Aaron Rodgers – UPI/Bill Greenblatt
The Green Bay Packers offensive unit couldn’t find itself on Sunday and the result was a 19-7 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Eddie Lacy managed just 36 yards rushing and the entire Packers’ backfield combined for just 76 yards on 22 carries, on a day when the Lions were playing two safeties deep and rolling coverage towards Jordy Nelson. The Lions asked their front four to stop the run and that they did.
After finishing 7th in the NFL in rushing a year ago, the Packers ground attack has gone nowhere. Eddie Lacy, who is the defending offensive rookie of the year, is averaging just 3.1 yards a carry.
Lacy also fumbled on the Packers opening possession when Nick Fairley forced the fumble. Lions safety Don Carey scooped up the ball and raced 40 yards for a touchdown.
The Packers bounced back to even the score when James Starks took over in the backfield and Aaron Rodgers eventually found tight end Andrew Quarless for a 10-yard scoring strike.
On the next series, Davon House picked off Matthew Stafford but was ruled down at the Green Bay one-yard line. The Packers then called Lacy’s number, but he never made it out of the endzone and the Packers gave up a safety.
Without the running game, the Packers needed Aaron Rodgers to help get them out of trouble, but Rodgers was off as well. He managed to complete just 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.
It’s clear through three games that the Packers miss James Jones who signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders in the offseason. Without Jones, the Packers play at wide receiver, minus Jordy Nelson, has been below average.
Randall Cobb caught just three passes for 29 yards and had a pair of drops. He called his performance “embarrassing”. Jarrett Boykin had a pair of drops and caught one pass for 11 yards. Rookie Davante Adams caught two passes for 11 yards.
Aaron Rodgers said the Packers expected a single-safety look against the Lions, but when the Lions came in playing Cover 2, they failed to adjust.
The seven points scored by the Packers is the lowest output in any game Aaron Rodgers has started.
The Packers trailed 12-7 at halftime, but things didn’t get any better in the second half. Rodgers threw the ball more, but couldn’t find any big plays. In face, the Packers’ offense managed zero plays, run or pass, of 20 yards or more against the Lions defense.
The Packers lost the time of possession battle 38-22 and their defense was out of gas down the stretch, failing to force the Lions to give up the ball during a final, nearly seven minute drive to close out the game. But they did force three turnovers and yet the Packers still lost the game.
AUDIO: Clay Matthews is surprised to get 3 turnovers and lose :16