Leandro from Lexington, KY
It feels like the only way to start this Inbox is by talking about the first play of the game. I certainly didn’t give up hope, but it was impossible to ignore the sinking suspicion that we had seen this movie before.
That’s as ominous as it gets, especially on the road.
Micki from Sturgeon Bay, WI
Well, we limped into the playoffs and left in an ambulance. Not an ideal ending to the season.
Whelp, they were the team I thought they were based on what the season showed. They were consistent I guess, but frustrating they still had so many miscues this late. I went into last offseason with soon much hope, and right now, not so. At least we’ll draft higher than half the division and I know hope will spring anew.
It will. Always does. But as I’m writing the “season-ending” Inbox column once again I’m reminded of how many people thought I was too down after last year’s playoff loss, when the future seemed so bright. But I knew that was a massive opportunity that got away, and there are no guarantees you’ll get chances that good again. This year is proof of that. The opportunity never materialized for an endless list of reasons, as much as everyone hoped it was just around the corner within reach, including me. There is just no substitute for being healthy and playing good football down the stretch. These Packers were the opposite, so while the result is disappointing, it’s still last year I lament more. We all know what it looks like and this year never looked like that when it needed to.
I have to say that the Eagles’ defense is the best I have seen since the 2019 49ers. That said, I believe our defense played well enough for us to win that game. However, with all the injuries there is no way we could have been successful against the Lions next week. That fumble on the opening kickoff certainly put a stop to the quick start we needed, but if you had told me with three turnovers and a missed FG that we would be down only six points in the fourth quarter I would have taken it. Thoughts?
The Packers’ defense did play well enough to win, especially against that offense. That unit deserves a ton of credit, and I believe the defense is in good hands moving forward. It’s certainly disappointing, though, after so many years of wanting to see big-time postseason performances by the defense, that two of the last three playoff exits (SF in ’21 being the other) have occurred with the defense doing its job and the other two phases just having serious letdowns.
I am confused about the ruling on the opening-kickoff fumble. On replay, it appeared that Keisean Nixon initially recovered the ball and was then contacted by an Eagles player diving for the ball. That was pretty obvious, I thought, from the overhead camera angle. Therefore, he should have been down at that point. Play over, Packers’ ball, right? What am I missing? That play had a massive impact on the trajectory of the ballgame.
It did, and LaFleur mentioned all the Green Bay coaches upstairs looking at the TV replays thought the Packers were going to get the ball. It has to be a bit embarrassing for the league to review that play, see a crushing helmet shot not called, and then act like the recovery was all that mattered. But safety rules, reviewable, blah blah blah, you all know my take. I digress. Nobody cares.
Steve from Land O’Lakes, FL
As bad as things went from the opening kickoff, I always thought we had a chance throughout the game. It felt much better than the previous two games. Did you feel we were still the better team despite the score?
Not at all. Not even close. The Packers made numerous mistakes on offense and special teams. The Eagles committed a few penalties but didn’t have any miscues near the magnitude of Green Bay’s. They were handing off on third-and-long knowing they just needed to avoid mistakes and they were going to win.
Overall the Packers got what they deserved this year. What disturbs me is the lack of physicality over the years in Green Bay. They seem to be a finesse team, which can win you enough games to make the playoffs but not get you where you need to go. Do you think there needs to be a greater element of smashmouth football that needs to be present come playoff time? I feel like we got beat up by the playground bully tonight. The Eagles simply hit us harder than we hit them.
Philly definitely won the physical battle, but I thought this Packers team had a much more physical element to it than many over the years. Green Bay ran the ball and stopped the run better than it has in a long time. That requires physicality, and lots of it. Philly had more of it. No denying that, and I expect the Eagles to be playing for the NFC title in two weeks. But this Packers team was not of the same mold as many others.
Jonathan from St. Joseph, MO
I don’t wanna hear anything about the officials. The difference in the game was Eagles played hard-nose physical football and the Packers didn’t. I’d even go as far to say that attributed to some of our injuries. Is that what you saw, Mike?
The Eagles brought it, and they looked like a team with something to prove after going one-and-done last year with a late collapse and everyone questioning where they were headed. Maybe that’ll be the Packers next year.
