Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers Beat Themselves Again

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers suffered self-inflicted wounds all season. They never played great against good teams and beat themselves with mental mistakes and missteps.

As the season progressed, fans assumed the Packers would evolve and put those nasty habits behind them. Instead, when they had the opportunity to play good teams and put the “beating themselves” narratives to rest, the Packers failed to do so again, falling to the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon.

No one player or coach was at fault for the loss. Instead, culpability started at the top with Matt LaFleur and Rich Bisaccia and fell to the bottom of the roster with Malik Heath and Kadeem Telfort.

There are only two blameless people: first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and first-year Packers running back Josh Jacobs. Hafley and Jacobs brought it like this was the last game of football they would ever play again.

Hafley’s defense only allowed 15 points, excluding the first touchdown the Eagles scored when the Packers’ special teams gifted them the ball on the doorstep of the end zone. Hafley’s unit consistently held Philadelphia’s stud receivers and quarterback in check. Meanwhile, Jacobs ran with heart against a tough Eagles front.

Unfortunately, the rest of the team did not share their moxy.

The Packers would have had to pull off an upset to beat the Eagles. They have one of the NFL’s top defenses and an offense littered with stars who can make big plays. Still, the Packers did not help themselves.

It started from the first play. Keisean Nixon is a former All-Pro returner. However, Packers third-round pick Oren Burks rocked Nixon, who put the ball on the turf. The officials ruled it Philadelphia’s ball despite a clear review of Nixon getting it back and no clear review where the Eagles possessed it. The Birds scored easily, just three plays later.

The refs may have screwed the Packers on that play. Still, a returner’s primary job is to secure possession for his team. When he fumbles the ball on the opening kickoff, it’s hard to blame anyone else.

Nixon also made a crucial mistake when the Eagles were driving in the second half, and the Packers needed a stop to potentially get the ball back to take the lead. He threw running back Saquon Barkley to the ground at least five yards out of bounds, allowing Philadelphia’s drive to continue. The Eagles kicked a field goal to make it a two-score game.

The Packers continued to beat themselves with undisciplined penalties throughout the game. T.J. Slaton was called for another unnecessary roughness penalty after Green Bay had Barkley stopped for a loss. The Eagles ended that drive by tacking on a field goal to put the game out of reach.

Green Bay’s lack of viable replacements also highlights the team’s mentality. The Packers were decimated by injuries throughout the game. Defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins went down in the first quarter. Later in the game, they lost wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed. In the waning seconds, they had to cart center Josh Myers off. Even Jacobs left the game late.

It’s challenging to overcome all those injuries. At points, the Packers were trotting out Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Heath at wide receiver. Meanwhile, they played third-string guard Kadeem Telfort while Chris Brooks was in the backfield. Jordan Love didn’t have much to work with by the end of the game.

The scoresheet might have looked different, but the Packers played the same self-destructive brand of football they played against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Eagles earlier this year.

It’s not a lack of execution; it’s just who they are.

The Packers repeatedly hurt themselves against superior teams this year. The first play was a harbinger for a young Packers team, and they failed to lift themselves up and overcome their shortcomings at any point in this game. Now they get an early offseason to figure out how to clean up those bad habits.

All stats and data via ESPN and PFF unless otherwise noted.

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