Packer Report

A few of my Packer hats. 1/3/2016 dwm

 The Packers have a pretty good record after eight games, five wins, two losses, and one tie. The problem is the two losses were to teams that Green Bay could have beat.

 In Cleveland, the Browns beat the Pack, 13 - 10 and Sunday, in Lambeau Field, the Carolina Panthers beat the Pack on a last second field goal, 16 - 13.

 It was another "woulda, shoulda, and coulda" kind of game that slid through their fingers as Carolina took advantage of the opportunities Green Bay offered them.

In the first quarter, Green Bay was moving the ball on their first possession when a completed pass was punched out of the grip of the Packer receiver. Green Bay picked off the Carolina quarterback to get the ball back and even the turnovers. This time the Packers reached Panther territory but settled for a field goal and a 3 - 0 lead. 

Carolina marched down the field with their running backs doing most of the work. The Packer defense had been performing well against the run, but not with the Panthers. Running back Rico Dowdle has been good all season and he treated Lambeau Field like his backyard, putting Carolina up 7 - 3.

There was just over two minutes left in the half when the Packers got the ball back, but they couldn't score a touchdown, settling for another field goal and a one-point deficit at the half, 7 - 6.

Despite getting the ball to start the second half, Green Bay stalled at the enemy's 25 yard line, then missed the go-ahead field goal. After an empty possession, the Packers looked to take a lead, but Jordan Love threw his third interception of the year. A Packer penalty turned a potential stop into a second chance, and Dowdle scored again, extending the lead to 13 - 6.

Tight end Tucker Kraft was hurt in the third quarter. He's been the best receiver and a force after catching the ball. Maybe it was the injury, the penalties, or maybe they were looking ahead to the upcoming Monday Night game hosting Philadelphia; but Green Bay couldn't get things moving. (Monday afternoon the Packers confirmed what many suspected when Kraft crumpled on the field, he blew out his anterior cruciate ligament. He is out for the season and will need to heal quickly to be ready for the start of next season.)

Carolina deserves credit for taking advantage of what they were given, but like the Cleveland game which was the season's first loss and in the disappointing tie with the Dallas Cowboys, it seemed Green Bay didn't have their hearts on fire.

My fearless preseason Packer forecast had Green Bay with a 6 and 2 record at this point in the year. The tie with Dallas makes the record slightly better, at 5 - 2 - 1.

The injury to Kraft is a concern, but there is enough talent on this team for a long-run into the play-offs. I thought they learned a lesson in Cleveland, but if they don't take notes on the latest embarrassment, the Eagles will have a party. 

It's time to get their collective act together, and Go Pack, Go!