Colts 31 Packers 26: Game Balls & Lame Calls

Way too much of the featured image from this game.  Literally from the word "go" the Packers were manhandled, out hustled, out schemed and out played in every facet of the game.  The Indianapolis Colts took the opening kickoff for a 99-yard score and held the lead the rest of the day.  The Packers mounted a bit of a comeback late, but it proved to be too little.  It's not what I predicted to happen, but as I sit here writing this, I'm not all that surprised either.  Not much surprises me about the 2016 Green Bay Packers anymore.  After a tough loss in Atlanta that came down to the wire last week, the Packers did absolutely nothing to respond this week against the Colts, and they find themselves sitting at 4-4 and a very inconsistent football team.

On to this week's best and worst.

Game Balls

Ty Montgomery

Montgomery provided a spark out of the backfield, ripping off a few longer runs (a long of 24 yards) after returning from injury last week.  It doesn't seem ideal to stick a receiver back at running back as often as Montgomery is back there, but if he's going to produce like that, then why not?  Especially after the anemic performance by the Packers offense in this game, they need production anywhere they can get it.  I didn't love the roughing the kicker penalty, but fortunately that was nullified by an offsetting Colts penalty.

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers didn't look sharp for much of the day but I'm giving him a game ball for his ability to lead two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to close the gap.  His mobility is still an asset and he managed to find a way to make things happen late despite not playing well for the first three and a half quarters.  As far as a guy who can carry this team, Rodgers is all the Packers have right now.  As he goes, so does any chance the Packers have to look competitive.

Lame Calls

Special Teams

A 99-yard kickoff return to open the game and another long return into Green Bay territory.  Mason Crosby with a missed field goal.  Things didn't go well for the Packers special teams at all in this game.  The kick coverage has been spotty for a while and doesn't appear to be capable of much better.  Teams are going to bring the ball out of the end zone against Green Bay now and the Packers should be very worried about this.  It's basic football and yet the Packers have found a way not to properly address it nor improve.  What's scarier is that there were many starters playing on special teams for the Packers in this game.

Pass Rush

Maybe some of the offensive line shuffling for the Colts did them a favor and actually improved their pass protection.  The Packers managed just one sack of Andrew Luck in the first half and give him way too much time sit in the pocket and find an open receiver.  Unlike the Packers receivers, who can't seem to separate from long coverage, the Colts receivers did.  Too much time for a good quarterback against a lazy (and slow) Packers coverage scheme.  This was an area that seemed heavily slanted in Green Bay's favor coming in, but either they underestimated Indianapolis's abilities or just took the day off.  Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Finish. The. Play.  His lack of bringing Luck down on a late third down play that would have gotten the Packers the ball back led to (of course) a big first down for the Colts that allowed them to run out the clock.  When your team is losing, you get called when you don't make the big plays you should and that could have given your team a chance.

Passing defense

Despite two interceptions by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the pass defense was flat out pathetic.  Soft zone coverage because the pass rush couldn't get home and they were picked apart all day.  That recipe turned into disaster for the Packers on their own home field.  They gave up a 96-yard touchdown drive to end the first half, sitting back in coverage and allowing Colts receivers to walk all the way down the field.  The coverage scheme the Packers employed in this game, as mentioned, earlier, was lazy and poorly put together.  The execution clearly was as well.  Colts receivers easily beat the Packers deep several times.  Couple all of this with the lack of pass rush and you have a "zero defense".

The Offense

Inconsistent, awful, poorly called.  Rodgers' horrible deep miss of Jordy Nelson on third down and six early in the fourth quarter was the perfect illustration of what is wrong with the offense when it's not working.  It just. . doesn't work.  Nothing worked today outside of a free play touchdown.  Very little to build off of and take from this game.

Moxie

The Packers had everything to play for and respond to after last week in Atlanta and they embarrassed themselves.  A loss like this can easily turn the season the wrong way.  This Packers team isn't like many of the others that we've seen recently, and that's a bad thing.  The last time the Packers beat the Colts was in 2008 when they finished 6-10.  Are we seeing an ironic parallel develop here?  Front and center of the issues is head coach Mike McCarthy, who can't seem to rally his team to overcome any type of odds.  We don't know what he really does behind closed doors, but his answers as to why his team isn't performing well are tired, stale and frankly, Mike, unacceptable.  Now he draws a road game against another unfamiliar opponent in the Tennesee Titans.

 

Others to mention:

None.  This team looked awful in this game and they aren't scaring anyone.  Not even at home where just two years ago, they won all eight of their games at Lambeau Field.

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (80)

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Chad Toporski's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:22 am

It's sad to know that many of us who have generally seen McCarthy in a positive light are now questioning how much longer he should stick around. But who else can you look to when the offense is abysmal, yet there are obviously a bunch of playmakers out on the field? Defenses know they just have to plan press man coverage to get McCarthy's scheme out of sync. That's a pretty bad sign.

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NickPerry's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:37 am

11 years is a long time for anyone not named Bill B. The Packers need to break from McCarthy as much as McCarthy needs to break from the Packers. "It's Time" as Kevin Greene would say to move on.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:48 am

I have backed McCarthy for a while.

