If the Green Bay Packers fail to make the playoffs this season, you can point to a couple of things that will have contributed to the cause. If you guessed special teams as one of them, you would be correct.
This past Sunday, the Packers had just pushed their lead over New England to 17-7 with 2:20 left in the first half.
New England’s 313lb offensive lineman Dan Connolly then took the kickoff and raced 71 yards down to the Packers 4-yard line. Connolly should have been tackled a couple of times, but the Packers didn’t get the job done.
AUDIO: Spec. Teams coach Shawn Slocum on the inability to make the play :11
Three plays later, Tom Brady threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aaron Hernandez.
AUDIO: Slocum says they did some good things, but mistakes were glaring :22
The special teams miscues are nearly a weekly occurrence and have hurt the Packers chances to win other games this season. It’s one of the reasons why the Packers have so many close losses. The teams six defeats have come by a combined 20 points.
The Packers can still make the playoffs, but will need to win both of their remaining games to secure a Wild Card spot.