Packers' Offense "Malfunctions" in 10-7 Loss
Offense wastes fantastic defensive effort vs. Eagles.
After a month marred by disconnected offensive football, the Green Bay Packers’ offense finally put together a consistent performance Monday night versus the Philadelphia Eagles. The offense consistently committed critical penalties; receivers consistently dropped passes in key moments; and the line consistently folded in an embarrassing prime time loss, 10-7.
“I’ve said this many times, if you hold good football teams to 10 points, you should win the football game,” coach Matt LaFleur said via packers.com. “Obviously we didn’t do enough offensively . . . When we got into those critical moments (third down and fourth down), we just malfunctioned.”
Jordan Love took a sack on Green Bay’s opening drive to knock the Packers out of field goal range. The next Packer drive ended when Aaron Banks committed a false start on fourth and short. Love took another sack two drives later, only this time he compounded the mistake with a fumble inside Philadelphia’s 30.
All of that ineptitude was only in the first half.
Bo Melton – the former receiver that is now a corner playing part-time receiver – ended Green Bay’s opening drive of the second half with a drop on fourth-and-9. Romeo Doubs preceded the play with a diving try, just to have the ball go off his fingertips. No other receivers were activated for the game despite Matthew Golden being ruled out with a shoulder injury, and Christian Watson still on a snap count returning from his knee injury. Watson was not on the field for the fourth-down attempt.
Melton effectively ended the next Packer possession when he lined up on the line of scrimmage, covering up a sixth offensive lineman that had reported eligible. The mental error negated a 22-yard completion to Christian Watson inside the Eagle 15.
“They’re waiting for you to mess up and unfortunately we messed up way too many times,” LaFleur said.
The Eagle offense messed up plenty as well, thanks to an incredible effort from the Packer defenders. However, Philadelphia’s star power shined bright on the next drive with a quick knockout blow.
Ahead 3-0, Jalen Hurts was under pressure on a third-and-7 from his own 23 when he found his All-Pro running back, Saquon Barkley, sneaking out to the left flat. Barkley gathered the swing pass and seemingly had all of the slick Lambeau Field grass to navigate in a one-on-one tackle attempt from Carrington Valentine. Valentine closed the distance quickly, but the Madden cover athlete hit the circle button with a blurred spin move to leave Valentine behind. Barkley sprinted down the sideline for 41 yards, and on the very next play, Hurts connected with a leaping DeVonta Smith for a 10-0 lead with 4:46 remaining.
“We’ve wasted championship-level defensive performances and haven’t been able to score enough points,” LaFleur said.
Hurts finished 15-of-26 for 126 yards and the touchdown. Barkley was held to a mere 60 yards on 22 carries, but had 41 yards on three catches.
Green Bay responded with its only score. Love led an 11-play, 75-yard march down the field as Philadelphia prevented the quick strike. Josh Jacobs pushed his way into the end zone from six yards out with 5:49 remaining, 10-7.
Jacobs ended with 74 yards on 21 carries, and another 33 yards on five catches. Love was 20-of-36 passing for 176 yards.
The defense delivered once more and gave the offense the ball back on its own 10 with 2:18 remaining and two timeouts. Love and the offense appeared poised for a season-defining drive – they may have provided it.
An impressive throw and catch to Watson over the intermediate middle moved the offense out of the goal-post shadow and into the two-minute warning. On the first play out of the break with a new set of downs, Jacobs leaked up the middle and in position to take a short dump off across midfield. Instead, he turned inside to receive the pass when Love led him away from the defense and towards an ocean of green grass. The ball fell harmlessly incomplete, second down.
Next, Love fired a pinpoint pass to Dontayvion Wicks at the sticks. Love placed the ball high and away from the defender as Wicks leapt for the catch. However, Wicks – who made clutch catches in the game up to this point – dropped the ball.
