When the Green Bay Packers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-13 on Monday Night Football, many Packers fans started to believe that they just might have a chance to overcome the lengthy odds they face in making the playoffs this season. Not to burst those peoples’ bubbles, but one game doesn’t make a season.
The Green Bay Packers Monday Night Football Win is a Start, but There’s More to be Done
Yes, the Packers finally played decent football in their victory on Monday night, but there are still gaping holes that the Packers need to fill before they even have any type of chance of making this season’s playoffs. The first and most glaring hole is their defense.
During the Packers four-game losing streak, the Packers defense performed about as poorly as an NFL defense can perform. True, the Packers defense has been riddled with injuries, but still, the “next man up” mantra that the Packers have lived by in recent years has failed this season. On Monday night, the Packers defense finally appeared adequate. But a lot of that had to do with the offensive game plan that Packers head coach Mike McCarthy implemented.
McCarthy knew that if they were going to have any chance to beat the Eagles, he was going to have to minimize the amount of time his defense was on the field. The Packers, under quarterback Aaron Rodgers guidance, ran a methodical passing attack, making sure to take as much time off the clock as possible. The game plan worked out in the Packers favor, mainly because Rodgers was precise and had full control of the offense. If not for the game plan and Rodgers ability, who knows what would have happened. Before the Packers could fully dive into their offensive game plan, the Eagles drove right down the field and tied it 7-7 on their first offensive possession. If the Packers wouldn’t have been able to establish their game plan, there is no doubt that the Packers would have been in trouble.
The Packers offense has relied on their passing attack to stay in games this season. But what happens when if an opposing team renders this element of their offense ineffective? Right now, the Packers rushing attack ranks 22nd in the league, which in actuality, seems a lot higher than most would expect. They are without their top running back, Eddie Lacy, who is lost for the season. They have had to rely on converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery and backup running back James Starks to carry the load during Lacy’s absence. Both, at best, have been average. With the weather turning colder, the run game will need to be effective for the Packers and right now, they just don’t have the personnel to do so.
This season, the Packers haven’t beaten a team with a better than .500 record. When they did beat the New York Giants on October 9th, they were 2-2, but now sit at 8-3. It is assumed that the Packers will need to win their remaining four games to have any chance of making the playoffs. Three of those games will be against teams that have records better than .500. Monday’s victory was a start, but the Packers still have a long way to go to even have a chance of making the playoffs.
