Packers Stock Report: Getting your ass kicked edition

In the eyes of many Green Bay Packers fans, each regular season game isn't so much a game, but a weekly check-up on the team's readiness to win another Super Bowl. 

Most fanbases embrace the week-to-week nature of the NFL simply because they have no other choice. Every win is a step in the right direction and provides further hope that maybe, just maybe, this year is their year. Every loss is another reminder that their team isn't among the league's elite and a win is needed the following week in order to not fall too far off track.

That type of thinking doesn't apply to the Packers. Most cheeseheads view the regular season as a formality. The Packers will win between 10-13 games. There will be many memorable moments and a few forgettable ones along the way. Watching the team will be a whole lot of fun. Etc., etc.

But really, most fans ask, how does each week's performance impact the Packers readiness to compete in January?

Beating the Bears in the season opener was nice, but man, the defense looked rough. The Packers FINALLY beat the Seahawks in week 2, but those injuries are bad news long term. Beating up on the Chiefs was fun in week 3, but if the Packers let a team hang around like that in January, we could see another playoff meltdown.

It was cool to see the defense play so well in week 4 against the 49ers, but only 17 points from the offense? That won't fly in the playoffs. The Rams in week 5 proved to be a better team than we thought, but what's up with the offense? And dominating Nick Foles on defense doesn't make us feel any better about the defense holding up in the postseason. Phillip freaking Rivers threw for 500 yards on the Packers. OH GOD HERE WE GO AGAIN!

The corpse of Peyton Manning dominated the Packers and Rodgers threw for less than 100 yards? SEE, I TOLD YOU ALL THOSE FLAWS FROM THE EARLIER GAMES WOULD EVENTUALLY CATCH UP TO THE PACKERS. NOW WE GOTTA FIX A BUNCH OF STUFF IF WE WANT TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL.

That's life as a Packers fan and I wouldn't have it any other way. We're spoiled. Some folks like to use the "spoiled" label as a negative. To me, it's nothing but a positive and it's something we should relish as long as it lasts.

The NFL season is a long journey. Most fanbases have no idea where that journey is going to end up. Packers fans know the general vicinity of where their journey will conclude. The main question is, does their team have what it takes to go that extra mile and reach the destination it desperately wants to get to?

Despite Sunday night's debacle, I think this team still has what it takes. But it sure did add a few bumps on the journey.

Onto this week's Packers Stock Report:

Rising

Datone Jones
Nobody is going to confuse Jones for J.J. Watt, but Jones has quietly become a reliable member of this defensive line. Now he just needs to avoid the nagging injury that has plagued him throughout his career.

Mason Crosby
Crosby was the only Packers player (besides maybe Randall Cobb) who seemed excited to be playing football on Sunday night. He actually showed a little emotion and *gasp* smiled after he made a 56-yard field goal. Every other Packers player had the body language of an old steer who knew he was on his way to be made into steaks and hamburgers.

Steady

Clay Matthews
I take back what I said about Crosby being the only player to show any type of excitement on Sunday. Matthews looked fired up. He always does. And hats off to Matthews for giving it a go after injuring his ankle. Nobody would have blamed him if he said the hell with it and went back to the locker room early so he didn't have to watch that mess.

Falling

Casey Hayward
It was obvious that Peyton Manning singled out Hayward to pick on early and often. It worked, as Hayward was helpless again Demaryius Thomas on the outside. 

Nate Palmer
I never thought I would miss A.J. Hawk, but Palmer made me miss A.J. Hawk on Sunday. Oooof, he was terrible. Dom Capers has his work cut for him in trying to come up with schemes that mask Palmer's obvious and easily exploitable flaws.

Eddie Lacy
It's not like Lacy has gaping holes to run through, but he looks like a completely lost player compared to his first two seasons. Even when he does break off a few runs, they too often end in fumbles or near-fumbles. I miss the days of Lacy trucking over poor saps who dared to get in front of him once he broke through the line.

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Comments (54)

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 03, 2015 at 02:30 pm

Since midway through last year Datone Jones has really improved.

Actually you could probably add Masthay into the steady. He has been better then last year for sure.

For the falling players. Who wasn't falling this week. It was a brutal game.

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Bearmeat's picture

November 03, 2015 at 03:11 pm

Falling: The Entire freaking offense. The entire freaking coaching staff. The entire freaking secondary and every LB not named Clay Matthews. The entire freaking defensive line except Datone Jones.

So.. basically everyone in the building except the special teams, one DLineman, and one LBer.

