Game Notes: Keep Yourself Alive

-- Hello, hello, hello. I'm going to kick off this week's edition of Game Notes by demanding that you all see Bohemian Rhapsody. It was incredible. That's probably the inner Queen fan in me talking, but that's not the point. It has my seal of approval and I'm sure it'll have yours too.

Now, the Green Bay Packers' win on Sunday over the Miami Dolphins wasn't as glorious as Rami Malek's performance as Freddie Mercury -- or Farrokh Bulsara, whatever you prefer -- it was still somewhat redeeming and just enough to calm angry crowds for a good week.

Well, not a week. Maybe like four days up until the Packers' next game.

Don't Stop Me Now.

Aaron Jones set a season-high in carries (15) and a career-high in rushing yards (142). It was the third game in a row that Jones set a season-high in carries, toting the rock 12 times against the Los Angeles Rams, 14 times against the New England Patriots and finally, 15 times against the Dolphins.

After playing the first two drives -- both of which ended in touchdowns -- the Packers replaced him with Jamaal Williams and proceeded to culminate that possession with a turnover on downs. Without Jones on the field -- not even just against the Dolphins, but in most of the Packers' games post-suspension this season -- everything just seems forced and less organic. That isn't to discredit Williams, because he has his strengths; strengths that don't seem to be utilized in proper (goal line) situations. But one thing is clear: This offense needs to run through Jones.

The Invisible Man.

Nick Perry signed a hefty contract before the 2017 season and has since drastically underperformed. He also underwent ankle surgery this past offseason. The result? He's been virtually invisible.

Sans a couple batted passes at the line of scrimmage -- the only way he's impacted any game this season -- Perry is evidently not at 100 percent. The Packers' coaching staff even attested to this earlier in the week, attributing his struggles this year to his recovery from the surgery. But wouldn't that just provide more clause to sideline him completely and give him the luxury of a full recovery? He dropped out of Sunday's game against the Dolphins with a knee injury to boot, and was the only player listed on the stat line without a single tackle or quarterback hit registered under his belt.

For reference: Clay Matthews also finished with zero tackles in any capacity, but had two quarterback hits on Brock Osweiler.

It's a good thing the Packers have their co-sack leader, Kyler Fackrell because otherwise, their edge situation would be a complete mess and wow I can't believe I'm typing this.

The Miracle/Under Pressure

I couldn't pick a title for this section because both could be equally fitting. Not only did the Packers lose three defensive backs to injury against the Dolphins -- Kentrell Brice, Bashaud Breeland and Jaire Alexander -- but they have a game in three days against the Seattle Seahawks. Good ol' Thursday Night Football. /throws everything off of desk

To get to 10 wins -- Mike McCarthy's so-called "benchmark" before the playoffs can even be in the discussion -- the Packers would have to go 6-1 over their final seven games. Preferably 7-0, obviously, to get to a (slightly) healthy 11-4-1 record and potentially secure a comfortable seed in a power-confused NFC. Their upcoming two games are in Seattle and Minnesota for their second meeting with the Vikings this season.

If Sunday's win is any indication, the Packers may show more promise in terms of committing to the run, which would only help their chances of long-term success this season. The only kicker is remaining upright in terms of their healthy. Losing three key defensive players just days before your next game on a short week isn't ideal by any stretch of the imagination, but if the Packers have shown anything in their secondary this season, it's that Mike Pettine isn't afraid to get creative and mix-and-match players out of position. 

We've seen the Packers engineer runs late in the season before and get hot just at the right time. While very little shown this season has provided any reason to believe they can do it again, it's called a miracle for a reason. The Packers may need one.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (34)

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SpudRapids's picture

November 12, 2018 at 11:12 am

A lot of people making excuses on why the Packers won... Miami Oline was injured, Osweiler was the QB... etc.. etc.. Funny how when they lose excuses don't matter.

As for everyone saying Rodgers doesn't look right. There is truth to that but I think people are looking at it from the wrong angle. Everyone said his head isn't there but I think it comes down to familiarity. Rodgers just played a game with the following receivers: Adams, MVS, ESB, Graham, Kendricks, Lewis... Rodgers only has real experience with Adams. So couple that in with the fact he has barely practiced this year and didn't play a lot of last year and you get the recipe for a rusty quarterback. I don't care how good you are everyone needs practice and reps. A lot of people will say Brady can plug in anyone well that's because Brady relies on his system and sticks too it. Rodgers expects his receivers to be able to ad lib and they develop that connection in practice. He hasn't been practicing

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SpudRapids's picture

November 12, 2018 at 11:12 am

And Nick Perry sucks

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pacman's picture

November 12, 2018 at 11:27 am

Rodgers is underthrowing receivers. That's not chemistry.

When we lost with Hundley, it certainly was an excuse! And a very good one.

There's an old interview with Belechik about how after a win, he would say "great win guys" and then go on to dissect all the mistakes players made that they need to correct. If our D plays like this on Thursday, it won't be pretty. The goal for this game should have been a 60 - 10 score.

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buddrow53's picture

November 12, 2018 at 11:50 am

Arod isn't used to throwing to fast receivers, lol. He has had the slowest wr for previous 3 years.

