By Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Photo by Jim Leuenberger Packers tight end Jimmy Graham, left, is hit by Lions defensive back Quandre Diggs during Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.
In a season full of disappointment and letdowns, the Green Bay Packers somehow still managed to reach a new low.
The Packers suffered arguably their worst loss of their 100th season — yes, even worse than the loss to the Arizona Cardinals that got Mike McCarthy fired — falling to the Detroit Lions 31-0 at Lambeau Field on Sunday. It was the first shutout loss to the Lions in Green Bay since 1970.
“Obviously have to give a lot of credit to the Lions, to coach (Matt) Patricia, his staff, their players,” Packers’ interim coach Joe Philbin said. “Certainly, they were the better coached team today, the better prepared team. They played better, they coached better, and that’s I think why the scoreboard reads like it did today… .”
Fans who were only tuning in to see if receiver Davante Adams could break a pair of franchise records were disappointed to see the Pro Bowl wideout inactive with a knee injury.
Then the Packers lost Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a concussion, forcing DeShone Kizer into action from the second quarter on.
Rodgers appeared to have suffered the injury while taking a sack on the second play of the game, but stayed in for the next two possessions. Green Bay went three-and-out on each of the drives led by Rodgers.
Things did not get much better with Kizer behind center. The second-year QB completed just 16-of-35 passes on the day for 132 yards. Kizer also threw an interception in the fourth quarter to finish with a quarterback rating of 44.0.
“It’s my job,” Kizer said of replacing Rodgers after the injury. “My job is to first help prepare my teammates and myself as much as I possibly can on a week-to-week basis and then, if my number is called, to go out and perform and help my teammates get into a position to win games, and I fell short of that today.”
Green Bay gained just 175 total net yards on the day, with only 46 rushing yards — 40 of which came on scrambles by Kizer. Running back Jamaal Williams managed just four yards on eight carries after a monster game against the New York Jets just seven days before.
Receiver Randall Cobb hauled in the team’s longest reception of the day, a 27-yarder from Kizer. It was Cobb’s only catch in what could turn out to be his final game as a Packer.
“Obviously, uncertainty. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Cobb said of his future with the team. “I’ve enjoyed my time here, it was a lot of fun, so we’ll see what happens.”
Linebacker Clay Matthews is another Packer who might have donned the green and gold for the final time.
“Yes, obviously I would love to come back and be a part of this team, but at the same time, like I said, it’s really not up to me,” Matthews said.
Cobb and Matthews are just two of several Packers who may not be playing for the team when next season rolls around. Of course, the team will also go into the team’s 101st season with a new full-time head coach.
Philbin said he would relish the opportunity to be named the permanent coach, but also said he knew he might not be back as a Packers coach in any capacity.
“Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t rule anything out. What’s that saying, never say never,” Philbin said. “I love the coaching profession, love what I do. We’ll take everything one day at a time. I did the best I could. I don’t regret anything, I’m not embarrassed about anything. I’m disappointed for the fans and the team with the score today. That being said, I’ll take full responsibility for it. It wasn’t anybody else’s fault. We’ll see what happens. That’s kind of the fun and excitement of life in the National Football League.”
While the team gets to start its offseason early and won’t be participating in the playoffs, that doesn’t mean the team won’t be dominating the headlines. Plenty of coaching rumors were already swirling around early Monday morning and will certainly continue until a new coach is named.