Packers stunned by Jets at Lambeau

An unproductive offensive performance from the Green Bay Packers led to boos from the home crowd and a 27-10 loss to the New York Jets at Lambeau Field on Oct. 16.

Offense was once again a major issue for Green Bay, as it has mustered just one touchdown in the last three halves. Boos were loud at Lambeau, something that typically is not heard in Green Bay, after seven straight drives to open the game resulted in no points for the team.

Even though the Packers won the time of possession, the Jets were able to match the Packers’ total yardage of 278. Rushing was the major disparity in the game, as Jets rookie running back Breece Hall ran for 116 yards. Second-year running back Michael Carter added another 40 yards, as the Jets totaled 179 rushing yards on the day. The Packers recorded just 60 yards rushing, with A.J. Dillon leading the crew with 41 yards.

“When everybody in the building knows you are going to run the football, and they are able to do it, that’s a little discouraging,” said LaFleur.

Scoring was hard to come by, as the Jets scored the first points of the game on a 32-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein with just 5:50 left in the first half.

During Green Bay’s responding drive, Rodgers completed passes of 6 and 16 yards to tight end Robert Tonyan, before missing receiver Romeo Doubs on fourth-and-four.

Taking over at its own 46-yard line with 2:20 remaining in the half, New York drove down to the Packers’ 35-yard line on the back of Hall’s 13 total yards and a 6-yard reception from wide receiver Braxton Berrios. The drive culminated in a 53-yard field goal attempt, in which Zuerlein missed to the left.

The Packers then went six plays in 31 seconds, scoring a Mason Crosby 29-yard field goal to get on the board. Tonyan, Lazard and Cobb were the beneficiaries of Rodgers’ passes, with Tonyan’s 22 receiving yards on the drive being the main factor.

Berrios opened the scoring in the second half for New York, as the 27-year old receiver took a Wilson pitch 20 yards for a touchdown. That scoring drive included Jets wide receiver Corey Davis recording 52 yards on two receptions.

Almost immediately after the Jets scored, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams sacked Rodgers on third down, forcing Green Bay to punt. On the subsequent play, Jets defensive end Michael Clemons blocked Pat O’Donell’s punt, which was returned for a touchdown.

Down 17-3, the Packers put together their first touchdown scoring drive of the day, as Rodgers completed a 25-yard back shoulder touchdown to Lazard. New York quickly took back control of the game though, marching down the field in five plays, culminating in a 34-yard rushing touchdown for Hall.

The Packers then began to drive, mostly on the arm of Rodgers and his 46 passing yards. Five receivers were involved on the drive — most notably Amari Rodgers, recording his first reception of the season, for 14 yards. The drive ended though as Green Bay was unable to convert on fourth-and-14 from the New York 37-yard line.

Up 24-10, the Jets put the dagger into Green Bay, with a 14-play, 6 minute, 30 second drive, tacking on a field goal and going up three scores with just over 2½ minutes left in the game.

While the drive was the dagger, it did produce something to build off of for LaFleur and the rest of the Packers coaching staff. Faced with a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, the Packers stopped the Jets on six consecutive plays to prevent a touchdown.

“I was proud of our guys’ effort,” said LaFleur. “I thought at least that was a good sign that they continued to fight until the end.”

An injury to Rodgers’ thumb was a point of discussion during practice and while Rodgers was not in MVP form, he went a respectable 26-for-41 with 246 passing yards and one touchdown. After the game, Rodgers was quick to use his thumb as an excuse for missing some throws.

“It’s a little sore,” said Rodgers, when asked if the injury affected any throws. “Maybe a couple, but not too many.”

The aforementioned Williams was a major thorn in the Packers’ side all day, as the Alabama product recorded two sacks to lead the team, which recorded four. With Williams’ dominance on the inside, the Packers were forced to substitute Royce Newman out in favor of Jake Hanson. Hanson was injured shortly before halftime, bringing Newman back in the game.

“They brought about two or three pressures maybe, it felt like all day,” said Rodgers. “It was (a) four-man rush. They brought some twists, but we knew they were like 50% twists in certain situations based on the analytics. So we just didn’t execute that very well.”

Another major injury for concern for Green Bay is wide receiver Randall Cobb, who was forced out of the game with an ankle injury. Rodgers was quick to show concern for the veteran receiver.

“I think he thought that was it, that he’d broken it, but I don’t think that’s the case,” said Rodgers. “It’s tough, but he was in better spirits in the locker room, and I think you can put guys down on the IR now (for) four weeks, so that might be a possibility.”

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com