDs (down 41-10)? This is what just about every other team in the league does when up by that kind of score and why the 4th quarter of any game where a team gets boat raced like the Bears did is called "garbage time". Those are "pretty points" and they don't mean much.
People don't talk about the fact that this cuts down on wear and tear on defensive players...fewer guys taking on OL in the pass rush, less contact for your DBs and LBs.
4thand1
November 30, 2020 at 09:11 am
nail on the head Dobber.
Coldworld
November 30, 2020 at 08:10 am
My mind tells me it was a rational thing to do in that game. The goal was to let time erode. That said, two observations:
1). Just because I see the justification doesn’t mean it doesn’t make me heartsick to watch and I don’t like the habits it encourages.
2). We are just so bad at it! Soft off coverage never looks great but we make it seem so much worse than it should be!
dobber
November 30, 2020 at 08:32 am
I think you hit on the key idea: it feels sh!tty when it's happening because nobody wants to see their defense yield field. You have to look at the scoreboard periodically to reinforce the idea that the game is well in hand, and that this is just bleeding out the opponent. The Bears logged 27 of their 68 offensive snaps in those two drives when the game was well in hand.
On point 2, I'll grant you that a 15 play drive--like the one the Bears closed with--should be hard to pull off even against a prevent. Too easy to get a key penalty, a sack, a TO that's a drive killer. DIdn't they convert 2 4th downs on that drive, too?
jannesbjornson
November 30, 2020 at 09:54 am
They can substitute some players from the bench to give the starters a break, but keep the pressure on and play fast. It helps maintain the mojo and you find out if the subs can create some big plays.
HankScorpio
November 30, 2020 at 06:41 am
"The worst offense in the NFL ran off two long touchdown drives and a two point conversion on the Packers defense"
A 2 point conversion allowed means the defense gave up the end zone on 2 straight plays. The Packers seem to give up an inordinately high percentage of them. If you can believe the people at teamrankings dot com, that perception is reality. That site has the Packers seeing an awful lot of defensive 2 pt attempts with the opponents perfect on conversion.
The Trubisky effect was no help yesterday..
dobber
November 30, 2020 at 08:02 am
Every team should be trying for more 2s. Period. The conversion rate is high enough to justify it...not just against the Packers, but league-wide.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-2-point-conversion-success-...
Renllaw
November 30, 2020 at 07:09 am
This is TRUTH
"I suppose when you're ahead by 31 points, you just don't care about giving up a few scores, but I can't help but think it fosters a weak mindset among the players on this unit."
Zapato
November 30, 2020 at 10:13 am
I think that if the Packers are going to be a championship team the defense needs to start showing they can play tough the full four quarters.
jeremyjjbrown
November 30, 2020 at 07:12 am
It's awesome to beat up the Bears.
I didn't like the Aarons still playing so late in that game.
Coldworld
November 30, 2020 at 08:11 am
Down side of the D allowing drives to eat the clock and make game close?
HankScorpio
November 30, 2020 at 11:40 am
I started wondering when Rodgers would get pulled with about 4 minutes left in the 3rd. He ended up playing until after the 2 minute warning.
Given the way the defense was rolling over, I don't think they kept him in too long.
RCPackerFan
November 30, 2020 at 07:20 am
Game Ball:
Aaron Rodgers - This year he has been so damn good. In the NFL there is Mahomes and Rodgers and everyone else. They are the top 2 in the league. He is playing at another level right now. He just carved up the Bears defense who were ranked top 10.
Elgton Jenkins - STUD!!! Its insane that he could be a pro bowl caliber player at all 5 positions. The rest of the OL deserves a game ball as well but Jenkins being able to go from OG to OC and not miss a beat is purely amazing!
Darnell Savage - It appears the game is slowing down for him. He is seeing the field really well right now. The last 3-5 games or so I have noticing him more and more.
Gutekunst - He catches a lot of flack from fans for not doing this and not doing that. But his draft picks have really been contributing and are becoming key players. These are the key players he has drafted in all 3 drafts.
2018 - Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, JK Scott, MVS, EQ, Hunter Bradley
2019 - Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, Elgton Jenkins, Jace Sternberger, Kinglsey Keke, Ka'dar Hollman
2020 - Kamal Martin, Jon Runyan, Vernon Scott. (Dillon, Deguara will be key future players) I guess we could say that Jordan Love's pick might have added fuel to Rodgers fire. If that made a difference from last years version of Rodgers to this year, there isn't a better pick then Love.
Lets go back to the 2018 draft. Gutey trades back with the Saints picking up their 1st round pick in 2019. He then moves back up and takes Alexander. With the pick in 2019 he takes Darnell Savage. He turned 1 pick into 2 essentially by trading back 4 spots. And then in 2019 he takes Jenkins who has been an absolute Stud from day 1.
Gutey deserves a lot more credit then he has been getting by fans.
Lame Calls:
Defense late - I just hate seeing us up 41-10 and allowing them to score 15 more when the game was already over. They go into this soft let them use the clock up mode. Sorry but I'm sick of that mindset. I know it doesn't matter in the end but wouldn't it just look better and feel better if they hold them to nothing in the 4th quarter?
Short yardage:
I also agree that it appeared that Kirksey didn't have a good night. He just seemed slow to react. I have to ask is Kirksey a better option then Barnes at this point? I am not sure.
King also struggled. Alexander can play 10-12 yards off and have no issues. King plays 10-12 yards off and he stays that far off the entire route. He needs to get up in the WR's face. He needs to use his size to force the WRs to run around him.
EQ had a really good game. He is starting to make his way back. The only thing I hated was his jet sweep he ran he needed to cut inside and gain 5+ more yards. He tried to go around the outside and was a horrible read. The good news though is EQ has emerged as another legit weapon for the offense. We now have Adams, Lazard, MVS, EQ as WR's that can be dangerous.
Tonyan is very underrated. His improvement this year is a BIG reason why the offense really took a step this year.
Coldworld
November 30, 2020 at 08:15 am
The funny thing about Kirksey is that he often gets into the right positions, as he did on the PI. I’m starting to think he just lacks confidence in himself. He had a good chance to make that breakup but didn’t back himself to do it. Seems to me that explains some of his general ILB play. Perhaps it’s post injury mindset? If he can overcome it he could be a different player.
RCPackerFan
November 30, 2020 at 09:34 am
Maybe some of it is from him slowly getting back into it after being injured? I am not sure.
My real question. Are we better off on defense with Kirksey or Barnes? I thought last week Kirksey was starting to get in a groove and get going. This week I feel like he took a step back. I do wonder if we are better off going with the younger/faster Barnes.
jannesbjornson
November 30, 2020 at 05:57 pm
Took the wrong steps on the Montgomery run. It's his turf, Martin was sealed a bit by the guard. It is apparent Kirksey has lost a step. 2021 priority should be an ILB with the # one pick.
lcwb77
November 30, 2020 at 12:31 pm
My vote for this years NFL MVP is Elgton Jenkins. In only his second season he has played all five 0-line positions at a superior level of expertise. This allowed the Packers to move their best available o-lineman into the position that best suits the offense when other lineman got injured. Would Patrick Mahomes and the other players vying for this award agree? If not, I bet that they would do anything to get him on their team!!!
Can we give a game ball to the announcers Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy? It was refreshing to listen to them instead of the others we've had to suffer with this season.
jannesbjornson
November 30, 2020 at 05:58 pm
No doubt, the mute button was on the off position. The others seem pedantic.
SpudRapids
November 30, 2020 at 07:49 am
I disagree on the late game defense... Pettine is essentially forcing teams to make long drives to score in garbage time. It eats up clock and doesn't allow the big play which would start to give the team momentum. Long sustained drives require a lot more precision out of an offense than one big play. It also lends itself to potentially more mistakes from the offense.
It looks bad because on the stat sheet it looks like teams are able to claw their way back into the game but it's by design.
dobber
November 30, 2020 at 08:00 am
Agreed: every...team...does...this.
greengold
November 30, 2020 at 08:06 am
I’m not concerned with the Packers letting up on D late. They were up by 5 scores.
Our offense clicked and looked balanced run/pass. Some of that balanced play calling was proven effective when Aaron Rodgers had 6.2 seconds to throw a TD.
THAT, to me, was a huge bright spot on offense, along with Elgton’s stellar, seamless top-level play, wherever he’s asked to line up.
I’m left hoping like hell Mike Pettine is simply trying not to put too much on tape with his soft play calls. They were lucky to be playing such an inept offense. If we don’t improve on D, play tighter coverage & shut down the run, we’re gonna get burned.
Eagles, Lions, Panthers, Titans, Bears. If Pettine really is trying to hide aggressive scheme changes/intents, we certainly will benefit by cranking that up v. TEN.
jhalwas611.com
November 30, 2020 at 08:39 am
The issue may be that the Packers let up on all phases of the game in the second half all season long. Rushing out to big leads then backing off and playing the clock is becoming to predictable. The number of 3 and outs in crucial situations by the offense in the second halves is concerning. This is as much a coaching issue as it is a player issue. Defensively players are out of position to make tackles in space while opponents know to load the box for short plays. This is what showed in this game. This may be one time though, the coaching, didn't take the team down to the level of the opponent until much later in the game.
