The Green Bay Packers did some good things on Sunday night in their 27-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. (Specifically, the Packers ran the ball well. Green Bay averaged 6.7 yards per rush while racking up 208 yards on the ground.)
But those good things weren’t enough to add up to a win. And ultimately, that’s all that matters in the NFL. One of the reasons the Packers weren’t able to get the win against Buffalo is that they were a little too committed to the run.
Down by multiple scores late, Green Bay continued to run the ball instead of pushing the ball downfield.
This was so surprising that even Bills pass rusher Von Miller was confused by the Packers’ approach. And he asked Aaron Rodgers about it mid-game.
All of this with Von Miller, SPECTACULAR! From a late in-game exchange he had with Aaron Rodgers, to what has exceeded his expectations about the #Bills… @nflnetwork | @BuffaloBills | @VonMiller | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/YYoWvkp1U8
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) October 31, 2022
“I was just asking him why don’t they drop back and pass the ball a little bit more,” said Miller. “I was kind of taken back a little bit. They were running the ball well and they kept running the ball. And I was looking up at the scoreboard and we’re up by 17 points.”
Miller was asked what Rodgers said and he declined to give anything away. But based on Rodgers’ post-game comments, I’m guessing that Rodgers likely had some complaints about the playcalling that he shared with Miller.
Aaron Rodgers: “We’re going up have to push the ball down the field in order to win games in this league.”
He ain’t wrong.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) October 31, 2022
After the game, Rodgers made it a point to tell reporters that Green Bay needs to push the ball down the field to have a chance at winning games in the NFL.
This has to be frustrating for Packers fans. The offense is so out of sorts right now that even opponents are questioning what Green Bay is doing.
Miller and Rodgers are both future Hall of Famers. They’re past Super Bowl champions. They know what it takes to win in the NFL. And their comments should be a sign to the Packers’ coaching staff that Green Bay’s current approach needs to be trashed.
The Packers are lost in the wilderness right now and if things don’t change soon, they’ll be spending the month of January watching the playoffs instead of being a participant.
