The Green Bay Packers blew a 10-0 lead in the final 3:38 seconds of the game and fell to the Cleveland Browns 13-10. The Green Bay offense never got on track and special teams mistakes came back to hurt the Packers again. The defense played well for most of the game but failed to make a stop when it mattered most. The loss drops the Packers to 2-1 on the season while the Browns are now 1-2. Here are 10 things we learned from the Packers 13-10 loss to the Browns in Week 3:

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 13-10 Loss to the Browns, Number One: The Offensive Line Struggled Mightily

Things started off poorly for the Packers offensive line and they never got better. Starting right tackle Zach Tom tried to play through an oblique injury but lasted just one play and had to leave the game. Aaron Banks was also in and out of the game as he struggled through injuries.

The Packers reserves struggled with the tough Browns front seven. Jordan Morgan committed multiple penalties and didn’t have a strong game. Rasheed Walker also struggled with penalties.

The Packers allowed five sacks and seven quarterback hits. Throughout the game, Jordan Love just didn’t have enough time to consistently find receivers downfield.

The run blocking was also poor as the Pack averaged just 2.6 yards per carry. Their long run of the game was 10 yards and that was by Love.

The Packers needed their offensive line to step up, but instead, they were overmatched and outplayed.

Number Two: Special Teams Failed at the Worst Time

Special teams have been a problem for the Packers for a long time, and this game was no exception. The biggest mistake was a blocked field goal that could have won the game in the final minute. The line allowed too much penetration up the middle, and the kick was batted down at the line.

The Packers special teams let them down at a critical time and it cost them a chance to win the football game.

Penalties on special teams also hurt the Packers before the blocked field goal, but the one big mistake cost the team a chance to win on a kick Brandon McManus makes 97 times out of 100.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 13-10 Loss to the Browns, Number Three: Love Picked a Terrible Time for His First INT

Before today, Love hadn’t thrown an interception since Week 11 of last season. He certainly picked a terrible time to throw his first INT of this year.

With the Packers leading 10-3 and facing a 3rd-and-3 at their own 27, Love made a poor decision and then a bad throw. The result was a key interception with 3:08 left in the game which gave the Browns the ball at the Green Bay four. That led directly to the tying touchdown two plays later.

Love was efficient for most of this game and completed 18-of-25 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. He rarely had time to take the deep shots he loves to try and made a bad mistake at the most critical time late in the game.

To his credit, Love led the Packers downfield for what would have been the winning field goal try, but that was blocked, and the Browns kicked their field goal on the game’s final play.

Number Four: Penalties Remain a Problem

The Packers continue to commit too many penalties and that helps them beat themselves. In this game, the Packers were called for 14 penalties for 75 yards. Yes, some of the calls were questionable, but too many of them were mental errors. We saw too many false starts, lining up offsides, and just not making smart decisions.

The Packers also wasted three timeouts in this game to prevent delay of game penalties. These unforced errors hurt the team.

Few games in the NFL are blowouts but even against a heavy underdog, you cannot afford to give the opponent second or third chances. The Packers did that over and over in Cleveland. The Browns picked up three key first downs directly due to penalties. Penalties also helped derail any momentum the Green Bay offense started to put together, which was rare enough to begin with.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 13-10 Loss to the Browns, Number Five: Offense Never Found a Rhythm

With the offensive line struggling, the Packers couldn’t do the two things they love to do most. They didn’t have time to throw downfield, and they struggled to run the football.

Matt LaFleur struggled to cobble together some end arounds and wildcat calls to try to move the ball forward, but for the game, the Packers gained just 230 total yards and averaged just 3.8 yards per offensive play.

Because the Packers couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm, the Browns were able to hang around and be within 10 points even though the Packers had controlled the ball and looked like the better team for most of the game. When the offense turned the ball over, there was simply no margin for error.

Number Six: Rashan Gary Had a Strong Game

Rashan Gary had a strong game. The former Michigan star recorded two sacks, had three quarterback hits and two tackles for loss. Certainly, the presence of Micah Parsons helped open things up for Gary. Parsons himself looked gassed at times during the game and was limited to two tackles and two quarterback hits.

Gary looked fast and determined. On his first sack, he was unblocked, quickly realized that and took the quickest route to the quarterback. The Green Bay pass rush remains formidable. and if the offense can even put up 20 points, that should be enough to win most games.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 13-10 Loss to the Browns, Number Seven: Defense Played Well But…

For the third straight game, the Packers allowed fewer than 250 yards total offense to their opponents. This time, the Browns gained just 221 yards in the game and 3.9 yards per play. The Browns converted only 4-of-13 chances on third down.

If the defense continues to play this well, the Packers will win a lot of games this season.

The only concern was that the team failed to come up with a big stop in the final 3:40 of the game when they were protecting that 10-0 lead. The defense needs to play better in the clutch.

Number Eight: Matthew Golden Showed Promise

First-round pick Matthew Golden stepped up in the absence of Jayden Reed. The rookie caught four passes on four targets for 52 yards. That included the longest pass play of the game, a 34-yard effort.

With two of the team’s top receivers out of the lineup, the Packers needed Golden to step up and make plays. He did that despite the difficulty the offensive line had protecting the quarterback.

The Packers will need him to continue to produce and grow this season. If he does, that can help get the offense back on track after their struggles in this game.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 13-10 Loss to the Browns, Number Nine: One Streak Ends, a First Career TD Scored

Running back Josh Jacobs saw his 10-game rushing touchdown streak end. The Packers gave him the ball on first and second down inside the five-yard line, but he was stopped short of the goal line on both plays.

However, reserve tight end John FitzPatrick scored his first career NFL touchdown on a three-yard catch. FitzPatrick did a good job of stopping in an open space in the end zone when his quarterback was under pressure.

The Jacobs streak is over, but this will be a moment FitzPatrick will never forget.

Number 10: A Wake-Up Call

Before the game, the Packers were talking about finishing 17-0. While you like the confidence the team showed, this game should serve as a wake-up call.

As talented as they are, the Packers cannot take any team lightly. These are NFL opponents and as the saying goes, on any given Sunday.

If the Packers had to lose, falling on the road to an AFC opponent hurts less than losing a conference or division game.

The key now is for the team to learn from this poor performance and regroup next week in Dallas. They cannot afford to come out flat and not play their best going forward.

 

 

 

 

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