Comments on: Game Thoughts Pack/Falcons

By: CindyV

CindyV — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:38:36 +0000

I was at the game in Atlanta and it was depressing to lose by the Packers were outplayed. We had no running game, accept for Aaron Rodgers. Not good. Our defense had no answer for Michael Turner or Tony Gonzalez or Roddy White. Special teams sucked with giving up way too much field. I saw the Packer starting on their 7, 10, yard lines time after time. I can only hope that the Bear collapse in the weeks ahead.

By: Kozak

Kozak — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:58:54 +0000

Okay, maybe heresy but here goes, the Packers may very well benefit from having to play on the road in the playoffs ( if they get that far) if they get to play in warm weather or dome locations. Without ANY running game to speak of, it will all be on Rodgers and the receivers to score, and that’s not a given in Lambeau in January.

By: nik

nik — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:52:43 +0000

An important scenario to keep in mind coming down the stretch:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/20224/update-bears-and-packers-control-destiny

By: Dave in Tucson

Dave in Tucson — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:11:38 +0000

I agree coaching is an issue (1-4 in games decided by 3 points or less is really not good), and the Packers are really hurting for a lack of a running game.

But the Falcons are a good football team right now, and Mike Turner’s running was huge on Sunday. It seemed like it was really tough to defend against him. He was getting big runs up the middle, until the defense sold out to protect the middle. Then, they ran to the corner, or called play-action.

Very effective for them, very frustrating for the Packers and their fans.

D∈T

By: jimthepackertfan

jimthepackertfan — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:45:57 +0000

we have one of the best teams in the nfl but it is all going to wste because we have not adressed the fact we have no threat of a running game. when you have so many short yardage situations and you cant take advantage of them. actually we are better when its 3rd and 8 than when its 3rd and short because we r so predictable when we go to the no receiver sets. and one more thought, do we have a blind man looking at replays, all year long we have challanged some that wernt close but not some that were no doubters. the gonzales catch eas easy to c that the ball hit the ground on the initial catch and even more obvious from the back view. i knew on tv before atl snapped the ball how could someone in the green bay both not know? instead of the go ahead td for atl we get the ball near midfield. frustrating because when we lose we beat ourselves more than get beat!!!!

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:41:19 +0000

I think the ESPN NFC blog summed it up nicely, “Looking for great, Packers stuck at good.” We are a good team, but we lack some things that would make us a great team. Unfortunately, with the Bears win, we face a very uphill road to the playoffs. I think it can be done, but we are 2 games back in the division and the wild card race looks tight. Our last three games are tough – Giants, Pats, Bears. We’ll need to take at least 2 of those to have a chance (and this is assuming we beat the 49ers and Lions).

By: Ron LC

Ron LC — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:37:11 +0000

Four 3pt. losses in one year and one has to look at the coach. He is about to get hung with the title of “Choker.” This has got to be turned around now.

By: Kozak

Kozak — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:33:45 +0000

This loss gets pinned on lack of a running game, and special teams. Again.
4 losses by a field goal. In every case, a huge part was not being able to control the clock by running the ball and lousy special teams play in either covering returns, or lousy kicking.

By: DaveK

DaveK — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:23:19 +0000

The Packers did some good things today. Long drives on offense. That 90 yard drive to tie it up was a beauty. The defense holding Atlanta to 20 points. But, the little things matter when playing against a good team at their place. Your QB can’t slide a yard short. Your coach can’t miss throwing a challenge flag on 4th down or on key plays. You have to tackle the 5 yard check down on third and long. Then there are the big things. You have to be able to gain ONE F’ING YARD running the ball when the defense knows you are running the ball. (How many 3rd and one or 2nd and one situations were their today that we didn’t convert?) You can’t allow the other team to start at the 50 yard line when the game is tied and their is less a minute left. And, you simply cannot get inside the five yard line twice and come out with three points.

My biggest beef today is with Jackson. I know the run blocking was crap at times but Jackson was awful. He has no vision. He runs too tentative when the blocking isn’t perfect. A good back will break a tackle or pound it out to get back to the line of scrimmage if needed. Jackson too often tip-toes around and loses yards. He just doesn’t have the ability to bounce it or break a tackle for a long gain. Defenses just don’t respect it as a threat. They’d rather risk a big play by Jackson then a big play in the passing game and it allows the LB’s and Safeties to sit back in coverage more then they should.

Look, the Packers are 7-4 with 5 games to play. They are a good team. They can and should make the playoffs. But, this game showed me the Packers are not yet over the hump. Still missing a few cogs to make this all click and get a championship. Disappointing loss on a number of levels.

By: Bob Schnell

Bob Schnell — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:58:27 +0000

MM coaching tanked this game, as it has done at other times. He plays things way too close to the vest, always believing all he needs to do is win by one point. In theory and fact that is true, a one point victory counts as much as a thirty point winning margin. However, what MM fails to understand is that the philosophy of having to just make one more play than your opponent to win a game, leads to an overall team attitude and effort, that can best be described as a malaise, in close games, wherein you lose your killer edge. Doing so, allows your worthy opponent to always stay within striking distance and to be the aggressor. This, in my opinion is a major fault with MM and his ability to steer the team to victory in important games. Sure we really swamped Minnesota and Dallas, and sure, one can always make the case that all games are of equal value and importance etc. However, real champions don’t stand around hopefully waiting for a game break that they will ride to victory. True champions, coaches and players alike, stay motivated and stay focused, and are intelligent enough to be flexible in their plan of attack to change it if it is not working, at any one moment of a game. In my opinion, MM has always lacked this insight and professional gravitas.