3 Big Things from Green Bay Packers Wild Win Over Bears
By Paul Bretl
It was a slow start but would end up turning into a very eventful game — both for good reasons and bad — as the Green Bay Packers came away with the win over Chicago to improve to 10-3 on the season.
Now that we’ve had time to digest what took place, I have my 3 Big Things from the Green Bay Packers performance.
Hey, special teams unit, what the heck was that?
I mean, what is there even to say anymore? The Green Bay Packers special teams unit entered Sunday’s game ranked 30th by PFF’s metrics as well as 30th by Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. Yet somehow, this group put on a performance Sunday Night that would make all previous blunders and issues look tame.
From the opening kickoff and right up until the clock hit 0:00 in the fourth quarter, this game was littered with special teams miscues–and that’s putting it lightly. As Matt Schneidman of The Athletic noted at halftime, below is a quick look at all of the errors that occurred.
Packers special teams in the first half:
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 13, 2021
-97-yard punt return TD allowed
-34-yard punt return allowed
-42-yard kick return allowed
-40-yard kick return allowed
-Kickoff out of bounds
-Muffing kickoff headed out of bounds to give your offense a start at its own 5-yard line
Wild.
If that many mistakes took place over the first 13 games of a season, most would be concerned about the special teams play. But all of that happening in one half? Unacceptable.
And, unfortunately, there was more. In the second half, we saw Chicago have more success on returns; Corey Bojorquez had a shanked punt, Amari Rodgers muffed a punt return attempt — although, fortunately, it was negated due to a penalty, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling whiffed on an onside kick attempt.
Ironically, the only aspect of the special teams unit that didn’t have issues was the field goal unit, with Mason Crosby making each of his attempts.
Now, sure, players have to make plays, but at the end of the day, these mistakes fall on special teams coach Maurice Drayton. We know this is a deep and talented team, just look at the fact that they’re 10-3 despite a litany of injuries. But for whatever reason, while the offense and defense are managing to not only get by but to thrive, special teams can’t even field a below-average squad.
I’m not a big proponent of firing a coach mid-season, but something has to change, and in this instance, I would get the move. The play of this special teams unit could very well end up being the reason that the Green Bay Packers are sent home in January.
Who would replace Drayton? I’m not sure. Would it help? I don’t have that answer either, but this unit has been bad since Week 1, and it culminated with one of the worst special teams performances in recent memory.
After the game, Matt LaFleur was asked if the team would move on from Drayton, to which he replied with, “absolutely not.”
On one hand, what else is LaFleur supposed to say in that situation? So I don’t believe that response completely shuts the door on that idea. But I do tend to also believe LaFleur, even if his response was really the only acceptable answer to that question just minutes after the game had ended.
We will see what happens in the coming days, but as I just said, something has to change. I guess we will wait and see what that change may be.