The Green Bay Packers defense reverted to its old habits of giving up too many yards on the ground after scoring 14 unanswered points in the second half.
Christian Watson’s touchdown catch and Jordan Love’s touchdown run helped the Packers reduce a 27-3 halftime deficit to 27-17.
The Lions, however, ran the ball down the field after those touchdowns, consuming time, and scored a touchdown with 6:00 remaining to seal the victory.
Former Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert criticized defensive coordinator Joe Barry because of the lack of imaginative play-calling and their inability to halt the run in critical situations.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry of the Green Bay Packers is criticized by Kurt Benkert.
Benkert wrote the following on Twitter (X) as the Lions were making a field goal drive.
Joe Barry is a play man who blitzes and causes chaos.
The passage of time is not on your side.29 September 2023, Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert).
As they moved down the field, the Lions actually devoured over eight minutes of the clock. Even if the Packers had been successful in stopping the touchdown, it is highly unlikely that they would have had enough time to recover the ball and score the necessary number of points.
It goes without saying that when the Lions did attempt a field goal from inside the 20-yard line, linebacker Quay Walker was penalized for juggling the line of scrimmage.
That also didn’t make the situation any better.
Matt LaFleur, the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, was criticized by Kurt Benkert earlier in the contest.
With two minutes left in the first half, the Packers began to move the ball.
Head coach Matt LaFleur let the clock run down and had Jordan Love run a hurry-up offense despite the fact that they still had timeouts left.
Green Bay might have at least tried to make a long field goal had they used their timeouts.
But as the clock struck 0:00, Love was fired because that did not take place.
Benkert wrote:.
I can’t believe we’re taking timeouts into the second half.
At the 28-second mark, you must call a timeout rather than rushing. I am aware that burning the timeout is on the cheat sheet.
I can’t stand how poorly the clock is managed.
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert), September 29, 2023.
Since he was a member of the Packers’ practice squad in 2021, Benkert is very familiar with their offensive scheme. He should be running their plays according to his knowledge of what will work, when, and how.
If they don’t, it is painfully clear and annoying.