There were plenty of mistakes, but let’s take a look at the big culprits, in no particular order.

1. Special Teams – the Cost is now up to 3 Wins

The Packers special teams unit has now cost this team 3 wins, and in each of those games the Packers held a double-digit lead. In Week 3 @ Cleveland, it was a 10-0 lead late in the game that saw a blocked Field Goal which likely would’ve won the game. In Week 4 @ Dallas, it was a blocked extra point which was a 3-point swing in its own right – Green Bay would’ve been up 14-0 with all the momentum, instead it was 13-2 and Dallas felt like they had life. This past Saturday night in Week 16 @ Chicago it was a muffed onside kick that otherwise would’ve won the game. Yes, the Bears had 2 timeouts and 1:50+ left on the clock, but Green Bay had 9 total drives and the only drives in which they didn’t gain a 1^st down (or multiple) was the last one before the half and the end of regulation, which were kneel downs…

There’s no reason to think that this will be corrected this season as it’s the same coordinator (Rich Bisaccia) and the same personnel, it’s been this way since his arrival and it hasn’t improved. Those 3 wins would put Green Bay at 12-3 atop the NFC Playoff Race in in control for the 1-seed and a BYE, but alas, here we are.

2. The Defense was Great, Until it Wasn’t

The defense was on one – in the 1^st half they allowed only 103 yards on just 20 plays. Hell, before the onside kick fiasco Hafley’s crew relinquished a total of 283 yards and 9 points in 58:01. That’s plenty good enough to win every game, that is unless you’re the Green Bay Packers in a crucial game. Once the momentum flipped, the defense surrendered 13 points and 117 yards in the next 2 drives – no megusta. They were able to make Williams uncomfortable enough and force a bunch of throw aways, keeping them out of field goal range for plenty of the game.

While the Packers didn’t get any sacks or turnovers, they did their job – the one sack they did get was a 15-yard facemask penalty which led to 3 points for Chicago. Couple that with yet another dropped INT from McKinney, which led to an additional field goal, that’s 6 free points all on mental errors…these seem to keep happening, and it’s infuriating since they played well for 97% of the game…not good enough.

Heading into the game, if Green Bay didn’t lose the turnover battle by 2+, they win, and that was the case. While Chicago officially only took the ball away once (Jacobs’ fumble inside the 5 when GB was marching for a TD) the onside kick acts like a turnover, so there you go. Lost the turnover battle by 2+ and lost the game when they dominated in every other category. This just can’t happen if you plan on doing anything in January.

3. Offense: So Close to Greatness

Green Bay’s offense didn’t punt all game, and marched down the field on every drive (aside from the 2 where they knelt to end the half/regulation). The issue being that Red Zone efficiency, or lack thereof; 0 for 5.

1. Green Bay drove right down the field, with 30 yards of help by Chicago on personal fouls, but stalled by going for it on 4^th & 1 from the Chi 7. Taking the 3 there was the way to go. It puts points on the board and sets the tone while ensuring you didn’t waste a drive. I like the aggression, but on the first drive of the game after you’ve said you have confidence in your defense, take the points.
2. On Green Bay’s 2^nd drive, they marched down to the Chi 8, but stalled once again, this time settling for a field goal and getting the lead.
3. The 3^rd drive is when the Packers lost Jordan Love to a concussion, but Malik Willis filled in admirably. Driving the team down to the red zone once again, but stalling on the Chi 4 and having to settle for yet another field goal. Had Green Bay kicked one on the first drive, they would’ve been up 9-0, a two-score margin and any time you can increase your lead to a full additional possession, you take it.
4. After Chicago opened the 2^nd half with their first scoring drive of the game for them, Willis marched right down the field yet again, and on 1^st & Goal from the Chi 4, Josh Jacobs fumbled taking points off the board.
5. The last failed red zone attempt came with 5:03 left in the game. Green Bay drove down the field again, stalling at the Chi 10. This one got blame from the fans on the play-calling, but I don’t mind it one bit. You have your backup QB in and the last thing you want is to put the ball in harm’s way and come away with nothing. Having led by 7, and your defense playing extraordinarily well, LaFleur made the right choice in shaving time off the clock and kicking the FG to put yourself up two scores. Which essentially would’ve iced the game, you know, in normal circumstances…

Speaking of Malik Willis, he played great. Much of that due to LaFleur’s scheme and play-calling once he entered for Love with 8:21 left in the 2^nd quarter, leading 3-0. Willis drove right down the field when he took over and got a score. He finished the game with 9-11 passing (81.8%), 121 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, and a passer rating of 142.8. He also added 44 yards on 10 carries – very efficient/effective. With Malik in the game, Green Bay’s offense amassed 241 yards across 48 plays, scoring 13 points. There’s no reason to think they couldn’t have gained 2 first downs after recovering the onside kick…

Now What?

As stated previously, the winner of this game assumes the 2^nd seed playoff spot in the NFC and the loser the 7^th-seed (last playoff spot). The good news is that Detroit lost to Pittsburgh, which puts them on life support to make the playoffs and now Green Bay only having to win 1 of their two remaining games to clinch a playoff berth. With the Lions loss, Chicago clinched a playoff spot, but the division is still up for grabs.

If Chicago loses @ San Francisco then at home to Detroit AND Green Bay wins v. Baltimore and @ Minnesota, the Packers will clinch the NFC North Division Title, and have either the 2 or 3 seed in the NFC. The potential issue is assuming Chicago loses next week to San Francisco and Green Bay beats Baltimore, Detroit will then be eliminated from playoff contention and would be resigned to playing spoiler – a role they played at the end of 2022 when they came into Lambeau Field and spoiled Aaron Rodgers’ and Randall Cobb’s final Packer appearances…