Hype surrounding Hafley’s defense is overblown
By GERY WOELFEL
There isn’t an NFL assistant coach who has drawn more praise this season than Jeff Hafley, the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator.
Hafley’s unit has indeed fashioned some impressive performances. His staunch supporters – particularly television network broadcasters who have worked Packers games this season – have gone out of their way to laud Hafley’s work.
Lately, they’ve pointed out how Hafley’s defense yielded a mere 39 points in the Packers’ three losses – or a stingy 13 points per game.
Yet, what Hafley’s fan club has conveniently failed to mention is that two of those losses came against Cleveland and Carolina and their inept offenses.
The Packers limited Cleveland to 13 points, but the Browns’ lame offense is averaging just 16 points a game. And, against Carolina, the Packers held the Panthers to 16 points – or just a mere point less than they are averaging.
In other words, the Packers’ defense didn’t do anything more special than what the Panthers’ and Browns’ opponents have done all season.
What’s more, there were three other games this season where the Packers’ defense actually surrendered more points than what those teams were averaging. To wit:
- The Packers allowed the Cowboys to score a whopping 40 points. Yes, the game went into overtime. And yes, the Cowboys have a potent offense.
But the Cowboys are averaging 29 points this season — or 11 points fewer than they racked up against the Packers.
- Hafley’s unit also gave up 25 points in its win over the Steelers, who are averaging 23 points.
- In the Packers’ victory over Arizona, the Cardinals scored 23 points. The Cardinals are averaging 22 points.
With the exception of two games — holding Detroit to 13 points in the season opener when the Lions had a new offensive coordinator and holding the Eagles to just 10 points – Green Bay’s defense has been solid but not close to being exceptional.
And this is a defense that has a treasure trove of top-tier defenders at every level: Micah Parsons at end, Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker and Xavier McKinney at safety. Any defensive coordinator would salivate having the assets Hafley possesses.
Which brings us to Sunday’s game. The Packers take on the Giants, another foe with a feeble offense. The Giants are averaging 21.7 points per game, ranking a lowly 24th in that category.
Additionally, the Giants will be without their starting quarterback, the injured Jaxson Dart, and rolling with Jameis Winston, a journeyman who is now with his fourth NFL team.
The Packer defense should dominate and, if it does, enhance Hafley’s chances of being the Giants’ head coach next season.
If the Packers’ defense doesn’t deliver the goods, Hafley’s chances of being the Giants next head coach will likely go out the window and the Packers defense will have shown once again it isn’t as good as it is perceived.
WHAT THE ODDSMAKERS ARE SAYING: The Packers are 7-point favorites.
GW’S PREDICTION: Packers 34, Giants 20.