But I'm really starting to question whether he is the right person.

He has a hard time adapting his offense to the personnel he has. The previous 2 weeks he did a great job. This week? No.

Just the simple decision of playing Richard Rodgers and Perillo as much as he did makes absolutely no sense. They can't block, they can't get any separation, and are absolutely no threat in the receiving game. Yet they played all game, while 2 players that made big plays for them last week barely saw the field.

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Tundraboy's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:48 am

Enough said.

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Big_Mel_75's picture

November 07, 2016 at 10:40 am

MM needs to go along with TT. MM can only put so many square pegs in round holes. I blame TT for Lacy getting hurt for not providing MM with a healthy RB. Hope this is a clean house year. TT and MM need to go. Give Elloit Wolf a shot...

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 08, 2016 at 07:22 am

I agree that MM can only put so many square pegs in round holes. But perhaps he needs to change the board and get the board with square pegs in it...

Meaning, maybe he needs to adjust his offense to maximize the players he does have.

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Beep's picture

November 07, 2016 at 11:50 am

Inexplicably, Richard Rodgers is the only guy consistently getting separation...

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NashvilleCheesehead's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:26 am

"A loss like this can easily turn the season the wrong way."

That horse has already left the barn. I love this team, and have since the Lombardi years, but it's time for regime change. We've been through it many times before. It is not an ray period for any team, but things will be fine over the long term. That wrong way turn you are talking about happened at least a year ago.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:54 am

I didn't realize that stats. After seeing it, it basically bears out. But getting shutdown by a weak Colts defense is truly alarming.

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JerseyAl's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:08 am

Wait - aren't you a front-running Patriots fan now? Another false promise? How many do you have?

Also, you predict gloom and doom EVERY year. In general your predictions are wrong more than 90% of the time. And you're a prophet? hahahaha...

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Since'61's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:56 am

Al - COW is a program loop that just constantly plays different versions of the same post; Packers are bad, MM can't coach, TT can't draft, Packers lose this week, No more SBs for AR. And on and on. That's why his predictions are mostly wrong. It's just an ongoing programmed loop that's why it's always doom and gloom. You can't have a discussion or reason with the program, you will just get a different version of the same answer. Thanks, Since '61

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al bundy's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:31 pm

Facts. This is a 4-4 team and they are lucky to be that. I have a real hard time thinking this team is even avg at best. At the end of the game when the colts got the ball I told my wife, watch this, they wont run to run out the clock, they will take the sure thing and pass to get first downs and run out the clock. They attacked the huge weakness. I was dead on.
Until capers can come up with a pass defense, its going to get ugly folks.
Ps Dix was horribly out of place thats why he got two interceptions he was beat on both plays.

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sheppercheeser's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:29 am

I disagree with AR's game ball cuz of his 4th quarter efforts. That effort should have started with the opening whistle. Poor decision-making, missed throws, hanging on to the ball too long. I miss the old Aaron. Unbelievably, I thought Barclay played pretty well with short notice.

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jasonperone's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:55 am

You have a case but I needed at least one other game ball and that was where I went

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Savage57's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:06 am

"I just have one word for all you starting quarterbacks out there in Packerland.

I-M-P-R-O-V-E."

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NickPerry's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:33 am

I know this is "Game Balls and Lame Calls" but I'm having a hard time coming up with any Game Balls. Montgomery comes to mind and so does Jordy Nelson. I can't give kudos to Rodgers, not after the first 3 quarters. I can't blame HHCD either. If you look at his first sack he needed help from Perry on that one.

This loss falls on Mike McCarthy IMO. He had found a weapon in Ty Montgomery 2 weeks ago and Monty started fast with 2 nice runs. What does McCarthy do? He takes Montgomery OUT until 12:05 of the 2nd quarter!! Gone is what was working the last 2 weeks and it's back to Bombs Away, ignoring the receiver who's open underneath to move the chains.

McCarthy looked like a stammering fool going into halftime when he spoke with Tracy. The Packers had the division for the taking when they took the field. Instead they played the most uninspired football game I've seen from them in a long, long time.

Note to Mark Murphy... Title Town will make a fortune no matter what. Start taking the next few months getting your ducks in a row for your Football Team. If you don't have it in you to fire Ted T and hire Elliot Wolf, at least show MM the door. Rodgers can no longer cover up all the weaknesses this team has because Rodgers is somewhat broken too. 2 garbage time TD's to pad what was actually a horrible performance for 3 quarters doesn't cut it.

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Hematite's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:19 am

It's time for the Green Bay Packers Board of Directors to take the bull by the horns.
Blow this thing up!
Fire Murphy,Thompson and McCarthy.
Give the new GM a directive to TRY to trade Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews.
It's time!

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Tundraboy's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:55 am

"The Packers had the division for the taking when they took the field. Instead they played the most uninspired football game I've seen from them in a long, long time."

In Football, a game filled with emotion we get this.

How team starts out is on the coach. How they fail to adapt during game. On coach.

