The Green Bay Packers are heading home after a playoff run many believed they would not have. In their first season with Jordan Love under center, they finished the regular season 9-8, which was good enough for the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoff picture. An improbable blowout win against the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round made the end of their regular season appear all the more magical.
Reality hit hard, though, in their 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night. It was a game that saw Green Bay lead with five minutes remaining in the game, only to let the lead slip away. As far as playoff losses go, it was just about as typical as any in the Matt LaFleur era. For some reason (or, perhaps, many reasons), they are unable to get out of their own way in the postseason.
Despite the fact that they “weren’t supposed to be there,” both Aaron Jones and Matt LaFleur spoke postgame about how much this loss stings more than others. Indeed, the Packers had everything they needed to win; their execution, however, failed them again.
On the bright side, Green Bay made the postseason as the NFL’s youngest team. In theory, this is their floor. They will be back in the postseason, and Rashan Gary hopes they take this lesson with them so that they do not relive it in the future.
Green Bay Packers Edge Rusher Rashan Gary to His Teammates: “Don’t Forget”
The Packers are, unfortunately, all-too familiar with heartbreaking postseason losses. That is, a portion of the players are. One must remember that a high percentage of this team, particularly on offense, is made up of first and second year players. This loss is their first taste of postseason bitterness.
The veterans, though, are sick of the taste. While the pain of the loss hurts, Rashan Gary does not want his team to forget how bad it feels. According to Ryan Wood of USA Today, Gary told his teammates:
“Don’t forget this feeling. Don’t forget this feeling, and understand playoffs don’t come around. So next time we’re in the playoffs, everybody lock in.”
The Packers were able to make the playoffs with the youngest roster in the NFL. They should be back, but as Gary notes, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. Green Bay will need to come back hungrier and far more disciplined if they are to make a longer run in the playoffs next season.
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