Cobb: Packers' focus is the Vikings
Gannett Wisconsin Media’s Brett Christopherson caught up with Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, who shared his thoughts on Sunday’s 38-8 loss to the Arizona Cardinals:
What did the tape show in the aftermath of Sunday’s setback? Where do you start in assessing the offensive corrections that need to be made?
RC: We didn’t watch the tape. I watched a little bit on my own, but we’re all trying to move past it and get ready for the Vikings.
Offensively, you finished with 178 total yards, were 5-of-17 (29 percent) in third-down efficiency, committed four turnovers and surrendered nine sacks. And your first four drives ended with punts. In what area do you need to see the most offensive improvement as you look ahead to the Vikings?
RC: After this past week, I don’t know what to tell you. I just want to see us get back to executing — making plays. We turned the ball over too much. We gave up too many sacks. And we didn’t make big plays. That’s what it comes down to. You lose football games that way.
3 Storylines: Packers vs. Vikings
What’s your sense of the team’s confidence level heading into this week’s finale against Minnesota? How do you keep what happened in Arizona from affecting your preparation and focus as you get ready to battle the Vikings for the NFC North title?
RC: I can’t speak for everybody else, but for me personally, just continuing to prepare like I know how as far as my film study and being prepared for what we’re going to see. … And just making sure that I try to lead the guys in the right direction.
The Packers rank 26th in the league in passing offense and 24th in total offense. The passing game has been disjointed for much of the season. What’s it going to take to find a rhythm within that facet of the offense as the playoffs loom?
RC: Pick up first downs. We’re getting off the field way too fast and not giving our defense a break. Just being able to sustain drives throughout the game and not have any lulls at any time.
Get real, Green Bay: Packers aren't very good
You’ve faced the NFC’s top two seeds this season in Carolina and Arizona. You rallied from a 23-point deficit in the fourth quarter before falling to the Panthers 37-29. And you just lost to the Cardinals by 30 points. Both were benchmark games for Green Bay. Many would say the gap between the Packers and those two teams is too wide to overcome should they face either in the playoffs. What do you say?
RC: There’s nothing that’s too hard to overcome. I’ve faced so much in my life that I’ve been able to overcome, I’m not worried about a football game. I can overcome anything. I’ve done it before, and I know this team can do it. We’ve got a bunch of guys who have overcome different things in their lives. So when it comes to a football game, there’s no question about it — we can overcome it. But that’s not our focus right now. Our focus right now is the Vikings.
Brett Christopherson: 920-993-7117, or brett.christopherson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @PCBrettC