The final Monday Night Football game of 2019 featured the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers facing off at US Bank Stadium with the NFC North division on the line. In yet another sloppy win, the Packers reclaimed the North. Green Bay turned the ball over three times in the first half. Aaron Jones fumbled and lost the ball, which ended in three points for the Vikings. Then, Aaron Rodgers threw an uncharacteristic interception, which led to a touchdown. Davante Adams also lost a fumble. Allowing three turnovers before halftime forced the Pack to leave quite a few points on the field. Back in September, the Packers led the NFL in takeaways with eight in the first three games. They have become too lax over the last few weeks and haven’t taken care of the football.
The Packers also struggle to take advantage of opportunities to pick up huge chunks of yards in the passing game. Both Rodgers and his receiving corps are to blame for this. In some cases, Rodgers over or underthrows, and in other cases, guys are dropping the ball. The Green Bay Packers must correct the turnover and the passing game issues before the postseason arrives.
What the Green Bay Packers Must Correct Before Postseason
Turnover Differential
The Packers’ turnover differential is +12 through 15 games, according to ESPN. They are tied with the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks. Over the last three games, however, Green Bay was only +0.3 on average in the turnover differential game. Certainly, coughing the football up three times in the first half in Minnesota was concerning. The Packers cannot afford to give teams like the Saints, Seahawks, and especially not the San Francisco 49ers extra chances.
Passing Game Struggles
In the Pack’s Week 15 win over the Chicago Bears, they had several frustrating, failed drives plagued with dropped passes. Pete Dougherty of Packers News explains how the opening drive unfolded:
“[…] Aaron Rodgers threw a strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a deep post pattern for what should have been at least a 55-yard play and probably a 70-yard touchdown. Valdes-Scantling had the speed to get behind the defense and run under the pass, but he didn’t track the ball well and short-armed the perfect throw. The other was later that series when Geronimo Allison dropped a crossing route on a third-and-five that ended a drive near midfield. The possession ended with a punt rather than early points.”
When the Packers start drives like this, which they do fairly often, they end up in third-and-long situations. Since Rodgers is having trouble playing in rhythm consistently and connecting with his guys, third-and-long plays are likely to end with a punt. If the offense continues to sputter and struggle to get down the field, this team will have big issues in the postseason. As frustrating as the Packers’ dropped passes have been this season, they are doing better than over half of the league. Green Bay has the 20th most dropped passes in the NFL at 15, tied with the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Vikings. (That’s better than the New England Patriots.)
If the 2019 Packers are to make a serious playoff run, they must correct the turnover differential and pass game issues. This team is good right now but not great. They have so much talent and potential. Cleaning up these couple flaws would have them sitting pretty heading into the postseason. Sure, ugly wins still count the same as dominant wins. However, it’s better to head into January playing the cleanest football possible.
