Packers in unfamiliar territory

For the first time in his 11 years as Green Bay’s head coach, Mike McCarthy is starting to feel the heat.

If his Packers lose to the Eagles on Monday night at Philadelphia it’s going to get toasty inside the Lambeau Field coaches’ offices.

Lose to the Eagles, and the Packers will fall to 4-7, far behind the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (7-4) and maybe even out of range of the second-place Minnesota Vikings (6-5) with five games left.

McCarthy doubles as Green Bay’s offensive play designer, and whatever he’s drawing up for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his receivers continues to not work anywhere near as effectively as we’ve all been used to seeing.

Rodgers is frustrated and unhappy. Ditto, teammates. Ditto, Packers fans.

A prime-time road victory to end one of the NFL’s marquee weeks would go a long way toward silencing their critics, instilling confidence in the injury-scored lockerroom — and turning the A/C on in McCarthy’s work space.

Rodgers and Co. want to get off to a fast start, something that has doomed them during their current fourgame losing skid. They’re always playing catch-up in the second half.

Philadelphia’s defence won’t make it easy.

“They’re playing really well at home,” Packers offensive co-ordinator Edgar Bennett said of Philly’s defence. “You look at what they’re doing on tape. They fly around and make plays. What stands out is their discipline.

“We have to continue to be disciplined and execute in certain situations to make sure we take full advantage of every opportunity we have.”

Green Bay’s defence, which started out so strong this season, has crumbled after a rash of injuries in the secondary and at the second level, linebacker.

Packers cornerbacks have been picked apart in recent weeks by Washington’s Kirk Cousins, Indy’s Andrew Luck and Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota.

“One thing that’s been missing this season has been the turnovers,” Packers defensive co-ordinator Dom Capers said. “A big part of that is the more guys you put on the field who have those kind of abilities, the better your chances are.”

Green Bay’s cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt understands that he and his unit are being questioned and criticized coast-to-coast.

“It’s not necessarily hard on me,” Whitt said. “I’m not doing a very good job of getting guys to produce on game day. That’s what it all comes down to. What they do in practice — they’ve had some really nice practices, but at the end of the day we get paid to win football games.

“It’s my job to make sure no matter who goes out there, they’re executing and playing at a level that we can win games, and making splash plays. That’s what we’re typically known for.”

Philadelphia (5-5) sits in last place in the strong NFC East. To remain in the playoff hunt the Eagles, too, pretty much must win on Monday night.