Green Bay Packers: Injuries Exposing Packers Further
By Erik Lambert
People thought the loss to the Atlanta Falcons back in January was bad. In many ways this one feels even worse for the Green Bay Packers.
Not only did they lose a game in Atlanta for the third-straight time, they also came out of it even more banged up than before. Two of their biggest losses were wide receiver Jordy Nelson and defensive lineman Mike Daniels. Both are considered two centerpieces to their team success. Nelson of course is an All-Pro receiver. Daniels was just starting to emerge as a real force in the trenches. His dominant performance last week proved that.
Then before the first half was even over, both men would be out. Nelson went down with a quad injury while Daniels suffered a hamstring. As a result things quickly fell apart for the Packers. Atlanta took a commanding 24-7 lead into the half and never really relinquished it. Worse still without Nelson the Falcons were able to put a beating on Aaron Rodgers.
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More and more this Packers teams seems to be fading. Their reliance on the singular brilliance of Aaron Rodgers is starkly evident. It’s also taking a toll on the man. They can’t win running the ball. They can’t win with defense. Not against good teams. If people are wondering why the Packers haven’t been back to Super Bowl for seven years, that’s why.
Smart money says this team will find a way to adjust and likely get back to the playoffs. Of course that’s nothing new. Whether they can finish the job? Unlikely. It’s unclear how severe these injuries are but it underscores how limited the team is in terms of their options. Atlanta is now firmly established as the superior team. Could others soon follow?
That’s not a question fans in Green Bay want to ponder at the moment.