Neither team are playing like teams of past, but I will be glued Thursday.

Go Pack Go.

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Cubbygold's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:02 pm

The game should have been 60-10. GB gave up 12. Did you mean if the offense plays like this on Thursday, it wont be pretty?

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dobber's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:31 pm

A list of 60 point games in pro football just to show how infrequently it happens...

https://sportsdelve.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/pro-football-most-points-sc...

If anything, it's interesting to see that the Packers have their own category in the listing.

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Since'61's picture

November 12, 2018 at 09:23 pm

I thought that the goal was to win the game. If you expect to score 60 points in a game you will be disappointed about 99.9% of the time.
Thanks, Since '61

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buddrow53's picture

November 12, 2018 at 03:26 pm

Cubby
No I didn't mean that. I meant that both teams are not the same teams anymore, neither team is playing very well, like a few years ago.

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SpudRapids's picture

November 12, 2018 at 04:55 pm

Mis timing a throw can result in an underthrow... if guys aren't where they are supposed to be and Rodgers scans his progressions at a different speed underthrows can happen. Just a blanket statement saying underthrows aren't chemistry related is ridiculous

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jhlisic's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:34 pm

The excuses for Rodgers are incredible.
At one point yesterday, a rookie QB in Cleveland was 12-12 with nearly 200 yards a couple of TDs. The kid has played not even 10 games. What familiarity does he have? And throw in the fact that he's already seen the firing of his HC and OC, it speaks volumes about Mayfield's character and his response to adversity.
Rodgers seems to have huge trust issues. He needs to get over that and expect his receivers to be where they are supposed to be. After all, they are professionals also.

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Cubbygold's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:56 pm

I think rodgers has a much greater respect for not blowing games. Yesterday was mayfields best game as a pro and has 13 tds to 7 ints. If Rodgers was comfortable with having 7 interceptions at this point in the season, he'd likely have more than 17 tds too.

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Lare's picture

November 12, 2018 at 03:09 pm

True, but they also may have more than 4 wins at this point.

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SpudRapids's picture

November 12, 2018 at 04:53 pm

So you cherry pick a stretch where a rookie QB goes 12-12 and think that is somehow transitive to Rodgers' situation? terrible comment

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Bearmeat's picture

November 12, 2018 at 12:37 pm

"because otherwise, their edge situation would be a complete mess.."

".... their edge situation is a complete mess, an embarrassment, and an abomination to NFL level football."

FTFY.

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Lare's picture

November 12, 2018 at 03:11 pm

I can't believe that right now Fackrell is a much, much better player than Matthews and Perry.

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Bearmeat's picture

November 12, 2018 at 12:39 pm

IF the secondary can be only 1-2 pieces down, I think we're going to play ok on TNF. If not, I think it will be an embarrassment.

Hope Jaire, Breeland and Brice are ok. And we NEED King back.

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Cubbygold's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:03 pm

Year after year we've watched capers defenses get destroyed by mobile QBs like Wilson and Kap. Hopefully Pettine has a much better approach

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CAG123's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:09 pm

We watched Capers defense keep Wilson in check 3 games in a row one of them was a blowout matter of fact we watched Capers def smother Wilson in every meeting except one the being the Thursday game when the Packers got spanked 36-16. Wilson is one QB Capers never had trouble with.

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dobber's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:32 pm

THIS....

...which is why I'm sure you just jinxed this team.

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LeotisHarris's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:04 pm

The national spotlight seems to bring out the worst in the Packers. I hope Thursday night is somehow different. I greatly dislike everything about the Seahawks (for all the obvious historical reasons, Seattle is a great city) and would enjoy a win in their silly little noise hole of a stadium. In order to watch that, I'm willing to suffer through replays of all those atrocities that rip the scabs off old wounds. I reserve the right to go to bed disgusted and broken at halftime.

Now, the secondary! I remember folks last season in the JS comments calling for the Packers to play Jeff Janis at safety. I can't believe Gute hasn't gotten Jeff on the blower and brought him in to save the season. Plus, last time I saw Johnnie Gray he looked like he could still run. Okay, that's a lie.

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BoCallahan's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:38 pm

Zak, you can “demand” all you want that I go see a movie about “Freaky Freddie” but it won’t happen. I am not wasting my time or money; so no, it won’t get my seal of approval. That “you can be sure of.”
As for the article you compiled, everything you wrote is what CHTV readers have been calmly, patiently, politely, and consistently requesting of MM. Namely, feature Jones, use Williams in situations, and address OLB position.
FYI, I watched The Monuments Men (again) last night after the game. It gets my seal of approval!

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Rick1's picture

November 12, 2018 at 01:55 pm

If they don’t stay aggressive defensively and play with a gamblers mindset it will be tough to win out their. The offense needs to be balanced with 12 not being sharp. MM can talk all the coach speak he wants but if he doesn’t open up the play book it won’t make a difference. They are a middle of the league team right now.
12 when playing well this team is division winning playoff bound team. The truth is that they need more difference making players. Gute is changing this roster for the better, and he is trying to put more talent on this roster. That is so telling and he knows it is the difference between good and great teams. MM has a lot of offensive talent and his offense is UNDER PREFORMING!!!
Pettine has really done a great job of moving players and adjusting as the game goes on. If the shoe was on the other foot and they were less talented MM would 4-12/5-11. 4-12 are great QBS and MM has squandered chances to get to the Super Bowls!!!