Injuries, poor execution, etc are valid reasons for a lot of things, but who here has confidence that MM will turn this team around? Even if Lacy Cook and others are back. Who here has confidence that MM can lead this team to playoff success anymore?

Not me

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packerbackerjim's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:35 am

GBP is THIRD in the NFC North. Despite knowing the Vikes Lost and could have had a virtual tie for first playing at home, the team lost all 3 phases of the game. Is there really a strong argument for retaining MM and DC?

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MITM's picture

November 07, 2016 at 05:40 am

When the Packers played the Steelers in the SB, I remember there being a huge emphasis on getting Big Ben to the ground because he was a bigger QB that was hard to sack. Andrew Luck is a big QB, we had such a problem getting him to the ground it was pathetic to watch. All the praise for Ha Ha and his 2 picks and the 1 sack he did have, what about the one he missed on 3rd down that was a catalyst to the Colts putting this game away. Sad. Its been said before and ill say it again. We have not been able to replace Cullen Jenkins, Desmond Bishop, Nick Collins or Jermichael Finley.

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Packer_Pete's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:09 am

While I agree that HaHa needed to bring down Luck on that 3rd down, he was also one of the few guys who did anything in that game. So I think the criticism should start somewhere else... I take the effort and outcome of HaHa's game yesterday anytime over the lackluster efforts I am seeing out of Gunter, Goodson, Martinez, Datone Jones, Guion, Burnett, or really most of the defensive players any day...

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:52 am

I agree. Clinton-Dix was really good. I wish he would have made that final sack, and if he does I think they win the game. But they didn't lose the game because he missed 1 play.

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dobber's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:32 am

If you watch that last sack attempt...yes, it was a decisive play in the game...but it was a good play by the RB (Gore?) to keep pushing HHCD's momentum past Luck, making it so he could step out of it. You're right: that play is probably a sack against anyone not named Roethlisberger, Newton, or Luck, and it gives the Packers the ball with time on the clock and some offensive momentum.

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Rossonero's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:20 am

Nobody is scared to play in Lambeau Field. Can we just admit that already? I still hear commentators and radio guys say, "oh such and such a team has to go up to Lambeau to play the Packers, that will be a tough game." No it won't.

I think 2 or 3 years ago was the Thanksgiving day disaster in Detroit. I thought that loss would get someone fired. Ha - not by a long way. McCarthy is unfortunately firmly entrenched as coach, but you have to wonder if hes losing his locker room after a pathetic showing like that. Now the Titans game is a complete toss up and this "easy schedule" that we all thought would lead to a 12-4 or 13-3 season looks more like it'll end up as 9-7.

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dobber's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:02 am

"Nobody is scared to play in Lambeau Field"

For three quarters yesterday it appeared that the Packers were...

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 10:01 am

Ha, ha - so true

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carusotrap's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:20 am

9-7? I wish.

I'm thinking 7-9, but they actually could lose any of these games. My greatest fear is that they a actually do go 8-8 and thus give TT and MM another year.

TEN -W (or not?)
WAS - L
PHI - L
HOU - W
SEA - L (Packers' Kryptonite)
CHI - L
MIN - W (they're tanking)
DET -L (Detroit wins division)

"This was an area that seemed heavily slanted in Green Bay's favor coming in, but either they underestimated Indianapolis's abilities or just took the day off."

Or the third possibility is that this team is simply not as good as we want it to be or the media's August research said it was.)

Mark Murphy. It. Is. Time. This doesn't diminish what the Thompson - McCarthy regime accomplished in the past. But they are done. Promote Elliot Wolf. Let him find some hungry offensive coordinator who is ready to be Head Coach. He can go out and get hungry coordinators and turn all this raw, youth into something. (That, or find some different raw youth that fits in the scheme you're trying to run.)

Or just get those fundamentals cleaned up and execute better. *sigh*

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Tundraboy's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:01 am

My greatest fear is that they give MM another year at all even if they end up with a losing record. Injuries will be another excuse when their dreadful performances have not been because of injuries.

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WKUPackFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:20 am

Moxie is an overrated immeasurable intangible. Rex Ryan has moxie, that doesn't mean he's a good football coach. Meanwhile BB and New England are about as non-emotional and non-bragidocious as you can get.

That doesn't mean that something isn't amiss. The Packers offense plays like they flat just don't like each other. That isn't measurable either, but if everyone else is speculating I'm granting me a one time pass to do the same.

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NMPF's picture

November 07, 2016 at 10:33 am

Flat just don't like each other? Just when I thought you could not possibly say anything dumber you totally redeem yourself.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:31 am

Defense: I am inclined to give the D a bit of a pass for now (pun intended). Indy is a bad match-up for our secondary due to the speed of their WRs (their slowest WR runs a 4.40 flat). Rollins probably wasn't 100% and he isn't an antidote to our speed deficit in the secondary. The strength of our secondary, Dix and Burnett, do not excel in coverage, though they aren't bad. The front 7 seems to be regressing. Did Elliot and Jones play? Relying too much on Peppers and Perry, along with Fackrell, with CM3 out. Although Gore gashed us a few times, Indy had 70 yards on 21 rushes (3.33 ave). Still, it would be nice if anyone on the DL other than Daniels produced any pass rush.

