Green Bay falls to 1-2 entering a very much-needed bye week
By CHRIS HAVEL
I would not have guessed the Green Bay Packers were capable of playing worse in the fourth quarter than in the first Sunday, when Cincinnati built a two-touchdown lead before Aaron Rodgers and the offense huddled Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
Then again, who could have imagined the Packers scoring 30 unanswered points … and still losing to the Bengals, 34-30, on a day full of would’ve, could’ve and didn’t.
Who among us could have envisioned the Packers’ defense forcing four turnovers in as many second-quarter possessions … and still losing to Cincinnati?
This game felt a lot like Jeremy Ross and kickoffs – you know – the one that got away. Why Ross is returning kickoffs is one question that I cannot find an answer for. Ross isn’t explosive, certainly not to the level where it justifies the occasional mishandled kickoff or fumbled punt. At any rate, Ross isn’t the greatest single reason why the Packers lost.
There as many reasons as the Packers have hamstring injuries.
In fact, Clay Matthews’ absence after being sidelined with a hamstring injury had the greatest impact on the game’s outcome. With Matthews, the Packers’ defense was aggressive and dictating to the Bengals’ offense. Without him, it shrank into mediocrity and indecisiveness.
As uncomfortable as this may be for some Packers’ fans to consider, two underlying questions have been raised by Sunday’s loss:
For the second time in as many road losses, the Packers’ defense couldn’t hold a lead. The Packers led by four points with six minutes to play at San Francisco. Green Bay led by nine points with 10:55 to play. Once again, the defense couldn’t hold the lead.
When the last time Rodgers led the Packers to a fourth-quarter comeback victory? I’m not going to look it up because Rodgers is one of the NFL’s finest quarterbacks regardless of the numbers in fourth-quarter comebacks.
However, Rodgers uncharacteristically lost his cool and failed to keep his head in the game. There is no excuse for arguing with the head coach – and trust me, Rodgers wasn’t the only one displeased with McCarthy – but that doesn’t make the outburst OK.
Neither did the fact that for the second road game this season, Rodgers had the opportunity to drive Green Bay to a winning touchdown. It didn’t happen in either instance. Obviously, the Packers’ combination of coughing up fourth-quarter leads and failing to regain the lead in the critical moments isn’t good.
The injury situation isn’t good, either.
I swear the Packers have had 106 hamstring injuries on their 53-man roster. It is why the upcoming bye week is much-welcomed by Green Bay. Life without safety Morgan Burnett (he should be back for the Lions’ game Oct. 6) was difficult. Life without Matthews would be unbearable without the pass rusher.
Green Bay’s defense needs to figure out a way to thrive without Matthews, because that seemed an undoable task at Cincinnati.
The Bengals’ 14-point first quarter lead left Packers’ fans scratching their heads and realizing that:
A) There’s still a lot of game to play, and
B) Why is Jeremy Ross still on the roster?
Undaunted, Matthews and the Packers’ defense rose to the occasion, and frequently harassing Andy Dalton in the process. The Packers sacked Dalton four times, but give the kid credit. He stayed with it and ultimately outplayed Rodgers by a long shot.
Dalton finished 20 of 28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns for a 105.5 quarterback rating. Rodgers was 26 of 43 for 244 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He finished with a 64.5 quarterback rating.
“It was a frustrating game,” Rodgers said. “We spot ‘em 14, score 30 in a row and they get 20. I played poorly and the defense played well enough for us to win.”
It was kind of Rodgers to credit the defense, even if it wasn’t warranted.
The defense was one of several frustrating aspects to what one Bengals’ player described as – and accurately so – a “weird game.”
Jermichael Finley sure looked defenseless to me when he was drilled in the helmet on the play that sidelined him. Finley got tattooed and the Bengals’ defender should have been penalized. It was a vicious hit.
There were several others, but I haven’t the time or the temperament right now to list them all.
McCarthy certainly showed poor decision-making when he elected to skip the field goal attempt in favor of going for it on fourth-and-1. Jonathan Franklin had an outstanding game aside from one play. It was a play McCarthy had no business calling, not in that situation, and not with that player (the rookie Franklin) carrying the football.
A bootleg with Rodgers would have been ideal. I’m not second-guessing, either. I was saying as much before the snap. McCarthy’s sense of risk-reward befuddles at times. If he is going to go for it on fourth-and-1, why not at the goal line, where the reward is a touchdown? Yet going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Cincinnati 30? With a 30-27 lead on the road?
It makes no sense. Fortunately, I have a bye week to get over it.
And the Packers have a bye week to figure it out.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.
"
"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
"
-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly