I thought them losing to K.C. would mean they would all get together and say "OK our defense isn't working...Let's try something else guys." I even told someone that, "oh well, they're still in the playoffs. McCarthy finally has something to yell at his guys about and tell them to get it together" Last year Dom Capers' schemes helped this team to a top ranked defense. Why on earth are they ranked dead last next to New England a year later? Can't blame it all on the losses of injuries and guys we cut in the off season.
If you lead the league in interceptions, what's the excuse to constantly get burned with passing and not just that, but the running game too?
I looked up stats for the Bears after Cutler went down, and Forte too. It's not that hard to stop the Bears who run a very conservative offense. You know, run to the left, pitch to the left, up the middle, run to the right, up the middle, play action, pass, run, run, run, pass. Yet they still out gained us and we gave up over 441 yards just a week after 430 (giving KC their highest of the season in yards). We let the Bears rush for 199 yards on us. 199 vs the 14 or so yards we held them to at the end of the season....What was up with that? And on top of that, they had no Forte yet managed to cut us to pieces like that?
It's became very embarrassing. I don't know if this is Dom Capers defense. I don't want to accept the fact that they are ranked 31st. I think this defense is the New England Patriots of the NFC. They pride themselves just on turnovers, everything else is **** poor chicken **** tackling and not caring how bad it makes you look. Just take a look how far it got New England last year. They were ranked 31st on the pass, and lead the league in interceptions. They were showing the signs all year that something was wrong, and in typical Bill Bellichek way, he ignores it and don't care because "Brady can out score anybody!" Sadly that's how the Packers are making me feel. The signs are out there that the defense has major issues, and also they are struggling to run the ball, but it's still very pass happy with the thought "No one is going to stop Rodgers."
It is that time of the season where everyone is trying to spark where they have weaknesses. Remember last season when we couldn't run the ball and the run game picked up just in time we needed it? The Lions have got their defense back up in time to stop the run and just look how they man handled San Diego (a team we let come back and nearly beat us). The 49ers have tried to do more with Alex Smith, and have been opening up more passing routes they normally don't push for, (even though they still depend on driving with the run and kicking field goals).Can't judge Atlanta or New Orleans until tomorrow night, but so far it seems playoff bound teams are trying to work on where they need improvements. Which with the Pack it would be running the ball and the defense.
I trust McCarthy as I trust Thompson but so far this season I have no reason to trust this defense what so ever. To lead the league in interceptions and rank 31st as a total defense and then to add salt to the wound; we had to hear now with this win that the Packers have gave up more yards TOTAL for the season than their offense has gained. Tell me that's not embarrassing when you're 14-1!!!
The Packers so far are starting to go down the road of the post-1984 Miami Dolphins as far as defenses go. The Dolphins had the number 2 overall ranked defense, the best offense in the NFL and got skull crushed by SF in the Super Bowl. Their defense, was never ever the same after losing the Super Bowl. They would give up so many yards, and points, get caught up in shoot outs like the memorable 45-51 game where neither defense could stop each other, I just don't think they led the league in interceptions after that. Every year they got worse. Where on our side, we did win the Super Bowl then our defense hasn't been the same after being so impressive last year.
I just have a hard time wrapping it around my brain. We lead the league in turnovers which is 50% to say your defense is good. Yet we are ranked 31st as a defense, and can't stop anyone, is that a minus 50%?
The playoffs are coming up and I am praying to god every night that they get together and do something. We've already gave teams 15 weeks of tape to see how much fun of a circus show they can make on this defense. I am praying something gives and the defense starts playing like a real defense in the playoffs.