The Packers show they are in danger of a short playoff run in inconsistent wins

On December 16, 2024By Littum

SEATTLE – By the time Matt LaFleur recognized what was happening, it was too late. Too many seconds ticked off the clock. He had no choice but to bleed some more.

Perhaps Green Bay Packers coach expected his quarterback to contain the offense. Push, pull, pull teammates back to the line. They meandered instead of Lumen Field, disorganized, a crowd without a fence, oblivious to the reality they actually needed to hurry. Jordan Love stood there in a shotgun calling a play at the line and directing the players where to stand, all clockwise.

In 80 frantic seconds before halftime, the Packers ran three plays during what should have been a 2-minute drill. LaFleur had two timeouts in the pocket but called neither, surprised that the action unfolding in front of him had stalled. His team could have been kept scoreless if not for that Seattle Seahawks giving a 34-yard pass interference penalty, which only compounded the time management blunder.

The Packers was at the 3-yard line but only had 4 seconds left. There was no choice but to trot out the field-goal unit for a 21-yard kick that felt more like sour leftovers.

“I completely managed the end of the half,” LaFleur said. “It was 100% on me. Just being too indecisive, putting it on Jordan, giving him a call at the line of scrimmage. It just took way too long. It’s something that can’t happen and it could cost us if it was a closer match, so it’s on me.”

Settling for a field goal had no consequences in what became a comfortable 30-13 victory. The Packers had a good night Sunday, punishing an opponent coming in with four straight wins. The Seahawks were highly motivated, knowing they needed to extend their winning streak to avoid losing their NFC West lead and slipping out of the current playoff picture.

In the end, the Packers even managed to seal their victory with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Love finding receiver Romeo Doubs for 22 yards in the back of the end zone.

At that point, the Packers had let the Seahawks hang around far too long. Starting quarterback Geno Smith left with a knee injury in the third quarter, inviting the Packers to throttle their way to a blowout. They threw their tires instead. After scoring on each of their four drives in the first half, the Packers opened the second with a punt, field goal, punt, fumble, punt and turnover on downs.

“It felt very disjointed in the second half,” LaFleur said. “That’s the reality of it. Give them credit, it’s a good defense, but I thought there were some opportunities there. We just didn’t capitalize. Some of it was a lack of execution and then it was terrible play calls.”

It is a phenomenon that happens almost every week. Packers tend to play with their food rather than devour what is on the table in front of them. Just when it looked like they were headed for a rare blowout this season, the Packers fell again Sunday night.

If that seems like a boring way to describe what was a quality win, let’s consider the context of this season’s entry into the final three games. There is no mystery where the Packers are headed. They are 10-4, as healthy and talented as any roster in the NFC, a contender when they reach the playoffs next month. And they are a risk of being one and done when they get to the postseason instead of making a longer run.

Because that’s what happens when a team plays with its food in January.

“I don’t think they did anything crazy,” Love said. “Everything that maybe we didn’t expect. I think we came out and just didn’t make the same plays that we did in the first half. That was probably the most disappointing part of the game for us, it was just the second half . We didn’t feel like we got back into that rhythm, into that groove and could just keep moving the ball. I think more than anything we just hurt ourselves in some of those situations.”

It wasn’t until the Packers flirted with letting a team missing its starting quarterback a way back into the game that they decided to shut it down. There were the Seahawks with almost 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter, trailing only 23-13, the ball on their own 39-yard line. Defensive tackle Karl Brooks sacked Seahawks backup Sam Howell on the first play. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper intercepted Howell on the next, giving the Packers a short field.

Three plays later, Love connected with Doubs on third-and-5.

The Packers could finally exhale. A 10th win this season. A chance to clinch their playoff spot with a win at home next week against the New Orleans Saints. But not the “complete, four-quarter game” needed to make some of their postseason run once the Packers get there.

LaFleur knows it won’t be long before settling for a field goal instead of a touchdown could cost the season.

“I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement,” LaFleur said. “Including myself, of course. That’s the kind of mindset we have, is just how can we get better? I think you’ve got to keep pushing that envelope and try to strive to reach your full potential.”