If the Green Bay Packers are to recover their season after a 2-3 start heading into the bye week, their defense understands they have the responsibility to bear the burden.
“I think at this point it’s pretty obvious that the defense has to not give up any touchdowns,” cornerback Jaire Alexander said after Monday night’s 17-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. “I think that’s the part of being self-critical of our defense because the offense is pretty young and they’re still figuring out their mojo, so the defense, we gotta do more to score and stop them from scoring.”
The Packers’ defense certainly has had its struggles early this season — see, Week 4 vs. Detroit — but Monday’s loss wasn’t on Joe Barry’s crew. Green Bay’s defense held the Raiders to 17 points, allowed Davante Adams to earn just 45 yards, forced an interception, generated six sacks, and allowed 279 yards with 19 first downs. Generally, that’s enough to win in the year 2023.
When the offense continues to struggle, it’s not that significant.
Green Bay scored three or fewer first-half points for the third straight game. Coming out of the gate like a tortoise has put pressure on Jordan Love to make plays. He’s faltered.
Monday, he threw three interceptions on 16-of-30 passing with zero TDs and 182 passing yards. Maybe it’s unfair to compare, but Aaron Rodgers never had a game with zero pass TDs and three INTs during his time with the Packers. The last Packers QB with zero pass TDs and three-plus INTs was Brett Hundley in Week 11, 2017, per NFL Research.
Love has thrown six interceptions in the past three games after avoiding one in the first two tilts. In the past three tilts, the Packers QB has generated a 57.7 passer rating. Only Mac Jones‘ 55.4 is worse over that span.
“We had numerous opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them. And I personally didn’t do enough,” Love admitted following the defeat, according to the team’s official website.
With Aaron Jones missing action, the Packers’ offense is an amalgam of inefficient runs, Love heaving deep prayers that (mostly) fall incomplete, and the QB forcing balls into traffic. Nothing is easy for head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense right now.
The Packers may benefit from the early bye week as they strive to maintain their playoff position. LaFleur should use the week off to introspectively assess what he can anticipate from his young quarterback and devise an offensive strategy that highlights these expectations in the future.
“Clearly, we’re in search of some answers at the moment,” said LaFleur. “I believe this week will provide us the chance to revisit and review–we tried to do that during the mini-break–but we need to discover something that will invigorate us, give us a jump-start.”
The Packers come out of their bye with games against the 1-4 Denver Broncos and 1-4 Minnesota Vikings (who will be without Justin Jefferson). Those are two defenses that could help LaFleur and Love get back on track after a wobbly start to the season.
