After an Ugly Loss to the Giants, the Packers Still Remain in the Playoff Picture

 

            Well, that was gross.

            In a game they had no business winning, the Packers failed to hold off the Giants in a nasty Monday night football game. In all honesty, the Packers were due for a game like this. Although there’s been a huge turnover from the beginning of the season, Packer fans should remember that this is a young team still learning their way.

            We saw that again with the offense without Christian Watson and Aaron Jones in this game. Play-calling was limited because of those injuries, and it showed. The offensive line struggled again as we saw earlier this season and that hurt Jordan Love’s ability to make plays in the pocket. Multiple penalties and mistakes happened to this group, but if it coincides with anything, they did manage to make the most of their last drive of the game. Jordan Love hit Malik Heath for his first career touchdown to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. People will forget that drive and rightfully so considering the outcome of the game, but it still showed resilience from this team after a completely ugly game.

I hate that this loss will overshadow Malik Heath’s first NFL touchdown. pic.twitter.com/5Gv6tykLKM

— Gute 🧀 (@Packers_szn3) December 12, 2023

            Defensively, Joe Barry ruined this game. While watching this game, it honestly gave me flashbacks to the days of the Kaepernick 49ers who ran a read option almost every time and the Packers couldn’t do a dang thing to stop it. That was the case with Tommy DeVito, he didn’t turn the ball over in the air but didn’t throw for too many yards. He killed the Packers with his legs, the one thing the Packers have struggled with all year long. DeVito made the most of his passing yards on the last drive, where Barry had the corners playing man coverage and played them 10 yards off the ball. Joe, what did you think would happen bud?

The easiest GW drive you’ll ever see. Packers defense handed it to them on a silver platter.

pic.twitter.com/PbscSyKTpa

— GBP Daily - Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) December 12, 2023

            The Packers failed to come up with even one sack in this game which is surprising considering how the Giants’ offensive line has performed this season. It was a complete letdown defensively but isn’t surprising considering how Barry has now blown leads in the 4^th quarter to average/below-average quarterbacks. The list is very underwhelming, Desmond Ridder, Jimmy Garoppolo, Kenny Pickett, and Russell Wilson.

            We haven’t chatted much about the special teams, but man, that graphic that ESPN showed saying they are the most penalized unit in the NFL opened my eyes. Rich Bisaccia was hired to fix a dysfunctional special teams group and now we are right back to where we were when we hired him. I’m not saying fire the guy, but considering that he’s known for special teams, the performance of the unit this season has been very underwhelming.

            Again, a game like this was bound to happen considering all the new hype surrounding the Packers since they have resurrected their season. But this isn’t the worst-case scenario for the Packers. They are still the 7^th seed in the NFC after tiebreakers and have multiple games left that they can win. Jordan Love and the offense showed promise at the end of the game and the defense was dealing with multiple injuries.

            Remember the expectations for this season. Yes, the Packers could make the playoffs, but this is a rebuilding year, and the young guys are still learning. The mistakes are going to happen, hopefully less in their remaining games I think they realize the potential they have. After all, that’s what has gotten them to this point of being a possible playoff team.

            Up next, the Packers face the Buccaneers in Lambeau Field, a rematch of the 2020 NFC Championship game that ended the Packers’ season in heartbreak.