By Jordan Long
On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers lost their 3rd consecutive game, this time at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 20-17. This dropped the Packers’ record to 4-7-1. Green Bay is in danger of missing the playoffs for a 2nd straight year. With the season starting to slip, Green Bay decided to fire Head Coach Mike McCarthy. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is now the interim Head Coach for the final 4 games of the regular season.
McCarthy has been the Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach for the past 13 years. Under him the Packers were an impressive 125-77-2, a winning percentage of .618. Green Bay made the postseason 9 times. They ended up in the NFC Championship Game 3 times, finally winning it in 2010. That year was the 1 and only time they advanced to the Super Bowl under McCarthy, knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV.
This season the Packers were hoping a healthy Aaron Rodgers would lead them back to the playoffs. If they failed, McCarthy was probably going to be canned. The Packers didn’t get off to a fast start and that led to the 4-7-1 record.
According to ESPN, Green Bay Packers’ President Mark Murphy said, “The 2018 season has not lived up to the expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers. As a result, I made the difficult decision to relieve Mike McCarthy of his role as head coach, effective immediately,”
McCarthy should have been let go. They have one of the top quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Rodgers. Rogers is able to pass the football with an average of 274.9 yards per game. Looking at the passing yards, the Packers’ record should be better than it is.
What has killed them on offense is the running game. Green Bay’s offense is not generating holes for the running backs to run through. When they do it is only for a couple yards. The Packers are averaging 105.7 yards per game on the ground.
On defense, Green Bay is able to stop opponents from passing the football. Defensive backs tip the ball away and don’t allow large chunks of yards. What has killed them is the run defense. Teams are running the ball at will averaging 127.8 yards per game. The running game is tiring out the defense. McCarthy never made in game adjustments to help his team stop the run. The Packers had to let him go.
Green Bay promoted Joe Philbin as the interim Head Coach. Philbin has been a Head Coach in the NFL. He was with the Miami Dolphins from 2012 to 2015. The Dolphins were a disappointing 24-28 under him. Philbin is hoping to turn the Packers around in the final 4 games. If he is able to guide them to a 7-8-1 record, Philbin might be the Head Coach next year. If they struggle down the stretch, Green Bay will probably look elsewhere to hire a new Head Coach.
I saw this yesterday, Jordan. I think my fellow Elizabeth, NJ native Mr. Bowles is next LOL.