This was not the prettiest game, and it certainly wasn’t Aaron Rodgers’ finest hour. We got some glimpses of the Rodgers we know and love, but it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t quite himself. I loved seeing him back on the field, but it wasn’t enough. Three interceptions and some less-than-inspired play from the defense – combined with a Falcons win on Monday night – proved to be the death knell for the Packers playoff hopes.

This wasn’t the best Packers season, but it has certainly been an interesting one. We still have two games to go. Let’s watch, cheer and then turn our attention on what this team may look like next season. In the meantime, try to enjoy these games. Keep an eye on guys you’re curious about. Check the safeties and linebackers at the snap. Look for holes in the defense. I know these games ultimately don’t mean much, but that doesn’t mean there is no reason to watch them. It’s still the Packers, and there’s always something to look for.

Lastly, this may be my final Eye in the Sky for the season. We still have two games left, but my wife will be having our second child next week, so we’ll have to see how much time I have when that happens. My plan for now is to do One Big Play and post plays in Twitter, but this longer column is likely being shut down for the season. I’ll have a season-end wrap-up post in a few weeks and that’s always a ton of fun to put together, so look for that.

For now, let’s get to the film.

I wrote about the Geronimo Allison catch/fumble in One Big Play this week. You can read that here. I know it sounds depressing, but I still think it’s worth reading about. Of course, I may be a bit biased.

You can also find a post of a bunch of collected film breakdown tweets here. I had to shorten this column but I still had plays I wanted to cover, so I started posting them to my football only Twitter account. No details of my boring life. Just football.

The Bad

On the right side of the line, Greg Olsen [88] is running a skinny post over a dig route from Ed Dickson [84]. The Packers are showing a single-high safety pre-snap, which likely means either Cover 1 or Cover 3. Devin Funchess [17] running a go route from the left slot helps hold the safety on that side in place in case this is Cover 1, while the go route from Chris Manhertz [82] on the right outside would keep a Cover 3 defender on that side. Both of those routes would help to widen the seam where Olsen is running.

Josh Jones [27] starts this play over Olsen, while Joe Thomas [48] is the linebacker on the inside. To me, this looks like Jones and Thomas are in pattern-match zone. When Olsen starts running up the field, Jones is supposed to pick up Olsen and run with him while Thomas takes Dickson on the dig. Instead, Jones and Thomas both converge on Dickson, leaving Olsen running up a completely empty seam.

To make matters more maddening, the Packers have a terrific pass rush on this play. Dean Lowry [94] completely trucks Amini Silatolu [65] – a full grown human man – leaping over him to hit Cam Newton [1]. While Lowry is disrespecting Silatolu and his family, Ahmad Brooks [55] hits Matt Kalil [75] with a wicked swim move, leaving Kalil grasping at air while Brooks jumps into Newton.

That’s two rushers with tremendous moves, both getting to the quarterback quickly, and it doesn’t matter. Olsen is so open that this rush is wasted. What could have been a sack ends up being a 30 yard touchdown.

Let’s look at Aaron Rodgers’ [12] three interceptions.

#1. 2nd and 5. Rodgers is looking to his right, with Richard Rodgers [82] running a curl and Geronimo Allison [81] running a flat. It’s covered well, so Rodgers looks left. Jordy Nelson [87] is running an out-and-up route against Thomas Davis [58], but Nelson’s feet get caught up with the feet of Davis when he runs to run upfield and he falls down.

Davante Adams [17] is running the same route on the outside. Daryl Worley [26] bites on the out cut, so Adams is able to jump inside and get up the field pretty easily.

Kurt Coleman [20] is the single high safety. He retreats back to the middle at the snap, looks to Rodgers’ right, sees the routes covered and comes back to the left. Rodgers has a small pump that levels out the path of Coleman. Adams has already cleared Worley and is streaking past the flatting path of Coleman. Adams is breaking wide open for a huge gain.