Offense was painful to watch. We could have been successful running the ball. Instead, MM/AR dials up just 13 rushes. Rip, despite having success last week, gets just 2 carries. Monty is hurting Indy, so MM takes him out. MM also insists that we have TEs block, which was another issue. The failures at that position blew up several plays. We know that Monty is going to have issues picking up the pass rushers since he has little to no experience with it, so I have to just accept the sack he caused.

That's okay, though, right, because we could have had success throwing, both short and long. Instead of loosening up the D, Janis drops a long pass and AR misses Nelson badly (probably overcompensated for last week where he didn't give Jordy room to run underneath a post), and ignores receivers who are open and have the necessary yards to net a first down in favor of heaving another pass into double and triple coverage. RR caught a few, but again confirmed my opinion of a finesse player when he failed to punish or bowl anyone over in his "fight" for YAC. The absence of Cobb hurt because he had a good match-up. I thought Davis might line up in the slot at times, but Davis got skunked, and Adams had 3 receptions for 1 yard to go with his important 40 yard TD. Yet I thought I saw them open at times, but ignored.

I really thought we'd score 40. It is like someone imposed a governor on the offense to prevent it from really humming. The governor is MM with a dash of AR.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:57 am

'The front 7 seems to be regressing. Did Elliot and Jones play? Relying too much on Peppers and Perry, along with Fackrell, with CM3 out.'

I really don't get why Elliott doesn't play more. Every game he makes at least 1 big play on defense.
I like Fackrell, and Perry has played well. But they are a lot better when they keep rotating guys in. Whatever reason they haven't been doing that as much.

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dobber's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:35 am

As I understand, the knock on Elliott has always been that he freelances and gets beat in the run game. Well, nobody is really running against this Packer team, anymore. Turn him loose.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:32 am

'I really thought we'd score 40.'

I went into this game thinking the same thing. I expected to see our young WR's unleashed again and watch Rodgers just roll the Colts defense. That never happened.

Just from a schematic standpoint, it just felt like they didn't know what they were wanting to do. They wanted to run the ball, and establish the run, yet didn't really stick with it. And kept using the 2 TE's throughout the game. Didn't use the WR's like they should have.

Cobb was hurt and didn't play, until they needed him. Which was to late. Why didn't they use the other WR's in his place?

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carusotrap's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:24 am

Based on last week's game plan, they SHOULD have scored 40. But then MM takes what's working and does something else.

Mark Murphy. It. Is. Time.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 08, 2016 at 12:51 am

Yes, RC, you got the points I was trying to make. I suppose GB decided not to try to win by running because they didn't think Monty could handle the 20 carries that would have been necessary. Jackson could have handled some of them, but he looked just okay.

Burned me to see Adams take Cobb's snaps in the slot in the first half. That is not a rip on Adams - I just don't think slot fits Adams' skillset. That is why I mentioned Davis in the slot in my main post, but it could have been Nelson in the slot with Adams and Davis outside just as well. I still think they could have put up loads of points running or via 4 and 5 WR sets.

GB can't play Peppers 50 snaps. Even at that usage, he probably was the best OLB for GB on the field.

I should have given RR and Adams some credit, as they both got some separation at times.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 08, 2016 at 07:28 am

I get if they didn't want to run Ty much more then what they did. They could have ran Jackson more then 4 carries though. He averaged 4 yards per carry. Its not like he was getting stuffed with every touch.

I just don't get why Davis didn't play more then 5 snaps. I still don't get it. Or instead of Davis in the slot, why didn't they put Nelson in there more?

I think they would have put up a lot of points if they rant the 4 and 5 WR sets with no TE's. The TE's slow down the offense way to much.

Adams actually got open a quite a bit after seeing the screen shots from the game yesterday. Rodgers though, simply can't be on the field as much as he has been.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:44 am

Game Balls: Ty Montgomery, Clinton-Dix
Montgomery gave the team a weapon out of the backfield. Problem is they didn't use him enough.
Clinton-Dix has 2 interception and a sack. For a player everyone was on for not making enough splash plays, he made them. Just wish he would have made that sack late in the game. He makes that I think they win the game.

Lame Calls: Mike McCarthy, Kick off coverage unit.

Really what was McCarthy thinking? I would like to know. Last week we saw 2 rookie WR's step up and make big plays. This week, they barely saw the field. Allison played 7 snaps and Davis played 5 snaps on offense out of 69 snaps on offense.
Instead they decided to go with Richard Rodgers and Justin Perillo. The 2 slowest receivers on the team. And they wonder why there was no separation.
I can't find the snap counts but Perillo for example had 3 total snaps on offense last week. This week he had a ton more.

Between Allison and Davis combined they were targeted 1 time for 0 catches. Richard Rodgers was targeted 10 times (6 catches), Perillo was targeted 2 times (2 catches).

