Aaron Rodgers attempts to clarify his comments on the Packers’ offensive struggles. (1:25)
GREEN BAY, Wis. — When the Green Bay Packers’ offense was on the field Monday night, they did not look like the team they had been at times in the first half of the season.
In fact, the offense as a whole looked like a mirage. They came out flat. They weren’t prepared for the challenges they faced in the second half and in the playoffs. Their passing game struggled to find its rhythm, and their running game appeared to be an afterthought. They had trouble getting any sort of a rhythm going.
The Packers’ offense had just 31 yards rushing, including just five yards in the first half. They had just 11 yards receiving in the first half, including just three yards on the opening drive of the second half.
It was as if they had been hit on the head hard and not allowed to respond to the injury, and then they couldn’t even get up on their feet.
To be fair, that was the entire offense’s game plan entering the second half. They were coming off a bye, they had just played four games. They were playing their starters in the second half. Their backup quarterback was coming back, and they had just played the worst two quarterbacks in football — a 34-32 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in week two, and a 32-34 overtime loss against a division rival, the Detroit Lions.
It was a stretch to say the least.
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, left, watches as his team plays the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Monday, Nov. 9, 2018. AP Photo/David Banks
In the first half, the Packers’ offense looked like a team that came out flat on Sunday, with the offensive line failing to protect Rodgers even when he was protected better than normal.
The quarterback who was playing against the Vikings, Brett Hundley, finished with just one attempt for nine yards passing. The quarterback who was playing against the Lions, Tyrod Taylor, had no attempt for the first time since he entered this season against