For the Packers, not every week is going to have the Cinderella ending we saw in Week 13. Hail Mary passes to Richard Rodgers are nothing short of a miracle and cannot be hoped to be replicated. The defense holding on for a 20-point rally? Not usually likely. Someone other than Aaron Rodgers has to step up and become another consistent threat in order for the Packers to have a chance of winning in the rest of the season. The Packers don’t look often to signing players, meaning that whoever this may be has to come from the current roster.

Currently, the defense is playing up to its potential. They have only allowed six games of over 20 allowed and one of over 30. Of these, the Packers have won four. With this not being a team predicated on defense winning games, in theory what they have in a top-middle tier defense should be enough.

But unfortunately that is assuming the offensive juggernaut is alive and well. Watching the inconsistent offensive play this season has been hard to watch and frankly confusing. Losing Jordy Nelson has hurt far more than anticipated. To me, it is the skill players on this side of the ball that need to step up, namely Davante Adams and Eddie Lacy.

For as much as it seems like Adams is literally dropping the ball, he actually is hovering very close to his last season reception percentage. He ended at a 61% reception rate last season compared to a 57% percentage this season. But, it seems so starkly different because with Nelson playing Adams was the third receiver behind him and Cobb. It was fine that he would drop some catchable balls as the Packers had Nelson as one of the most consistent deep threats and Cobb as the number one slot receiver in football. Now with Nelson gone, Adams needs to improve his efficiency. James Jones is a fine veteran presence and retains the ball skills to serve as a third receiver, but he does not consistently have the speed anymore to beat coverage. Cobb now sees the majority of the double teams, and needs a second voice in order to relax the focus off of him. Adams must develop into a respectable second receiver in order to spark the pass game.

Lacy is the other key. When Nelson went down, most analysts were not concerned about a dip in offensive efficiency because the Packers had a very effective running game they could turn to. But, Lacy has not consistently shown that he can be the next-gen Marshawn Lynch. The holes are there, now the execution needs to match. If the run can be reestablished in Green Bay, it will take pressure off of the receivers and further benefit the continuity of the offense.

Football is a team sport, but that phrase cannot discount how important each individual is. For even if all other players are doing their part, the team is only as strong as its weakest link. If Eddie Lacy and Devante Adams can improve their game, the green and gold juggernaut will once again loom large in the far north and be ready for the challenge to come.

Photo via Fox Sports.

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