Also the fact that they went into long route patterns again just makes no sense. The short passing game was working. The use of NO TE's was working. Why change it?

I'm really starting to question if McCarthy can adapt to the players he has. I have backed McCarthy up in the past but its getting harder to each week.

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mrtundra's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:31 am

The thing is, to Indy, HHCD's 2 INTs in the first half didn't mean a thing because Indy went into the locker room up 2 TDs. Larry and Wayne on the radio hit on that note several times. If you get two INTs on an opposing team, it should mean you are probably beating them. I won't listen to MM's presser. Can't take hearing the cliches for our losing effort. We are now in third place in our division. Third place. Behind Detroit.

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mrtundra's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:37 am

I have to hand it to Detroit, though. They showed everyone how to come back and extend a game into OT with next to no time on the clock. Nice job, Stafford and the Lions.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:58 am

True enough. Stafford is playing like a 2010 Packer.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 10:09 am

Those Int's didn't do anything because the offense didn't capitalize. The defense gave them momentum and the offense did nothing with it.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:48 am

Had to turn the TV off and move on to something more productive. I couldn't get over the following:

- the Colts defense, ranked 31st in the league, choking our offense.

- the Colts offensive line protecting Andrew Luck

- Aaron Rodgers sitting on the sideline with his coach staring off into space. No photos, no device. no evidence that they are reviewing anything. I remember Manning and even Favre pouring over images to see what they missed or what the defense was doing between each series. Rodgers apparently doesn't need this.

- did I mention the Colts defense.

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A_Lerxst_in_Packerland's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:22 am

Smart move on turning the TV off. I wish I'd moved on to something else instead of watching to the bitter end. Even the late TD drives didn't provide much enjoyment. Sad.

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carusotrap's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:29 am

It does feel a little like Rodgers has checked out of this offensive scheme. He's never going to say so, because he knows he has to play in GB long after MM has been invited to leave. But I think he's done with TT and MM.

The good news is what current offensive coordinator (or head coach for that matter) wouldn't jump at the GB job? Seems like a pretty good gig with an almost blindly loyal fan base and the longest leash in GB.

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croatpackfan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 06:56 am

Jasone, you put the main culprit in the Game Balls category? On one claim I totally agree with you - this team will go " As far as a guy who can carry this team, Rodgers is all the Packers have right now."
But your next sentence - " As he goes, so does any chance the Packers have to look competitive." I'm strictly opposite. I say again - Bench the guy. Put young, hungry QB (Brett Hundley) and you'll see how Packers will start to work... We have enough proof that young QB can blossom in todays NFL - from Dak Prescott, over Wentz to Derek Carr...
Aaron become arogant and bitter guy who does not see anybody in his category and he treat others just like that. Of course that you will hear from him all the right words at press conference after the game. He is to intelligent not to say what he needs to say, but with claim that Packers WR are not able to separate themselves from opponent CB tells us that he claims his catchers are not worthy his status and his abilities. There will be no luck nor happiness if he will not be taken down to the ground.
Now, I will say one thing more. That kind of behaviour started with Aaron around time when he started his realtion with Olivia. I'm not claiming that she is the guilty one, but I think Aaron is confused because of her...
This is the last what I said about Aaron Rodgers. He lost all credibility in my eyes. Unfortunatelly, from one of the best ever, because of his arogancy, he become one of under average QB in this league... Maybe that is the reason why D do not feel like they would like to play the best from them...
Also you mentioned Ha-Ha in Lame Calls. The only guy who tried to do the best and he did it. He intercepted Luck twice and arogant Aaron brought 0 points on that 2 turn overs to the Packers... It is not Ha-Ha Clinton Dix to blame...

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lennysmalls's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:01 am

The Packers are supposed to be a storied franchise, the last of the town teams, a perhaps underdog group that fights against all odds which ultimately attains championships. What's evident now is that this entire team and staff has become stale, that the increasing speed and strength of the game, and the rise of powerful defenses, has left them looking like a college team playing the pros. While revenue sharing helps a franchise like the Packers now becoming the Rock Island Independents, I don't see the their problems being fixed anytime soon. I fear that the Packers are now the 1909 Cubs, and we may need to wait a long time for another championship.

McMumbles without question needs to go, probably at the end of the season, along with most of the offensive coaching staff, the strength and conditioning staff for sure needs a change. Capers I think should retire, though I think their problems on defense is more the fault of Ted Thompson. Which brings us to the GM, who seems to be one heart beat away from a serious stroke. Aside from hitting on Aaron Rodgers and maybe Jordy Nelson, his overall draft and development strategy simply hasn't been getting it done. He's way overrated, only slightly better than Sherman was. He committed the sins of leaving us with crappy running backs when trying to have the offense rely more on the running game, and upset the team chemistry by releasing Josh Sitton right before Game 1, and that's just this year alone. Most importantly, the players he's drafted, especially at wide receiver, aren't fast or strong enough to play the game at this level in 2016. He keeps thinking that he and his staff will find diamonds in the rough in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds, and more often than not, they end up to be just guys. Whether that's the result of having a poor coaching staff that can't develop them can only be determined by churning over the coaches.

