CB throws Packers offense under the bus following Raiders loss

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Jaire Alexander throws Packers offense under the bus following Raiders loss

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/10/23

The Green Bay Packers mustered just 285 yards of total offense in Monday’s 17-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

It was the third time in five games the team was held to fewer than 300 yards and the third time it scored 20 points or less, prompting Packers star cornerback Jaire Alexander to say what everyone else was already thinking.

“Yeah, I think at this point it’s pretty obvious that the defense has to not give up any touchdowns,” Alexander said, via Fox Sports’ Carmen Vitali. “I think that’s the part of being self-critical of our defense because the offense is still pretty young and they’re still figuring out their mojo. The defense, we’ve got to be the ones to score and stop them from scoring.”

Packers next opponent is 32nd in scoring defense and gave up a 70 clip a couple weeks ago. If the bye week and a trip to Denver can't fix Green Bay's offense, then I think the team is SOL.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 10, 2023

Alexander’s frustration might be somewhat justified.

Jordan Love is in his first year as the Packers starting QB, while his top three receivers — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed — are in their first or second years as well, as is rookie tight end Luke Musgrave.

With that kind of youth and inexperience, there’s bound to be some growing pains. Love has also struggled in recent weeks, barely completing 55 percent of his passes and throwing just two touchdowns with six interceptions in his last three games, two of which were losses with the other being a one-point win.

Through five games, the Packers have the 28th-ranked offense and the 14th-ranked scoring offense; however, one-third of their total points came in a 38-20 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 1.

Aside from that game, Green Bay has scored more than 20 points just once in four contests, putting more pressure on Alexander and the Packers defense to shut down opposing teams.

"You can put me on offense," Alexander joked. "Or the defense has to do better. The defense has to be more self-critical."

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