There was a moment toward the end of the third quarter when it looked like the Packers were going to get things back on track against the Panthers at home. But the Packers special teams and defense let the Panthers right past them like Roger Dorn trying to reign in a hot shot down the third base line. I could almost hear someone yell, “Ole!â€
In a must-win game that would give the Packers a chance to regain ground against at least one NFC Norris opponent, the Packers let all hope of the playoffs go when Jake Delhomme found Steve Smith on the Packers’ 1-yard line on two straight possessions. The second completion setup the go-ahead and winning touchdown for Carolina.
In an odd déjà vu kind of situation, the Panthers fought back against a well oiled offensive Packer machine with two eerily similar touchdown scoring drives. Both began with 50 yard kick-off returns, which were followed by long downfield connections to Steve Smith, and were finished off by DeAngelo Williams touchdown runs.
These two scoring drives were an eerie reminder of just how disappointing the defense has been in close games. With four losses this season coming by four points or less, the Defense has failed to step up in crucial situations and make stops when the team most needs them. If there is anyone to put the blame on for the Packers being a mediocre team in a mediocre division, a good chunk of the blame lies squarely on that unit’s shoulders.
The Defense can’t shoulder all the blame. There are bigger issues facing this team beyond just that. Luckily, well hopefully, some of these issues can be worked out in time, because they are Rodgers’ problems.
Though I think Rodgers is already a phenomenal quarterback in his first year as a starter in the NFL, he has no 2 minute drill poise. In nearly every close loss this season, Rodgers has looked like a completely different man in the pocket when the team is in a close game with less than two minutes remaining. If he wants to be the man with the ball in his hands, he’s going to have to find a way to engineer better drives when the team needs them if they want to make the playoffs or win a Super Bowl under his tenure as a starter.
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