Other than that we were great. ;)

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Funcrusher's picture

November 03, 2015 at 03:16 pm

That about sums it up.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 03, 2015 at 03:24 pm

'Other than that we were great. ;)'

I love your positive take on this. :)

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SteveCheez's picture

November 03, 2015 at 07:10 pm

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?"

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Lphill's picture

November 03, 2015 at 02:58 pm

The player analysts are laughing at the Packers on the NFL network . That about sums it up.

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Lphill's picture

November 03, 2015 at 02:58 pm

The player analysts are laughing at the Packers on the NFL network . That about sums it up.

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NickPerry's picture

November 04, 2015 at 07:04 am

Although they deserved to be laughed at, those are the BOTTOM FEEDERS of analysts IMO.

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Dan Stodola's picture

November 04, 2015 at 08:09 am

Think what you want. But I'll take their analysis over the commenter/bloggers! And I'm not talking about M. Irvin and Sanders. Most of the others are really good.

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PaulRosik's picture

November 05, 2015 at 10:22 am

But the Vegas wise guys have the Packers as favorite this week and the favorite to win the NFC. I will believe the wise guys over talking heads anytime.

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Denver's picture

November 03, 2015 at 03:15 pm

Palmer didn't make me miss Hawk as much as he reminded me of Brad Jones. I know a team can't have a Pro Bowler at every position, but it drives me nuts that the Packers cannot get some decent ILB's (aside from moving #52 there).

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dobber's picture

November 03, 2015 at 06:24 pm

Palmer doesn't take the bone-headed penalties at the most inopportune times like Jones did. I'll give him that much.

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SteveCheez's picture

November 03, 2015 at 07:11 pm

You generally have to be somewhere near the play to do that...

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dobber's picture

November 03, 2015 at 08:45 pm

That didn't seem to matter to Brad Jones...

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zoellner25's picture

November 03, 2015 at 03:50 pm

I was on vacation and missed the game. I didn't see it, and I'm not going to watch it on DVR. Let's move onto Carolina.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

November 03, 2015 at 04:54 pm

Delete it ASAP, and consider yourself lucky. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

November 03, 2015 at 04:19 pm

Lol, you're a damn lie if you miss AJ Hawk.

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701Packer's picture

November 03, 2015 at 05:06 pm

I do not miss Hawk, but at one point during the game I may have been guilty of thinking "For Pete's sake, even Hawk would've made that play." That quote may have been modified slightly to rid of expletives.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

November 03, 2015 at 05:25 pm

The Packers had "the best defense" in points only. Against the run(?) Against the pass(?) And now the offense is dysfunctional. We expect a speedster like Richard Rodgers to separate how(?) These problems have been building almost all season. The only reason we looked the other way was because the Packers hadn't lost. And how about that Dom? He understands what is wrong and what the defense did wrong but is never able to correct it. This is getting risible. And now we are supposed to stop a 6'5, 250 running back that also poses as a QB this coming Sunday? I don't think so.....

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D Ernesto's picture

November 03, 2015 at 06:17 pm

Did you take a close look at Rogers?? His ass is wider than a Minnesota Snow shovel, he is so overweight and out of shape his head barely fits in his helmit. He and Lacy ate a few too many pizzas with ribs and chicken fingers on the side. Both are grossly out of shape and over weight and not contributing one iota to this team

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croatpackfan's picture

November 04, 2015 at 03:01 am

Yea, I remember when you were talking about how Packers will be last in the NFC North because Eddie Lacy and R. Rodgers are fat and slow, that injuries will decimeted Packers in preseason and few first weeks of the season, that was pure luck we won any game... If we did not have that luck we would be 0-7 now, what will be the right result because, OL stinks, RBs stinks, injuries strinks, Randall stinks, Adams stinks, Ty Montgomery stinks, TE stinks, DL stinks, ILBs stinks, DB stinks, CB stinks, safeties stinks, coaches stinks, TT stinks, my God even Aaron Rodgers stinks...
Yes, you said it before this season and we all attacked you. Now you are proving you were right and we are wrong...
Can we make bet: If Packer will not be at least 13-3 this season, I will be out of the comment section on cheeseheadtv.com for this season (including SB and week after SB!), otherwise, you'll take that punishment!
Can you confirm me that?

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NickPerry's picture

November 04, 2015 at 07:10 am

I agree with everything you said but with this team it has one and done written all over it. The fact they really haven't got it going offensively, are where they ALWAYS seem to be defensively, and the best of the 3 units on the Packers is Special Teams up to this point, well I'm going to watch with one hand over my eye. At least until Clements is removed from calling plays. Don't you love how they preach accountability but no one is ever held accountable?

