Packers October in Review: Nightmare in Titletown
At this point in the calendar year, many recognize this time as “Spooky Season,” a fun little mini season in which many embrace the change from Summer to Fall and partake in many fun activities related to Halloween and Horror. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, so much so that I recognize it from the end of August to the end of October.
I would much rather talk about that than how spooky the Green Bay Packers have looked throughout the month, but this is a football site so I will (just kidding by the way, I enjoy talking about my team, good or bad).
Week Five @ Las Vegas
In their second consecutive primetime game, and first one on Monday Night Football this season, the Packers made their first ever trip to Las Vegas in the regular season to take on the Raiders, with a familiar face on the other side: Davante Adams. The long time Packers WR (who is dearly missed by a good portion of the fanbase, and the offense) met with a few players before the game, and with Jimmy Garoppolo back at the helm after missing the previous week, was looking to have a big game. This game was also noticeable for having brothers Daniel and Anders Carlson going up against each other in a kicker’s sibling rivalry.
Once again for the Packers, the offense would get off to a slow start, but this time, it would not show up for most of the game. This was alarming considering the Raiders were a bottom three defense at the time, and the Packers struggled to move the ball against them. Jordan Love had his worst game as a starter, but further compounding matters was the absence of Aaron Jones again, and the poor play of the WRs for most of the game. Even with this, down 13-17, there would be one more drive for Love to prove that the clutch drives he put together against the Saints two weeks ago was no fluke. Driving to the Raiders 35-yard line, Love would be intercepted on 3rd and 10 in the endzone, finishing the day with three interceptions and dropping the Packers to 2-3 heading into their bye week. A bitter loss to swallow, but a chance to get things right again during the break.
Week Seven @ Denver
Coming off their bye, the team finished their western road trip in Denver to take on the Broncos. Once again, it was a theoretical good game to get the offense going again, as the Broncos were the worst defense in the league by a wide margin, even with holding the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to 19 points in their previous game. Once again, the Packers offense started off slow, with the team being shutout 9-0 at the half. Nothing was working for them, even with the return of Aaron Jones, who was only given eight carries all day for 35 yards. The offense would wake up in the second half, scoring two improbable touchdowns to take a 17-16 with about eight and a half minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The first was very reminiscent of the Fail Mary against Seattle in 2012:
The second was even more circus-like:
As it goes, the defense would surrender a field goal to give Denver a 19-17 lead with just under four minutes to go, and once again, Love would throw a game losing interception to seal the game for the Broncos. The Packers were in a free fall after starting 2-1, dropping three straight with Minnesota coming to town the next week with one of the better offenses in the league.
Week Eight vs. Minnesota
Now reeling from a promising start, the Packers returned home for a game after a whole month away against the Vikings, who were starting to turn their season around after a 1-4 start. The Packers did a good job at containing a strong offense in the first half, but yet again could not get anything going on offense, barely squeaking in a field goal by Anders Carlson to end the half down 10-3. In the second half, the Vikings turned it up and scored two passing touchdowns to go up 24-3. On the ensuing Packers possession, Love would find Romeo Doubs for a short touchdown to cut the lead to 24-10 at the end of the third quarter, but that would be the most the offense would do all game. However, the biggest story of the game would come on Minnesota’s next drive. With about 10 minutes left in the fourth, the Vikings offense would be turned upside down. Kirk Cousins would tear his Achilles and would be ruled out for the remainder of the season. It should go with praise what he had done through eight weeks of the season:
The Vikings would go on to win 24-10. The Packers were now sitting at 2-5 with no answers for their stagnant offense. Love wasn’t making the right decisions for the most part, the receivers are not getting open, and the ground game has been lacking. Aaron Jones, arguably the Packers best offensive weapon, was once again used sparingly, only getting seven carries for 29 yards. Perhaps his hamstring injury is much worse than what’s being let on but it does raise a lot of questions as to what Lafleur is doing with the offense not utilizing their best weapon more. Even more so, the development of Jordan Love has hit an impasse. He is towards the bottom of the league in EPA among qualified QBs, and has a 78.2 passer rating. While he does have a lot of things working against him, he hasn’t done himself any favors either.
Trade Deadline
On October 31, 2023, the Packers traded CB Rasul Douglas and a 2024 5th round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a 2024 3rd round pick. Douglas was picked up by the Packers in 2021. He was a steady presence in their secondary and was arguably their second-best corner, only behind Jaire Alexander. Wishing nothing but the best for him in Buffalo.
November Outlook
With the first half of the season now coming to a close, the Packers’ schedule is not getting any easier. They will take on the Rams at home in Week 9, followed by two inter-conference matchups against the Steelers in Pittsburgh and the Chargers at Lambeau, with the latter being a presumptive matchup between two QBs picked in the first round of the 2020 draft. They will close out the month with a Thanksgiving game in Detroit, where their last appearance on the holiday ended with a 40-10 drubbing at the hands of Detroit ten years ago with a Rodgers-less team (shoutout to Matt Flynn for saving the season, despite that brutal loss).
I’m not sure where this team is headed. They very well could end up with one of, if not, the worst record in the league, which may do them some good. But that might just be me talking in the moment and not looking at the bigger picture. This is still the youngest team in the league and they’re taking their licks as any team in that position would.
There were no expectations coming into the season, other than the offense looking better than what it has been looking like for the better part of a month. The defense has played fine enough, but it still has that Joe Barry stench to it that will continue until he is axed from the team (which may come at the end of the season). Matt Lafleur needs to get his team together, or he might be on the outs as well, same with GM Brian Gutekunst, whose moves have not panned out, despite the early returns in 2019-2021.
It’s going to be a rough November to early January, but I’m ready for whatever happens. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Caleb Williams in a Green and Gold uniform next season either, but that’s the bias Oklahoma fan speaking too (yes I know, he plays for USC, but he was awesome at OU).
Go Pack Go.