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lennysmalls's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:05 am

Of course, the question then becomes who replaces the GM and the coaches. A question for another day, but it's time to start looking, to start interviewing.

In a way, this situation is actually quite liberating. Personally, I will no longer be following this team very closely. In fact, I'll probably pay as much attention to the Packers now as much as I do the Milwaukee Admirals. The weather on Sunday was beautiful, and it looks like it'll be a nice one again today. Great to get outside, exercise. Go vote tomorrow. Mail back your token Packers stock certificate as a sign of protest. Find your other passions. Peace out!

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carusotrap's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:37 am

I agree with it being liberating, but I won't turn them off. I do think this is the last season for TT and MM and the entire staff. But that makes next year a lot of fun. Its going to be excruciating, but it's going to be different...we won't know what's going to happen (unlike McCarthy's playbook these days)

Hire Elliot Wolf. He hires a new HC, OC, and DC. Sign a few more FAs without going nuts. Cut some overrated/overpaid guys.

Fasten your seat belts....this could get fun! (Or we could just work on pad level and fundamentals some more.)

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Tundraboy's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:10 am

Sign me up for that.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 08, 2016 at 01:23 am

Almost everyone is better than Sherman was as a GM. Who was worse? Millen in Detroit.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:11 am

One more thing...

There is no excuse for starting off slow and sputtering to the fourth quarter when the game is in hand. This is a lack of preparation and a deficiency in effective game-planning. Letting a lesser team control the game is inexcusable.

The fourth quarter flurry is the ointment for our wound. It is one thing to score points when teams are playing you tight and another when they play soft with the clock strongly in their favor.

Total team failure by the Packers.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:20 am

Comments from Greeny and Louis Riddick on Mike and Mike this morning.

There is a cloud over this organization right now.

Every play offensively, is a broken play and timing is not right.

From a schematic standpoint when you don't have elite players its all on Aaron.

Does not seem to be a whole lot of creativity on offense.

If this continues this way this is what leads to regime change.

Other teams figure you out. They know what your going to do.

Richard Rodgers is a nice TE, Rodgers is not Finley.

Rodgers has not been as accurate and as sharp as he has been in the past. If he isn't on, this isn't the same team.

This team is systematically falling apart in other areas. (speaking of injuries and poor secondary play).

Plenty of season left for the Packers to turn it around. Getting players back from injury could help. The best QB in the NFC North is Rodgers.
Structurally the Vikings don't know how to be fixed. Lions are relying on Stafford to win late minute games.

What Riddick, Mike and Mike discussed.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:22 am

My take away from listening to Riddick.

Packers offense is not creative enough, and they don't have the talent to get by without the creativity. Teams have figured them out and know how to stop them.
Unless they make changes, changes maybe coming.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:39 am

We keep citing all the failures of the team but you roll it up cleanly with this bottom-line.

So if we are not going to draft or buy a Julio Jones (or Von Miller on defense), what do we do?

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:11 am

IMO, they were on the right path the last few weeks. Last week against Atlanta to me showed them what they should and shouldn't do.

The 2 drives in the 3rd quarter against against Atlanta they stalled out. Coincidentally those 2 drives featured a lot of TE's. Then they went to more 4 and 5 WR sets without a TE and they scored.

Against the Colts, they used a lot of TE sets, and the offense did little.

Rodgers can't block (got burned bad for a sack), isn't fast enough to gain separation. Perillo is slower then Rodgers if that is possible, and can't block either.

Last week we saw Davis and Allison make big time plays. This week, barely played.

Use the WR's they have! Stop trying to force the TE's on the field. That would be a huge start.

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carusotrap's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:40 am

Why is it that everyone on the planet has been seeing this all season, yet nothing is getting done? Is it that MM wants to change it up and can't because of personnel limitations? Or does he truly believe, deep down, that the scheme he runs is exactly right and the players are simply not executing?

Mark Murphy. It. Is. Time.

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NickPerry's picture

November 08, 2016 at 05:22 am

I listened to it too RC, and also McNabb came on at the end of the program and basically said the same thing. The word "Predictable" came up a few times too, and neither Riddick nor McNabb could understand why the Packers completely got away from what was working.

They also alluded to the Packers not using anything other than the Draft to build the team, in other words no Free Agents. Signing a TE who's wore out his welcome on 2 teams for underperforming isn't a FA signing, it's a shot in the dark that maybe his career could be salvaged.

Signing Matt Forte for example would have been a FA signing. Funny how we all get so excited (Myself Included) when Thompson does ANYTHING.

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 08, 2016 at 07:55 am

I tried to type as fast as they were talking... didn't work the best. :)

I didn't hear McNabb.

That is the thing I don't get either. What they did the previous 2 weeks worked. Then McCarthy tries to do a matchup thing against the Colts..
Here is just an idea or thought. How about making the defense try to match up to the offense?

I still like the Cook signing. Even though he got hurt.

