These last two losses had one big thing in common, besides the absence of Aaron Rodgers: Early in the game, one of our star players botched an opportunity to make a big play. In Detroit, it was Greg Jennings, bobbling what should have been an easy touchdown catch--bobbling it right into the hands of a defender, even. In New England, it was Charles Woodson, dropping a pass that hit him right in the hands. The interception would've been huge, and he probably would've had a big return.

In general, the Packers' biggest playmakers have been pretty much missing in action these last two games. Clay Matthews has had one sack and not many pressures. Woodson and Collins have not forced any turnovers. The only big offensive play has come from #3 wideout James Jones.

The stars need to start earning their pay right now or there will be no playoffs.

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Agreed. It seems that Clay has really fallen off the last half of the season (which could be a function of the Packers putting him in a 3 stance against someone 50 lbs bigger than him rather than blitzing him as much), and Woody, Greg, Driver, etc. are all hit and miss.

The dropsies have really come back to haunt this team as well. You already mentioned Greg, Jordy had an easy drop that could have resulted in a 1st half 1st down, and Jones damn near dropped the ball on his 60+ yd TD.

can they come off of IR?

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Clay fell off a freaking cliff.

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Clay is doubled every game now.

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Clay Matthews started with 6 sacks in 2 games, since then he has only 6.5 sacks in 11 games.

Nick Collins has had a very dissapointing season.

Step it up guys.

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I believe, if you watch Clay play now verse the beginning of the season that there is more to his leg injury than they are saying.. he isn't applying the same angle to the outside shoulder as he was earlier in the season and putting more pressure on the tackles edge.

Not that it is the only reason he is clipping sacks at a high pace, but that speed rush on the outside shoulder of the tackles has basically disappeared and I would have to believe the shin/lower leg injury has much to do with it.

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Sacks tend to come in bunches for guys, a 12-14 sack season is VERY VERY productive, I dont know if anyone realistically expected Clay to keep up his pace of 3 sacks a game, but really, there is not DE/OLB out there that consistently gets sacks like that, clay will finish in the top 5 in sacks, and the rest of the guys around him statistically will have had very similar situations(a couple multiple sack games, and then being relatively quite aside from a steady sack here and there). Even in clay average 2 sacks a game he would have shattered the sack record, it just doesnt happen.

Clay also suffers from not having a true rushing threat besides him, Jenkins is a good pass rusher but has missed games, and even then, he's a very good pash rushing 3-4 type DE, not a very good 4-3 type DE that puts up 10-15 sacks. I believe Jenkins has 7 sacks and that is a career high for him.

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I strongly agree.

Greg Jennings needs to become the old Greg Jennings in these last two games.

Donald Driver has been very quiet the entire season. (43 catches for 480 yards-4 TDS....and the injury)

I hope Rodgers comes out all business these next two weeks.

Clay Matthews has been quiet lately as well and I think its because he has been playing injured and still getting double teamed. Pack93z is right, he doesn't play with the same 'angle' and he doesn't have that 100% through an entire play anymore. (Didn't he have a shin injury recently?)

Woodson has made plays, but needs to make the BIGGER plays (Tom Brady pass dropped)

Who is Nick Collins?

How severe is Cullen Jenkins calf injury that he has been out the past two weeks?

With all that is on the line the next two weeks, you'd think our veterans/key players would step up and play their asses off. Let's see if McCarthy "challenges" them.

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to be fair, Collins has a very low completion % against him

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