Packers Morning Buzz: A lethargic effort in a must-win game

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

The Packers rallied Monday night to beat the San Francisco 49ers 33-30 on a last-second Mason Crosby field goal.

We'll start with Pete Dougherty's column on how despite saving their season with the victory, the Packers' performance just isn't good enough.

Pete writes:

Yes, it’s remarkably rare when you can say a Week 6 game is must-win, but this was the exception for the Packers. Yet you wouldn’t have known it by the way they played from the second quarter until the game’s final four minutes.

During that long stretch, their disjointed offense came away from two great scoring chances with only field goals. They had no chemistry or flow in play calling or execution. Running back Aaron Jones played more this week but still had only eight touches (for 41 yards). Rodgers again put up big numbers (425 yards passing) and there’s no getting around that he came through when it mattered most. But he held the ball too long, too often again, and didn’t have what you’d call a good game, either. Even with the outcome possibly on the line down a touchdown with 5:33 left, the Packers, remarkably, went three-and-out. That easily could have been it.

Especially because on the other side, their run defense was a disaster — 49ers running backs Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida combined for 148 yards on 26 carries. Safety Kentrell Brice gave up another long touchdown pass (67 yards to Marquise Goodwin), and the Packers’ pass rush and coverage often made C.J. Beathard (115.3 rating) look like a Pro Bowler converting third downs.

The Packers in fact were outplayed for most of the night and too often showed little life or energy or camaraderie or anything.

You can read the entire column here:

Tom Silverstein came to a sobering conclusion even though the Packers won:

As Jim Owczarski reports, Packers cornerback Kevin King's game-changing interception came just in time:

Ryan Wood writes about how the Packers keep relying on comebacks:

Jimmy Graham had a breakout game when Green Bay needed it most:

A capsule look at who was up (Mason Crosby) and who was down (the defense):

Crosby talked about which kick got him the most revved up:

Just how unusual of a game was it for the Packers receiving corps?

Check out these outstanding photos from Monday night's thriller:

The MMQB breaks down the Packers' winning drive:

Former Packers cornerback Charles Woodson got a chance to watch his nephew Monday night:

Former Packers coach Mike Holmgren talks about what Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers need to remember in their working relationship:

Jason Wilde writes about Packers receiver Davante Adams' growth:

Sounds like potential trouble for the Chicago Bears' defense (Mack had no sacks Sunday):