"The Green Bay Packers have allowed 16 and 23 points the last two weeks — efforts that should be enough to win games. But players and coaches were left explaining themselves after overtime losses in both instances. The Packers fell to 3-3 on Sunday after the Miami Dolphins left Lambeau Field with a 23-20 win. "At the end of the day, no one really cares about overtimes, getting blown out, getting beat by one — it's a loss," nose tackle B.J. Raji said. Linebacker Desmond Bishop added, "Only stat that matters is you win or you lose." The Packers didn't lose a game when holding teams to 23 points or less in 2009 or 2007. It happened just once in 2006. The team went 32-16 in those three seasons. The Packers lost a combined 11 games in 2005 and 2008 when keeping a team to 23 points or less. Their combined record was 10-22 those years. Notice a trend? The Dolphins placed their faith in the run game and rushed the ball a season-high 39 times for 150 yards. The ground attack wasn't flashy and averaged just 3.8 yards a carry with a long of 12 yards. But Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams kept Miami out of many third-and-long situations. The Packers had personnel issues with defensive linemen Ryan Pickett and Mike Neal inactive because of ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively. Seventh-round pick C.J. Wilson made his first start and Jarius Wynn, who was signed Sept. 14 when Justin Harrell was placed on injured reserve, played a much bigger role than usual. Wilson finished with four tackles while Wynn was held without one. "We battled in the run game," Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "Sometimes we just weren't stout enough up in there." Miami coach Tony Sparano said, "It was our plan to run the ball the entire game and we did." The pass defense wasn't dominant, but wasn't a sieve, either. It didn't record a sack for the first time this season and didn't pressure the quarterback regularly. But Miami kept extra blockers in the backfield and ran a lot of two- and three-man routes. " http://packersnews.greenbaypressgaz...036/Defense-not-stout-enough-to-stop-Dolphins