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GVPacker's picture

November 04, 2015 at 02:33 pm

LOL, NicK Perry haven't you ever herd of Double Secret Probation!

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msj127's picture

November 03, 2015 at 05:25 pm

Am I the only guy in the building that thought we would get kicked in Denver? They had emotion running high with the past players there and everyone talking about the owner's battle with Ahlziemers (hope my spelling is right). Everyone there was pumped. This is a very tough place to play.
That being said....we didn't look good. But I do expect a better performance next week. Especially after what I saw last night.

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Big T's picture

November 03, 2015 at 05:33 pm

Wasn't that really the first winning record team we have played? Maybe this team isn't all that special. Maybe the Vikings take the division. Maybe we get lucky and get a wild card and do the old MM/TT one and done. Too many maybes, I think we will bring it back around again.( I am praying to Santa Claus right now)

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jmac34's picture

November 03, 2015 at 10:29 pm

Well St Louis does have a winning record at the moment (4-3) and GB played them before Denver. However, St. Louis didn't have a winning record before the game.

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Archie's picture

November 05, 2015 at 08:36 am

If Rams lose @Minny and Pack loses @CAR, the division will be all tied up. I see Rams winning at Minny and Pack/Car looks like a toss-up to me. Pack will play better and CAR defense is good but not DEN good. Big question for Pack is can they stop CAR running game on the road. CAR has some injuries on OL. C will be key. If Pack D slows down run and avoids explosive plays against them, 12 squeaks out a victory. If Packer D caves, it's all over for the green 'n gold. Injuries at CB could haunt GB but CAR has no stud WR other than its TE. 27-24 GB.

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EddieLee's picture

November 03, 2015 at 05:54 pm

1. Every year I can remember the Packer's crap the bed at least once on the road. It was at New Orleans last year. The Giants beat them by 30 mid-season a few years before that. KC the year after the Super Bowl. Multiple times the year they won the Super Bowl. It happens every year. Throw in losing your best cover corner in Q1 and sh-t just happens.

2. It seems almost every year McCarthy gets stubborn. He continues to do what isn't working. They get exposed a few weeks and then he grudgingly simplifies and adapts. It usually gets things back on track.

3. Did anyone else see the rest of NFC North play this weekend? None of them are even close to the Packers. Feel free to jump on the MN bandwagon but do so at your own peril. Their QB is dreadful. They have won close games against bad opponents. (Lions twice, Bears, KC after Charles got hurt, and SD) Look at their upcoming schedule: Rams, Rsiders, Packers, Falcons, Seahawks, Cardinals....I would be surprised in they win 10 games despite being 6-2.

4. How this team responds at Carolina this week will tell us a ton. Was that Denver game just that one game every year that happens or is this team really flawed and no longer elite. I'm betting the former.

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dobber's picture

November 03, 2015 at 06:27 pm

MN almost got their lunch handed to them by a Bears team missing Matt Forte and an impact pass rusher. They couldn't protect Bridgewater and they got very little from AP. Maybe they were sleepwalking, too, but they really aren't much more than a 9-win team.

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porupack's picture

November 04, 2015 at 11:36 am

Playing Denver told us a ton. Good teams rise up and take care of business. GB laid down. They aren't good until they prove they're good...and they haven't all season.

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idgafkurt's picture

November 03, 2015 at 06:13 pm

The 2014 Patriots lost 41-14 to KC week 4
The 2013 Seahawks lost 34 - 28 to Indy week 5
The 2012 Ravens lost 43 - 13 to the Texans week 7
The 2011 Giants lost 49 - 24 to the Saints week 12

Guess what all these losing teams have in common?

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GVPacker's picture

November 03, 2015 at 06:24 pm

Good Point Idga. Here's another one,the 2007 Giants lost to the Vikings in NJ 41-17. Eli threw 5 picks in that game!

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D Ernesto's picture

November 03, 2015 at 06:13 pm

Look, Its simple for me. This is not a top team. Shocked they went 6-0. The pass defense has not improved one iota in three years. We got new guys we lost older experienced guys.
The running game has gone in the tank and that is a surprise it was one of the strengths. However, one of our guys was not in shape, came in not in shape and plays like it. Total let down for sure for the coaches.
Ya we lost Gordy. You move on. You improvise. You make the other guys step up. Hasn't happened. Now I see that Gordy was the savior but he lose has exposed we have a fat ass at tight end you can't catch a cold let alone a football. Richard R head barely fits in his helmet. He is a fat slob. Davante Adams had two good games in 1.5 seasons now. This bs with him being hurt all the time has gotten old.
Janis is not liked by Rogers so they won't let him play. Cobb is being asked to do it all alone and Ty M is in the dog house for some reason.
Rogers has come down to earth and is mostly average. Perhaps we over rated the heck out of the guy. In big games he is a no show.
We have and still have no pass rush.Totally horrid. Again there are some guys sitting on the bench who should be out there but we have contracts to fulfill for out top picks Datone and Perry.

