OK, so in the mediocre NFC North, the Packers could still very well win the division...and still make the playoffs.
But doesn't this putrid performance in New Orleans ultimately show why this team was 5-5 coming in....up and down, and pretty average to mediocre all around.
First the Saints tore a page out of the Packers playbook. Last week, the Packers looked at the stat sheet, saw that the Bears were ranked 4th in run defense...and laughed. They knew they were overrated, didn't blink, and went right at them. The results were 200 yards on the ground.
Well, the Saints saw that the Packers secondary was 3rd in the league, allowing just 176 yards per game...and laughed, saying let's do what we do best. And boy did they ever....Brees 20 of 26, his 8th game this year over 300 yards passing, and the Saints tie a team record for points scored in a game. Only 5 times have the Packers allowed more points.
Ouch. Embarrassing. With Brees still on pace to break Dan Marino's 1984 record of 5,084 passing yards.
The third quarter, especially painful when the Packers got blitzed 21-zip. Only Aaron Kampman could get pressure on the QB...and as Larry McCarren wisely says, true pressure comes from multiple directions.
The running game, well returned to the running game we've seen most of the season. And Aaron Rodgers looked inaccurate, and attempting to keep up with Brees, threw 3 interceptions.
In the long term, Aaron Rodgers will be fine. In the short term...Brett Favre sure does look good in a Jets uniform.
Emails at lallan@todaystmj4.com
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