Packers Sloppy In Preseason Loss vs Jets

Packers struggle to execute in disheartening preseason loss against the Jets.

Fundamental miscues plagued the Green Bay Packers in their preseason opening loss Saturday night to the New York Jets, 30-10. A handful of drops, seven penalties, and two lost fumbles highlighted the blooper reel. The usual preseason caveats did little to tame scores of angry fans online, or coach Matt LaFleur’s frustration with the performance.

“Bottom line, you don’t want to put bad football out there,” LaFleur said. “Whether it’s preseason or not, it’s a little disappointing I would say. You have to have the urgency to fix it, and it’s got to get fixed fast because the regular season is going to be here in no time.”

The Packers starters left much to be desired after seeing live action for the first time in eight months. The first-team offense picked up where it left off last year with drops and inconsistent play. Green Bay followed up a quick 3-and-out with a drive that stalled at midfield when quarterback Jordan Love took a sack. Newly extended tackle Zach Tom was beat on the play.

The defensive starters matched the offense’s execution. In their one series, the starting defense allowed the Jets to march 79 yards in 10 plays capped by a 13-yard Justin Fields touchdown scramble for the game’s first score. The former Chicago Bears quarterback stepped through the pass rush and outraced Kesian Nixon to the edge and across the goal line. The Jets – playing their starting offense – found plenty of success through the middle of the field on the drive, with both the run and pass.

Get the lowdown on everything that happened in the preseason opener.

Jets vs Packers: Reaction and review

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler chats with Packers fans worldwide after the team's preseason game against the New York Jets.

Jayden Reed dealing with foot injury

Jayden Reed missed Thursday’s practice with a foot injury. Last night, he was spotted wearing a boot on his left foot.

Obviously, seeing the wide receiver who led the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards last season is more than a little concerning.

Asked about the injury after Saturday night's preseason game, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said "It's unfortunate but hopefully we'll get him back before the regular season." When asked if there was any concern that Reed could miss the start of the season, LaFleur replied "Potentially, any time you see a guy un a boot, that's a concern."

Jets 30 Packers 10: Game Balls & Lame Calls

This is your giant disclaimer that, as we all know, this was a preseason game. This game, in the grand scheme, does not matter.

That being said, whew boy.

In what can only be described as a wet, defeated sound of a whoopee cushion deflating (you know what I'm talking about), the Packers return to Lambeau Field was not a triumphant one. It was a far cry from last season's preseason debut, in which Jordan Love hit Dontayvion Wicks for a touchdown on the third play of the game. Believe it or not (it's true though), that 65 yard pass was more yards than all four quarterbacks managed to combine for on Saturday night.

The defense was gashed, the offense could not stop holding, and everyone who watched that game probably walked away with a bad taste in their mouth. It being preseason, the team is able to walk away from this bout without a blemish on their regular season record, and really, if the team is going to get their ass kicked, it's probably better that it happens during the preseason. Last year it happened in Denver, and the team responded well with a win against the Ravens the following week. The Packers will attempt to do it again, beginning with a joint practice against the Colts, to be held on Aug. 14.

Check out our Game Balls and Lame Calls from last night’s game.

Make a game day Old Fashioned

Corey Behnke shares his FAMOUS Game Day/tailgate Old Fashioned Recipe including why he prefers this over version over the Wisconsin sweet or sour versions.

Curd is the Word: Frustratingly Uninspired Football

Those of us hardcore fans who do our best never to miss a single play of Green Bay Packers football are familiar with the question, "Why do you watch preseason games?" Many casual fans who only tune in when week 1 rolls around just can't grasp the concept of watching a game when it "doesn't matter." One response among the die hards you might hear is that, sure, the stars and starters may not be playing or even going at 100% when they are, but it's fun to watch those guys that are fighting for a job. There are hundreds of players suiting up during preseason, where it may be their only shot to live their dream of being an NFL player. Those guys running at 115% in the second half make it worth watching.

There's also that little chance that one of those players could be a future star and no one knows it yet. And that alone can make it fun to say you were watching them from the beginning when everyone else said those reps didn't count.

Last night's preseason game, however, was one of those times that make even the diehard fans question why they're watching. The Packers fell to the Jets 30-10 in a very uninspired showing in front of the Lambeau faithful. While the Jets came out swinging all night long, the Packers just seemed to be out there going through the motions and waiting for the clock to hit all zeros, signaling that it was time to go home. Of course, that wasn't true for every player wearing a green jersey, as there were some bright spots, but that just seemed to be the overall feel from the start of the game until about halfway through the third quarter.

There were holding penalties galore, there were dropped passes, there were defenders who, instead of attacking the football, seemed to be just jogging over to create the illusion of being "involved in the play." Going up against a Lions team in week 1 that always seems to be ready to punch you in the mouth, that's just not going to cut it. HC Matt LaFleur expressed discontent with the showing and displayed an urgency to fix the issues that reared their ugly head, and earlier this week, LaFleur stated that he didn't want to baby the starters too much in preseason games, as it has been proven in the past to lead to slow starts.

Hopefully, LaFleur pushes the envelope on not coddling the playmakers, as they only have four weeks to ramp up that intensity before it can truly come back to bite them.

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Packers legend Billy Howton passes

Legendary Packers receiver Billy Howton, who still holds several receiving records with the franchise, recently passed away at the age of 95. He was believed to be the oldest living former NFL player.

The Packers made him the 15th overall pick in the 1952 draft, and Howton went on to become the first rookie with more than 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. He led the NFL in receiving twice and still holds Green Bay’s record for single-game receiving yards when he had 257 in a 1956 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He also caught the first touchdown pass at Lambeau Field. When he retired from the NFL in 1963, Howton was the NFL’s all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards.

Howton also represented the Packers at the first NFLPA meeting in 1956. He was instrumental in the formation of the player pension fund and several other player benefits.

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