A disappointing end to the regular season.
The Green Bay Packers enter the playoffs following two divisional losses.
The Chicago Bears finally snapped their 11-game losing streak against the Green and Gold at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
The performance from the Packers was underwhelming. Christian Watson’s crushing ACL injury early in the game was a significant setback.
Adding to their woes, Jordan Love exited early due to an elbow injury, while Josh Jacobs was rested for the entire second half.
Another slow start
Once again, the Packers struggled with a slow start. Despite the Bears recording minus six yards of offense compared to Green Bay’s 97, the first half ended with the Packers trailing 7-3.
Malik Willis stepped in as back-up quarterback and provided some spark, but questionable coaching decisions allowed the Bears to seize their chance.
Cairo Santos capitalised with a walk-off field goal, sealing a two-point victory for Chicago.
Playoff prospects in question
This loss casts doubt over Green Bay’s playoff prospects. Their first challenge? A daunting trip to face the Philadelphia Eagles.
Last season, the Packers pulled off an upset against the top NFC East team, the Dallas Cowboys.
A similarly stunning performance will be required to overcome the Eagles.
Inconsistent performances
While the Packers have the talent to secure a victory, they must start showing consistency.
Strong performances across all four quarters – something that has eluded them this season – are essential.
They have kept games close. The Lions narrowly defeated them with a walk-off field goal. The Vikings edged them by two points.
Even the Eagles faced a tough challenge in their season opener against the Packers in Brazil.
Jordan Love needs to step up after a series of shaky performances, where his accuracy has been inconsistent. The young wide receivers must also rise to the occasion, with dropped passes becoming too frequent.
Josh Jacobs will likely play a pivotal role, as he has been the cornerstone of the offence all season.
Defence faces stern test
On defense, the Packers have improved against the run as the season progressed.
They will need their best effort to contain the powerhouse that is Saquon Barkley.
In the secondary, Xavier McKinney has emerged as a key playmaker. However, the absence of Jaire Alexander – out for the remainder of the season – will be a significant loss.
Time to prove their worth
The Packers have earned their playoff spot after a challenging NFC North campaign, but they have struggled against the league’s elite teams.
Now is their moment to prove they can compete with – and defeat – the best in the NFL.
