The Packers defense is better than you think

[HarveyWallbangers]

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer or complainer...but I think this defense is mediocre at best and often underperforms to its talent.

Nobody is arguing against this. The thing is the Packers have the best offense in the league according to most metrics (just ahead of Kansas City). Both teams have mediocre defenses. Mediocre might be good enough to win a Super Bowl. KC has the special teams edge though. Defensively, we need some turnover luck and do better in the red zone (drive to drive, we aren't bad), and we have a chance.

[Fritz]

Nobody is arguing against this. The thing is the Packers have the best offense in the league according to most metrics (just ahead of Kansas City). Both teams have mediocre defenses. Mediocre might be good enough to win a Super Bowl. KC has the special teams edge though. Defensively, we need some turnover luck and do better in the red zone (drive to drive, we aren't bad), and we have a chance.

You're right, Harv. However, it's still aggravating to those of us oldsters who enjoy good defense. But I fear you are correct that it might be the special teams that is the team's undoing.

[texaspackerbacker]

As one of those oldsters, I don't recall the Packers ever being defensive bullies like the Bears most of the time over the decades or the Lions of the Lombardi era or whatever. Even with Nitschke, Willie Davis, Adderly, et al, they were more like bend don't break. Ditto that with the Reggie White dominated teams. The offense has literally always dominated, as for this oldster, I prefer it that way.

Yeah, maybe less D talent has made the special teams not very special, but I'd blame coaching more for that. On that long return last week, who did we have on the edge to turn the returner in? Some guy named Dafney! I guess we had Scooby on the other side (or am I mixing my cartoons).

[Zool]

Nobody is arguing against this. The thing is the Packers have the best offense in the league according to most metrics (just ahead of Kansas City). Both teams have mediocre defenses. Mediocre might be good enough to win a Super Bowl. KC has the special teams edge though. Defensively, we need some turnover luck and do better in the red zone (drive to drive, we aren't bad), and we have a chance.

Exactly. It's been the same story for a long time. The D just isn't quite good enough to win a game when the O needs a lift. Its offense or nothing, and it would be cool to see the D carry some weight.

KC v GB would be a cool matchup. Sort of old school V new school coaches and QBs.

[Upnorth]

Maybe not appropriate to the thread but this

packerswire.usatoday.com/2020

Combined with a few more big defensive plays would be unstoppable.
A good ilb could really help both run d and zone passing d

[Upnorth]

I feel rgs thread should be bumped after this last game. Holding a top o to what the Titans produced is a good sign.

Also for most of this season it feels like everyone has been saying the AFC is so much better than the nfc. After the last few weeks im not buying it. Not saying the afc is trash but the top of the afc is struggling of late. KC looks weakest the Steelers are rusty and the Titans were just destroyed. Bills still look solid to me but the nfc has the pack Saints Seattle rams and Tampa.
Closer than what the media is saying

[RashanGary]

I thought this was gonna happen last year but I was dead wrong. We were a one dimensional man defense last year and got chewed up by the 49ers who created a perfect run plan to exploit the defense. It's easier to execute any play call when you know the defense before the snap. And its easier to game plan and call plays when you know what you're facing.

Last year I was dead wrong.

This year, however, the Packers had leads and it gave the defense real game time opportunities to expand their zone defense experience without actually losing games. Down the stretch here, you see Pettine with a much bigger arsenal where he's leaning on the man coverage strength but now also mixing in zone defense with zone blitzes. Gonna be much harder for elite QB's and elite run offenses to exploit such a newly well rounded defense.

It is exactly what I thought I saw a few weeks ago but also means exactly nothing considering my very mortal track record of being wrong as much as I'm right.

Still, i take my lumps, for 20 years straight every time I'm wrong, so Imma enjoy being right when I'm right too.

[Zool]

[GB-Brandon]

That’s what I was saying. “A+ Safety Play”. When your getting that and then you have a cover corner like Jaire it allows for a lot of things.

This team should make it to the Super Bowl. Anything else would be a complete let down.

[Bretsky]

God I hope it's better than I think )))

[RashanGary]

Last year the defense had to win games for us while the offense got going. They just hung their hat on what they did best and grinded out 13 games without ever really developing a zone option.

This year the offense carried us and allowed pettine to develop the unit while still winning games. The D is taking off now that they've done away with development and are going all out with what they have (which is significantly more diverse after all the zone growing pains from the games we had a lead)

[GB-Brandon]

One thing about me is I’m gonna call it “Both Ways”. If it’s bad I’m gonna call it what it is. If it’s good then the same deal. Right now it’s “GOOD.” I’m not going to call something that is good, bad.

If they can continue to play like they did Sunday Night this team can not just go to the Super Bowl but they can WIN IT! I have friends that are die hard Chiefs fans and they are even getting nervous how are secondary and defense match up against them!!!!!

What the Packers showcased Sunday Night sent a message and people saw it. That’s why I said that game was so big for many many reasons!!!

[GB-Brandon]

Tennessee is supposed to be some big Bully team with Henry and we out Bullied the Bully!!

That was big time!!

[George Cumby]

Tennessee is supposed to be some big Bully team with Henry and we out Bullied the Bully!!

That was big time!!

It was one of the more gratifying wins in a long time.

It was a matchup I was concerned about and they rose to the occasion.

[Upnorth]

I haven't seen any next level analysis on how we slowed Henry yet. Was it just our lead forcing them to be one dimensional? He did touch 100yrds at a 4.3 ypc clip. Nothing to shout from the roof tops.
I really think it was our lead and secondary or am I missing something?