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jmac34's picture

November 03, 2015 at 10:24 pm

The real loser here is the English language.

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Packer_Pete's picture

November 04, 2015 at 08:13 am

Wow now I finally know why this team sucks. They are just missing Gordy. Josh Gordy was on the team in 2010 and actually won the SB. he is a free agent at the moment, so I think Ted should just sign him and all will be good :)

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Archie's picture

November 05, 2015 at 08:52 am

Trashing AROD? Where have you been last several years. 12 = GOLD.

Running game has been ineffective except for Starks before hip injury. Time for Lacy to show up.

Cobb is drawing top coverage and showing why he's not a #1 type. Rest of WRs are MIA. Is Adams a bust? Like Lacy, he needs to show up. Remember, TT chose Bulaga over perhaps the best 2 WR in the game today - D Thomas and Dez Bryant. Think of either one of those paired with Jordy with 12 throwing to them. Instead we gave big bucks this year to Cobb and Bulaga. Both are good but neither is great. Cobb is better in the slot with top WR outside him to draw premium coverage.

R Rodgers was a reach when TT drafted him. He is ordinary pass catcher at best and remains terrible run/pass blocker.

A CAR win = NFC home field advantage. Pack is a different team on the road compared to at home. CAR = physical on offense and defense. GB = ? A solid win in CAR and all is forgiven. Another egg and it is panic time.

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WKUPackFan's picture

November 05, 2015 at 10:04 am

1. The statistics show AR is the best QB to ever play through this point in his career. He is gold.

2. Cobb has been injured all year.

3. We've read the Bulaga-D. Thomas/Dez thing many times before, pretty sure your opinion on that is well known.

4. R. Rodgers? Ordinary blocker so far? Yes. Average hands? Definitely not.

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Lphill's picture

November 03, 2015 at 07:49 pm

The decline begins, no deep threat , no inside run stuffer, no tight end . Oh and no trades , maybe we get a wild card spot as the Vikings win the north, maybe Thompson could have called Detroit about Calvin Johnson , how nice would that have been.I guess we will wait for Jordy and make a run next season.

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Nic Konwinski's picture

November 04, 2015 at 12:00 am

Calvin, Watt, or Thomas. Or all 3!

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dobber's picture

November 04, 2015 at 09:19 am

...because of the last minute flurry that is the trade deadline in the NFL.

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lennysmalls's picture

November 03, 2015 at 09:21 pm

Eddie Lacy reminds me a lot of John Brockington. Except more out-of-shape and not as good. I guess that Eddie Burger at A&W won't be that popular anymore.

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NickPerry's picture

November 04, 2015 at 07:17 am

I was thinking of that EXACT same thing yesterday! Brockington had three 1000 yards seasons in a row (14 game seasons) then started to fade...FAST. Difference with Eddie is he's fading a season sooner. Lacy COULD turn it around, buy if I recall reading an article about him Football isn't THAT important to him. If true that would explain alot. He's gained weight DURING he season..WTF???

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Dan Stodola's picture

November 04, 2015 at 08:20 am

He's gained weight since he arrived in the NFL. 230 combine. probably 240 rookie and 2nd yr, maybe more. Now at least 250, probably more.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

November 05, 2015 at 08:20 am

Watched the game again:

While a lot of the times WRs weren't wide open, there were times WRs had a step on a defender and either Rodgers didn't find him or threw a bad pass. There were very few times a WR or Richard Rodgers had a defender completely BEAT but Rodgers never looked his way. "I don't know why, but Davante Adams was wide open in the middle of the field. It looks like Aaron Rodgers was looking right at him..." said Cris Collinsworth. There was also a play where Adams just surrendered after breaking Aqib Talib's arm tackle attempt. He just straight up laid down at the feet up a linebacker coming in. There was no fight in the offense. Oh yea, Myles White is a better run blocker than Richard Rodgers. Something's wrong with Lacy. 3rd and 6, 2nd quarter with 4:28 remaining; Lacy SEES the FREE Blitzer but decides to turn his back and chip block Bulaga's guy (whoever #48 is). In the same drive, he breaks free on a long run but decides to run out of bounds instead of taking on whoever #26 is. Same drive, 1st and goal Lacy tries to bounce it outside instead of taking on #26 for a possible TD. "I don't like that bounce out by Lacy. Here's a guy that's 240 plus...instead of putting his head down and taking on #26, who he outweighs by about 30 pounds" said Cris Collinsworth.

