Packers’ defense gives ground in Eagles’ 27-13 win at Green Bay
By CHRIS HAVEL
The singular question on the minds of Green Bay Packers fans everywhere today is this: Is it Seneca Wallace’s left or right groin which is injured? That and how long will he be out?
OK, so much for levity.
How about a dose of reality: The Packers’ overall defense – and especially its safety play – has been unacceptable in two straight losses. To compound matters, the tackling has been bad and the effort worse.
Philadelphia’s 27-13 victory over Green Bay Sunday at Lambeau Field exposed several weaknesses including the fact that the backup quarterback position isn’t the weakest of them. Not by a long shot when considering defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ unit.
Aaron Rodgers and the offense might have been able to overcome the Packers’ poor defensive play in back-to-back home losses. Any combination of Wallace and/or Scott Tolzien could not.
The Packers’ offense had more first downs (23-19), more plays (75-58) and threw for more yards (297-211) than the Eagles’ offense. The problem was the Eagles’ offense relied on explosive plays and an overpowering running attack.
The Eagles had nine plays of 20-or-more yards.
Some involved luck (DeSean Jackson’s 55-yard touchdown catch on a deflection and Riley Cooper’s 32-yard touchdown catch when Packers’ safety Morgan Burnett slipped). The rest was the Eagles and LeSean McCoy chewing up the clock in routine fashion. At one point, Green Bay’s defense simply sagged while the Eagles clicked off nine minutes in a game-clinching drive.
McCoy increased his NFL-leading rushing total to 932 yards with a strong 25 carry, 155-yard performance against Green Bay.
Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles finished 12 of 18 for 228 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Foles was coming off an NFL record-tying performance with seven touchdown passes against Oakland last week. Against the Packers, one of every four completions by Foles resulted in an Eagles’ touchdown.
For a second straight game, the Packers’ starting quarterback was injured on the game’s opening drive. Last Monday, Rodgers broke his left collarbone on the first series of a 27-10 loss to Chicago. On Sunday, Wallace pulled a groin muscle on the opening drive and was finished.
But here is a bright spot, and unexpected at that. With minimal prep time at best, Tolzien, a former Wisconsin Badger, played well.
He completed 24 of 39 passes for 280 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He showed zip on his passes, command of the offense and presence in the pocket. He looked better than Matt Flynn – yes, that Matt Flynn – and better than Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman, Vince Young or Wallace.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy’s best decision of the day might’ve been declaring Tolzien the starter for this week’s game in New Jersey against the New York Giants.
If there is cheerful news to report it’s that Tolzien’s got game, and that the Packers were right to match Cleveland’s offer in an attempt to sign him off Green Bay’s practice squad. The Packers matched Cleveland’s offer and Tolzien was promoted to the 53-man roster.
“We had a lot of tough situations today, no excuses,” McCarthy told reporters after the game. “I thought Scott Tolzien played as well as could be expected.”
No question about it.
Tolzien’s only glaring error was an ill-advised and underthrown back-shoulder pass attempt to Jordy Nelson that was intercepted by the Eagles’ Brandon Boykin in the second quarter.
“We had an awesome opportunity there and got a good look with the play that we were running,” Tolzien said. “Looking back on the throw, I should have thrown more back pylon.”
But Tolzien shook it off and did not take it to heart. No one is perfect, especially when thrown into the fore with understandably little prep, as he was.

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Chicago defeats Green Bay 27-20 in ‘Battle of Backups’ at Lambeau Field; Rodgers reportedly out three weeks
By CHRIS HAVEL
By the end of the first quarter, Seneca Wallace had Green Bay Packers fans longing for Aaron Rodgers. By the end of the game, Josh McCoun had them longing for Jay Cutler. McCoun, starting in place of the injured Cutler, played the game of his NFL life while leading the Chicago Bears to a 27-20 upset of the Packers on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
On a night when Green Bay’s special teams were truly special, the Packers’ offense was awful and the defense was worse.
At least the offense had an excuse. Rodgers injured his left shoulder during a Shea McClellin sack on the final play of the opening drive. Rodgers reportedly fractured his left clavicle and could miss at least three weeks.
The Bears and first-year head coach Marc Trestman seized their chance. Matt Forte blasted away 24 times for 125 yards and a touchdown while McCoun hit 22 of 41 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears racked up 442 yards in total offense, the most in team history during a victory at Lambeau Field.
“It’d be hard to find a better one than this,” McCoun told reporters afterward. “They’re all special, but this is really neat because it means so much to our team.”
The Bears’ win creates a three-way tie atop the NFC North with Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay all 5-3 at the season’s midpoint. Rodgers’ injury increases the Packers’ challenge in a tight race. Wallace, playing smaller than his 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame, looked like a quarterback who hadn’t taken an NFL snap in two seasons. He completed an ineffectual 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and an interception. Not even Eddie Lacy’s career night could offset that dismal display. Lacy finished with 150 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
Lacy’s 56-yard jaunt to the Bears’ 1-yard line was electric, and James Starks’ 32-yard touchdown run was explosive. It wasn’t enough. Wallace’s rusty right arm posed more of a threat to the Packers’ passing game than the Bears’ secondary. Afterward, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged Wallace’s play must improve and predicted it would with a week of practice.
McCarthy got it half-right. Wallace must improve, but I doubt it. If Rodgers’ right arm is a cannon, Wallace’s is a pop-gun. If the Packers are going to survive without Rodgers, their special teams needs to build on its big night (an onside kick recovery, a blocked punt and suffocating coverage) and its defense needs to step up. Rodgers, the NFL’s MVP in 2011, hasn’t missed a game due to injury since Dec. 19, 2010. That streak will end Sunday against Philadelphia at Lambeau Field.
“Aaron’s a huge part of our offense,” McCarthy told reporters. “This is a thing that’s been built over time with Aaron as the centerpiece. I don’t think it’s realistic to put anyone in there and expect him to perform (like Rodgers).”
No one expected Wallace to perform like Rodgers. However, he is expected to play like a competent backup. He didn’t by a long shot. Obviously, the Packers must sign a quarterback either to compete with or back up Wallace. They also must find ways to win without their quarterback virtuoso.
When Rodgers scrambled for 9 yards and took a hit on the game’s first play I thought, “OK, now he’ll be a bit more careful.” When right tackle Don Barclay didn’t sustain his block on McClellin and Rodgers held onto the football too long it contributed to the Packers’ dread “worst case scenario.”
While McCarthy figures out how best to proceed without Rodgers, here are several big-picture suggestions moving forward:

1. Draft a quarterback with talent in the early to mid-rounds once every three or four years. San Francisco did it with Colin Kaepernick, Seattle did it with Russell Wilson and New England did it with Ryan Mallett. Kaepernick and Wilson have since become upper-echelon starters, and Mallett has proven to be more than adequate in Tom Brady’s absence.
2. Develop that guy and prepare him to play within the system, rather than sign a veteran retread in free agency. Praying that Rodgers doesn’t get injured isn’t enough.
3. Don’t answer the phone if it’s a Hattiesburg, Mississippi, number.

Here’s the good news:

1. Rodgers’ injury isn’t season-ending and the season is far from over.
2. The Packers’ running game – much like the Bears’ with Forte – is good enough to win so long as the backup QB is at least competent.
3. The special teams’ play is improving each week, and the defense can only get better when Clay Matthews and Co. return.

Furthermore, the Packers are still in first place. It just doesn’t feel like it.