Kuddo's to whomever got through to Preston Smith on how to play the edge run. But I did see him in pass coverage again chasing a receiver.
gkarl
November 30, 2020 at 07:54 am
Don't get me wrong Khali Mack is excellent player but let's give a game ball to Gute for not making the trade for him.
I would much rather have Gary and Savage and spent the $$$ on Clark and Bak then have had Mack. Smart decision by Gute, another questionable one for Pace.
dobber
November 30, 2020 at 08:01 am
Mack -- in combination with the Trubisky failure -- will cost Pace his job in January.
jurp
November 30, 2020 at 10:55 am
Can you imagine if Pace had drafted Mahomes instead of Trubiskey? Well, they'd still have Nagy calling the plays, so there is that, but this division would be a lot harder if that had happened.
Leave it to Pace to draft the worst of three QBs - and to trade UP a pick to get him! How is he NOT the GM for the Jets?
marpag1
November 30, 2020 at 03:29 pm
"Leave it to Pace to draft the worst of three QBs - and to trade UP a pick to get him! How is he NOT the GM for the Jets?"
OK, it was obviously a shitty pick in hindsight, and all the more for trading up. But let's be fair. Spend 5 minutes on google and you will be reminded that many, many big name "experts" had Trubisky as their top rated QB. I would guess that Trubisky was mocked as the first QB off the board more than any other QB.
PackEyedOptimist
November 30, 2020 at 08:12 am
Not only is this offense looking great now, it is young and under contract, which looks good for the next couple of years. Even if we lose both A Jones AND J Williams (which I doubt), I believe Dillon and Weber could keep this offense humming (the more I look at Weber's college tape, the more I don't understand him being available--he looks SO much like A Jones).
Sooo... that means the upcoming draft could completely focus on defense. Maybe DT, ILB, and CB or S. With a little luck, the defense will ALSO be good next year. I'm inclined to believe the Packers may move on from P Smith, and that $ could be used to resign King or pick up a FA D lineman maybe...
Befuddled
November 30, 2020 at 08:51 am
I do not think Tonyan is under contract for next year. He is having a season worth noticing.
PeteK
November 30, 2020 at 10:09 am
I believe it's somewhat restricted,RFA.
Lphill
November 30, 2020 at 08:31 am
I agree Ken on all points, this game would have been much closer if not for the Bears turnovers , even with Pettine flooding the field with defensive backs Trubiskey was still finding open targets, next up Pettine will allow Weintz to have a career day , nothing will change this season.
Swisch
November 30, 2020 at 09:11 am
The best defense for the Packers is a great offense for the Packers; and the second best defense for the Packers is a bad offense for the Bears.
In other words, I don't think our defense was all that good last night, even in the first half.
I'm sad to say it at all, and please excuse me for saying it again, but it's still time to let go of Pettine right now (while there's still time for a new defensive coordinator to get established before the playoffs).
It still seems we have some good players on D who are being held back by their coaching.
What may happen with a weak schedule ahead is that the defense will look okay for the rest of the regular season, then get crushed in the playoffs.
***
To end on a positive note, kudos to Aaron Rodgers for his mastery in carving up the Bears defense like a Thanksgiving turkey, taking the short passes but doing so with creative craftsmanship, and mixing in the run cunningly.
I actually missed there not being a long pass to MVS. Early in the second half there was a 3rd-and-long in which I thought it could be good to take a shot downfield, with a route across the middle as a secondary option. Even a long interception is like a punt in that situation, especially if all the receivers are coached to be ready to make a tackle in such an event.
Not a big deal, though, in the overall scheme of things -- a wonderful concert on offense, with LaFleur and Hackett as composers, and Rodgers the maestro.
As a final note, I really liked Rodgers bootlegging left and throwing across the field to Tonyan for a long touchdown -- a little like Favre to Sharpe on that famous play long ago to win a wildcard game against the Lions.
PeteK
November 30, 2020 at 10:02 am
Not enough time for a new D coordinator. Every team in the NFC has flaws, but if we stay relatively healthy we are the best. Fondly remember that game as our long awaited return to the playoffs!
13TimeChamps
November 30, 2020 at 10:20 am
"but it's still time to let go of Pettine right now (while there's still time for a new defensive coordinator to get established before the playoffs)."
