Sunday, December 8, 2019

Packers barely there in win against Redskins


Did the Packers “get right” in a second-straight game against a “hapless” opponent, this time the Redskins? Does a 20-15 “win” seem right? Through much of the game the Redskins looked like a team led uncertainly by a rookie quarterback with a 58.5 passer rating and 14.2 QBR coming into the game. The Packer defense dominated, except for two drives that they seemed to just take a nap on. But once again the Packer offense struggled. They had a chance to essentially put the game away late in the first half, but a sack-fumble ended that drive. In the second half, two field goals was all the offense could muster, and although the outcome was never really in doubt, the Redskins cut through the defense like butter to make the score look close at the end, and if they had manage to recover an onside kick, they still had 1:17 left to pull out a “miracle” win that would have left fans and commentators flummoxed about what was wrong with the Packers.

The run game did improve from last week, from 79 yards to 174, possibly due to unseasonable mild weather in Green Bay. Aaron Jones gained 134 of those yards, although the Packers only advanced one yard after his long gain of gain of 42 yards, and obliged to punt. Aaron Rodgers was once more not what we expect from him. Once more he was barely present and accounted for in the second half, although he did manage to convert nicely on a third-and-14 play from his own 7. Instead of seriously trying to score late, the Packers just ran the ball three times and kicked a field goal, apparently not expecting the Redskins to score a touchdown a little more than a minute later. Yes, Matt LaFleur has become the first first-year Packer head coach to win 10 games, but this team cannot afford to take things for granted the  inconsistent way they are playing.

Next up, games against the Bears, Vikings and Lions. None of those games should be “easy” like these past two.

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