Well, there isn’t too much to say about the Packers’ pathetic performance yesterday that ended their season, particularly on the offensive and special teams side of the ball in a 13-10 defeat to the 49ers. On the surface, yet another critical missed field goal by Mason Crosby who is clearly on the downside of his career, and a blocked punt late in the fourth quarter that was returned for the game-tying touchdown set-up the loss, but also the defense at the last moment just seemed to give up, allowing a big run on third-and-seven which led to the game-ending, game-winning field goal.
Time and again, the Packer defense kept the team in the game despite the failure of the offense, stuffing a fourth-and-one play deep in Packer territory late in the game which seemed to have “iced” a 10-3 win. But Aaron Rodgers—who Brett Favre earlier in the week called the “best playmaker in the game”—could not make the plays, not only during the course of the game, but when it most counted. The Packers’ offensive front was no match for the 49ers’ defensive front, allowing five sacks, but Rodgers seemed unwisely tunnel-visioned in this game; three-quarters of his passes targeted just two players, and Allen Lazard was targeted but once. Just like he couldn’t make “the play” against the Buccaneers in last year’s NFC title game, Rodgers couldn’t make any plays against the 49ers, failing to throw a single touchdown pass. As for the Packer special teams, it has had issues all year, especially with Crosby, and there needs to be some changes next year.
In the end, it was a shockingly bad performance that puts Rodgers’ future with the Packers in question for next year. And yet it was a “fitting” end to a season that began with the “will he/won’t he show up” drama, and then with the white lie about his vaccination status. Once again Rodgers has failed in the playoffs; at least this time the Packers won’t have the “shame” of losing three consecutive NFC title games. Despite all the adulation and apologias he receives from the media and teammates, Rodgers has shown that he is what many observers have said he is: a choke artist come playoff time. That is the reality management has to come to grips with. If Rodgers is not back next season, the team needs to find a real quarterback, not another “athletic” project like Brett Hundley or Jordan Love.
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