Green Bay Packers had a much-hyped defense to start the year. Packers invested in free agency to bring in players like Adrian Amos, Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith. They also have multiple first-round picks on the defensive side of the football. Things started well for this team. They were red hot and looked entirely different to the point where Aaron Rodgers said ‘We have a defense.’ Now, things have changed. Packers are careening off a hill, and there’s no excuse for it. Everyone is healthy. Can this defense find itself again?

Packers defensive ranks over the last 8 weeks:

Yards per play: 32nd
Net/pass play: 31st
Explosive completions: T-26th
Points per game: 24th
3/outs forced: 32nd

More nuggets in 10 likes/dislikes from Week 12: https://t.co/Eimq0l8HLu

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) November 26, 2019

Mike Pettine is going to need to change something in the coming weeks. This is not a small sample size. This is two months of data that shows the Packers’ defense has been terrible. The bend, don’t break stuff is cute, but in reality, they’re struggling out there. Pettine needs to find ways to have this Packers defense own the middle of the field. Every week, there is a new tight end or possession receiver having a big game against Green Bay. Also, the idea of sending more pressure would not hurt this team at all. The Smith Bros are great, but ramping it up with more pressure is better.

Pettine is coaching for his job in the next few weeks. Good news for him is Green Bay plays three offenses that are some of the worst in football. If Pettine cannot figure some of this out in the next few weeks versus New York, Washington and Chicago then his ass should be on the hot seat. Pettine should be able to test out some things against those teams and see if he can unlock something before Packers get ready for a potential NFC North Championship game against Minnesota.

I’m not giving up on Pettine, but it is disappointing that the Packers have been this bad on defense over the last two months.

Charlie.