Rodgers: Packers ‘hurting ourselves’ with errors

MINNEAPOLIS — Consider it or not, the would-be 75-yard landing go that rookie receiver Christian Watson dropped on the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ first offensive play of the season wasn’t on the prime of the listing of issues that bothered Aaron Rodgers after one other season-opening dud.

All of the psychological errors, missed assignments and poor selections — together with some by Rodgers himself — in Sunday’s 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Financial institution Stadium disturbed him rather more.

“Clearly, it might be nice to have a 75-yard landing to start out the sport,” Rodgers stated. “However drops are going to occur. It is a part of the sport. It is the psychological stuff that we simply cannot have as a result of we’re hurting ourselves. Whether or not we’re going the unsuitable manner on a block or lacking a safety one thing or lacking a sizzling [route] or not operating the fitting route [at] the fitting depth, there was simply too many psychological errors.”

Such was life within the first recreation with out Davante Adams.

Whereas Rodgers’ former favourite goal caught 10 passes for 141 yards and a landing in his debut with the Las Vegas Raiders, his new-look receiver group (which was lacking presumed No. 1 goal Allen Lazard due to an ankle damage) mixed for less than 12 catches for 120 yards and no touchdowns.

It will have regarded completely different if Watson, the Packers’ second-round draft decide, had not let a ball slip via his palms after he had greater than 3 yards of separation towards Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson.

“That is only a play I do know I gotta make,” stated Watson, who completed with two catches for 34 yards. “More often than not, it is a play I do know I am able to making. Simply gotta put that previously and transfer on.”

However there have been different points: Fellow rookie receiver Romeo Doubs (4 catches for 37 yards) bought his indicators crossed with Rodgers a minimum of as soon as. After Watson’s drop, he wasn’t focused once more till late within the fourth quarter. After Rodgers and Doubs appeared to miscommunicate on a 3rd down halfway via the primary quarter, he wasn’t focused once more till the third quarter.

“Look, we have got to have persistence with these guys,” stated Rodgers, who completed 22-for-34 passing for 195 yards and no touchdowns to offset the interception. “They’re younger. They have not been within the hearth. The persistence will likely be thinner because the season goes on, however the expectation will likely be excessive. We’ll maintain them accountable, however it may occur. There’s going to be drops. Hate to see it on the primary play, but it surely’s a part of it — there’s going to be drops all through the season.”

Rodgers second-guessed himself, too. He stated he ought to have pulled a quarterback keeper on the failed fourth-and-goal from the 1 run by AJ Dillon within the second quarter. He referred to as his interception within the last minute of the primary half a “dumb resolution.” That throw, which Harrison Smith picked off, ended Rodgers’ streak of touchdowns with out an interception towards an NFC North foe at 38 — essentially the most consecutive landing passes with no decide in divisional video games in NFL historical past.

A 12 months in the past, after the Packers had been drilled 38-3 within the season opener towards the New Orleans Saints, Rodgers drew criticism for enjoying it off as no large deal. And, in fact, the Packers went on to complete 13-4 and earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

He nonetheless had his humorousness after this one.

“We scored 4 extra factors than we did that day,” Rodgers stated with a smile. “There’s lots to construct on whenever you evaluate the 2. Look, it is robust to win on this league, and it is positively robust whenever you get in your personal manner too many occasions. So, I felt like we did some good issues. Perhaps we have got to get some extra touches for Jonesy [Aaron Jones] and [AJ] Dillon. Made lots of errors within the perimeter, missed some throws, so there’s lots to scrub up all the best way round.”

Maybe the offensive efficiency ought to have been anticipated given the lack of Adams mixed with the absence of Lazard and beginning tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, who haven’t been cleared to return from knee surgical procedures. However the struggles by the protection, one which Rodgers praised repeatedly in coaching camp, had been surprising. It could not cease Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (9 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns).

“That is two years in a row the place we have come out Week 1 and haven’t regarded ready,” stated Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who fell to 2-2 in season openers however is 37-9 in all different video games.