The shorthanded Green Bay Packers fought hard in a losing effort today, but their are no moral victories in the NFL. The Packers disjointed offense failed miserably with the game on the line in overtime and hence a once promising season is going down the tubes fast. With two tough games coming up the Packers are looking at a 3-5 record at midseason with no hope for improvement.
Without Clay Matthews the Packers had absolutely zero pass rush and without Ryan Pickett they couldn’t stop the run. The Dolphins dominated the game on both sides of the ball, only a big play here and there helped the Packers stay in the game.
The Packers fall to 3-3 but remain only a game behind first place in the NFC North thanks to the Seahawks beating the Bears in Chicago. Until the Packers figure out what they are trying to do on offense, though, they are not likely to be going anywhere in January.
The Packers are certainly hurting but again the defense really did play well enough to win. Holding the Fins to 20 points should be good enough for Aaron Rodgers and Co., but Rodgers is not playing well and with no commitment to the running game to help out the Packers find themselves too many third-and-long situations.
The Packers have some serious soul-searching to do in the coming days. It won’t be any easier next week with Brett Favre and the Vikings coming to town.
More to come…