There are two main issues with the defense this season: bad execution and bad situational defense at key moments late in games. It’s the latter that contributed the most to the two most recent losses at the New York Giants in Week 14 and at home against the in Week 15. More specifically, the bad situational defense tends to show itself on high-leverage third downs.
In Week 14, the Packers lost 24-22 on a last-minute game-winning drive by the Giants and in Week 15, the Packers lost 34-20 after giving up 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or more (nine pass, one run) and 14 total pass plays of at least 15 yards or more.