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Rob Demovsky, ESPN workforce essayist
GREEN BAY, Wis. – As jubilant as the second-day games were for the Green Bay Packers, who scored rushing goals against the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, they were also a real truth-teller. a look at.
On the days when the locker room celebrations subsided and players, especially those on offense, were able to share their internal thoughts, it became clear that if they had any other inconsistent performances against their opponents. For an elite opponent like the 6-1 Detroit Lions on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET), a Brandon McManus rushing goal as the past expires is not a plethora.
On paper, insignificant seems inadequate for the Packers’ offense. Ranks sixth in the NFL in offensive points scored per game. The Packers (6-2) have posted 24 or more problems in six straight games and in seven of their eight games this season. Refuse’s alternate team has seven such games this season.
Josh Jacobs ranks fourth in the league in rushing yards.
Only the two quarterbacks have more touchdown passes than the 15 of Jordan Love, who has missed two and a half games.
Jayden Reed is the only player this season with 500 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing.
Only one tight end has more landing receptions than Tucker Kraft’s five, all from Season 4.
But, having six series against the Texans who didn’t get a primary, I’m either sick (four triples, a four and an interception) or two punts and an interception in the first three series. against the Jaguars, is intact in the minds of offensive players and coaches.
“We need to start taking responsibility for what’s happening with our offense at the beginning of the half,” Kraft said. “It’s just not us. We need to figure out what we need to do to be more successful from the start, and we need to start holding each other more accountable.”
Two weeks ago, coach Matt LaFleur decided to snatch the ball if they won the toss, which they did, rather than postpone their playoff option. His attempt to start fast failed with a three-pointer against the Texans and only a first and a punt against the Jaguars.
“Am [an] offensive boy; I always want to get the ball,” Love said going forward. “I always want to go out there, get the ball, go down and make the perfect drive and score seven to start the game. There is no better way to start the game. So obviously it hasn’t worked for us. “That’s been a goal for us – to start the game fast, get there and score points – but it just hasn’t worked out, so we’re still looking for that.”
It is no longer just the beginning of video games. There was a fourth quarter, three-and-out that gave the ball back to the Jaguars, allowing them to finish the game with 1:48 left.
“We’ve got to start dominating people and not let it come down to a field goal,” Packers left guard Elgton Jenkins said.
At this point, it’s unclear whether the groin trauma Love suffered in Jacksonville on Sunday will keep him away from home in the future, although he said Wednesday that he thought it was “realistic” that he could play. Although Malik Willis makes his 1/3 start to the season, Jenkins’ comment applies.
“It doesn’t matter who’s there, if J. Love is there, if Malik is there, we have to give Josh Jacobs and whoever our running back is spots to run through,” Jenkins said. “And we have to get past the protection.”
On Sunday, Jacobs gained yards with the wilt method. He rushed 25 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and 74 of his yards came on the next first touch. For the season, his 667 rushing yards are fourth-most in the NFL and his 328 next-touch yards are second behind Derrick Henry’s 351.
“I think we still left a lot on the table,” Jacobs said. “It’s like we’re happy with what we’ve done so far, even myself. It’s been a couple of races that I wish I could have gotten back. I wish I could have pushed it a little differently and stuff like that. I’m still chasing that, man. I’m definitely proud of what we have done as a team.
On the other hand, it won’t be as easy as leaning even more on Jacobs and the running game, which the Packers did in the two starts Love missed earlier this season because of his sprained left knee. That’s because Jacobs has trauma to his ankle, although he said that won’t keep him from playing. 3 fifths in their offensive sequence: Jenkins (gluteus), left grab from Rasheed Walker (knee) and a half. Josh Myers (wrist) – are also in the trauma file.
In Willis’s two starts, the Packers ran designed runs 68% of the time and averaged 224.5 yards per game compared to 41% and 134.3 in Love’s six starts.
The Packers can help themselves by being more efficient in the red zone and on cash downs (1/3 and quarter). They rank twenty-fifth in pink zone landing percentage, fifteenth in third-down conversion rate, and seventeenth in fourth place. I’m sick.
If Sunday’s game against the Lions turns into a shootout, and according to Detroit’s 52 things after the end that could be the case, the Packers might want to play their highest game on offense yet this season.
“I think the consistency is definitely the most frustrating part,” Love said. “It’s part of the game, though. There are ups and downs. It’s definitely never going to be perfect, but I think when we know that there are mistakes and mental mistakes that we’re making on our part, those are things we can do.” clean.
“That’s the frustrating phase, so let’s just look for that consistency, look to bounce back, get stronger at it, but I don’t think we’ve reached our peak performance yet, so we’re certainly still trying to look for that.” that.”
