Some quick thoughts on a week that sees the reeling 3-4 Packers headed to Buffalo to see the 5-1 Bills, coming off a bye, the top ranked offensive and defensive team in the league. It’s going to take quite a project to get this done in front of the Sunday night audience.
How have they gotten here?
Overestimating the Davante Adams replacement plan. The expected top three, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins have all been nicked. The second rounder, Christian Watson, outside a couple of snaps, has been a wash. Romeo Doubs is making and leaving rookie plays and Aaron Rodgers can’t stretch or get separation in secondary levels. Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree and Samori Toure are now in the rotation.
Aaron Jones is now playmaker one and defenses are closing some, but not all of it down.
The OL shuffle spun to new speeds last week with the four out of the “best five” in new spots. The tenuous David Bakhtiari knee is back under the microscope. Players getting game reps in new places led to the rise in pre-snap or holding mistakes which limits Jones possibilities and the inconsistent mid to long range passing game hasn’t gotten it done.
The Bills rank number one in yards allowed and points allowed per game through their first six games. They’re going to be welcomed home after conquering Kansas City last time out.
This will have to be a well crafted, well executed project.
In defense of the defense…
It’s beyond irritating to see the unit surrender long and untimely drives when it also shows shut down ability at times. Coordinator Joe Barry is matching up more aggressive play from the secondary and the group looks to be responding, getting only more hands on the ball and not picks. It was a linebacker, De’Vondre Campbell that delivered a much needed lift for the unit last week.
This side has been beset with untimely and some unnecessary penalty issues as well. Early series have been solid, a couple of red zone holds show more promise.
Here comes Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and the 440 yards a week offense.
A lot will be on this unit to be more than complimentary to the consistency seeking offense. Slowing down charging bison will take quite a project.
It’s been a while, since 2006, has a Packer team stared down a 3-4 record. Since the Mike Holmgren-Brett Favre era in 1992, there have been 7 teams at 3-4 or worse. Only Mike Sheman’s final team in 2005 (1-6) never recovered and wound up 4-12. Mike McCarthy’s first team got back to 8-8 the following year. Holmgren’s first team got out of a 2-5 hole to finish 9-7 in 1992 and two years later, at 3-4, earned a 9-7 Wild Card berth. Three of Sherman’s first five teams recovered from 3-4 starts, winding up NFC North Champs at 10-6. All three of those playoff teams had disappointing exits. Holmgren’s team got bounced by the Cowboys in Dallas for the second of what would be three straight years. Sherman’s 2003 team was foiled by 4th and 26 in Philadelphia and following year, the Vikings sent them home from Lambeau.
This week, the task is to win of course, but if not, perform at a playoff worthy level. It has appeared, all to briefly, in all three phases so far.
I just have a feeling the guys on the back end will deliver.
Took my Powerball shot and saw the secondary numbers, Rasul, Adrian, Innis, De’Vondre and get this, Ja-Money is my Powerball 23.
Tell you what, I hit on the numbers, you guys upset the mighty Bills to quiet some of the noise, I’ll take the team out to a quiet spot for dinner. We’ll call it the Buffalo Project.
