The Green Bay Packers Magic is Gone. I mean, there are usually defining moments in a season, in a game, that makes the Green Bay Packers THE Green Bay Packers. These magic moments are moments that don’t necessarily save a season – though they have in the past. No, these magic moments are the moments that give the fans, players, coaches etc. hope for the present and for the future. The magic moment has not happened this season. What do I mean by “magic moment”?
These magic moments can range from a single play to a stretch of games that have a certain theme. These moments have been known to inspire and have been called even miracles. I can go as far as to list magic moments for the Packers in every season since 2009.
2009
In 2008, the Green Bay Packers lost seven games by a single possession score. They went 6-10 that season. The 2009 season was filled with hope from game one when the Packers beat the Bears in the last two minutes of the game. Aaron Rodgers threw a beautiful deep touchdown to Greg Jennings to win the game. This was a defining moment because in 2008 that was the type of game they would have lost.
2010
This season’s magic moment (other than the postseason run to win a championship) was a mix of two games. The Packers traveled to New England to play the dominant Patriots with Aaron Rodgers out and backup QB Matt Flynn in. The Packers lost that game but built up enough momentum to go on a run. That is when the Packers went from an average team to a hot team on their way to being Super Bowl Champions.
2011
This Packers team was dominant and still had many of those magic moments, but the one that comes to mind the most is the final drive against the New York Giants in which Aaron Rodgers led the Packers down the field to allow for a game-winning field goal by Mason Crosby.
2012
The Green Bay Packers started the season 2-3 this season and was looking somewhat lost. However, when going up against the (at the time) dominant Houston Texans who only allowed six touchdowns on the season up to this point, Aaron Rodgers came out and tied the Packers passing touchdown record with six touchdown passes in a dominant win over the Texans.
2013
There were really two really great magic moments that need to be mentioned from this season:
- Matt Flynn’s comeback against the Dallas Cowboys! Thing of beauty!
- Rodgers to Cobb to “dagger” the Chicago Bears to win the division.
2014
This season was filled with all kinds of magical moments including Rodgers’ famous “R.E.L.A.X.” However, the best moment came in the last game of the season against the Lions. Rodgers came back from a terrible leg injury to lead the Packers to a win and a deep run into the playoffs.
2015
The Miracle at Motown from the Hail Mary King himself.
2016
The Run The Table season!
2017
The Overtime thriller versus the Cincinnati Bengals was the most magical part of this season. Any of the magic from this season was lost once Rodgers broke his clavicle, sadly, and the Packers didn’t make the playoffs.
2018
This season seemed to only have one magical moment in it and after that it seemed to have died. The magic moment was in week one against the Bears where Rodgers injured his leg and was carted off of the field, just to come back in the second half to have an amazing comeback against the Bears. This is the one season that the Packers were not able to use the magical moment to go on a run. The team was just too bad.
2019
This season was filled with magical moments based on gritty performances that led the Packers to a 13-3 record. The season itself was magical because of what the team had to overcome from the year prior.
2020
The magical moment from this season was the six-game winning streak at the end of the season to clinch the 1st seed to the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers’ MVP performance.
2021
The magical moment this season was the game against the 49ers. The Packers drove down the field in less than 40 seconds to kick the game-winning field goal and finally win in California.
Why Do These “Magical Moments” Matter for 2022?
The Packers haven’t had a magical moment this season. The team isn’t playing with heart and maybe they aren’t good. This season is different in there hasn’t been that play, that game, that stretch that makes you think that this is the Green Bay Packers. As a Packers fan, I get the impression that the Packers need that moment. It may be already too late.
They need that moment to build something even if that means building something for next season. I have seen some Packers’ fans and even media members talk about hoping the Packers lose out for a higher draft pick. That is not what winning franchises do. I want to see my team win! A lot more can be gained from winning than losing. The Packers just need that “magical moment” to hang their hat on so to speak. If they don’t, it’s not only going to be a long season and off-season, it might be a very long next few years.
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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