Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said his staff counted a half-dozen drops during his his team’s 23-22 win over the Detroit Lions on Monday night at Lambeau Field.
Players from all three skill position groups dropped passes from Aaron Rodgers, who – according to LaFleur – needed a lot more help from his supporting cast.
“We counted six dropped passes, so he’s got to get help,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “I don’t care what quarterback in this league, you have to get help from your supporting cast as well. I thought he threw some unbelievable balls with tremendous accuracy, and our guys have to make those catches.”
Running back Aaron Jones, receivers Geronimo Allison, Jake Kumerow and Darrius Shepherd and tight end Jimmy Graham all dropped catchable passes.
Jones and Graham dropped touchdown passes in the end zone, Allison and Kumerow both had drops on third down and Shepherd’s drop resulted in an interception. Even Allen Lazard, the unexpected hero of the night, couldn’t bring in his first target of the night.
Luckily for the Packers, the missed opportunities on offense didn’t result in a home loss.
Jones was wide open down the seam on his lone drop. Graham had at least two opportunities in the red zone to make a play on the football and came up empty on both. Allison, who has struggled all season, had two more drops, including one on third down that ended the offense’s first drive.
Shepherd nearly cost the the Packers a chance to win the game when he slipped down inside the 5-yard line and watched helplessly as the ball ricocheted off his helmet and into the arms of Lions cornerback Justin Coleman, ending what could have been the go-ahead scoring drive.
The Packers needed far more consistency and reliability from targets in the passing game with Davante Adams (turf toe) out for the second straight game.
Despite the drops, Rodgers still finished the night completing 24 of 39 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He would have thrown for well over 300 yards – and possibly three or more touchdowns – had his receivers held onto the football better on Monday night.
