TOP GUN MAVERICK (2022)
Packers Moment Focal points: Jordan Love takes over for harmed Aaron Rodgers
For only the second time this season, the Green Bay Packers offence scored 30 points against a very good defence. Unfortunately, the Packers defence was unable to halt or impede the Eagles' run attack.
With the Packers now 4-8, all hopes of making the playoffs are certainly gone.
Here are my immediate takeaways from the Packers' performance, as I do after every game. - I'm sure we've all been wondering whether the Packers would switch to Jordan Love at any time this season once they were out of postseason contention. Aaron Rodgers has been playing with a thumb issue, but his current setback may leave Green Bay with little options.
- Despite the small sample size, Love appeared confident — he was letting it rip — as he went through his progressions, extended plays, and had a few impressive tosses. A promising performance.
- While the Eagles' attack makes many defenders look poor, the Packers were entirely unprepared. Did they aware the Eagles rely heavily on the run? Miles Sanders and Jalen Hurts had no answers for Green Bay. Sanders had huge rushing lanes between the tackles, but the edge rushers continued to establish bad edges, which Hurts exploited. Quay Walker was used as a spy on occasion, but it was either insufficient or ineffective.
- On top of that, Green Bay did not slow down the passing game. The Packers' cornerbacks, particularly Rasul Douglas, and safeties also struggled.
- Green Bay's missed tackles continue. There were a number of missed tackles.
- Third down conversions on both sides of the ball were atrocious. The offence was unable to convert any, but the defence was successful in generating multiple third and long situations, but it didn't matter because they were unable to get off the field.
- Joe Barry wasn't great, but neither were the rest of the guys.
- Darnell Savage left early with a foot injury, but he was not among the starters before that. Rudy Ford and Adrian Amos were deep in the Packers' nickel formation, with Keisean Nixon in the slot.- In 2023, the Packers only have Savage and Tariq Carpenter under contract, but Ford can be pencilled in after making another play with a forced fumble. He was brought in to play special teams, but he has also proven to be a capable defender.
- The Packers' offence, defence, and special teams all looked absolutely confused in the opening six minutes of the game. Green Bay deserves credit for fighting on and making this game competitive. It might have been so simple to give up.
- Justin Hollins, who was grabbed off waivers on Wednesday, had a strong debut, with a run stop, sack, and pressure. He's already outperformed Jonathan Garvin and La'Darius Hamilton.
- As I said before the game, the Packers' greatest offensive opportunity would come from the run game, and we witnessed that. Without Jordan Davis, the Eagles' run defence has been vulnerable recently, and the Packers were able to open up some wide running lanes for Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. This, at least early on, helped set up some success in the passing game.
- There were more two-back sets than usual, and Green Bay was far more effective in those sets than they had been earlier in the season. Jones and Dillon were also given more opportunities in the passing game.
- AJ Dillon had arguably his finest game of the season. He appeared significantly more explosive than we'd seen all year.
– According to Rob Demovsky, the Packers' defence has allowed 60 points in the last two minutes before halftime this season. The most in NFL history.
- The Eagles came into the game as the best in the NFL at forcing turnovers, and they proved it by intercepting Aaron Rodgers twice.
- There are still some drops here and there, but Christian Watson is making significant leaps as a playmaker right in front of our eyes. His quickness is game-changing.
- It appears that the Packers have found a return man in Keisean Nixon, who brings a lot of juice to the position.
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