Debacle -- Part 2

Okay, so what went wrong?

The strong emotions that follow immediately in the wake of a loss have subsided somewhat, and so now the time has come for a dispassionate analysis of the game. So what went wrong? How did we lose?

Penalties were down from previous weeks (although while Green Bay had only 5, Tampa Bay had only 2). The running game was solid. The defense was not overwhelmingly successful, but I believe they actually did a reasonably good job given the field position they were sometimes called upon to protect. We outgained the Bucs on the ground, we outgained them in the air, and we out-possessed them by more than 10 minutes.

So what went wrong?

First, special teams play was notorious again. The Bucs' return yardage for the game was 247, while the Packers' was a paltry 114.

Second, the offensive line gave up another 6 sacks. At the mid-point of the season, we are on pace to beat our franchise record for most sacks allowed. And, worse yet, we are only 1 off the pace for breaking the NFL all-time record! The 2009 Packers could lay claim to the title of worst offensive line in NFL history.

Finally, Aaron Rodgers threw 3 interceptions. The first two problems we mentioned were preexisting conditions. This interception issue, however, was a new contribution specially for this week's loss.

In the end, of course, it was a game lost in the 4th quarter. We earned our way to an 11-point lead and yet we came out with a 10-point deficit. A 21-point 4th-quarter turnaround against an 0-7 team. That is the truly disheartening part.

It's not like all the sacks came in the 4th quarter, or all the interceptions. It was a team effort. The offense became timid and ineffectual. The special teams gave up a huge 83-yard kickoff return that sent momentum right back to the other team following our TD. And the defense rolled over against a rookie QB making his first NFL start.

It's a bit of a cliche, but the Buccaneers simply seemed to want it more. That's a disgrace, of course, given the fact that Tampa Bay really had almost nothing to play for, while the Packers were a team in the midst of a legitimate playoff hunt.

And now the Cowboys come to town. They're hot, they're 6-2, and they're on top of the NFC East. It's a home game, and it might not be unrealistic to call it a must-win situation for Green Bay. If they don't come out of this one with a "W," I fear things will begin to fall apart as the players wave the white flag on 2009.

We'll take a closer look at the upcoming Cowboys game, as well as other action around the league, over the weekend.