The problem is that the pressure starts to break down the pocket and Rodgers is forced to move a split second before he’s ready to throw. He ducks the pressure and chucks the ball up to Adams. Rodgers is correct that Adams has a ton of room over the top, but he can’t get the ball as far as it needs to go. It’s picked off by Worley.

Make no mistake: this would have been an insane throw, but we’ve seen him make these types of throws in the past. His arm strength just wasn’t quite where he thought it was.

#2. 2nd and 9. Randall Cobb [18] is running a post route from the right side of the line, with Colin Jones [42] trailing. Kurt Coleman [20] is the safety to that side and he’s playing extremely shallow. Aaron Rodgers [12] sees the hesitation from Jones and sees him trailing, so Rodgers attempts to squeeze the ball between Jones and Coleman.

The problem is that, while Cobb has Jones beat, the throw is low, so Jones is able to peel off and intercept this pass. Cobb has a solid 2 yards on Jones at the time this ball is thrown, but it doesn’t matter.

What kills me is looking at Coleman, who is running laterally. If Rodgers puts some air under this ball and goes over the top, this is a huge gain. Mike Adams [29] is behind Cobb and running in that direction, so I don’t think Cobb gets in the end zone, but, at the very least, this is a big gain.

This is also the play that ended with Davante Adams [17] getting a concussion, courtesy of a blindside hit from Thomas Davis [58]. No interception, no blindside block. Instead of the Panthers having the ball at midfield, the Packers are in Panthers territory. The Packers were down 17-14 at this point, so this could have helped the Packers to tie up the game – or pull ahead – early in the 3rd quarter. Loft that ball over the top and we are likely looking at an entirely different game.

#3. Just a few minutes later, the Packers found themselves down 24-14, facing 3rd and 10. Jordy Nelson [87] is running a little hesitation-and-go from the outside on the right. He sells that little hesitation so well that it allows him to blow past his defender. The Panthers are in Quarters – each defender is responsible for 1/4 of the field, thus “Quarters” – so there is no immediate help.

Aaron Rodgers [12] steps up into the pocket to elude pressure, rolls to his right, unleashes a bomb…and underthrows it. Just like his first one.

Again, this is something we’ve seen from him quite a bit. I know he has the arm to make this throw, but his arm just wasn’t as strong as he is used to it being. The collarbone may be completely healed, but the arm strength just hadn’t quite returned.

So that’s three interceptions for Rodgers on the day: two were uncharacteristically underthrown and one was a bad read. It’s safe to say that a 100% healthy Rodgers doesn’t thrown interceptions #1 and #3.

The Good

3rd and 9, 0:04 remaining in the 1st quarter. Richard Rodgers [82] runs a drag from left-to-right while Randall Cobb [18] runs into the flat off the right side of the line. Thomas Davis [58] follows Cobb across the formation signaling man coverage, but the wide drop of James Bradberry [24] on the edge signals the secondary is in Quarters.

The routes of Rodgers and Cobb clear the middle for a throw on the post to Davante Adams [17]. With Bradberry dropping outside, that mean Adams only has to beat Kurt Coleman [20]. Adams pushes up the field and throws a move at Coleman: the stutter step holds Coleman in place, but it’s that last little jab step to the right that kills him. Coleman sees that jab step out of the stutter and thinks Adams is heading to the corner. Coleman takes a step and turns his body, only to have Adams violently cut back inside.

It’s an unfair match-up for Coleman and Adams absolutely roasts him.

1st and 10, 0:39 remaining in the first half. Packers found themselves down 10-7, so a score before the half would be huge.

Packers are running dueling crossing routes, with dueling post routes over the top of those. Randall Cobb [18] and Jordy Nelson [87] are on the left, with Richard Rodgers [82] and Davante Adams [17] on the right. Kevon Seymour [27] is lined up over Cobb pre-snap and follows him into the middle, but peels off to pick up Richard Rodgers as he veers downfield. That leaves Cobb alone with Luke Kuechly [59] as the underneath zone defender.

Aaron Rodgers [12] drops back, but pressure causes the pocket to break down quickly, so he’s forced to flee. He finds an escape route to the right, so he takes that lane.

