Green Bay Packers faced another disappointing performance on offense, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 10-7 on Monday night, marking their second straight defeat. The game was tightly contested, with Green Bay trailing by three points and facing a crucial fourth-and-1 situation with less than two minutes left when running back Josh Jacobs sensed that the Eagles had deciphered their play call.
Jacobs was stopped behind the line of scrimmage and fumbled the ball, sealing the Packers” fate. “Whenever they know what we”re doing, it”ll never feel good because it changed my mind on how I”m going to run the ball,” Jacobs remarked. He noted that the ability of opponents to anticipate plays adds an additional challenge. “It”s never a good feeling,” he added.
Green Bay”s recent struggles on offense have been evident, following a surprising 16-13 loss at home against the Carolina Panthers. After a strong showing with a 35-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Packers have managed only one touchdown in their past two games. Quarterback Jordan Love expressed frustration, stating, “We”re just kind of shooting ourselves in the foot right now.” He emphasized the need to build on positive plays rather than allowing setbacks to derail their drives.
As a result of these performances, the Packers, now at 5-3-1, have slipped from the top of the NFC standings to third place in the NFC North, behind the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. The pressure is mounting, as head coach Matt LaFleur was asked post-game if he feels his job is on the line. “I”ll leave that for everybody else to decide,” LaFleur replied, indicating his focus remains on daily improvement.
Green Bay finally scored a touchdown when Jacobs crossed the goal line from six yards out with just under six minutes left in the game. Love completed 20 of 36 passes for 176 yards and was sacked three times. Notably, after throwing 13 touchdown passes in the first seven games, Love has struggled to find the end zone in the past two contests.
The Packers” receiving corps has faced significant challenges due to injuries. Tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a season-ending knee injury, while leading receiver Jayden Reed has been sidelined since mid-September. Rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden did not play due to a shoulder injury, and Romeo Doubs exited the game with a chest injury. Additionally, center Elgton Jenkins left with an ankle issue, which LaFleur described as “not promising.”
The depth issues at receiver forced the Packers to utilize Bo Melton, who has primarily played cornerback this season, in a crucial moment. Melton”s speed was seen as a potential asset in an offense that has struggled to create opportunities. LaFleur stated, “We thought we could use the speed element that he possesses to help open some things up offensively.”
The game concluded with kicker Brandon McManus attempting a 64-yard field goal that fell short. This situation echoed the Packers” previous playoff loss to the Eagles, where a combination of injuries and turnovers severely impacted their performance. Love did not throw any interceptions this game but did fumble, further exemplifying the missed chances that have plagued Green Bay”s offense.
In their last two games, the Packers have repeatedly failed to convert opportunities into points. Against the Panthers, they reached inside the 35-yard line on five of their initial six possessions but could only manage two field goals. Similarly, they struggled against the Eagles, failing to capitalize on several drives that penetrated Eagles territory.
“It”s definitely frustrating,” Love acknowledged. “We”ve just got to look ourselves in the mirror and find ways to keep improving.” As the season progresses, the Packers must address these offensive deficiencies if they hope to remain competitive in the NFC North.