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Skip greenBayless's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:02 pm

I am so not excited anymore for any NFL team playing either on Monday and especially Thursday night. Sunday night has now replaced Monday Night as the premiere game to watch in my opinion. Nothing special anymore about Monday and Thursday and I wish the NFL would just end it. It's too much and it's boring. I barely watch TV anymore because what Hollywood puts out there is just PC garbage so most of the time I don't even know there's a game on or forget. The NFL is the same. PC garbage. Watch the commercials and it will make you want to throw up. I feel sorry for these NFL players who's bodies are trying to recover from a car accident and Goodell is telling them (in the name of the almighty dollar) to get your asses out there and do it again in three days. That to me is modern day slavery.

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ILPackerBacker's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:17 pm

I agree but find the biggest problem with MNF is not the games or teams but the crew and the approach to the game.

Nobody reads a wall of text and listening to the two idiots McFarland and Witten is worse than a wall of text. neither will EVER shut up and rarely if ever have either of them said anything worth listening too.

You will be much happier turning the volume down and streaming/listening to the game even with the glitches and timing issues.

Without a doubt the worse broadcast in NFL history, worse than Burke. Worse than boy troy.

Thursday night could be fixed very easily by being tied into the bye week or hopefully week(S) and two additional games.

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ILPackerBacker's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:13 pm

Once again the obvious is ignored as long as there is the possibility of an excuse.

If Perry is hurt then that's a good thing because then he is not on the field.

Last year it took TWO, not ONE but TWO injuries to get Jones on the field as RB. This year it took.......TWO not one but TWO fails to get Jones on the field and several games before the coach would (in effect) admit the mistakes and stupidity of the prior 8 games and provide attempts.

INJURY put MVS on the field and Cobb some where else, not coaching. Not performance and not potential. Injury. Brice getting hurt got him off the field where his POTENTIAL was putting him in position to make plays but he was not making the plays resulting in the same results as if he were not in position. INJURY has put other players on the field

When injury improves the team you no longer get to whine about it. When the improvement is dramatic and noticed by EVERYONE (like with Jones and MVS) it is not only time to STOP WHINING but demand answer from the coaches as to how this can be.

Stop the excuse, demand answers.

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Lare's picture

November 12, 2018 at 03:23 pm

NFL players get paid the same if they're playing or if they're watching on the sideline while injured. Some players just seem to accept that paid/injury situation (Cobb, Perry, King, McCray) much easier than others.

Hats off to players like Bulaga, Bell, Alexander, Martinez, Rodgers and Graham for sucking it up and playing through injuries to help the team win. For those that don't, the team just needs to move on.

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ILPackerBacker's picture

November 13, 2018 at 10:11 am

You know this is a great point.
Although in the case of Cobb lets hope it is the coaches trying to be gracious (at the cost of the team) to Cobb and it is not really injury anymore but recognition of MVS and ESB, talent and production.

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stockholder's picture

November 12, 2018 at 02:20 pm

The spell is broken. The packers have re-started their season. It's time for a win on the road. You feel it. I feel it. If you still suffer from the fire MM syndrome, go get a vaccination. Because the packers will claw their way back into the race. To many have dialed the wrong number when trying to evaluate this team. The fight has shown up. You need to Recognize MM as a new man who isn't in the grave. He is a-live and his style of coaching has always given us hope. A-Rod only needed to follow his plan. Players will come and go. MMs reach is now reassuring. With each win your questions will be answered, and you will be rewarded with a good football team.

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TheBigCheeze's picture

November 12, 2018 at 04:48 pm

stockholder......are you being serious or sarcastic???.....if it's the former, you need professional psychological evaluation.....you just may be a danger to yourself or others......

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Demon's picture

November 12, 2018 at 03:22 pm

Your loyalty to MM is as foolish as his loyalty to Capers, Slocun , Zook and many others.

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buddrow53's picture

November 12, 2018 at 03:51 pm

The Capers deal was stupid how in the world could you possibly keep him so long.

Zook is heading that way too.

How can the decision makers ignore the results. Coaches should not have the luxury, players don't, they don't get results they get benched. Maybe the coach should get benched, lol.

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ILPackerBacker's picture

November 13, 2018 at 10:12 am

Zook is not heading there. He was there and left.
Left a serious problem for playoff hopes

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PatrickGB's picture

November 13, 2018 at 09:12 am

If we don’t “bench” MM how about making him give up play calling? I know it’s been done before but maybe it will work better the next time.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

November 13, 2018 at 11:52 am

I wish the Packers would have brought up Jake Kumerow. We didn't even use Trevor Davis on special teams and Randall Cobb continues to be hurt.

And, START passing the ball to Marcedes Lewis!!! Use the 3 Freaking TEs !! Come on MM.

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