Up until this point, Kuechly is shadowing Cobb well, but watch the route of Cobb: he starts angling ever-so-slightly downfield and away from Kuechly. It’s a way to create a bit of space and it works perfectly here. As Rodgers flees, Kuechly advances on Rodgers, widening the gap between Kuechly and Cobb.

Rodgers finds a throwing lane and gets the ball to Cobb as he is being taken down. Cobb finds himself in the open field and gets to the end zone in a very Cobb-like manner: by juking the living daylights out of a man and splitting two defenders. He finishes it all off by diving into the end zone, a move that likely made Edgar Bennett nod his head in approval.

Here it is from another angle.

You can see how the angle from Cobb is able to create distance and open a throwing lane to the outside for Rodgers to get him the ball. Also, look how casually Cobb snags this ball with one hand and turns upfield. Randall Cobb is really, really good.

Here’s just the final move. Such a sudden move back in after that wide step. Cobb is so good at this.

4th and 5, 8:39 remaining in the game. The right side of the field finds Richard Rodgers [82] running a post off the line, Randall Cobb [18] running a corner route from the slot and Jordy Nelson [87] running a dig under the corner route from Cobb.

Cobb gets open with a nice nod inside before cutting outside. I say he’s running a corner route because his initial move at the top of the route is taking the direction of a corner. When he turns and sees that Aaron Rodgers [12] is in trouble, he levels out the route to come back to the ball. Great move by Cobb to create separation and good recognition to come back to his quarterback.

Don’t sleep on Aaron Jones [33], lined up wide on the left. Watch his route when he cuts in: he gives a step in and violently cuts upfield and over the linebacker. That’s a tremendous move. I’m a big fan of Aaron Jones.

2nd and 10, 2:48 remaining in the game, Packers down 31-17.

This gif starts later in the play than I would like, but this is exactly where the play starts on the All 22. The Packers caught the Panthers before they were set. I talked about exactly how that can open up gaps in the defense way back in Week 1, but it’s an important thing to bring up again. If the defense is set, they’re able to get into their spots and read what is going on in front of them. When you catch a defense before they’re set, they’re forced to get into their spots after the snap. You’re putting them a step behind.

Watch how that plays out here. Kurt Coleman [20] is the single deep safety. Richard Rodgers [82] is pushing up the field on a post and has covered 10 yards while Coleman is still backpedaling. Were Coleman in position, he would see that Rodgers and Geronimo Allison [81] were running mirroring post routes and get himself in a position to make a play on either. Instead he turns slightly to get back to his spot, putting Allison in his line of sight. He plays under the route of Allison, giving Rodgers room in the middle once he clears the deep drop from Luke Kuechly [59].

Aaron Rodgers [12] tosses a beautiful throw over Kuechly and splits the safeties for a touchdown.

I find this throw to be quite pleasing.

Final Thoughts

I mentioned at the top that this is likely my last full Eye in the Sky write-up for this season. I say this every year, but thank you all so much for following along. Not only has this been my most successful season in terms of the almighty pageviews, but it’s also the first season I have felt truly comfortable. That’s not to say I know everything – there are people out there looking at film who clearly have a better grasp on concepts and terminology than I do – but I feel like this season has been a big step up for me. I’m recognizing things more quickly and seeing patterns quicker. The Packers aren’t making the playoffs and that stinks, but I feel like I have finally begun to hit my stride. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me as long as they have – I know some of you who have been reading since my days over at the now-defunct Packer Update – and thank you to all the new people who have started reading recently. It still blows me away that anyone wants to read anything that I write, and pretty much everyone I have interacted with has been kind, gracious and supportive. You all are the best. I plan on doing some stuff in the offseason, so I hope you all come back for that. If not, I’ll catch you next September. Thanks again. You all are amazing.

Albums listened to: Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of the Bewilderbeast; Eminem – Revival; Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life; Luke Sital-Singh – Time is a Riddle; Father John Misty – Pure Comedy