Relax, everybody, the Packers have got this.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, standing in the middle of the storm as the Packers have lost four straight, said he’s still optimistic about this season, very optimistic.
“I feel like we can run the table, I really do,” Rodgers said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “The offense is starting to click a little bit more; we’ve just got to put together a game where we’re more consistent from the first snap to the last. We’ve been, I think, getting closer to that. We’ve really been clicking, at times, in the last few games.
“But it’s going to be important that we get going early. We had three three-and-outs to start the [Washington] game, but overall on the season, we’ve done a better job of limiting our three-and-outs; we’ve been sustaining drives pretty well.”
Even if they beat the Eagles Monday to start that glorious run, they’d still be two games behind the division leader (since the 6-4 Vikings and Lions play today).
And while the Eagles could be vulnerable, the Packers then finish the season with the Texans and Seahawks, followed by three divisional games.
So it might be possible, but it will be very hard, considering their defense is allowing an average of 1,297 yards and 98 points per game (numbers I just made up but seem right). (Whoa, it’s 356.7 yards and 27.6 points actually, so not as bad as I thought but still an awful lot).
But Rodgers is clearly looking for silver linings, on the day he found out officially that running back Eddie Lacy wouldn’t be back. They did get tight end Jared Cook back on the field last week which helps, but he knows most of the burden falls on him.
“I know a lot is going to be on our shoulders, especially the way we’re starting games out,” he said. “We have to start faster, I have to be sharper from the start and I will be. And I’m confident that if we can get this thing started out a little better each week that we can get on that roll and be tough to stop.
“Now we have to go out and do it. It’s just idle words right now, but I’m confident in our guys and I’m confident we’ll respond on Monday.”
Confidence isn’t something they’ve inspired thus far, but they have gone on hot streaks late in the year before, so Rodgers is going to get the benefit of the doubt. Right up until he doesn’t.