Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers suffered an embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but the new blemish on their record is far from their biggest concern.
With injuries mounting in the face of un-inspired play-calls, the Packers offense needs to figure out the first phase of the game, and fast.
Back to the Drawing Board
There have been several issues to point to when it comes to the Packers’ lack of first-half offense this season, but head coach Matt LaFleur’s part in the struggle is becoming increasingly clear.
I first discussed LaFleur’s role following the tie against the Cowboys, but even as the Packers have found success since then, the same mistakes have repeated themselves.
The moments that stood out the most to me against Carolina demonstrated both a lack of urgency and an inability to apply past experience in new game situations.
At the end of the first half, LaFleur called four runs in five plays during the two minute drill, two of which were called back for holding, which wasted over a minute of clock as the offense moseyed to the line every snap.
That, along with poor usage of a timeout, killed all the momentum that the Packers had off of a thirty-three yard kick return, leading to a field goal instead of a touchdown.
Later in the game, when faced with fourth and eight in the redzone, LaFleur chose to go for it instead of taking the points.
While there have been times this season where the team could have benefitted from being more aggressive, this wasn’t one of them, and from my perspective, LaFleur is simply not a calculated play-caller.
He’s reactionary one, and it’s holding this Packers team back.
Choosing to coach aggressively should not be a pre-made decision.
Choices should be made with the consideration of down and distance, and during the course of LaFleur’s tenue, he’s deployed a blanket response.
Turnovers don’t help in that quest, obviously, but considering the fact that the Packers never punted, it’s near baffling that they only scored thirteen points.
Some of that has to fall on the man wearing the headset.
Dropping Like Flies
The Green Bay Packers have been bit by the injury bug many times this season, but Sunday’s matchup proved to be quite the bloodbath.
Aaron Banks, Matthew Golden, Christian Watson, and Colby Wooden were all evaluated for injuries, and at one point, there was a line to enter the blue tent.
The biggest of those injuries of though, was to tight end Tucker Kraft, who’d been having the best season of his young career.
Kraft went down in the third quarter clutching his knee, and imaging this morning confirmed a torn ACL.
In a season in which the Packers’ offense has looked like it’s sleepwalking at times, a season-ending injury to their leading receiver and best run-blocker could prove catastrophic.
No player has been better at generating opportunities for Jordan Love under duress, and Kraft’s league-leading yards after the catch metrics have been critical to several wins so far this season.
The next closest YAC producer the Packers have is Romeo Doubs, who is over two hundred yards behind.
For the Green Bay Packers to become more consistent on offense, they’ll likely need significant contributions from Kraft’s replacement, Luke Musgrave, moving forward.
Next Man Up
Heading into the trade deadline, the Green Bay Packers may look to other teams around the league to shore up their roster.
Rumors have swirled about the Packers calling on cornerbacks, and with the loss of Tucker Kraft, could they consider trading for a second tight end?
New starter Luke Musgrave showed some promise as the featured tight end in 2023, but he’s been quiet since his rookie season, and the team just let go of Ben Sims.
In regard to in-house changes, might it be time to reinstate Lucas Havrisik?
Brandon McManus hasn’t seemed like himself since his quad injury, and despite other concerns, every loss (and tie) of the Packers’ season so far has been decided by an issue with the kicking operation.
Regardless of the direction that Green Bay chooses to go, the NFC is still wide open.
Heading into week ten, the Packers lead the division, and prior to the season, that would’ve been a celebrated outcome.
Now, with Monday Night Football against the Eagles on deck, and the team flashing brilliance, it almost isn’t enough.
The post LaFleur’s Packers, Trapped by Panthers, Suffer Season-Altering Loss first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.