SPORTS LINE
The Green Bay Packers.
The team (now 6-8), lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, dropping their chances of making the playoffs to 26 percent. Jordan Love was let down by his defense during his 14th start in Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, just like Aaron Rodgers was let down by his defense in 2008. He also managed to completely miss some easy short-pass connections. Making his 14th start in 2008, Aaron Rodgers wasn’t great either, and the defense let him down, as well, in a 20-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In short, it was all too easy for the Buccaneers (7-7) and Mayfield. They produced a dozen gains of at least 18 yards, converted 7-of-11 third downs, and were mostly running free in the secondary for the whole game.
The overall letdown compared to where the Packers were just seven days ago is devastating and hard to escape. They’ve lost their last two games to a pair of sub.500 clubs after putting together three straight wins, including two over first-place teams, to give themselves a chance in a crowded NFC field. Quarterback Jordan Love was 29-of-39 for 284 yards with two TDs and a 111.5 passer rating, including an impressive 17-yard scrambling TD pass to rookie receiver Jayden Reed on a third-and-long that broke down. But going three-and-out to start the second half and settling for a field goal early in the fourth quarter to only get within 27-20. Any hope of the playoffs almost certainly requires winning the last two games of the season. Can the ‘children’s team’ of the NFL get its act together to get to the playoffs, and if it does, then what then?
The Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee is a top-heavy squad that excels when its stars play up to their top levels. Portis, for one, is quick to point out the importance of the Bucks’ young players in giving Milwaukee a deep rotation. This was evident during Friday night’s Bucks’ 146-114 rout of the Detroit Pistons. With starters Malik Beasley and Khris Middleton sidelined for different reasons, Bucks coach Adrian Griffin went with young wings MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr., and the move paid off. Beauchamp, a second-year two-guard, set the tone early, scoring the game’s first seven points and finishing with 11 points, six boards, and two steals. Damian Lillard served as the leading scorer in this matchup, going off for 38 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Giannis poured in a solid amount with 26 points of his own. Khris Middleton also etched out 20 points in 30 minutes of action.
