After starting the season winning 11 out of its first 15 games, the Green Bay Packers have lost the last two games to division rivals Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, entering the playoffs on a two-game losing streak.
Going 1-5 in the NFC North this season, Green Bay did not really come away with a signature victory over a competitive opponent this season. It did come away with a victory over the four-seeded Los Angeles Rams early in the season, but that was with a litany of injuries for Los Angeles. Even though Green Bay didn’t come away with a signature victory, for the most part it beat the teams that it needed to beat.
After losing two in a row to enter the playoffs though, there are a number of question marks surrounding the team as it has to travel to Philadelphia.
“I think the guys individually – everybody has to look at themselves and say, 'OK, what do we want to do, you know, how far do we want to take this,'” said Packers defensive back Xavier McKinney.
The Packers have seen Philadelphia before but in a much different capacity. With the Week 1 matchup taking place in Brazil and both teams going through a number of injuries since then, this upcoming matchup should be very different.
Philadelphia is going to run the ball, and based on what we have seen this season, it is going to be very effective in doing so. Saquon Barkley has been the best running back in the season this year, so Green Bay will have to win this game with its pass rush. If Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is comfortable in the backfield, Philadelphia will be able to move the ball with both the run and the pass.
For that pass rush to be effective though, it seems like there needs to be an attitude shift for the defense. Over the past two games, the Packers have only come away with two sacks. While Caleb Williams did not particularly throw the ball well in the Week 18 matchup, Sam Darnold had a career day in the Week 17 matchup.
“We have the guys, we have the coaches, we have everything that we need right here,” said McKinney. “Mentally, we have to be ready to lock in and be ready to go. That is just what it is.”
On top of the pass rush needing to find its footing, it seems like the passing offense for Green Bay needs to be kicked into gear. Over the past two games, Green Bay has totaled just 369 passing yards and one touchdown.
After paying Jordan Love in the offseason, production needs to come from the passing attack for Green Bay to have a strong, balanced offense. Like Philadelphia, Green Bay should be able to run the ball effectively, but if the pass game is humming, the offense is next to unstoppable.
“It has been a little stagnant and it feels like we are just missing right now,” said Love. “We are obviously missing some of these (opportunities) that we were hitting on before. Like I said before, it is not like we are far off – it is not like everything we are running is not working. Stuff is working and we just have to go out there and make plays. I have to be great … I think it is a lot of stuff that we will clean up. I definitely don’t think it is a problem. We have to find a way to make those plays and execute.”
Packers need wake-up call before playoffs
