5 Big Questions Revisited in Green Bay Packers v. Lions
By Paul Bretl
The regular season has come to an end, and it did so with a loss for the Green Bay Packers. But that’s alright–it’s not as if this game mattered.
As part of my weekly recap, I will take a look back at my 5 Big Questions facing the Green Bay Packers this past week and what the answers to these key questions ended up being.
Q: How long will the Green Bay Packers starters play?
A: About the entire first half
Players like Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams would play the entire first half while we still saw Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Adrian Amos, and others on the field well into the second half. Green Bay still had to rely on several starters to make it through the game–unlike during the preseason with expanded rosters, there just aren’t enough players active during the regular season to have the luxury to sit every starter.
At times in the first half, especially once Adams had the single-season receiving record, it was agonizing watching some of the starters stay on the field. As I mentioned beforehand, I understand that three weeks off is a long time, and if Matt LaFleur is comfortable playing the starters, then I am as well. However, there isn’t and wasn’t going to be any sort of momentum established against Detroit and carried over into the Divisional round–good or bad.
Q: Can the Green Bay Packers’ offense find some early success?
A: They did, for the most part
As we all know, the Green Bay Packers offense has gotten off to some slow starts this season, ranking 26th in average first-quarter points scored prior to Sunday’s game. But against a Detroit defense that ranks close to last in many major statistical categories, Green Bay had the opportunity to find some early success–which they did.
The Packers began the game with a 13 play scoring drive with the offensive line holding up very well and Green Bay extending the drive by going 4/4 on third downs. They would miss an opportunity to score on their second possession after a failed fake punt by Detroit gave Green Bay good starting field position, but they would begin the game with two touchdowns on their first four drives.
It’s also worth mentioning that this wasn’t the typical Packers’ offense that we’ve seen over the last month when they’ve been at their best. With Green Bay trying to get Adams the record right away, the run/pass mix was way off, and Rodgers was sitting in the pocket holding onto the football for a long time on several occasions. Had they played within the confines of LaFleur’s offense, they may have been able to find more success.