There was no hustle on defense. No discipline. There was a potential INT for HHCD but he just gave up on it as the ball came falling down 2 feet or so away. Defenders took horrible angles while chasing the ball carrier. Why is it when the opposing team's offense audible, our Defense stays put? Nate Palmer was not the problem. Probably the scapegoat. Datone Jones should be getting way more snaps (than he does) along with Mike Pennel.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

November 04, 2015 at 04:56 am

With that being said, I am not worried about this team.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 04, 2015 at 06:53 am

interesting take on the rewatch. I would rewatch it but I deleted it from my DVR. I don't want that bad karma on my dvr. :)

I agree that Jones should start playing more. He has been very good for the last year or so.

The biggest thing for me was Rodgers just wasn't himself in this game. I really wonder if those shots he took early in the game affected him. There was one shot he took you could see it hurt. I am not going to speculate that he was playing injured but he really wasn't himself.

On that play with Lacy, I saw Nagler post it on twitter that Rodgers points to Lacy the blitzing CB, and Lacy turned the other way to block.
There does seem to be something wrong with Lacy. I am not sure what it is. Its almost like he is playing with a lack of confidence or something.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

November 04, 2015 at 11:04 am

Yea, Rodgers took some pretty nice hits that game. That probably did play a part in his inaccuracy. He also felt some ghost rushers at times.

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Lphill's picture

November 04, 2015 at 07:19 am

Well we can all look forward to a 10 win season then 1 and done in the playoffs , seems that Ted Thompson is ok with that . Why give up precious 6 th and 7 th round future picks for a player who might help the team now.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 04, 2015 at 07:34 am

this is the type of play I would like to see ran a little more often. When I have talked about quicker passes, this is what I have had in mind.

http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Randall_Cobb_weaves_through_t...

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SpudRapids's picture

November 04, 2015 at 11:59 am

You people are all doom and gloom... They were never going to be undefeated this year and they played a shitty game, it happens. Stop overreacting and see how they bounce back. This is the same blog where everyone was shouting for Zook to be fired after playing the Eagles in preseason. Guess what? the Special Teams are a strong point of this team. My stance was wait until 4-5 weeks in to judge the play of the Special Teams and I guarantee most of you have flipped flopped your thoughts on them. Let the season play out and stop making statements like "they have no pass rush" just because it didn't get home in one road game. Take a chill pill and enjoy the rest of season... geez

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PaulRosik's picture

November 04, 2015 at 12:20 pm

You cant use every week as a mandate on whether the team is Super Bowl ready. Seasons ebb and flow, motivation rises and falls. Road games versus home games are a major discrepancy. And believe it or not teams can decide to change the game plan and try something different when it doesn't work.

The Packers went into this game thinking they could limit Denver on D and play conservatively. It didn't work. It is one game. One road game. in 2010 the Packers were 3 - 5 on the road until the 3 in a row in the playoffs.

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Pack204's picture

November 04, 2015 at 12:55 pm

Just a crappy game. I hope they get back to the basics of what they did during that Super Bowl run in 2010. Rodgers was masterful and on point. I want the short stuff to come back to life thats where they do most of there damage. They have the players to pile up the YAC.

That Denver game seemed like they wanted to throw a minimum of 15 yards downfield every time.

I am very confident the situation sets up pretty well for GB this week with Carolina having played an OT game and getting an emotional win on MNF. They have their flaws as well and I think there undefeated run comes to an end.

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lou's picture

November 04, 2015 at 05:06 pm

There is plenty of time to turn it around, the team that gets it together before the playoffs is key, in 2010 the team ran the table on the road when it had to to win it all. My general thought at this point is "who would have thunk it" the most CONSISTENT phase of the team to this point has been SPECIAL TEAMS - no one would have bet on that.

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ray nichkee's picture

November 05, 2015 at 09:58 am

Funny, no mention of Rodgers pff rating this week. To me it seemed the OL was playing on thier heels and Rodgers had no time to let plays develope. Once shields left manning was able to pick apart the defense. Daniels should be mentioned as steady also. Its just one game and I'm sure there wont be more like that.

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