The Packers last season learned the hard way what life is like without Aaron Rodgers. One would think they would have learned not to be so dependent on the quarterback to win games.
But here we are again.
Green Bay fell to a disappointing 2-2-1 after Sunday's loss in Detroit. Instead of gaining ground on the idle Bears in the division, the Packers saw the Lions move to a half-game behind them and the victorious Vikings pull even. Green Bay's trending more toward the 7-9 team they were last season, when Rodgers missed nine games, is unacceptable.
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Rodgers would be the first person to tell us that, and he has — twice. Coming off last week's 22-0 win over the Bills, he called the Packers' offense "terrible" because they had "no flow" while playing at a "non-playoff level," still not putting their playmakers in positions to succeed. Unfortunately, his not-so-subtle message to coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of the staff was not heard.
In the loss to the Lions, the Packers did not punt once, but they left a lot on the table with two Rodgers lost fumbles and five missed kicks (including one PAT) by the usually reliable Mason Crosby. Rodgers called out his own poor play early in the game and the team's offensive inconsistency.
But, along with the shoddy special teams play all-around, the defense contributed in giving up big plays to dig a deep, 24-0 hole from which Rodgers couldn't help the team completely crawl out. Although he tried. Even while missing Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison to injuries, the Packers dominated in the passing game with the rushing attack out of the game flow.
Rodgers ended up with 443 yards passing and 3 TDs, turning a potential blowout into a one-possession game. He dropped back 56 times and ran three more with his bad left knee. The Lions were quickly able go into full pass-rush mode, and they got four sacks.
Now Rodgers is on pace to sacked more than 50 times this season for the first time since 2012.
Not helping Green Bay's physical mistakes have been mental errors in crucial situations. In Detroit, the Packers logged 12 penalties for 112 yards against them, putting them in the bottom three in the league after five games.
The Packers are playing with an apparent lack of discipline and cohesiveness, leading to the shakiest of complementary football. They changed things up under McCarthy in the offseason, going back to Joe Philbin as offensive coordinator and turning to Mike Pettine at defensive coordinator. So far, the results have been mixed.
It doesn't matter if Rodgers is banged up, if others are hurt or if the Packers have advantages/disadvantages against their opponents in certain matchups. Their "we have Rodgers and you don't" approach means little in a league in which almost every team is capable of lighting up the scoreboard. It's no longer good enough in the NFC North, either.
The Vikings gave Kirk Cousins more help on Sunday with their running game and defense, and it worked. The Lions have been more focused on running the ball to assist Matthew Stafford and a leaky defense. The Bears rebuilt a village around Mitchell Trubisky on offense, and they added Khail Mack to the defense.
Meanwhile, Rodgers is being called upon to deliver mini-Hail Mary after mini-Hail Mary. The fact that he is the Packers' identity is a secret to no one, and other than QB, it's hard to point to a strength in Green Bay.
That's a problem.
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When you look at Tom Brady with the Patriots or Drew Brees with the Saints, there's a method to how those teams win with their superstar QBs. For the Packers, it's often madness, predicated on Rodgers doing something amazing. He's too hard on himself when he's a "little off," because the Packers, in more ways than one, don't have a good backup plan.
McCarthy has gotten a free pass for a long time, eight years removed from a Super Bowl. But the backhanded complaints from Rodgers and the staff shake-up that isn't working have to be red flags.
When the window for another title with Rodgers in his prime should be expanding, the Packers are seeing it shrink. Green Bay's inability to realize that and correct it has grown tiresome.