A third-down completion to Luke Musgrave set up a decisive fourth-and-1 on the Green Bay 44. Love called the play in the two-minute offense and aligned in shotgun with Jacobs to his right. The broadcast’s field microphones picked up Eagle tackle Moro Ojomo yelling “Inside zone this way!” which is exactly what Green Bay ran. He split a double team on the playside while his All-Pro running mate, Jalen Carter, bullied Packer guard Jordan Morgan three yards into the backfield. Jacobs was dumped for a four-yard loss and fumble.
Poor clock management actually allowed the Packers one more sliver of hope, but a 64-yard Brandon McManus field-goal attempt hooked wildly offline and short.
Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams paced Green Bay with seven tackles each. Williams had a particularly noticeable game, filling multiple alleys to tackle Barkley. Smith did beat him for the leaping touchdown grab.
Linebackers Isaiah McDuffie, Quay Walker, and Edgerrin Cooper each had six tackles. Cooper forced a fumble with a punchout on Philadelphia’s opening drive to prevent a score.
Other Notes
- Elgton Jenkins was carted off the field in the first half with an ankle injury. As Love was being sacked, he rolled up the lower part of Jenkins’ left leg. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that X-rays indicate a fracture.
- Sean Rhyan replaced Jenkins at center.
- Even with Jenkins out, Green Bay continued to sparingly use its jumbo package with Darrian Kinnard as the sixth offensive lineman.
- The Packers are now third in the NFC North, and seventh in the conference.
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Jocelyn Hopkinson is a contributor for CheeseheadTV and can be found on Twitter at Packer_FIB
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Comments (32)
Bearmeat
November 11, 2025 at 01:28 am
Fire Matt LaFleur. It’s past time. That is all.
jlc1
November 11, 2025 at 06:41 am
MLF is on the hot seat. New front office now, they want results. Best option is fire MLF, make Hafley HC and get some new Wunderkind to design an offense that scores.
Starrbrite
November 11, 2025 at 01:59 am
Malfunction—HA!
The malfunctioning parts to this team are the “genius” head coach…and staff, and a QB who needs his eyes checked for limited peripheral vision.
Another unbelievable loss.
Go Packers!!!
PackBacker
November 11, 2025 at 02:04 am
Dear Santa Claus,
I've been very good this year. All I want for Christmas is a new Packers head coach. Please and thank you.
Sincerely,
PackBacker
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 04:39 am
Let’s see they were basically begging us to win the game.
Probably actually wanted us to win because they know they will win the division and would rather see us in the playoffs vs the lions.
They knew the play because nothing changes . They have a staff of 25 computer programmers I bet running every simulation possible and it should print out 20 results.
For the Packers it prints out 2. Run tight or run left.
I would like to see a receiver catch and run for once other than Tucker Kraft who is not playing.
Carson Wentz put up 22 on these guys and the Giants put up 40 I think on them.
They did nothing special on defense. Why throw 20 yards down field when you can throw 6 or 7 yards twice to keep the ball.
We should have won 21-10. Was there for the taking
GREAT JOB DEFENSE CANT SAY ENOUGH. LAST TWO GAMES
Jacob’s gets touched Al ost when he gets the ball.
Good coaching Defense
4th and 1 The other time was 4th and 29.
Fabio
November 11, 2025 at 04:43 am
I repeat! How much longer does it take to send MLF away????? or should we continue to blame Aaron Rodgers? The truth is that our usual problems have been exposed:
1 - when it matters, our HC never makes the right decisions
2 - In games that are one score away, the problems of mediocre WRs who don't get the ball come to the fore.
I fear that with this Coach-Quoterback duo, we'll never get anywhere.
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 04:44 am
The saints beat the Panthers in Carolina this week…
That shows you currently where the offense is.
Why do other teams have receivers that catch the ball and run.,,,,we don’t. Hard to run on crossing routes
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 04:50 am
Last year MLF bad clock management and lost to Bears caused us to go to Philly vs Commanders route .
