My Thoughts from the Green Bay Packers versus the Atlanta Falcons (9/24/2056)

Here are my thoughts from the Packers 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons last night:

The Packers are in trouble. I'm not just saying this because they are 1-2. I'm saying this because they are 1-2, should probably be 0-3, were blown out at home and don't seem to have any answers. Help is on the way with Micah Parsons and, theoretically, Josh Jacobs but there's a good chance their season will be unsalvageable by the time that help arrives. 

Even coach Matt LaFleur looked thoroughly defeated during his press conference. This isn't all on him, but he also didn't do much to convince me he can right the ship.

Shouldn't they at least attempt to run the football? OK, I get it, the offensive line hasn't done a good job blocking on run plays. And I can understand becoming one dimensional when you're down by multiple scores in the second half. However, they had just 5 running plays in the first half and 9 total in the game (one was a scramble by Jordan Love) despite Marshawn Lloyd having positive gains on the ground during their first touchdown drive (2 carries for 7 yards, including a 1-yard run for a first down). They are never going to get the run game going if they aren't trying.

I hate to say it, but there is something wrong with Love. I don't know if he has the jitters from being hit so many times, if his fundamentals aren't the same because of having a new quarterback coach or if there is something else going on but he has had a high number of bad throws. And not just when he's under duress. He's had some off target passes from a clean pocket as well. To be fair, some of that might have been a receiver not running the right route and there certainly have been drops but the team needs him to play better.

That first drive in the second half was a thing of beauty. It would have been better had it ended with points, but Love and company were able to move the ball downfield and overcome their weaknesses with some creative play calling and quick passes. The big question, of course, is why not do that from the start? The way they have been starting games clearly has not been working for them,

Matthew Golden looks like everything the Packers hoped he'd be. Christian Watson is a playmaker too, but I think Golden is quickly becoming Love's favorite target, and I can understand why. In addition to getting his first regular season touchdown catch, Golden made quite a few big plays in the game, including drawing pass interference penalties and making adjustments to catch passes that weren't where they should have been.

The defense didn't have a good game but I'm giving them a pass. Unlike the Packers, the Falcons have their offensive line situation figured out and have two running backs who can do damage on the ground. When combined with the lopsided time of possession in both this game and Sunday's game, they were clearly getting worn down.

There was a lot of bad again but also one positive. After being flagged 25 times for 254 yards in their first two games (not counting penalties that were declined), the Packers only had 6 penalties for 45 yards in this game. At least they can say they had one thing that improved.