There is no way in hell that is happening. This is a first place team with an 8-3 record and a defense that is right around average statistically. There isn't a team in the league that would make that move in-season under those circumstances.
Swisch
November 30, 2020 at 10:58 am
Thanks Pete and 13 for the replies. I liked your responses even though I disagree -- realizing that I could be wrong.
The Lions just let go of its head coach. With five games left, it seems the Packers could replace Pettine with enough time for a new defensive coordinator to make things better than they are now.
Just don't want repeats of the playoff games last year against the Seahawks and 49ers -- still working through that trauma ;-).
marpag1
November 30, 2020 at 09:53 am
Honestly, I can't fault anyone for putting his long term health first, BUT... I would have liked to see this offense with Devin Funchess as a part of it.
Remember him? Hope he's doing good at home. If I were him, I think I'd be regretting my decision.
Just saying.
13TimeChamps
November 30, 2020 at 10:22 am
It wasn't just his health. It was his families as well.
TheBigCheeze
November 30, 2020 at 11:03 am
liked the Lewis TD, but then he dropped two easy passes.....Pack needs to use him more on short slant routes, then put his shoulder down and punish the secondary.....
Fabio
November 30, 2020 at 12:17 pm
I saw the match when it was 2 am in Italy. It ended at 5:30 and I thought: It's always good to beat the Bears. Soon after I remembered that I had seen Tampa vs KC and the end of the game of LA vs SF. Our defense will never be at that level .... Saleh, despite all the injured SF players, always manages to propose a dominant D. The Tampa D, despite Brady's poor performance, managed to keep the squad afloat. If I think of the Packers D I agree with what you wrote "It seems to catch the ball carriers instead of attacking them" but it applies to everyone not just Kirksey (bad buy). Now I'm going to sleep I'm upset .... greetings to all Packers fans
Leatherhead
November 30, 2020 at 01:17 pm
The obsession with what happens in garbage time is almost funny. Why aren’t we upset that the offense didn’t score during that time? It’s the same thing...you play differently when the game has been decided.
We don’t smear crap on the offense for what they didn’t do in the fourth, but we don’t apply the same standard to the defense.
LambeauPlain
November 30, 2020 at 03:26 pm
If the O has an off day, the game is lost. It is not about "garbage time". It is about a soft, unreliable Defense coached by Pettine.
I was a fan of his coming in. I have soured...he needs to go. He just is not a very good coach.
I recall the real stars of the 96 SB team...it was Fritz and that defense. Sure, Reggie was a beast, but all 11 guys attacked and tackled and got turnovers and three and outs. When the game was on the line, Team Fritz would shut it DOWN. Packer fans always had confidence in that defense.
Not this one.
And the sad thing is, I maintain Pettine has been given good talent to coach. 6 or possibly even 7 D players would likely start on almost every D on the NFL.
Pettine will be gone after this year, unless we finally see dominance which has been invisible so far over the last 2+ years.
TXCHEESE
November 30, 2020 at 03:00 pm
Regarding Rodgers, you selected the perfect description...Smooth. If you have a chance to look at it again, go back to the touchdown throw to Tonyan. Watch that delivery, it literally was a flick of the wrist. So smooth. Not sure why Pettine doesn't all out blitz on 2 point conversions given futility rate so far this season....especially with someone like Trubisky, who will typically soil his pants.
LambeauPlain
November 30, 2020 at 03:16 pm
Pettine is Capers 2.0 in these respects...both coach soft defenses and their players respond accordingly. Their soft defenses also tackle poorly. And both are immovable objects with their game plan to start the first quarter. It will remain in place until the last second of the 4th quarter. Neither coach is able to adjust during the game or at halftime.
Pettine will keep the Pack from earning another Lombardi...just like Capers did for many years.
My Christmas wish list...Jim Leonard in Green and Gold next year. Can you imagine a young assertive, attacking, creative DC to pair with the same type of coach as ML?
Swisch
November 30, 2020 at 05:28 pm
Good stuff, in my opinion, Lambeau Plain!
It seems the passivity of Pettine is sucking the enthusiasm out of our defenders.
My hunch is that these guys want to be aggressive. Though they can't be that way all the time, with Pettine they hardly ever get to do so.
Let them blitz from time to time, let them play some tight man-to-man coverage, let them be daring on occasion -- and it will get the competitive juices flowing to carry them through the whole game with energy and focus and toughness and determination.
I wish Mike Pettine the very best, but one more game with him is too many. He would be better off moving on to somewhere else; we would be better off moving on with someone else.
And yes, Jim Leonhard (Lionheart) would be great as a replacement, though it would be hard to see him leave the Badgers.