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GVPacker's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:29 am

This team has lost it's way. The Packers are way to soft and getting smacked around by this mediocre Colt's squad at Lambeau was embarrassing to say the least. Every coach has a shelf life and Mike McCarthy's tenure in Green Bay has expired! The axe won't fall anytime soon but I really don't think TT and Mark Murphy won't do anything drastic during the off season either. The offense and defense are in a serious funk and now special teams is starting to smolder. This team isn't a dumpster fire it's an inferno!

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Handsback's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:40 am

Contrary to those who want to fire MM, TT, and the whole coaching staff; I propose to you that MM is a SB winner. Not many of those guys around. He has taken the Packers to the playoffs it seems like forever. Outside of BB, who would you hire? Those guys aren’t growing on a coaching tree.
What is missing is the system they play no longer is effective. MM doesn’t have the players to run his offensive system anymore. Caper runs a very complicated defense. Maybe it’s too complicated for the young players that Green Bay always has in play. Looking at the offense, any success this season has been sustained by using all of their weapons and making the other team cover the whole field. When you have Monty/Cobb running out of the backfield and getting 10 or more carries and 10 or more catches…..they are moving the chains. Against the Falcons, they slowed the game down and made them cover those OTHER receivers like Geronimo, Janis, and Davis. The routes are shorter, you open the middle of the field, and again you move the chains. I propose to you that the deep ball to Janis was very important. He didn’t catch it and shame on him, but it loosens the DBs so they have to cover guys all around the field. It’s hard to cover that many guys. Anyway, that’s not what is happening. Maybe it can’t happen until the offense gets different. Maybe it won’t get different until a new staff is implemented.
The defense has two issues, LOFT and coverage. I see every game the middle of the field is open. I saw a lot of times where one player allows a receiver to go by and another player never picks him up. To me they show a mental breakdown that makes wonder if the players are in a system that is too complicated. LOFT (lack of f____ talent) in our DBs and edge rushers has been exposed. For Perry, no new contract until end of the season. Play the youngest guys you can for the rest of the year and give them as much experience as possible. That way, next year you know who will contribute and who won’t.
To win, the Packers will have out score their opponent while the defense gets incrementally better. Not a great season, but they need to shake up what they are doing.

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GVPacker's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:49 am

Same can be said for Mike Shanahan, and he's been Das Booted Twice!

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:18 am

I have supported McCarthy.

The problem for me is he simply is to slow to adjust and seems to be way to set in his ways... What works he doesn't stick with, and he puts to much faith in the wrong players hands. I'm sorry but Richard Rodgers should not be one of the top targeted players with the WR's we have.

Our best offense is the use of all of its players. Spreading the other team out and making them cover the whole field. Davis played 5 snaps on offense??? Why? He is the fastest WR on the team, and he plays 5 snaps. And that is when the other WR's were struggling gaining separation.

The offense is to predictable, and not creative enough. They have been the last few weeks, this week they went back to their old ways.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:49 am

BTW... Love the squirrel. He saved us a penalty and had good open-field moves. Perhaps he could teach our WRs a thing or two about eluding coverage. Ah, probably not.

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GVPacker's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:00 am

Agree Razar, the squirrel was impressive and those moves were amazing. He should be brought in for a proper tryout. I can see him being put into the backfield rotation to complement Ty Monty. And Ted Thompson could probably sign him for Peanuts!

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:38 am

Ha, ha - do you know the price of peanuts in today's market.

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egbertsouse's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:50 am

Special teams? Did Shawn Slocum return as guest coach yesterday? Horrible!

I just can't stand to see another 50 yard pass on 3rd and short. Please stop it MM and AR, it doesn't work.

What is the deal with 2 TE's on the field? MM, you're not BB and you don't have Gronk and Bennett. Time to quit dreaming.

I'm not a HHCD fan. He slow to react and he's out of position a lot and he can't tackle. He gets his INTs on overthrows and tips because he is not in the right spot.

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thebeast431's picture

November 07, 2016 at 07:56 am

Play calling has been abysmal.

3rd and 7, we have two slot WR/TE going 3 yard routes and the outside receivers going 30 yards. Just makes no sense at all.

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BillofAltoona's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:07 am

As noted, the Packers are 9 - 10 since last year's bye. That is enough to form more than a knee jerk reaction to the team's recent skid. IMO, the Packers have begun a downward spiral/trend that has as much to do with talent as it does with coaching.
I think Ted's extreme use of draft and develop has peaked and is no longer sustainable. A combination of drafting for years at the bottom of rounds as well as some picks not panning out has led to this point.In addition, we see teams like New England, Oakland, Atlanta, among others, using free agency judiciously to pass the Packers in terms of team talent. I think Ted has become too enamored of UFA and that they make up too much of the team's roster to compete with the really good teams.
I have little confidence that the current regime can turn things around. I am not,and never have been, a Ted basher. But IMO, the rebuilding is a task for someone with a different mind set.

