Packers Offense Goes AWOL in Loss to Commanders

 By Eric Goska

Green Bay's offense did little in the second and third quarters
of a 23-21 loss to the Commanders Sunday.
(screen capture from NFL Game Pass)

Perhaps one day the Packers will click offensively for a full 60 minutes.

But judging by what transpired in the nation’s capital, it could be a long time coming.

Green Bay took the middle quarters off in its match-up with the Commanders at FedExField. And while the Pack snoozed, Washington seized control, turning an 11-point deficit into a six-point lead heading into the final stanza.

Absent without leave? Playing hooky? The Packers’ offense has all but checked out for major stretches this season.

Up 14-3 at Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Co. failed to score in the second half. Leading the Giants 20-10 in London, Green Bay’s only score after the break came on a meaningless safety.

Sunday, the Packers took this dereliction of duty to new heights. For two quarters – the second and the third – Green Bay ran aground while the Commanders set sail.

During those 30 minutes of play, the Green and Gold ran 15 plays, gained 42 yards and tallied three first downs. They failed to gain more than a single yard eight times, never reached midfield, and held the ball for all of six minutes, 42 seconds.

With the Packers missing in action, Washington reeled off 44 plays, gained 252 yards and piled up 16 first downs. They gained more than a single yard 32 times, ran 26 plays in Green Bay territory, and held the ball for 23:18.

Talk about losing one’s grip. Up 14-3 in the first 17 minutes of play, the Packers found themselves behind 20-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

So dominant were the Commanders over this span that they bettered Green Bay’s mid-game output with a single drive. Taylor Heinicke engineered a 15-play, 72-yard advance in the third quarter that took 8:48 off the clock and resulted in a 31-yard Joey Slye field goal.

That score finally awakened the Pack. The Green and Gold came away with 117 yards and a touchdown in the final 15 minutes.

Too little, too late.

Mid-game slumps to the extent of what befell Green Bay have been rare. With just 15 offensive plays in the second and third quarters combined, the Packers tied the team low over the last 68 years.

Such was the length and breadth of the drought that Green Bay totaled a meager 232 yards on 47 plays (4.9 average) for the afternoon. It’s just the sixth time in the regular season since Matt LaFleur became head coach in 2019 that the team has been held below 250.

And that’s far too few. The Packers are 1-5 when so limited. Their only win came in LaFleur’s debut when Green Bay (213 yards) beat the Bears (254) by a score of 10-3.

Easing In and Out of Halftime

Since 1954, the fewest offensive plays run by the Packers in the second and third quarters combined of a regular-season game.

No.	Date	Opponent	Result
15	Nov. 17, 1957	Rams	GB lost, 27-31
15	Nov. 23, 1958	49ers	GB lost, 12-33
15	Dec. 3, 2017	Buccaneers	GB won, 26-20
15	Oct. 23, 2022	Commanders	GB lost, 21-23
16	Oct. 23, 1955	Browns	GB lost, 10-41
16	Oct. 19, 1969	Rams	GB lost, 21-34
16	Oct. 22, 1972	Falcons	GB lost, 9-10
16	Oct. 31, 1993	Bears	GB won, 17-3