The Green Bay Packers always seem to lose when they play near my birthday in early November. No member of the team has ever attended my birthday party, so this can’t be the reason. I thought it might be an interesting (and, frankly, rude) coincidence, but the Packers have an odd losing streak in early November.
The good news is that it isn’t my fault. According to the Packers History Twitter account, Green Bay has lost eight-straight games on Daylight Savings Time weekend. It’s a truly bizarre streak — apparently the Packers hate the time change as much as we do.
The last year the Packers haven’t lost on DST-ending weekend was 2014. That’s because they didn’t play due to a bye, so it doesn’t count. You have to go all the way back to the 2012 season to find the last time Green Bay won on that weekend, over the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 4. 2012, a 31-17.
Is there some answer on why this streak exists? Let’s look through the history of these losses for trends, starting with last Sunday’s loss and working our way back.
Nov. 7, 2021: Chiefs 13, Packers 7
Aaron Rodgers got COVID, Jordan Love had his first career start, and special teams were bad. This just happened. Not much more to say.
Nov. 1, 2020: Vikings 28, Packers 22
The only divisional loss in Matt LaFleur’s career. The Packers’ run defense failed spectacularly once again, as Mike Pettine couldn’t stop Dalvin Cook. Cook had 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 63 receiving yards and a TD.
Nov. 3, 2019: Chargers 26, Packers 11
In the second loss of LaFleur’s young career, the lethargic Packers got manhandled by the Los Angeles Chargers defense. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram each had 1.5 sacks on the day. Rodgers threw for only 161 yards and one TD, and most of that was in the fourth quarter. The state of California was not good to Green Bay in 2019.
Nov. 4, 2018: Patriots 31, Packers 17
In Mike McCarthy’s last season with the team, the Packers had a lackluster year even with Rodgers playing all season. McCarthy came out on top in his previous duel with Bill Belichick in 2014. This time, McCarthy’s squad hung in there until the fourth quarter, when the Patriots scored 14 unanswered points and took the lead.
Nov. 6, 2017: Lions 30, Packers 17
Rodgers was hurt, and Brett Hundley did not win.
Nov. 6, 2016: Colts 31, Packers 26
This was still a few games before the Run the Table streak began. It was hard envisioning that the Packers could make the NFC Championship when the game took place. Rodgers outplayed Andrew Luck, but the Packers fell that day. Crosby’s opening kickoff was immediately returned for a 99-yard touchdown by Jordan Todman, and the early deficit would prove too much for Team McCarthy.
Nov. 1, 2015: Broncos 29, Packers 10
After the opening the season 6-0, Green Bay returned from their bye week and got pummeled in primetime. Rodgers played one of the worst games of his career (14-for-22 for 77 yards and no touchdowns), and the eventual Super Bowl champions made his life a living hell. In following years, critics would describe this as the game where Rodgers was “figured out” and would begin his downfall. Spoiler alert: Rodgers would go on to prove that he’s still got it.
2014: Packers 1, Bye Week 0
The Packers did not lose. They also did not win. This week is irrelevant.
Nov. 4, 2013: Bears 27, Packers 20
Green Bay marched down the field easily early against the Jay Cutler-less Chicago Bears, but a 3rd and 8 sack would knock Rodgers out of the game and keep him out of action with a collarbone injury. He would eventually return and beat the Bears in Week 17 to win the NFC North.
Nov. 4, 2012: Packers 31, Cardinals 17
Green Bay defeats the John Skelton-led Cardinals!
In three of the eight losses, Rodgers either didn’t play or was knocked out of the game early. Four of the games were in primetime, but one was started by Hundley and in another Rodgers exited early. There was no correlation between bye weeks before or after the losses.
Other than missing their star quarterback for three of these losses, there don’t appear to be any strong reasons to suggest why this strange losing streak exists. Maybe the Packers just hate it getting dark earlier as much as we do. #AbolishDaylightSavingsTime
