My two mantras heading into this weekend’s Wild Card game were to get off to a fast start and protect the ball. It took one play for both of those to go out the window.
One play.
It’s hard to lose a game on one play, but that unlikely scenario unfolded on Sunday. We can argue whether Keisean Nixon recovered the fumble or if Oren Burks should have been flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit, but that’s football. The notoriously slow-starting Philadelphia Eagles were set up to strike first, and they pounced.
Little did we know things would only go downhill from there. I’ve had root canals that were more enjoyable than watching this game. Like we saw all season long against elite opponents, the Green Bay Packers couldn’t get out of their own way. Slow offensive starts, special teams penalties, a missed chip-shot field goal, and personal fouls by the defense allowed the Eagles to tack on a couple of field goals late when the Pack had cut the lead to six.
But most damning was the ongoing lack of rhythm in the passing game, an offense that thrived when Josh Jacobs was rolling but was never quite able to marry the passing game with it. I’m not joining the chorus of Packer fans who think Jordan Love is the problem. Was it a disappointing season for him? Yes. Could he use more top-end talent and more creative playcalling to help him out? Also, yes.
Of course, losing Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs to injuries wasn’t helpful — Love’s top three WRs were unavailable down the stretch. Even more damaging was Elgton Jenkins’ injury in the first quarter. With his backup, first-round pick Jordan Morgan, in street clothes, the Pack had to turn to rookie sixth-round pick Travis Glover, who was nowhere near ready for that Eagles front. Three penalties later, the Packers replaced him and knew they had no shot trying to run between the tackles the rest of the way.
The one shining light was the defense’s play, which kept the team in the game when it felt like they should be down four scores. They held Saquon Barkley to a yard under his average yards per carry and were able to get off the field all afternoon, holding the Eagles to two for 11 on third-down conversions.
Green Bay wasn’t able to get any turnovers, though. The Eagles were great at protecting the ball all season, and those personal fouls on Nixon and T.J. Slaton were damaging, even if they were both a little ticky-tacky. They turned opportunities to get off the field into a new set of downs, putting Philadelphia into field goal range.
When the Packers got knocked out of the playoffs last year, there was a ton of enthusiasm for 2024. Few expected the Pack to reach the playoffs in Love’s first year as a starter, let alone demolish the second seed and take the San Francisco 49ers to the final minute. That late run set up expectations that this team would take the next step and that a change in leadership on defense would propel them into contention.
The feelings are very different on this first day of Green Bay’s offseason. Yes, they were the youngest team in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and they played like it. Maybe it’s time to bring in a few more veterans to complement their abundant youth. The front office will have cap space to work with for the first time in forever.
The good news is the defense is legit. Jeff Hafley’s group got better as the season went along, and the three rookie starters all look like they will be core pieces going forward. Josh Jacobs was a revelation, and Tucker Kraft emerged as a potential star at tight end. Despite his missed FG on Sunday, Brandon McManus gave the team the reliable kicker they sought, and you have to believe the team will keep him around.
This offseason, the team will need to do some soul-searching on how to fix the passing game. You can argue that every WR on the roster regressed this season. LaFleur bristles when he’s asked about not having a No. 1 wide receiver, but the truth is, I’m not sure they have a reliable No. 2 receiver.
It’s unlikely that Christian Watson will be available until sometime after the beginning of the 2025 season, if at all. Doubs’ recurring concussions are a giant concern, coupled with his midseason funk that caused him to be suspended for a game. Reed has shown flashes of being a key piece in the passing game, but drops are still an issue. Dontayvion Wicks may still emerge, but as of now looks like a solid third or fourth guy in an offense.
The Packers must find one or two high-end receivers in the draft or free agency to help out their young franchise QB. There’s not a lot out there on the street; I can’t see this team opening the vault for a Tee Higgins. But, man, you look at the other NFC playoff teams, and every one has a difference-maker at the position. It’s time to bring in some strong competition.
Finally, LaFleur must look in the mirror and realize he also regressed this season. He couldn’t figure out how to get the best out of Love and Jacobs. His playcalling lacked the creativity and inventiveness he’s shown in the past. He struggled with in-game decisions, challenges, and time management. He couldn’t figure out why his team was slow to get started every week, and his players’ discipline problems were a talking point all season. His 70-38 record is outstanding. His 3-5 playoff record is not.
Certainly, 2025 will be a crucial year for this team. Mike Holmgren always said you really know what you have in a quarterback after his third year as a starter. Aaron Rodgers won a Super Bowl in his third year. This team has an opportunity to make things easier for Love by surrounding him with more proven, reliable players and leaning in to his strengths (more play-action and RPOs would be a good place to start). He needs to take a big step himself, and I believe he has the talent to do just that.
Normally, you’d feel pretty hopeful after an 11-win season. But a 1-5 divisional record and a 0-6 mark against the top three teams in the NFC, punctuated by an embarrassing, toothless loss in the postseason, has most fans wondering whether the Pack is actually close to making that leap into contention.