The Green Bay Packers are currently in the middle of a crushing two game losing streak. The Packers have not only lost two games in a row but both games have been deflating and costly losses. Green Bay let a 9 point and a 10 point lead slip through their fingers against Denver and Chicago. Both losses were filled with costly injuries. Right now, the best remedy for the Packers is a “W” in the win column.
Despite the painful last two weeks, the Packers still have a chance. The Packers control their own destiny to a playoff berth. The NFC North title hopes are still alive but Green Bay will need to win out and the Bears to lose to the 49ers and the Lions. It is not an unrealistic scenario but it is no guarantee. With the injuries mounting and two painful losses in a row, it is critical Matt LaFleur makes sure his guys know that they are still very much alive.
It was not too long ago that the Green Bay suffered a two game losing streak. With back to back losses to Carolina and Philadelphia, filled with offensive blunders and poor execution, the Packers rattled off four straight wins. The point is this team has been hit with adversity this season and responded well. More to that point, Green Bay was a miracle away from beating the Bears without Micah Parsons, Jordan Love, Evan Williams, Zach Tom, Tucker Kraft, and Devonte Wyatt. The Packers are awfully close but they need something to go their a way, like winning a game.
Packers Should Focus On the Little Things
The best thing the Packers can do with the way the last two games have gone is to focus on the little things. Green Bay needs to prioritize the details such as redzone execution, minimizing self-inflicted mistakes, and ball control. It is easy for a team to forget that the keys to winning a game are checking the boxes on simple fundamentals. The Packers were 0-5 in the redzone in Chicago. Josh Jacobs fumbled at the two yard line. Romeo Doubs misjudged the onside kick. Love threw two interceptions against the Broncos.
This short lists of events that went against the Packers are areas of focus that can be improved. There is little doubt that Josh Jacobs will stress the importance of protecting the football, especially in the redzone. Romeo Doubs took ownership of his onside kick mistake in his postgame interview. LaFleur did not hold back in his postgame interview when asked about the redzone woes against the Bears. Green Bay is not dancing around the obvious errors which is important since that is where the improvement needs to come from.
The Packers need to right the ship but the focus should not be on winning because their playoff chances depend on it. The focus should be on winning because this team needs to have that feeling again and they need to remember that winning in the NFL comes from executing the critical details. A win would go a long way for this team but most importantly, it needs to be a message to this team that they can still achieve their goals.
