GREEN BAY—Offensive Coordinator Tom Clements conducted a no-excuses type of press conference on Monday, 24 hours after the Packers offense scored only one touchdown in a 21-13 loss in Buffalo.
It was a game in which Aaron Rodgers completed just 17 of 42 passes for 185 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 34.3 passer rating. The longest gain through the air was 20 yards.
What happened to the passing game?
"I don't have an answer for that," Clements said.
"It just wasn't working," he added following a second probe.
Reporters asked the tough questions, and Clements answered sternly and directly.
When it was offered that the Bills' cornerbacks were physical, Clements said: "No more physical than other corners."
Did the officiating crew allow the Bills' corners to be more physical than is normally allowed?
"I'm not going to comment on the refs," Clements said.
Clements' mood would suggest the failures on offense are not being easily dismissed. Clements wouldn't elaborate on the subject, but he clearly was in no mood for making allowances for his unit's performance.
Why wasn't Aaron Rodgers himself?
"He was himself. He was Aaron Rodgers," Clements said. "You can make an assessment. I'm not going to talk about individual players."
A lack of accuracy?
"I'm not going to talk about his accuracy or his inaccuracy, as you perceive it," Clements added.
On the Bills' defensive scheme to rush four and cover seven, which has become a problematic scheme for the Packers offense, Clements said: "I don't think it's an issue. Every team has its plan as to what it wants to do. If you look at Buffalo, that's how they play.
"We didn't play as well as we had been playing. You have to give them credit, but we certainly weren't at our best," he added.
Clements acknowledged Eddie Lacy's success running the ball (he averaged 6.5 yards per carry). Should the Packers have run the ball more often?
"We try to anticipate what a team might do and have a plan for what they might do. We're trying to pick the best play for the circumstance. If things aren't going well, you try to do something, but eventually you're going to use the plays in the plan," Clements said.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE - DEC. 15
