Just when you thought our kicking problems were solved, here we are again.
Kicker Trey Smack has been rather inconsistent with field goals lately and it cost the Packers.
Smacks two misses against the Lions, in a close game gave them the win.
For the Packers its an all too familiar sight for a team that has struggled with not only kicking issues but special team issues as well.
Furthermore, the Packers have gone through a number of kickers since letting go of Mason Crosby in 2022.
Smacks two misses
In the Packers 20-17 loss to the Lions, the Packers once again left points on the board.
On the first drive the Packers drove all the way down to inside the Lions 10.
Not being able to get into the end zone, the Packers decided to kick a 21-yard field goal, easy right?
Well not so fast, a penalty on the Packers pushed the ball back to make the kick a 26-yard kick, still manageable right?
Apparently not.
Smack push the kick to the right, denying the Packers chance to draw first blood in the game.
Trey Smacks second miss though is one the Packers wished they didn’t have to even try.
With the Packers already in Lions territory from the Lions turnover on downs, the Packers were able to get in range for Smack to take the lead.
But that field goal didn’t have to happen.
The play before Jordan Love threw a beautiful pass to Josh Jacobs in the endzone.
Jacobs dropped the pass, thus giving the Packers a 35 yard field goal to try.
A 35 yard field goal should be a makable field goal right?
Wrong.
Once again Smack missed the field goal pushing the ball to the right yet again.
The kicking problem
As stated earlier, the Packers have had a history of kicker issues.
But the problem is every kicker the Packers have had has their flaws.
When Crosby left, they drafted Anders Carlson.
Then the Packers tried Brayden Narveson in 2024 but after a few games where he was inconstant, the Packers let him go.
The Packers then brought in Brandon McManus thinking he was going to fix their kicking woes.
While McManus was able to fill the void in 2024 and part of 2025, multiple crucial misses against the Bears in the Wildcard round sent McManus packing in the offseason.
That brings us to Smack, who after a great start to the season has now missed multiple field goals in two of the last three games.
What should the Packers do?
The issue for the Packers is what to do?
If you noticed a pattern with the listed kickers above, the Packers were rather impatient.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst himself even admitted himself that he is very impatient when it comes to kickers.
In the past 3 years, the Packers have drafted 2 kickers and signed a veteran kicker.
The Packers have done everything they could to make sure that they solve their kicking issues.
Unfortunately it hasn’t gone away and the Packers could do one of two things with this issue.
They could do something they haven’t done yet and stick with their kicker they drafted, being patient with him.
Or they can bring in a veteran and do the same dance they’ve done for the last three years.
While I do think that bring in a veteran kicker can help, it will still bring us back to square one.
Being patient with Smack and giving him more opportunities might be the better option.
Smack has to learn from his mistakes and while he has had a bad stretch of games, GM Brian Gutekunst has to be patient.
While some might want immediate results, it is pivotal the Packers to not continually put a bandage on this issue.
