Clarity hard to come by for Packers

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The defense has to get back to the basics of stopping the run, because that’s three weeks in a row now opponents have ground out chunks of yardage. Elite quarterbacks like Carson Wentz aren’t going to just give the ball away, and when they don’t, breakdowns up front prove more costly.


Really what matters most is where both sides of the ball go from here. They’ve each experienced their share of ups and downs now, typical of any season’s first month, and they get some extra rest before traveling to Dallas to face another NFC contender in 10 days.


One thing the Packers can’t count on moving forward is any clarity with regard to replay reviews for pass interference. This game was filled with unpredictability surrounding calls and challenges, and Head Coach Matt LaFleur expressed his frustration with the process.


“I really don’t know what pass interference is anymore,” LaFleur said. “I’ll just leave it at that.”


Here’s a rundown of the situations that arose:


The Eagles initially had a touchdown nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty, only to have the replay review kill the penalty called on the field, so it was a touchdown after all.


LaFleur challenged a sideline shot to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and was so sure there was defensive pass interference, he spiked the red flag in front of the sideline official. No dice.


Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson was similarly convinced Alshon Jeffery was interfered with later in the third quarter, but no dice for him, either.


In between those, Eagles running back Jordan Howard ran all alone down the left sideline for a 20-yard TD reception when Packers linebacker Blake Martinez got picked in the middle of the field, but the automatic review turned up nothing.


There seemingly was little thought given to all the contact at the goal line on Valdes-Scantling on the game-deciding deflected interception, either, because by rule the turnover had to be reviewed. Yet there was no delay in the Eagles taking a knee to end the game.


“Clear and obvious” is the language in the pass interference review rule, but one could argue the standard applied in this game instead was “blatant” or “flagrant,” because the instances of uncalled obstruction were numerous, if consistently ignored.


“It was clear and obvious to me, but I’m not the one making the decision,” LaFleur said of his failed challenge, though he also alluded to an Eagles TD without specifying which one.