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pacman's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:20 am

This board has never been so unanimous in its condemnation of MM and management. It's times like this that you wish you had an owner to shake things up right away. I will still give the secondary a bit of a pass due to injuries. The O has it shares of injuries too. But to move away from the quick throws and Monty in the backfield when it was working shows stupidity and stubborness. MM was right when he gave up the play calling. He just didn't give it to the right person. And I hope AR does a 'Wild Thing' turn around. If not, give him his HOF jacket and move on to the next guy. He is almost embarassing now. MM is embarassing now.

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carusotrap's picture

November 07, 2016 at 08:55 am

Yeah. That was on the wire yesterday. But let's predict how this will play out....

They sign him Monday. He gets to GB on Wednesday and gets settled in. Great. Practices Thursday. Activated for the game but doesn't get any snaps.

Then they take, let's say, three weeks to get him up to speed with the playbook. He plays in game 12 where he gets 6 carries for 27 yards. (Decent average, BTW) But he also fumbles once.

Next game, Montgomery is the primary RB because - and this is a quote - "Joique has been making some good progress with our playbook, but we went a different direction with the game plan this week. And he's going to need to secure the ball more."

He's cut in week 15 just before the game against his former team.

Sound about right?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 08, 2016 at 01:34 am

deleted.

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Since'61's picture

November 07, 2016 at 02:46 pm

Game Balls: OL played well, Ty Montgomery and the Squirrel.

Lame Calls: I am not sure if we have enough space here to list them all. Special teams especially KO coverage.
MM for lack of preparation and effort that his team displayed in the first half. If a team is the reflection of their coach's personality I guess we know where MM is at and it's not in Green Bay Packer football. Decision to play Perillo and R. Rodgers when Trevor Davis and G. Allison showed that they can play and contribute last week. Monty out of game for extended periods. Cobb in a cameo role!? What's up with that, either he can play or he can't. Defense, ineffective pass rush against an OL that had 31 sacks so far this season. It must have felt like a bye week for Luck back there. Unprepared to stop Luck or the Colts offense. Unable to make stops and the end of either half. Gunther was picked clean. Middle of the field wide open as usual. Outplayed and out coached in all phases of a game where we had a chance to gain a share of the division lead and we played with no sense of urgency or effort. I think that is what hurts the most. They gave a good effort in Atlanta and lost, OK that happens. But yesterday at home, in a meaningful game they were beaten before they stepped on the field and it showed from the opening KO. Sorry, must put this one on MM. He didn't get it done and his team showed it. Thanks, Since '61

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 08, 2016 at 01:40 am

I don't think the OL played well either. Against that garbage DL of Indy's, our OL should have been dominant. Instead, our OL was okay against a terrible DL that was missing its two best DEs.

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Razer's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:19 am

... They gave a good effort in Atlanta and lost, OK that happens. But yesterday at home, in a meaningful game they were beaten before they stepped on the field and it showed from the opening KO...

So true and most discouraging. There is obviously a breakdown within this team. Guys are even alluding to it during interviews. As much as I think McMarthy has been weak in his adaptability, I think that Aaron Rodgers is not the leader of this offense. Maybe the guys aren't giving the extra effort because Rodgers is an arsehole. If you were ignored, publicly outed or diminished by Rodgers, you are less inspired to run through a wall for the guy.

Just guessing here but our offense should have dismantled this Colts team.

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Since'61's picture

November 07, 2016 at 10:14 am

Razer - I agree there is a disconnect on this team. Sometimes it looks like the offense has no idea of what they are trying to do and too often the defense can't stop anyone. I'm not sure if it is the coaching or that our players are not as good as their hype or a combination of both. I know that it will never happen but I wouldn't mind seeing what Norv Turner would do with our offense now that he's available, because you're correct our offense should have cut the Colt's defense to pieces. Poor planning = poor execution = poor results. That's just about where we're at. Thanks, Since '61

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Horse's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:34 am

Bad pass D?: Luck's PR was 74.

Offense, passing: Quick crossing routes worked, so opt for outside and preferably deep passes. This seems to be MM's preferred game plan. Still.

Offense, rushing, non-QB? Y/A 5.62. # of attempts? 13.

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NMPF's picture

November 07, 2016 at 09:53 am

The O is soft, the D is soft, ST is soft. In which case the coaching staff is soft. Forget game plan & injuries the Green Bay Packers have become reactive instead of proactive. SOFT!!!!!!!!!

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idgafkurt's picture

November 07, 2016 at 11:32 am

The Packers have been regressing backwards since their 2014 NFC Championship meltdown.

If a team/organization, ever needed a fresh start, this is it.

MM has been a very good coach, but clearly players are no longer responding to him and his offensive game-plan/system is stale and outdated.

TT hasn't done MM or Packer nation any favors of late. This team lacks talent, yet he ignores free agency year in and year out, leaving this team with obvious talent gaps.

Further, when an organization only relies on the draft to bring in players, and they have sub-par drafts like GB did in 2011 and 2012, they are soon left with a talent depleted team, i.e. the 2016 GB Packers. I mean how many high picks has TT spent on front 7 players (seemingly all from 1 conference), yet an inferior O-line like Indy dominates us for 60 minutes?!

This season is an accumulation of stale coaching, poor talent evaluation, and arrogant/stubborn management... and the results are telling.

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