NFL Power Rankings: Panthers are new No. 1 entering Week 13

What is going on with the Green Bay Packers?

Their first loss could be chalked up to facing a stout Denver Broncos defense. Same goes for the second loss, which came at the hands of the Carolina Panthers. But then came a head-scratching defeat to the Detroit Lions that featured all kinds of ineptitude.

After Week 11 it appeared like Green Bay had righted the ship. The Packers stuffed up the Minnesota Vikings’ run game, all while finding its own traction on the ground. A resounding 30-13 win over the Vikes seemed like the perfect salve.

And yet here we are, a few days past Thanksgiving, picking up the pieces after yet another L – this time to the Chicago Bears … at Lambeau Field … on Brett Favre’s jersey retirement night.

Aaron Rodgers just couldn’t get into a rhythm for the entire evening. Even with Eddie Lacy going over 100 yards and James Starks adding another 39, it wasn’t enough for Mr. Rodgers to be his usual assassin self. Sure the poor weather conditions played a part, but it’s uncommon to see Rodgers go 22-for-43 and hold a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1-to-1.

Moreover, Rodgers was outplayed by Jay Cutler – a quarterback who had never won in Lambeau prior to Thanksgiving, and carried only one career victory over the Packers.

Green Bay’s schedule going forward isn’t terribly difficult, but then again this was a team expected to wipe the floor with Detroit and Chicago.

The Packers need to get their play-calling together and find form ASAP, because neither the NFC North nor the playoffs are a given at this juncture.

Next: 6. Minnesota Vikings