All is not well with the Green Bay Packers.
David Bakhtiari, their starting left tackle, is still on the reserve/PUP list and will not play for at least five more games.
The relationship between starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers front office is civil, at best.
Worse, the New Orleans Saints demolished them in Week 1 despite playing at a neutral field.
Jameis Winston and company felt at home even if they were playing at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field.
The new Saints starting quarterback threw five touchdowns in their 38-3 beatdown of the two-time defending NFC North champions.
It’s hard to conceive that a team with the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player and a Pro Bowl wide receiver who gathered over 1,300 yards could not score a single touchdown.
But a Mason Crosby field goal was all that Green Bay could produce.
The Packers had 229 total yards, and the Saints dominated the run game, 171-43.
Winston needed just 14 completions and 148 yards to throw five touchdowns.
Green Bay converted just one out of 10 tries and had the ball for only 25 minutes.
They lost a fumble, and Rodgers threw two interceptions, three away from his five picks in 2020.
Rubbing more salt into the wounds, their defense did not have any sacks.
It’s uncharacteristic for the Packers to be this bad.
But the person who criticized the front office must be the one to pacify his squad.
The Packers Need Assurance
The Packers will be facing the Detroit Lions at home in Week 2.
This game is usually a cakewalk during the Rodgers era.
However, the current Lions under head coach Dan Campbell never gave up against the San Francisco 49ers.
Detroit nearly overhauled a 41-17 deficit by scoring two touchdowns and a couple of two-point conversions.
They could have scored another touchdown but turned the ball over on downs at San Francisco’s 24-yard line.
Therefore, the Packers cannot treat the Lions as an easy opponent.
Sportsbooks still place them as favorites to win the game, but change must come from Rodgers.
He must set an example that last week’s game is a distant memory and that he will keep on working.
The team will follow once he exudes a no-nonsense attitude during practices and team meetings.
There must be an assurance that Rodgers will do better because everyone will play their hearts out when he does.
It’s easy to lose confidence after such a poor performance.
Doubt can seep into their minds after preparing for the opening weekend throughout the preseason.
As the team’s leader, Rodgers must manifest in word and deed that they’ve got the next game.
It’s time to show his value beyond the passing yards and the touchdowns.
If there’s a need to run extra laps or additional snaps at practice, so be it.
But he can’t show the same dejected attitude he had when the Saints ran up the scoreboard.
Instead, he must use it as motivation to make him the Lions’ worst nightmare once again.
Everyone on the Packers will feed off his energy.
That tenacity will help them restore order through a resounding victory.
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