By Eric Goska
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| Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (photos by Eric Goska) |
Sunday in
Arizona, the Packers came away with a timely reminder of the game-changing
potential of takeaways.
In beating
the Cardinals 27-23 at State Farm Stadium, Green Bay forced a turnover for just
the third time this season. The Packers’ offense then turned that recovery into
a touchdown, getting seven crucial points in a game in which they did not take
the lead until the final two minutes.
Pending the
outcome of tonight’s games, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense leads the NFL in a number of
categories. According to the league’s Game Statistic and Information System, Green
Bay defenders ranks first in yards per play (4.48), rushing yards allowed per
game (76.5) and passing yards per play (5.34).
One glaring
weakness: the unit has been less than stellar in manufacturing turnovers.
The best
teams are often those that can separate the ball from their opponents. The
Bears (4-2) are again relevant because they have forced a league-leading 16
turnovers. The Jets (0-7) are again a doormat because they have but one
takeaway through seven games.
In its first
five games, Green Bay had but two. Safety Evan Williams picked off Detroit’s
Jared Goff in the opener and Xavier McKinney intercepted the Browns’ Joe Flacco
two weeks later.
Steal No.3 arrived
courtesy of Rashan Gary and Williams early in the third quarter in Glendale.
Gary knocked the ball from quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s hand and Williams, who
had been flagged for pass interference the play previous, swallowed up the
bouncing ball.
According to
ESPN, the forced fumble was the seventh by Gary in his 96-game regular-season
career. The recovery was a first for Williams, a fourth-round pick in 2024.
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| Evan Williams |
Instead of
possibly falling behind 16-6 or 20-6, Green Bay pulled even thanks to the work
of Gary and Williams.
That this
was the first takeaway via fumble recovery of 2025 for the Green and Gold does not inspire confidence.
If this pace is maintained, Green Bay will come away with three which would
match the franchise low set in 1995.
Opponents –
Detroit, Washington, Cleveland, Dallas, Cincinnati and Arizona – had run 318
plays against the Packers without losing a fumble. A year ago, Halfley’s
defense had come away with five after that many plays by its opponents.
Turnovers
matter. They tend to go hand in hand with winning. The 1985 champion Bears extracted
54. The 2000 Ravens squeezed 49 from the competition.
Just don’t
expect Green Bay to approach those numbers. Turnovers are becoming more
difficult to come by as the average number per game has fallen from 4.5 in 1986
to 4.0 in 1992 to 3.5 in 2005 to 3.0 in 2014 to last year’s record low of 2.42
per game.
More than
ever, teams have to work to force the issue. In a results-based league, Green Bay
is lagging behind.
Its three
turnovers after six games are the fewest by the team in 105 seasons of play.
Further, that meager total fails to measure up to what playoff teams of the
past have done.
At their
present pace, the Packers would finish with eight or nine takeaways. In the
Super Bowl era, no team has reached the postseason in a non-strike season
without coming away with at least 14.
And the two
teams that did – the Lions (9-7) of 2016 and the Dolphins (9-8) of 2022 – were both
one and done in the postseason.
Turnovers
matter. Hafley made this clear a year ago on a Thursday before the Packers hosted
the Texans.
“I think
what’s always been really important to me, philosophically, is taking the ball
away. And I don’t think it happens by accident or by any luck. I think you
gotta talk about it, you gotta be about it and you have to go out and practice
it. And then it’s going to show up in games. And then once they believe in it,
it’s going to show up more and more.”
Last year the Packers forced 31 turnovers (fourth in the NFL). This year’s team has a
long way to go.
Since 1921, the fewest turnovers forced by the Packers through six games.
No. Year Final Record
3 2025 unknown
4 1995 11-5
4 2020 13-3
4 2022 8-9
5 2023 9-8
6 2004 10-6
BW ...
ReplyDeleteThey came through with a win but I feel the turnovers will turn up eventually for the Packers defense. Gary and Parsons are turning on the pass rush which will eventually force more fumbles from QBs. The main issue, like with every NFL team is whether the starters can stay healthy and continue to play?
Seems like each week I am reading about more freak, or practice injuries that keep players from playing games.