The Green Bay Packers looked in control for most of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. That’s what having a reliably good defense does for a team. Yet, one can’t help but notice the offense’s failures to dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s.”
On several occasions, the Packers had opportunities to step on the figurative throats of their opponent, but they couldn’t. Credit to Broncos, who had a clear ball-control gameplan and executed it well, hoping to contain the Packers’ offense in the interim. Even so, had the Packers capitalized on a few more plays – and extend a few more drives – the game could have been more lopsided.
For starters, Packers receivers outside of Davante Adams struggled catching the football with consistency. Geronimo Allison dropped a first-down pass that would have set the team up in a more manageable 2nd-and-5.
Second-year receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling also dropped a ball thrown right into his breadbasket, which would have moved the chains on third down.
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t entirely crisp either. He airmailed two throws: one over the middle on 3rd-and-13 to Allison and another down the sideline intended for tight end Robert Tonyan, although it appeared Tonyan slowed momentarily during the play.
It was a soggy field at Lambeau Field, so the weather could have been a factor. Still, for the Packers to maintain their winning ways, they will need to begin playing a cleaner brand of football.
The Packers are on a short week hosting the 1-2 Philadelphia Eagles Thursday. Despite their struggles, the Eagles have plenty of talent to make the Packers pay for failing to execute. As Mike McCarthy was always fond of saying, it’s about the fundamentals.