Today 4th and 1 just qb sneak it
Then at least get a fg to tie
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 04:54 am
We should have drafted up to get Gray Zabel vs Golden.
He’s a good and o line needed him vs Big Bucks Banks
Houndog
November 11, 2025 at 07:06 am
What's the difference?
If they had drafted Zabel, they'd have moved him to an unfamiliar position and played musical chairs with him too. It's the Packers way of staying confused!
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 05:28 am
I do like the block in the back twice on aj brown on Barkley long run.
At least Carter didn’t dive for Love legs this time he usually get a cheap shots in normally a game doesn’t matter who they are playing
So I give him credit for that
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 05:30 am
Lions I bet pound them by 15 next week
Snap the ball
November 11, 2025 at 05:32 am
At home and get a bad snap for the fg. Come on…..just extended you guys
KurtMc
November 11, 2025 at 05:38 am
Continued inconsistency & predictable play calls. Josh J is the bell cow but how many runs up the gut for short yards . This O- line isn’t getting the push so why continue it? Mix it up and run to the outside, (as the did 2x for positive yards). Why not use Wilson more? I get the play action concept but OBVIOUSLY the opponent D isn’t biting.
If your QB is getting crushed, try putting Willis in for a designed play action? Anything different. It’s so vanilla.
Love CONTINUES to make poor passing decisions , rookie mistakes. Memo to JL… you’re not a running back, or Josh Allen. Scrambling is one thing. Taking unnecessary hits is just stupid. Of course receivers dropping passes isn’t helping.
The entire body of the O do not have swagger. Look at the bench. They look defeated . Love sitting alone, limited interaction with O-line or receivers. Where is the damn leadership?
MLF needs to step up the heat on Love. Gutty needs to turn up the heat on MLF.
A really great D effort totally wasted!!!
On to the next game.
GPG.
Since'75
November 11, 2025 at 06:28 am
What if......
They moved Jenkins back to LG.
Can Morgan or Banks play center?
One is a 1st round pick, and the other is highly payed.
We need something, Love isn't comfortable, and Jacobs is running sub 4 yard APC.
stockholder
November 11, 2025 at 07:38 am
Jenkins should be the LG.
Rhyan is your center now.
And this is his best chance
to become a solid OL.
He can't jump off sides.
He can hold up at center.
Everything is in front of him.
Including his career.
Since'75
November 11, 2025 at 04:00 pm
I remember when i first heard in the off season, Jenkins was going to center.
I was almost livid. Why fix what isn't broke is what i said at the time, and still today.
As far as Rhyan. Yes, it's a chance for him, but he's had ample time to prove himself, after 3 and a 1/2 seasons, he is what he is imo.
Another potential problem we have is what if we lose another lineman?
Then Belton comes in as a starter.
Nobody wants that....lol
CheesePuff
November 11, 2025 at 06:17 am
The Packer’s time to shine under La Floor has long passed. The ball is now in Policy’s court. Until (unless) the Packers significantly upgrade their coaching staff and front office, Packers fans will need to dial back to the 70s and 80s to decide how to spend their Sunday afternoons.
Houndog
November 11, 2025 at 07:39 am
Sorry CheesePuff, but......
In the 70's and 80's, I was watching the Packers on Sunday afternoons!
It's what Packer fans did back then.
CheesePuff
November 11, 2025 at 09:47 am
Plenty of beer and brats?
Lphill
November 11, 2025 at 06:20 am
It's pretty much unanimous MLF needs to go but we know that won't happen , so expect more of the same.
EnemyTerritory
November 11, 2025 at 06:33 am
The Bears, Lions and Vikings are salivating over the prospect of burying the Packers deep into the soil of last place in the NFCN. The stench of the corpse permeates the crisp Lambeau coffin air.
HarryHodag
November 11, 2025 at 06:38 am
Toward the end of Mike McCarthy's tenure in Green Bay the opponents could stake out what play was coming next. Sound familiar?
