Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, and The Suddenly Bumbling Green Bay Packers

Coming into the season, the Green Bay Packers were the NFC Super Bowl favorite. Returning basically all of their starters, they had an explosive offense, and a promising defense.

But after Week 5, this team resembles more of a M*A*S*H unit than a Super Bowl team.

Sunday's 16-13 OT loss to the Redskins was heartbreaking.  Why?  Mason Crosby clanged a field goal off the goalpost with seven seconds left in the game.

The Packers never trailed in the game and went into the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead.  But that wasn't enough, as they were a pathetic 2-of-13 on third downs, lost the turnover and time-of-possession battle, and committed nine penalties for 63 yards.  And then, there were the injuries.

Down went starting tight end Jermichael Finley, one of Rodgers' favorite targets.  Then went his backup, the always dependable Donald Lee.  Then, Clay Matthews, the NFL's sack-leader, went down with a hamstring injury.

And if that wasn't enough, Aaron Rodgers, arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, suffered a concussion in OT, making it very unlikely he'll play next week.

Did I mention that starting RB Ryan Grant and now starting LB Nick Barnett are already out for the season?  And starting CB Al Harris and starting safety Atari Bigby have yet to play a game?  

The Packers had five weeks (with a fairly easy schedule) to seize control in the NFC North. They played a middling Philadelphia Eagles team, with Vick only playing half the game.

They faced the Lions and Bills in their two home games—teams with a combined 1-9 record.  They basically gave the Bears a road win with an unheard of 17 penalties.  And today, they did everything wrong and still could have won.

At 3-2, the Pack sit a game behind the Bears, who they've already lost to.  And now, the Minnesota Vikings, who at 1-2, just acquired Randy Moss and are set to welcome back Sidney Rice, suddenly have a shot to unseat the Packers.  

The penalties have nothing to do with injuries.  That's coaching, and it's discipline.  This team is really missing the lack of a running game and have gotten next-to-nothing out of star wideout Greg Jennings all season.  

Rodgers seems to be under constant pressure, with defenses teeing off on a questionable offensive line.  The defense has been bend-not-break all year, and if they lose Matthews for an extended period of time, they will be in A LOT of trouble.

The Packers' point differential this season is +30, which is sixth-best in football, and second to only the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC.  But take away a 27-point shellacking of the horrendous Bills, that number drops to +3.

Every other game has been decided by seven points or less, with three games being decided by a field goal or less.  They're 1-2 in games decided by three points or less; winning teams win close games.

It doesn't matter how talented the Packers may be.  This team is undisciplined, and now, they're hurt.  The combined records of their opponents so far is 11-14.  

The teams left on their schedule with a losing record: two games against a tough Minnesota team, a home game against a tough Dallas team, a road game against a Detroit team that they only beat by two at home with a backup QB, and a talented but wildly under-performing San Francisco 49ers team.  

Simply put, the road from here on out doesn't feature any true easy W's.

Hey, maybe the days of Brett Favre don't seem so bad after all...just kidding—a little.

Michael Perchick is the writer/editor of TheJockosphere.  Follow him on Twitter @TheREALPerchick, and at http://thejockosphere.com/.