The Green Bay Packers’ season ended on Saturday after the team suffered a franchise-record 18-point collapse in the playoffs. The first half ended with the Packers holding a comfortable 21–3 lead, scoring touchdowns on all three of their opening drives. However, once the second half began, Green Bay seemingly forgot how to play offense, scoring only once after halftime as the Bears come back to win 27-31.
There were a few other issues that contributed to the collapse, but ultimately it falls completely and utterly on the offense — and, in particular, head coach Matt LaFleur.
Packers Special Teams Wasn’t Alone This Time
Green Bay’s special teams, once again in all-too-familiar fashion, let the team down. This time it wasn’t punts or kick returns (although it came close). No, this time it was the field goals.
Brandon McManus missed a total of three kicks in this game. That alone accounted for a seven-point swing. Making those kicks likely allows Green Bay to win, or at the very least have a much better chance with even one of them converted.
But that’s not what happened.
Just before halftime, LaFleur was asked what would need to happen in the second half to maintain the lead. He mentioned how the Bears are never out of it and emphasized the need to continue running the ball and scoring.
That did not happen.
Offensive Collapse
Jordan Love was not at fault in this game. In fact, he played a very solid game overall. However, the offensive line began to fall apart — particularly in the second half. Rasheed Walker consistently found himself in unfavorable situations, leading to Love being pressured far more frequently.
Those offensive line struggles also dried up the running lanes quickly. As a result, Josh Jacobs didn’t find the same success he had in the first half. This consistently put the Packers behind schedule, which is never a good thing for this offense.
Green Bay eventually started to move the ball again, but by the time they found any sort of rhythm, Chicago had already seized the momentum. The Packers finally scored with 6:36 left in the game on a Matthew Golden touchdown — his first career NFL score. Green Bay didn’t score anymore points as McManus missed the extra point.
A Stunning Collapse Closes the Door on This Chapter
And opens another.
There are countless questions surrounding this team heading into the offseason, but the most pressing one is whether or not Matt LaFleur returns as head coach. Honestly, this felt like the kind of loss that could cost him his job. A collapse of this magnitude shouldn’t be acceptable.
Of course, the rest of the offseason now looms large — NFL free agency, the NFL Draft, and everything in between. All of that coverage will continue, and you can find it here at PackersTalk as we turn the page and head into the offseason.
No matter what, and always,
Go Pack Go!
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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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