GREEN BAY, Wis. — Injuries are one thing—every team in the league has to navigate that obstacle.
That aside, it's difficult to find much to nitpick after four games that have the Green Bay Packers positioned with a 2-1-1 record and one of the most explosive offenses in football.
Their inability to put a team away when the opportunity presents itself? Sure, that's reasonable.
"We're starting these games fast and now it's just trying to switch it over to ending these games," said Jordan Love in his weekly media availability on Wednesday. "Keeping that foot on the gas, we get a lead and just keep going, finishing better in some of these games."
The Packers have found themselves hitting second-half lulls this season, specifically in the third quarter. They may have beaten the brakes off of the Detroit Lions in the Sept. 7 opener, but after building a 17-3 lead in the first half, they punted on both of their possessions in the third quarter. Love was 3-of-5 for 19 yards while the Lions continued to hang around, and as a team hoisting back-to-back divisional crowns with Super Bowl aspirations, that's the last thing you want.
"I think you look at some of the games we've had and we've just got to put teams away," said Love. "It goes back to even the first game of the season with Detroit. You know, we've got to find ways to just keep capitalizing when we get a lead."
Against the Washington Commanders—another NFC contender—four days later, the Packers weren't much better. Jumping ahead to a 14-3 lead, Brandon McManus missed a field goal to end the first half and the Packers managed to score just three points following a 10-play, 54-yard drive in the third quarter. They went three-and-out on their following possession and the Commanders seized the moment to find the end zone to begin the fourth quarter, pulling within a touchdown.
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The Packers' finest hour in the third quarter was more of a swan song than anything else. On the road against the Joe Flacco-led Cleveland Browns, the Packers nursed a 3-0 lead heading into the second half. Both teams traded three-and-outs to open the third quarter before Love completed all six of his pass attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown on a 14-play scoring drive that boosted the Packers' lead to double digits. They were in the driver's seat and just needed to escape Cleveland by preserving their lead and playing clean football—they did neither of those things.
Love threw an interception to safety Grant Delpit with three minutes remaining in the game and he returned it 25 yards. It took just a single play for the Browns to hit paydirt. When Love and the offense drove down the field to position themselves for a game-winning kick, McManus' attempt was blocked and Flacco utilized the remaining 21 seconds to replicate Love's efforts. All it took was 16 yards after a botched kickoff, and before anyone knew it, the Browns sent the Packers home with their first loss of the season.
Too long? Didn't read? That's fine—all you need to know is that the Packers haven't displayed the "killer instinct" that championship contenders possess. That could ultimately become a major problem once January rolls around. The Packers need to be able to put their boot on the necks of their opponents and apply pressure—significant pressure. While it's essential to remember that the other guys get paid, too, the Packers have more than enough talent—and have had the opportunities—to make noise by hanging with the league's best teams.
The moment that the offense becomes stagnant against a foe who will waste little time in taking advantage of that will be the same moment the Packers' season ends prematurely for the 12th time since 2011.
"I think that's always the thing in the NFL," Love said. "These games, these teams—everybody's good. When you get those opportunities, you've just got to capitalize and try and put teams away and not even make it close to the end."
Zachary Jacobson is the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is entering his 11th season covering theGreen Bay Packers. He is a member of thePro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter@zacobson or contact him via email atitszachariahj@gmail.com