Packers head into their bye week
seeking to replicate their late-season surge from last year
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[November 05, 2024]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers head into their bye
week having complicated their path to an NFC North title after
losing at home to the Minnesota Vikings and division-leading Detroit
Lions.
But they’re in a much better position than they were at this point
last season.
If the season ended today, the Packers (6-3) would make the playoffs
as the NFC’s No. 7 seed, just as they did last season. At this point
a year ago, the Packers were 3-6 before they rallied to win six of
their last eight games.
That late-season surge continued with a wild-card victory at Dallas
before the Packers lost 24-21 at San Francisco in the divisional
playoffs. It had Green Bay believing this year’s team was capable of
reaching the franchise's first Super Bowl since its 2010
championship season.
To achieve that goal, the Packers must play much more crisply than
they did in their first nine games.
“One of the things we’re going to talk about as a staff is just some
of the things we did the back half of the (2023) season to allow us
to develop and continue to get better,” coach Matt LaFleur said
Monday. “And I think a lot of it just started with our approach to
practice, how much competition we had in practice. I thought it made
practices have more energy, and I thought it reflected in our play,
quite frankly.
“So, I think it’s just, one of the things our staff is doing with
each individual today is, there’s got to be a focus on one thing
that we can all improve upon because all of us can improve in some
area.”
Green Bay is third in the NFC North behind the Lions (7-1) and
Vikings (6-2). The Packers visit Detroit on Dec. 5 and Minnesota on
Dec. 29.
The Packers are 0-2 in divisional games. They totaled five turnovers
with three takeaways in their 31-29 loss to Minnesota and their
Sunday defeat against Detroit. They’ve combined for 16 takeaways and
eight giveaways in their other seven games.
“Those are two games that we did not play our best at all,” Love
said after the Lions game. “So too many mistakes and, like I said,
just didn’t play our best in these games. We need to be able to go
out there and execute at a high level and play our best ball. So,
it’s definitely very disappointing, but (those are) two teams that
we’ll see again this season.”
What’s working
The Packers failed to force a turnover against the Lions, but they
still have an NFL-leading 19 takeaways. ... Green Bay is averaging
154.8 yards rushing per game to rank fifth in the NFL. The Packers
have rushed for 1,393 yards, their highest total through nine games
since 2003, when they had 1,475.
[to top of second column] |
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, left, makes a
catch next to Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold during the
second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Green
Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
What needs work
The Packers have committed 13 turnovers. Through Sunday, the only
teams with more turnovers were Las Vegas (19), Tennessee (17),
Carolina (15) and Seattle (15). ... Love has thrown 10 interceptions
in 240 pass attempts. He was picked off on 11 of his 579 passes last
season. ... Dropped passes have been a problem, most notably on
Sunday.
Stock up
S Xavier McKinney is tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions.
... RB Josh Jacobs has rushed for 762 yards, good for third in the
league. ... WR Jayden Reed has caught 36 passes for 620 yards while
also rushing for 110 yards on 11 carries. ... TE Tucker Kraft’s five
touchdown catches are the second most among tight ends. San
Francisco's George Kittle has six.
Stock down
Although CB Eric Stokes has come back from the injuries that limited
him to nine games in 2022 and three in 2023, the 2021 first-round
pick’s role has diminished. His playing time had dipped
significantly until Sunday, when Green Bay’s secondary was missing
CB Jaire Alexander and S Evan Williams due to injuries. ... DL Kenny
Clark hasn’t recorded a sack this season after having a career-high
7 1/2 last year.
Injuries
LaFleur said Monday that TE Luke Musgrave has undergone ankle
surgery. LaFleur said Musgrave “will hopefully be back later this
season.” The 2023 second-round pick went on injured reserve on Oct.
11.
Key numbers
1-5 — The Packers' record in their last six home games against NFC
North opponents. That run started with the 20-16 loss to Detroit in
the 2022 season finale that ended Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay career
and kept the Packers out of the playoffs. Before this 1-5 stretch,
the Packers had gone 10-1 in home games against NFC North foes under
LaFleur.
Next steps
After their week off, the Packers play at Chicago on Nov. 17. The
Packers have won their last 10 meetings with the Bears.
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