Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” that he was encouraged by the energy level of his team during the lead up to Sunday night’s showdown with the Buffalo Bills, even if extra juice didn’t help the Packers play better early or snap the losing streak.
Rodgers actually said Sunday night was the “first” time he’s felt the team was ready to play from an energy-level standpoint all season.
“The feeling of it, the energy just felt better. Pre-game, this was the first game of the season where it really felt like we were ready to play, energetically,” Rodgers said. “It’s more just a feeling, that we’re dialed in, ready to go. Again, doesn’t translate to a win, but that energy is encouraging for us moving forward.”
The answer was in response to a question about the team “feeling like the Packers” again.
Of course, Rodgers and the Packers fell behind 14-0, 21-7 and 24-7 in the first half, so “energy” certainly wasn’t enough for Matt LaFleur’s team to compete with the mighty Bills on the road.
Still, the comment is a fascinating one from so many angles. The Packers are eight games into the season. Why has “energy” pre-game been an issue? And has it been a primary reason for so many slow starts in 2022?
Also: Why is a player-led team that thought it was a Super Bowl contender in August not able to create its own energy before games?
Getting up to play the Bills in primetime is one thing. Can the Packers bring that same energy next week in an early-time slot start at Ford Field against the one-win Lions?
All important questions coming out of this.
Here’s the segment:
"The energy around the team has felt better & that's encouraging going forward" ~@AaronRodgers12#PMSLive #ART pic.twitter.com/AF5tc2JriD
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 1, 2022