Re: WHAT was the Biggests reason for this Loss? [Merged Thre
Coaching and Turnovers were the keys to loss according to this writer:
Packers report card
By Brad Zimanek
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Rushing offense – B
On his first two carries, rookie DeShawn Wynn gained 59 yards, including a 44-yarder – the longest run by a Packer this season. Those 59 yards were better than the team’s rushing total in three games this year. Heading into the game, Green Bay’s 217 rushing yards were the lowest ever by a 4-0 team. The Packers busted out with a season best 121 yards. It appears they’ve made a dramatic change for the better.
Rushing defense – A-
Cedric Benson never saw much daylight and he took a pounding grinding out what he could (64 yards on 27 carries). His 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the first the Packers defense had allowed this season. The Bears ended the game with only 82 yards on 33 attempts – an average of just 2.5 yards per carry.
Passing offense – A-
Brett Favre continued his incredible play by completing almost 75 percent of his passes for 322 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions – one, however, that completely changed the momentum of the game in the third quarter. Twice, cornerback Charles Tillman derailed the Packers by stripping the ball after completions to James Jones inside Chicago territory.
Passing defense – B-
The Packers’ cornerback duo of Al Harris and Charles Woodson rendered Chicago receivers Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad useless. The two combined for two catches for 27 yards. Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly batted down another pass at the line of scrimmage. But most damaging play was a Brian Griese’s 34-yard touchdown pass to tight end Desmond Clark with 2:05 left that cost the Packers the game.
Special teams – C+
Devin Hester didn’t score. That’s saying something. The NFL’s best returner didn’t get an attempt because of pooch kickoffs and they held him to an average of 10 yards on four punt returns. Corey Williams’ 5-yard penalty for his lining up his helmet over center on Robbie Gould’s field-goal attempt cost the Packers four points. Tramon Williams set up a Packers field goal with a 65-yard third-quarter kickoff return.
Coaching – C-
Mike McCarthy made a commitment to the ground game – well, the biggest commitment to date anyway – and it paid off. The Packers’ broke the 100-yard barrier as a team for the first time this season. McCarthy failed miserably by inexplicably pulling in the reins on the offense’s play-calling after Favre’s first interception, failing to throw to his wide receivers until the last-ditch effort to tie the score at the end.
Overall – C
Turnovers are the great equalizers. Two first-half fumbles by Jones, Favre’s first interception and Charles Woodson’s fumbled punt proved to be the difference when the Packers dominated every statistical category. The Packers (4-1) are in first place and head into a key NFC battle next week against Washington (3-1) that not many people throughout out the league predicted at the start the season.