I sure would like to know what special teams coach Sean Slocum has on head coach Mike McCarthy. Whatever McCarthy did it must not be really bad if he would rather lose football games than fire Slocum. When you let an offensive lineman rumble 71 yards with a kickoff return after you have just taken a 10-point lead on the best team in football on the road, you should not even be allowed on the team flight home. Hop on the bus, Gus.
The Packers could have taken a 10-point lead into halftime but nope, they let the slowest man on the field run 71 yards to set up a gimmie Patriots touchdown. First of all why are you squibbing the ball? All that does is give the opponent great field position while sending a message that your kick return coverage sucks. The only time you squib it is when there is less than 10 seconds on the clock. If that call came from McCarthy than there is all the more reason to get rid of him after this year.
This has been a continuing problem under McCarthy who for some reason refuses to do anything about it. Special teams have probably cost the Packers the division title the last two years, you would think a head coach would be smart enough to realize that. I don’t want to hear about injuries, special teams are always a hodgepodge of players, it goes with the territory, and it is not rocket science. Slocum is clearly the worst coach in the NFL and has been since he took over for Moses a few years ago.
On the positive side Matt Flynn looked much better than expected and certainly played well enough to win the game. Defensively the Packers keep doing what they do – they did give up 24 points but the Patriots have the best offense in the league lead by the best quarterback, so that really isn’t too bad. The Packers outplayed the Patriots in many areas but you can’t overcome poor special teams against a team like the Patriots. Field position is key and the Packers lose that battle every week.
I’m guessing that Aaron Rodgers will be back this week just considering they allowed him to make the trip to New England and wear the headset and take part in everything but playing, but if Flynn has to go it is nice to know you still have a shot to win. Flynn couldn’t throw the ball through a wet paper bag but he was on time and on target, which makes up for his lack of arm strength. The long TD pass to James Jones was a beauty.
The Packers can win a wildcard spot by beating the Giants and Bears the next two weeks without help from anybody. Who would have thought that going into Sunday? Lose and you still gain ground? It won’t be easy though with or without Rodgers. I’m fairly confident about the first one though. The Packers have lost two in a row but are coming home with destiny in their own hands. If they can overcome their coaching for two games they will be in the playoffs.