Cheese Curds, 11/26: Packers’ offense hits rock-bottom in Minnesota

For a few early drives on Sunday night in Minneapolis, it seemed that Mike McCarthy had taken recent criticism to heart and that Aaron Rodgers had found his mojo again. The Green Bay Packers’ offense looked crisp, creative, and maybe even clever. Rodgers was throwing the ball in rhythm and the team had 14 points through three series.

And then it all fell apart. Again.

For the second straight game, the Packers scored just three points after halftime. For the second straight game, a fourth-down decision by McCarthy burned the team. And for the seventh time this season, Rodgers completed less than 62 percent of his pass attempts. He also set a season-low mark in passing yards, managing just 198 on the day, and it was the first time all season that the Packers had been held under 340 yards of total offense, as the team finished with just 254 total.

Over a span of six possessions after the Vikings tied the game at 14, the Packers managed just four first downs, going three-and-out three times. All that led to a nearly ten-minute time of possession deficit.

By most measures, this was the worst offensive performance of the year for this team in the Packers’ worst season (so far, at least) since Rodgers’ first year as a starter. And although the team still has a theoretical chance to make the postseason, there are few if any reasons for hope.

Thus, today’s Curds are a somber batch, and we get our first look at draft order for 2019, which finds the Packers just outside the top ten at present.

Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay Packers plots path to playoffs after loss | ESPN
It basically boils down to "win out and hope that you get help." That's the only hope that the Packers have left.

Mike McCarthy’s denouement: 4 takeaways from Packers’ loss to Vikings | Packers Wire
Third downs (two for ten), Rodgers' missed throws in key situations, and a defense that simply doesn't have enough bodies to hold up over a full game are among the keys from Sunday night.

Knee injuries could sideline Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari | Packersnews.com
And as if a five-game winning streak wasn't looking difficult enough, there's a chance that Bakhtiari could miss time after suffering two separate and different injuries during last night's game. He was the last in a long line of players who were injured or who missed the game entirely due to injury.

Locker room knows its back is up against the wall | Packers.com
If the Packers want to make that late run, they'll need to do something twice that they haven't done all year: win a game away from Lambeau Field. Their two road games come in weeks 15 and 16 against the Bears and Jets.

2019 NFL Draft order: An updated look at where teams are picking - SBNation.com
The Packers currently sit with the 11th pick, thanks to having a lower strength of schedule than the Cleveland Browns, who are also 4-6-1.

At least 5 miles of copper wire stolen from Billings streetlights, leaving neighborhoods in the dark - KPAX.com
That's a heck of a lot of copper, and it's having the effect of turning off all the streetlights in various areas around Montana's largest city.