Watch: Aaron Jones calls out Packers play calling after loss to Giants (Video)
By Josh Hill
Packers running back Aaron Jones didn’t sound happy after some questionable play calls in a loss to the Giants.
Things were less than jolly in England for the Green Bay Packers.
After narrowly escaping on the road against a Mike Evans-less Buccaneers team and sneaking past the Bailey Zappe-led Patriots at home, things finally caught up with the Packers. The New York Giants used a heroic late-game drive from Daniel Jones to move to 4-1 and pull off the upset.
Following the near-disaster against the Patriots last week, Aaron Rodgers noted that the way the Packers are winning games isn’t sustainable. He was proved right on Sunday morning in London, and frustration is being felt throughout the locker room.
One particular sequence is drawing the ire of his teammates.
With just over a minute left in the game, down 27-20, and deep inside of the Giants red zone, Green Bay needed just a few yards for a first down that would extend the drive and provide at least four more chances at the endzone.
Rather than run the ball, Rodgers opted to pass twice and both times failed to convert the first down. After the loss, Aaron Jones was asked about the sequence of events and didn’t sound happy about what was ultimately decided on the field.
“I’d put my money on giving me or AJ Dillon two downs to get two yards,” Jones said. “I’d put my money on it.”
For what it’s worth, this isn’t just a call out of Rodgers and LaFleur but a direct call to the men above them who write the checks. Jones recently signed a $48 million extension with the Packers which means he’s literally putting his money where his frustrations are.
“At the same time, I’m not the quarterback so I’m not sure what Aaron Rodgers is seeing,” Jones made sure to clarify.
It was the sort of loss that felt like a bigger deal than the box score suggests. Green Bay could very well be returning from London with a 1-4 record having been blessed with incredible luck by the football gods against both Tampa Bay and New England.
A locker room fracture seems unlikely at this point, as the Packers are still in the NFC North’s pole position, but they’re also a team with a +1 point differential, a 3-2 record, and a lot of offensive issues to work out.