The entire offense has taken a step backwards.
1)Jordan Love is simply an average QB. Lets not put him in the Favre and Rodgers level. He's Don Majkowski. Good, but not good enough.
2) Not lining up right is something you don't see even at the high school level. THAT is on the coaching staff. It doesn't get corrected. Another thing that was happening at the end of McCarthy's tenure.
3) They've paid a lot of money and it's increasingly clear they have a mediocre offensive line. Jenkins is hurt and gone for awhile, but moving him to center has not made the line stronger. Banks certainly isn't worth the money they paid. Morgan is out of position at guard. Instead of opening holes for the running game, Jacobs is getting battered.
4) Where is the short passing game? A ten yard completion is better than a 30 yard miss.
5) Musgrave? Where is he when they need him?
I could go on, but MLF has run out of excuses. Look for a loss to the Giants Sunday. I don't see them winning more than a couple of games the rest of the way. A massive payroll for a team that can't get it done. MLF is on the griddle and I don't think Gutey is safe any more either.
bassrock
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 pm
When they moved Jenkins to center who was an all pro at guard I knew it wasn't going to be good. They let Meyers go who had actually improved and had no one to replace him. Banks surely wasn't the answer for what they paid him. Going all in on Parsons has helped the defense but our offense is offensive.
Since'75
November 11, 2025 at 06:47 am
I don't know....Don Majkowski at least had a pulse.
To me, Love's demeanor is more like Cutler.
Morgan might be out of position wherever he plays on the line.
Sorry, it was there, so i said it.
Celise...
November 11, 2025 at 08:07 am
what a great comparison, JL is just like cutler, good at times but never at the right times and also expressionless
Starrbrite
November 11, 2025 at 08:48 am
Yes—Love looks like he’s playing catch with his dog in the backyard—zero urgency.
Houndog
November 11, 2025 at 06:55 am
The Offense "Malfunctions"? What do you mean?
After watching the last four games, I thought they looked like the MLF version of 'Normal'.
Houndog
November 11, 2025 at 07:19 am
I got a kick out of ESPN/ABC showing and praising Howie Roseman all night.
It almost seemed as if they were showing Ed Policy where to start!
mjbrogno
November 11, 2025 at 08:57 am
On 10/27 , I posted comments about the likely hood that MLF and Gute were on thin ice. I received 10 dislikes on what I posted. All I’ve read this morning is about how shaky the ground is under the current leadership. Policy will make changes if the season goes completely side ways. Love has happy feet behind this line. Unfortunately. Jenkins is done for the season. I truly believe that his heart has not been in it because of the move to center. When the same mistakes and new mistakes are made it falls on the coaching staff, PERIOD!!!! Come on, false starts on the O L at home, not knowing where to line up , unthinkable.
Since'61
November 11, 2025 at 06:10 pm
My comment on MLF's offense in this game is "Ditto" for the last 7 seasons of MLF's offense. It's been the same fundamental mistakes since he became the Packers HC.
Penalties, poor execution, poor situational football, poor clock management and bad coaching decisions. The " Seven Year itch" is here. Tine for a change.
Thanks, since '61
MooPack
November 11, 2025 at 06:55 pm
61',
Yes.
That last series is indicative of MLF for too long. A bad 3rd down call that everyone but he sees. Trots out the injured kicker, who misses on the test kick. Trots out the offense to only throw the ball away, obviously a coach to QB direction decision based on what the defensive alignment will be. Duh, they are anticipating a Hail Mary as most coaches would do. Decides to trot the failed kicker back out on a prayer that he might, just might make it this time. lol. The Hail Mary probably has a better statistical chance.
MLF indecisiveness, fear of mistake, no confidence in QB or receivers sealed this fate.
Fear, unfortunately has always dictated his coaching decisions. It trickles down as most things do from top to bottom of any organization.