Packers Need a Hand (or Two) from Receivers to Establish Team's Identity

The Green Bay Packers dropped the ball last week when they, well, dropped the ball. Looking more prepared to face the ‘80s band The Bangles than the Cincinnati Bengals football team, the Packers' sloppy play resulted in 11 penalties and breakdowns on offense, defense, and special teams. At least Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers proved he can take a beating, something he may have to get used to. The Packers took six sacks—five from Cincinnati defensive end Antwan Odom. But the real trouble started when they leaned on a crutch that wasn’t there: playmaking receivers. This isn’t the first time the Packers have struggled to pass protect and run the ball. In the Mike McCarthy era, there has always been a simple solution to this problem: Pass the ball. Even when Rodgers scrambled away from the pass rush, his perfect throws too often landed incomplete. Receivers simply couldn’t make the acrobatic catches required to snag balls that hit them directly in th...