Aaron Rodgers not pleased with discuss in Packers locker room

LONDON — Aaron Rodgers heard the discuss even earlier than somebody relayed what Inexperienced Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander stated within the locker room after Sunday’s upset loss to the New York Giants.

And he did not like.

Alexander, the Professional Bowl cornerback, stated he wasn’t nervous concerning the protection regardless of its function within the second-half meltdown that led to the 27-22 loss in entrance of a pro-Packers crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A minimum of not but.

“I ain’t nervous, but when we lose subsequent week, then I will be nervous,” Alexander stated referring to subsequent Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the New York Jets at Lambeau Area. “But it surely’s a brand new state of affairs for everyone. New circumstances, sleep patterns. It is a complete adjustment right here in London.”

Rodgers, who publicly embraced the abroad journey all week, did not like that message. And he wasn’t simply singling out Alexander; he heard it from others, too.

“Frankly, I do not like all this dialog about shedding subsequent week,” Rodgers stated. “I am a agency believer within the energy of phrases and manifestation. And we have got to examine ourselves on that, as a result of speaking about that isn’t successful soccer. There was dialog about it within the locker room, and I do not prefer it. Ja’s my man, however we do not should be speaking like that.”

The Packers nearly actually might be a heavy favourite in opposition to the Jets, however that was the case in opposition to the Giants, too. They misplaced as an 9-point favourite, making it the largest upset within the NFL so far this season and the Packers’ worst loss since Week 13 of 2008, once they misplaced to the Cardinals as a 13.5-point favourite and coach Mike McCarthy was fired after that recreation.

The Packers’ efficiency spoiled what had been a festive week for the workforce in its first-ever worldwide recreation. They had been the final NFL workforce that had not performed exterior of the nation. They jumped out to a 17-3 lead and nonetheless led 20-10 at halftime because of an efficient run recreation and a few exact quick passes.

The second half turned as a result of:

• They tried to throw deep. Rodgers averaged simply 3.5 air yards within the first half and had a 75% completion charge and two touchdowns doing so, in response to ESPN Stats & Data analysis. He averaged 12.1 air yards per try within the second half and accomplished simply 47% with out a landing. He was 0-for-5 on passes that traveled 20 or extra yards within the air, together with 0-for-4 within the second half.

Whereas Randall Cobb (seven catches for 99 yards) stated they’re simply barely off on deep balls, it is doable this workforce — with Davante Adams traded and Marquez Valdes-Scantling leaving in free company — is not constructed to go deep and may want to stay with the run longer.

“You make a superb level,” Rodgers stated. “It is one thing to consider.”

• In a last-ditch effort to tie the sport, Rodgers had two passes batted down on consecutive performs — third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 from the Giants’ 6-yard line. He had only one batted down beforehand this season.

“We had a run-pass possibility on, and so they loaded the field and went Cowl-0, and we figured that is what they had been going to do,” LaFleur stated. “Sadly, had two batted passes.”

• They let Giants quarterback Daniel Jones full 13-of-14 passes within the second half for 136 of his 217 passing yards. He additionally had eight of his 9 rushes for 34 of his 37 yards within the second half. The Packers had seven penalties, three of them by cornerback Rasul Douglas. Two of them worn out sacks, and one in every of them a miffed Douglas stated the official known as as a result of he advised him, “You are greater than him.”

“I simply advised all people, ‘My fault,'” Douglas stated. “I had three uncharacteristic f—ing penalties that I do not often get, however I had them. I believe that f—ed the entire protection up.”

All of it added as much as a loss that dropped the Packers to 3-2 earlier than a protracted flight residence.

“That is what occurs on this league when you do not come able to play,” LaFleur stated. “Not that we did not come able to play, however they clearly outexecuted us within the second half. Like I advised our workforce, it is simply disappointing, however we won’t let one loss compound into one other.”