Mistakes are not something you want to hear about after a 30-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but the best teams in the NFL always find ways to get better even after wins. Right now, the Green Bay Packers are 9-3 and headed toward another postseason, but they need to get their special teams in order before their miscues cost them down the line.
Bill Huber of SI.com didn’t shy away postgame with a softball question for head coach Matt LaFleur. Huber pointed to the punt return touchdown they surrendered and brought up the fact to LaFleur that these types of blunders could result in a loss during a big game.
“We can’t have that happen,” said LaFleur.
“You’re right, that can get you beat.”
Obviously, LaFleur didn’t go with a sugar-coated answer regarding his team’s woes on special teams. It started when kicker Mason Crosby missed an extra point for the second week in a row. Over his 14-year career, Crosby has been a rock as Green Bay’s placekicker. Besides the game against the Detroit Lions in 2018, there have been very few times when it’s been reasonable to doubt his ability. All things considered, Crosby’s been clutch when they’ve needed him, and he’s even flashed his athleticism in kick coverage.
Remember this?
No caption needed https://t.co/h3cnKjs0U7 pic.twitter.com/Hbmpw2AP2G
— Brandon Carwile (@PackerScribe) August 18, 2020
However, missed extra points can’t happen and especially not in back to back weeks. Crosby carries a lifetime percentage of 97.6 on extra-point attempts, which is pretty good, but he’s missed three on the year after the one against Philadelphia, tying the most he has had in a single season. It would be crushing if a loss in the playoffs could be tied back to something as trivial as a missed extra point. Nevertheless, they need to stop.
However, the mistakes from the Packers’ special teams unit didn’t stop there. In the fourth quarter, Eagles’ rookie Jalen Reagor returned a punt 73-yards for a touchdown to cut it down to a one-score game. It was the second time Green Bay allowed a punt return for a touchdown on the year.
In Week 10, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Keelan Cole Sr. had a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown to take the lead in the second quarter. The Packers would go on to beat the 1-7 Jaguars 24-20, but the mistake on special teams made it difficult to put the game away.
The same goes for Reagor’s return. After Reagor made a guy miss, he was off to the races and was relatively untouched, making the game closer than it needed to be in the process. Green Bay seems to have consistent lapses on punt coverage, and it has left spindly punter JK Scott falling flat on his face as he tries to be the last line of defense. If Scott doesn’t have to attempt another tackle this season, it would be a win for everyone.
It feels like the Packers have had special teams struggles for over a decade, and it may not be far from the truth. In 2018, Green Bay was graded as the worst special teams unit by Pro Football Focus. The Packers have since changed coordinators, but the problem has only improved marginally. According to PFF, Green Bay’s special teams is 25th in the league in 2020, and that is without the Philadelphia game taken into consideration. This offseason, LaFleur may need to take a good long look at the third unit to make sure it is up to snuff.
In the meantime, the Packers need to place an emphasis on special teams, especially punt coverage, before it’s too late.
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