Getty Quarterback Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers.
The Green Bay Packers are in a tailspin, as the offense struggles to produce points under new starting quarterback Jordan Love.
Former Packers QB Kurt Benkert, who backed up Aaron Rodgers occasionally and spent a good amount of his time with the organization as a member of the practice squad, has been highly critical of head coach Matt LaFleur and Green Bay’s offensive scheme all season. Benkert offered more of the same on Sunday, October 22, after the Packers fell to the lowly Denver Broncos by a score of 19-17.
The Packers offense has no excuse to be this bad man
“The Packers offense has no excuse to be this bad man,” Benkert wrote on X.
But he didn’t stop there.
“If the Packers didn’t walk into every game afraid of their own offensive shadow, they’d be a decent team,” Benkert continued in a separate post. “Wasting the first 30 minutes every week before deciding to play real football on offense is the main reason they are [2-4].”
Packers’ Offensive Struggles Worsening as Season Progresses
GettyHead coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks at his play sheet during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos in October 2023.
Green Bay has struggled mightily to put up points in the opening two quarters all season. It is a problem LaFleur openly addressed during his postgame press conference Sunday when a reporter asked what kind of progress the coach felt his offense had made in that regard coming off a bye week.
“Obviously zero,” LaFleur responded.
The Packers have scored just 26 points in the first half across six games this season, and the trend has gotten worse as the year has progressed. Green Bay failed to score in the first two quarters in Week 3, managed just 3 points in both Weeks 4 and 5, and put up a goose egg again in Denver on Sunday. The team is currently the worst first-half scoring group in the NFL.
While the Packers have been able to pick up the offensive pace in the second half over the last month, the team’s overall production has dipped after a good start through the first two weeks.
Love threw for 6 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the first two contests of 2023, leading the team to an average of 31 points per game, per Pro Football Reference. Since then, the fourth-year QB has thrown 4 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and the Packers’ average has slipped to 17 points per outing.
Kurt Benkert Claims Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams Covered Up Packers’ Poor Scheme For Years
GettyFormer Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (left) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right).
Despite Love’s struggles, Benkert contended Sunday that poor scheme concepts have long plagued Green Bay’s offense. He added that they are only surfacing now in the absence of Rodgers and All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams.
The problems the Packers are facing right now are the same ones they’ve had for years that have been covered up by 12 & 17. Those two guys being able to play 1 on 1 ball 10-15 plays a game covered up a lot of holes for the organization.
Now, coaches have to be more creative, the…
The problems the Packers are facing right now are the same ones they’ve had for years that have been covered up by 12 (Rodgers) & 17 (Adams). Those two guys being able to play 1-on-1 ball 10-15 plays a game covered up a lot of holes for the organization.
Now, coaches have to be more creative, the collective unit has to play better and neither of the two are good enough to play from behind every single game (from starting slow). Things have to change fast, and there needs to be an honest look in the mirror (and around the league) for better answers on how to do things.
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Former Packers QB Blasts Offense After Loss to Broncos