ClutchPoints
The Green Bay Packers’ heartbreaking Sunday loss to the Carolina Panthers may rank among the most frustrating at Lambeau Field this year. Coming off one of their most balanced wins of the season, the Packers were expected to cruise past the underdogs from North Carolina. Instead, Green Bay stumbled at every critical juncture en route to their second loss of the season.
The Packers outgained the Panthers in total yardage yet couldn’t convert their chances into points. Quarterback Jordan Love’s lone interception led to a Carolina touchdown. Meanwhile, kicker Brandon McManus missed another crucial field goal that might have changed the outcome. Tight end Tucker Kraft’s third-quarter knee injury crippled Green Bay’s offensive rhythm as well. The usually reliable defense failed to contain the Panthers’ Rico Dowdle. He gashed them for 130 rushing yards and two scores.
By the time Ryan Fitzgerald’s 49-yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired, the crowd at Lambeau sat in stunned silence. What was supposed to be a statement win became a sobering reminder of how quickly things can unravel in the NFL. Now sitting at 5-2-1, the Packers suddenly face questions about their discipline, durability, and dependability heading into a brutal Week 10 matchup with the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Green Bay Packers most to blame for their ugly 16-13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.
Love’s stat line wasn’t awful on paper. He completed 26-of-37 passes for 273 yards. However, the deeper story told of inefficiency and missed opportunities. Love hit Christian Watson for a 52-yard bomb early in the game. That set the stage for what could’ve been a breakout offensive afternoon. After that, though, the rhythm vanished.
Carolina’s defense forced Love into short passes and took away his deep threats. This was especially true after Kraft and Matthew Golden left with injuries. As a result, the Packers’ offense looked constricted. They converted just one of four red-zone opportunities and failed to score an offensive touchdown through the air for the first time this season.
Love’s interception midway through the third quarter was a turning point. Pressured on third down, he floated a pass into coverage that was easily picked off and returned deep into Packers territory. It directly led to a Panthers touchdown. From that point forward, Green Bay’s offense sputtered.
It’s hard to be overly critical of Love when his supporting cast was dropping like flies. Still, great quarterbacks find ways to elevate those around them. Love didn’t do that on Sunday.
For weeks, Green Bay’s defense had prided itself on shutting down opposing run games. That reputation took a major hit against Carolina.
The Panthers ran the ball 33 times for 163 yards, registering a 4.9 yards-per-carry average. They also dominated time of possession. Rico Dowdle looked like an All-Pro. He bulldozed his way to...
