A tie game feels like a loss for the Packers

Blowing opportunity after opportunity to put a game away does not bode well for the Packers this season, particularly given the fact that on any given play Aaron Rodgers could be out for the season given his present knee condition. It was obvious that Rodgers playing “coy” given this condition was a major reason why the Packers failed to convert four red zone opportunities into touchdowns in their 29-29 overtime tie with the Vikings; four sacks and nine quarterback hits also played into this mentality. In the fourth quarter, after the Vikings were gifted with a freak  quarterback hit penalty against Clay Mathews that turned a game-ending interception into a game-tying touchdown drive, Rodgers did show a little of his voodoo magic with only thirty seconds to play in regulation, in which newly-acquired Jimmy Graham actually caught a clutch pass--heroics all of which again would have been unnecessary if the Packers had converted just one of their three fourth quarter red zone opportunities into a touchdown. But Mason Crosby missed a 52-yard game-winning attempt after kicking through his first five. Not that the Vikings didn’t contribute to the muddled outcome: Rookie kicker Daniel Carlson missed three field goal attempts, including two in overtime. His 35-yard attempt on the last play of the game was about as bad a miss as a Packer fan in prayer posture can hope for—and an enraged Viking fan can imagine. The Packers blew their own opportunity in OT when in near field goal range, a fumble and sack forced a punt still inside Viking territory, leading to Carlson’s final miss. 

The Packers supposedly have the toughest schedule in the NFL this season, and they still have to play the Vikings, Patriots and Seahawks on the road; this game was supposed to be one of their expected victories. They couldn’t afford to give this one away. 

Anyways, while Rodgers was playing like he was trying to navigate a minefield, there we have journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick have another fool me start to the season, this time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After “upsetting” the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Sunday with another sensational performance, Fitzpatrick after two games is now 48 of 61 for 819 yards and 8 touchdowns, which must be one of the hottest starts in NFL history. Of course other teams have seen this only to be let down by Fitzpatrick’s tendency to give-up the ball in untimely situations, but for now if he  has another uber-performance next week, just how much “forgiveness” is the team and fans going to afford Jameis Winston when he comes off suspension for allegedly assaulting an Uber driver two years ago?