Packers Season Ends in Classic Playoff Loss to the Bears
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| Photo Credit: Evan Siegle, packers.com It’s so hard to believe that it’s really not that hard to believe. Unbelievable things kept happening that every Packer fan could see coming from a mile away on Saturday night at Soldier Field. No matter how crazy they were, the writing was on the wall this entire season. For 16 years, we have been blessed with winning Packers football and chances to play in the postseason. The results? Nothing but sheer heartbreak.
From special teams issues that date back hilariously long, to poor game management, and a lack of execution for four quarters. These have been common themes in the Matt LaFleur era of the Green Bay Packers. There is no other way to describe it: the Packers beat themselves, again. Credit to the Chicago Bears, they truly never quit, and that is the result of their new head coach, Ben Johnson. There’s only one word to describe the Bears this season, and it’s this: relentless. The start of this game was obviously too good to be true. Most of us, I would say, were worried the Packers offense would start out slow, but they didn’t. Jordan Love came out firing, leading them to a 21-3 lead at halftime following one of multiple missed field goals from Brandon McManus (7 points total worth of missed field goals).
After that missed field goal, I know for a fact the same thought raced through every Packers fan’s head: “That’s gonna come back to bite them.” And it did. The Packers opened the second half punting on their first four offensive drives. Another instance of dΓ©jΓ vu for Packers fans who saw it all season. This team skidded by not playing games completely through the entire season. But still, the Bears didn’t score a touchdown the entire third quarter, and the Packers still managed to lead the game 21-6 going into the final quarter of regulation. Classic Packer playoff collapse kicked in quickly. At one point, the Packers led by 18 points going into the fourth quarter. Still, this game was far from over, even with a 27-16 lead following Matthew Golden’s first career touchdown (which was so sick) with 3:32 left on the clock. Oh, almost forgot, Brandon McManus missed the PAT after that score. Following that touchdown, the Packers wouldn’t score for the rest of the game. The Bears would go on to do what they’ve done all season in the fourth quarter, coming from behind to erase an 18-point deficit. Before the Bears’ final drive, Jordan Love drove the Packers down the field for a chance to extend the lead to six points. Yet, Brandon McManus missed ANOTHER field goal, which resulted in the Bears scoring a touchdown to take the lead. That just shows you how small the margin for error is in these big games that the Packers have continuously failed to close out. The Packers’ final drive was an utter disaster, as we all saw. From a delay of game, a 10-second runoff, wasted timeouts, and poor execution. It was destiny for this team to find a way to lose. And just think about it, Jordan Love had this team in field goal range, but NOPE! Thanks, Brandon McManus. It certainly wasn’t just one player. The Packers, as a collective of players and coaches, sold this game completely. Unreal. There are arguments for both sides on whether LaFleur should remain head coach or if the Packers should move on. At this point, I lean toward moving on. What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. That is exactly what has been going on with the Packers for 16 years now since their last Super Bowl victory.
The standards are high, and we shouldn’t want it any other way, but it’s time for a change. Whether it’s with Matt LaFleur or not, there needs to be a shift. There is no reason fans of the Green Bay Packers should be able to predict the outcome of a game because of the same glaring issues that refuse to be fixed over almost two decades worth of football. What is this, pro wrestling? It is sad to say, but I would argue we as Packers fans are used to it at this point. Playoff losses continue to stack up, but losing against the Bears? Yeah, this one will sting for pretty much the entire offseason. Ultimately, this all comes down to Ed Policy and what his vision is for this team going forward in his first year as President of the Packers. Nobody really knows, but I do know for a fact he didn’t hand out extensions Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur for a reason. I’m sure we will find out sooner rather than later what his decision will be.
If you want some positivity, I’ll leave you with this. Through all the adversity and BS that happened to the Packers this season, they still managed to have a winning record and make the playoffs. I know that is not the ultimate goal, but it does say something about the guys in that locker room. With the big three returning in Jordan Love, Tucker Kraft, and Micah Parsons, next season will be far from a lost cause, trust me. There is too much talent and will on this roster not to compete for a championship. Now it’s time to sit back and watch the offseason unfold. Everybody wants a happy ending, but that’s just not how it works all the time. I do know one thing though. Real Packer Fans Know will still be here to talk Packers regardless of how bad things may suck right now and until the Packers bring the Lombardi Trophy back to its rightful home. Real Packer Fans Knowπ§ |
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