The list of L.A. excuses was long.
False starts, delay of game laundry, sacks, poor run defense gap control and gambles in the secondary, but as Aaron Rodgers said after the Packers soiled themselves against the Chargers last week, they're just excuses.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur warned everyone heading west a good season can flip in an instant and the 7-2 Packers return home to make sure the one-time dismal showing doesn't turn into a losing streak as they welcome the 5-3 Carolina Panthers to Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon at 3:25 PM. Another loss will have the Packers brooding for two weeks before they head west again to take on the still unbeaten 49ers in Santa Clara. That 7-2 start could flip to 7-4 and pull the Packers down into the mosh pit of NFC teams fighting for a playoff spot if they're not careful, and more focused than they were the last time out.
Carolina has survived the loss of former MVP Cam Newton after two weeks, now done for the season with a foot injury. Second year quarterback Kyle Allen, undrafted out of Houston, has gone 5-1 as the starter. He's been steady, but not spectacular. That has been left to Christian McCaffrey who is having an MVP worthy season himself. Ron Rivera's club started 0-2 and has beaten four meddling teams in Arizona, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and Tennessee. Their signature win came at Houston in late September. Against another playoff contender, they got embarrassed by the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago, 51-13.
So how will the 16th meeeting (GB leads 9-6 in series) between these teams play out?
When the Packers have the ball:
The offense couldn't have been more dysfunctional than it was against the Chargers, 50 yards in the first half, one trip inside the red zone all day. This has to be a day for Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to get busy again. The Panthers are vulnerable on the ground, ranking even below the Packer defense statistically. A heavy dose of carries should keep the offense even with or ahead of the chains and Rodgers' quick passing attack should allow them to extend drives. Facing long down and distances will play into the Panther hands as they lead the league with 34 sacks and that pressure has helped the back end pick off a dozen passes, second best in the NFL. Seven different players have at least three sacks each so the offensive line can't focus in on just one pass rusher. Another week of toe healing for Davante Adams will help and if he's given extra attention by the Carolina secondary, the rest of the targets must win their matchups. Rodgers barely looked for Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow and Geronimo Allison last week. One if not two of them must get involved downfield. The Panthers have held only one team under 20 points all season.
When the Panthers have the ball:
Allen is understandably on a safety leash. The Panthers average just 206.9 passing yards per game. He has one solid perimeter target in D.J. Moore (45 receptions) and a tight end who is still very capable in veteran Greg Olsen but let's not kid ourselves. The one player the Packers must control is McCaffrey. 881 yards rushing (2nd behind Minnesota's Dalvin Cook by 8 yards), another 363 on 42 receptions has him leading the league in yards from scrimmage and an NFL best 13 touchdowns, three last week. Big time numbers from a dynamic matchup nightmare. He's accounted for 45.7 % of Carolina's total offense but he's also played 94% of the offensive snaps which might come back to hurt them by December. Look for more safeties than linebackers dealing with him in coverage. If the Packer run defense continues to have gap breakdowns up front, he'll squeeze through holes and be very dangerous in the second level and beyond. Mike Pettine's unit should be able to capitalize of Allen's inexperience which tends to have him look longer than he should downfield and hold the ball long enough for pressure to reach him, he's been sacked 20 times. Last week Phillip Rivers recognized fronts and coverages expertly, something Allen isn't quite as equipped to do.
You hate to say this is a must game, those arrive only when facing elimination, but this one comes close. The Packers responded to their first loss to Philadelphia with a resounding performance on the road against a good Dallas team. Carolina doesn't quite measure up to the Cowboys in my opinion and this one is at home. I expect the Packers to rebound again, 26-21.
The weekly odds and ends involve jurisprudence and international intrigue.
Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith almost always meet reporters together but on Thursday, it was Preston alone. Za'Darius, through his attorney, made an initial court appearance on charges of speeding and possession of marijuana after his traffic stop in Racine County last month. Pulled over for doing 81 in a 60 zone, officers found hollowed out cigars filled with pot and some synthetic THC in the trunk of his car while traveling home from Chicago with rookie teammates Rashan Gary and Kingsley Keke. Police body camera video was released this week showing all three players getting handcuffed before the citations were issued and they were released. Smith told officers, "put it on me" which spared the rookies a possession charge and he did apoligize for the incident last week after the game in Los Angeles. Through his attorney, Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was recessed until December 12. The team is withholding comment but the NFL office will likely have something to say when the case is adjudicated.
Is London calling? The Packers are the only NFL team that has yet to play a game in London and this week, the NFL's UK Managing Director, Alistair Kirkwood made it clear they'd love to have the Cheeseheads come across the pond.
"There is a desire to say we've had all 32 teams", Kirkwood told a British podcast, "it's up to us to make it happen." He suggested another team "volunteer" a home game against the Packers to bring Green Bay to England. Packers President Mark Murphy wants to take the team but has repeatedly said the franchise will never surrender a home game in the league's smallest market. It would be too big a financial hit to the region. Many thought this year's game against the Chargers in Los Angeles would be the perfect opportunity, until L.A. welcome at least 70% of their gate wearing green and gold last week. In 2020, the Packers have road games against the Saints, Buccaneers, Texans, Colts and an NFC West team based on where they finish this season, right now that would be another trip to San Francisco. Any takers?
