What a blow to the Packers playoff chances. A win would have put the Packers back into a tie for first place in the division (there is only one team making the post-season from the North, and I will hear no argument…) and also would have given them the unequivocal tie-breaker over the Vikings with the season sweep. Now the Packers have an uphill battle, with the November 16th match-up with the Bears looming larger than ever. A loss there would all but seal their fate.
Some observations from the game:
- Is it just me or does Chad Clifton get a false start in every game, especially in a dome? I understand the dome is loud, but that is a reoccurring problem.
- Speaking of the offensive line, poor Aaron Rodgers was jumping round more than a Dance Dance Revolution champion trying to get out of the way of the Vikings pass rush. Is it a line problem, pick-up problem, or is Rodgers not seeing the hot reads?
- How good is that secondary of the Packers? Three more interceptions, one (Collins) returned for a TD, and the Packers still don’t win. The offense giving the other team a short field so often doesn’t help the defense either.
- The Packers finally challenged a play, their first of the season, one that they were fortunate not to win. Sure Crosby missed the field goal at the end of the game, but the Vikings could have run the clock almost all the way down before scoring (or at least another 30-45 seconds) after a first and goal on the one if the challenge was successful. I understand anything can happen in the NFL, especially around the end zone, but this was the most challengeable play of the year?
- Next week’s game against the Bears is almost a must win. A loss to Chicago would put the Packers two back with six to play, without tiebreakers against either the Bears or Vikings. Granted, they have one game left against Chicago, as well games against the Lions, Texans, and Jaguars, but they would need some help.
- Holy mackerel the penalties are killing the Packers. That’s got to be a coaching problem. Ten penalties is Raider-like in the frequency.
We’ll see how Coach Mike McCarthy can get these guys to bounce back. It is touch to win when your quarterback is often on his backside.
