Power Rankings: Packers racing toward bottom
After their loss to Washington on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers continued their seemingly never-ending fall down the USA TODAY Sports NFL Power Rankings. They enter Week 12 sitting at No. 25.
Green Bay is preparing to face the Philadelphia Eagles, who find themselves at No. 16 after their tough loss in Seattle.
Here’s USA Today’s blurb about the Packers:
At least their four-game streak of surrendering 30-plus points — first time that's happened for Pack since 1953 — will likely end in Philly.
And the rankings had this to say about Philadelphia:
Carson Wentz plays like a rookie, defense fails to live up to self-described hype and dumb penalties. Sunday reminded us Eagles still really young.
Elsewhere around the web, the Packers follow a similar path in the ESPN NFL Power Rankings, falling two spots to No. 24.
The Packers' defense has allowed 27.6 points per game this season. That's the most points per game allowed by a Packers defense since 1958, when the unit allowed 31.8. Can Green Bay win at Philadelphia in Week 12 to prevent a five-game losing streak?
NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison continues the parade toward the bottom, though he only drops the Packers one spot in his Week 12 Power Rankings.
What we all saw Sunday night was the painful side of the salary-cap era: lack of depth. For example, how much of a difference would Casey Hayward have made against a hot quarterback who abused the Packers ' young corners? Of course, Hayward now resides in San Diego because Green Bay wasn't going to pay him. It's a small example, obviously, but what's now clear is the answer to the "What's wrong with Aaron Rodgers ?" question: an injury-riddled defense that can't stop anybody. Yell at Dom Capers all you want, but Buddy Ryan, God rest his soul, couldn't do squat with this group of walking wounded.
Finally, CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco drops Green Bay five spots to No. 22 and keeps things short and sweet in the commentary:
Can they it turn it around? It doesn't look like it with that defense.