Brats & Beer

No Goats Today

I suppose some might try and make Mason Crosby out to be the goat after missing what could have been a game-winning field goal in Minneapolis today, but there is plenty of blame to go around today in the 27-28 loss to the Vikings. From start to finish this was a horrible outing for the Packers in a game that they could have — should have and needed to — win. Please tell me this is the low point of the season.

First up, let’s highlight the run defense. Earlier this week in a story by Jason Wilde many members of the defense were incensed at the suggestion that they were failing to stop the run. Nick Barnett said, “I’m not going to blow smoke up your (expletive). I’ll tell you if we’re bad. But we’re nowhere near that bad.” Well, today against Adrian Peterson — 192 yards on 30 carries — they were that bad. Ryan Pickett told Wilde, “We know we’re going to get better.” It better start soon or this season is going to end fast.

Second, what has happened to the offensive line? Aaron Rodgers has struggled through two horrible games in which he’s been slammed around more than the Republican party was Tuesday night. I don’t know how much longer he can take that kind of abuse, especially the kind of hits Minnesota was laying on him today. Was Chad Clifton still suffering from the allergic reaction that sidelined him last week? Is Daryn Colledge close to setting a record for false start penalties? Something has to change across that front five or nothing is going to improve for the offense going down the stretch.

But as much as execution is to blame for the loss today, what is more troubling is the Packers seemed to be lacking the sort of intensity one would expect from a 4-4 team with post-season hopes. The season is quickly slipping away and they really needed this win to stay in that hunt. The loss makes next week against the Bears even more important — now a must-win game, really.

In addition to cleaning up the errors and mistakes, the coaches and players had better come out next Sunday with more emotion and passion because without it we can count out any chance of making the playoffs.