The Packers’ fatal mistake that will destroy Super Bowl hopes in the NFC playoffs

The The Green Bay Packers pride themselves on safetyand they also have added a new cornerback. But none of those things will be able to make up for a fatal mistake that will destroy their NFC playoff hopes.

Talking is one thing. Actions are another. And the Packers can’t sustain the run. They also struggle against passes on late downs.

Overall, their fatal flaw is defense. And it will hurt when they travel to face the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card game on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET. Somehow the Packers are still a 1.5 point favorite despite the defensive situation.

The Packers defense wasn’t the same without Micah Parsons

Yes, losing Parsons was a big deal. But it’s a fact, and the Packers have to try to live with it in the postseason. His absence especially hurts against the passing gameaccording to ESPN.

“The Packers pass defense was outstanding on the first down,” wrote Aaron Schatz. “She ranks third in DVOA and allows an NFL-low 5.1 net yards per return. The problem comes on late downs. On second, third and fourth downs, the Packers rank 26th in defensive DVOA and allow 5.9 net yards per return. It’s been especially bad since Parson rusher Micah A’s drop when Edgern rusher Micah A’s drop. 8.3 net yards on second-to-fourth return in the last three games.

“This is going to be a problem in the playoffs. In second place, three of the four best passing teams in the league are the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers. And the third best teams in the league are the 49ers and the Eagles.”

But as bad as the pass defense looks, the run defense is just as bad. The Packers’ terrible effort against the Ravens is hard to ignore. And they immediately get a powerful running team. The Bears are No. 3 in the NFL with 144.5 yards per game. There is no Derrick Henry in Chicago’s backfield, but that may not matter. Can the Packers fight anyone?

Head coach Matt LaFleur tried to absorb some of the issues within the coaching staff, according to PackersWire.com.

“Certainly, we have to coach our guys a lot better,” LaFleur said. “There were too many mistakes about misplacements and missed assignments. And when you do that against a good football team, you see the results. That was probably the most disappointing thing after watching the video. Just how many times we didn’t play the right technique or we weren’t in the right position to make the play. And when we were in a position where we had opportunities, when we had good opportunities, when we had good opportunities.

“But it was too hit or miss. The things we’ve been calling since the preseason, during camp, during the season, that — whether it’s checking or not getting the right adjustments. You can’t do that, knowing the type of quarterback we play. If you give this guy a head, he’s a tough guy to bring down last night.

It’s hard to imagine some of those things happening this late in the season for a playoff team. And that’s why it’s hard to imagine the Packers overcoming this part of their fatal flaw and winning at least one playoff game.

Certainly, there’s no reason to think they can win three on the road and get to the Super Bowl.

Will the extra week of rest help the Packers?

A rest group doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly get stronger and fitter. Maybe he will play a little betteraccording to Sports Illustrated. The Packers rested their starters in a Week 18 loss to the Vikings.

“For the guys we were trying to rest, they got a lot of reps” in practice,” LaFleur said. “We ran a lot of good-to-good, or our one offense versus one defense. I think we’re in a better place physically.”

Still, safety Javon Bullard said the Packers believe they can win.

“We’re starting 0-0,” Bullard said. “You win, you move on. You lose, you’re out. That confidence was instilled in us. We had that confidence. We’re on one thing, and that’s to beat whoever we play on the road. That’s what we’ve been focused on.”

It may not be an impossible task for the Packers to beat the Bears. But the defense will have to be light years tougher than it was against the Ravens. But even if they beat the Bears, they can’t win three straight with that defense.