Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
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Packers' season ends with blowout loss to rival Lions
By Nicholas Dettmann
GREEN BAY – Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was healthy. That was
a big reason the Green Bay Packers thought a return to the playoffs with a
division title and possibly a trip to the Super Bowl was attainable in 2018.
That would've been a great a way to celebrate the
franchise's 100th season.
But on Sunday, the 100th season ended in horrific fashion
with a 31-0 blowout loss handed to the Packers by the Detroit Lions, sending
Green Bay into an offseason full of uncertainty and concern over the
franchise's future.
“Obviously today we didn't look very good at all,” Packers
cornerback Tramon Williams said. “Going into the offseason, we've got some
pieces in place.”
Packers' interim coach Joe Philbin also promised one thing.
“They'll rebound. They'll get back,” he said. “I told them
there's a great future here. There's a lot of great players in that locker
room.”
If it will be Philbin leading that group or if it'll be
someone else, Philbin nor Williams wanted to speculate or make any predictions.
Philbin and Williams don't believe Sunday's 31-point loss will have an
influence on the front office's decision on the full-time coaching position.
“I've been a member of the organization for 10 years,”
Philbin said. “They know who I am, what I believe in, who I stand for.”
If he's not the choice, Philbin said he won't take that
personally.
“I want what's best for the Green Bay Packers,” he said. He
also said, “I have faith they'll make a great decision.”
Williams said the team liked playing for Philbin.
“I feel the team responded well to coach Philbin,” Williams
said. “I think the guys really liked what he brought to the table. He did some
good things.”
Williams, a 12-year veteran, acknowledged the disappointment
he and his teammates have, but also that of the fans'. He also said a loss like
Sunday's can work as a strong motivator in preparation for 2019.
“If that don't motivate you, nothing will,” he said. He
also, unfortunately, seasons like the one the Packers had in 2018 will happen
from time to time. He'd know. He played on the Packers' Super Bowl winning team
in 2010 and played for the 1-15 Browns in 2016.
The Lions, who finished 6-10 in Matt Patricia's first season
as head coach, raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead. Detroit played with more
energy, more efficiency and more fight. The Packers (6-9-1) never matched that,
which surprised Philbin.
“I thought we had a very good week of preparation,” Philbin
said. “I thought Wednesday we were a little bit tired from Christmas and the
overtime game (against the New York Jets on Dec. 23). We had a really good
practice Thursday; we had another good one yesterday.
“I'm very surprised. But, again, that's football. They
certainly deserved to win.”
For the Lions, they won their fourth straight game in the
series – the first time they've done that since 1982-83. It was the first time
the Lions won consecutive games at Lambeau since 1990-91.
It is the Packers' worst home loss since losing 35-7 on Dec.
23, 2007, to the Chicago Bears. They haven't been shut out at home by more than
30 points since 2006 to the New England Patriots (35-0).
“I obviously have to give a lot of credit to the Lions,
coach Patricia and his staff and his players,” Philbin said. “Certainly they
were the better coached team today, prepared team. They played better; they
coached better, which is why I think the scoreboard reads like it did.”
In a way, Packers fans probably should've seen this coming.
Wide receiver Davante Adams, who was within reach of two
franchise receiving records going into Sunday's contest, was inactive with a
knee injury. Adams, who was selected to the Pro Bowl, finished with 111
receptions for 1,386 yards. The franchise records were 112 and 1,519, respectively.
Fellow receiver Equanimeous St. Brown was also inactive because of a
concussion.
Then, with 10:36 left in the second quarter, Rodgers slowly
walked to the Packers' locker room and was evaluated for a concussion. It was
later determined he had a concussion and didn't return to the game.
It was unclear after the game which play he suffered the
concussing hit. However, Rodgers was sacked on the Packers' first offensive
series and his helmet came off when he hit the ground.
DeShone Kizer stepped in for his most significant playing
time since Week 1 and fared OK. He finished 16 of 35 passing for 132 yards and
one interception. He also had four rushes for 40 yards, some of which drew some
cheers from the crowd at Lambeau from those who stuck around as fans filtered
out the exits throughout the second half.
“I thought he did some good things, had some good throws,”
Philbin said. “He had a real good presence about what was happening.”
As the team prepped for the offseason, Philbin spoke of
accountability for not only the the way the players and the coaches performed
Sunday, but throughout the season,
“I think it's good for them to reassess and see where they
can improve, get better at,” Philbin said.
Going into the offseason, the Packers seemingly have a million
questions to answer to figure out how to get back to a championship-level team.
The biggest question is who will take over the full-time head coaching duties.
Does Philbin assume the full-time role after the team went 2-2 in his four
games as interim? Do the Packers hire someone from outside the organization?
Several media reports Sunday tabbed Northwestern University coach Pat
Fitzgerald as a potential candidate.
Making the right coaching decision could send the Packers
back to championship-level play, or it could send the franchise back,
especially with Rodgers in the latter years of his career.
The notable free agents for the Packers are WR Randall Cobb
and LB Clay Matthews. Both have shown dramatic dips in production over the last
several seasons.
From there, the questions continue: Biggest need in free
agency? Do the Packers tap into free agency? What are the draft needs? The list
goes on and on and on.
What a difference five months made for the Packers. When the
2018 season started, it was supposed to be a special season. Even after four
games, the Packers stood with a respectable 2-1-1 record. From there, it all
came apart, the Packers lost six of the next eight to fall to 4-7-1, costing
coach Mike McCarthy his job after the Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers lost five games by eight points or less and
there was the tie in Week 2 against Minnesota. However, most of those games
never seemed that close.
Regardless, what's next for the Packers?
Rodgers was slowed early this season with a knee injury, but
the quarterback who turned 35 on Dec. 2, played through it. He and the offense
never looked in sync this season and the defense was consistently burned with
big play after big play.
With the uncertainty, Williams was asked how a player can
prepare himself for the next season.
“We can't control that,” he said. “That's something you have
to ask other people. The only thing we can do is do what we've been doing for
years, get into the offseason and train and control what you can control and
that's you.”
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