On a sloppy day in Washington, it was the entire first half. Mike Pettine’s

Against the Bears Customized Green Bay Packers Jerseys , it was the first few drives. The next week, it was the final few for the Vikings.defense has given up 10-0 runs, 14-0 runs, and 14-3 runs at various points this season. Alex Smith and Co. hit up the Green Bay Packers’ defense for 28 in the first half. Kirk Cousins hung 22 on Pettine’s crew in just the fourth quarter. Even Mitch Trubisky got 10 straight to open the season.On those drives, the Green Bay defense looked discombobulated and undisciplined. Missed tackles and missed assignments marked long scoring drives kept alive by key penalties and key conversions. What makes this even more maddening for fans is the rest of the game, this unit looks ferocious.After that 10-play, 86-yard drive to open the Bears season, Chicago managed just 210 total yards in 56 plays after that. That’s 3.75 yards per play and dominating defense. But that’s against Mitch Trubisky, hardly a high bar right?Before the third quarter drive that ended in fourth-quarter touchdown for the Vikings in Week 2, Green Bay held Minnesota to 147 yards in 36 plays and just the lone touchdown. That’s barely four yards per play. After that, they gave up 191 yards on 20 plays and three touchdowns plus the two-point conversion to tie. And against Alex Smith in Week 3 the defense allowed 336 yards in 34 first-half plays, giving up 28 points. In the second half, the Packers defense gave up just 50 yards on 21 plays www.authenticsgreenbaypackers.com , with 3 points coming off a short field following Randall Cobb’s fumble. Defensively, the Packers have played two dominant second halves and one dominant first half. Jay Gruden was protecting a lead and may not have been as aggressive, up double digits against the Packers, but if that’s true he’s a bad history student. We’ve seen what Rodgers can do. It’s still up to the defense to make those plays and they did. It’s worth mentioning that the Vikings’ offensive explosion correlates directly to the loss of Kevin King with injury. Davon House got torched on the 75-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs and generally struggled against Washington with bad penalties and poor technique. His injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Packers, who now bring in Bashaud Breeland — one of the prized cornerback free agents this offseason — to add stability to the cornerback room. Breeland would be an upgrade over House in any circumstance, but getting him for cheap just when this team needs depth could provide the ideal shot in the arm for Mike Pettine’s group.But they have to do better on early downs and in the red zone. When the Packers blitz, they’re highly effective, but they’re saving that mostly for third-and-obvious passing situations. According to The Athletic’s Ben Fennell the Packers have the second-most effective blitz package in football this season, giving up a 31.2 quarterback rating with two picks, two sacks, and no touchdowns. On the other hand, when teams are driving it and getting in scoring position, they’re too often finding paydirt. This was a common problem for the Packers last season under Dom Capers when they were the worst situational group in the league. Quarterbacks inside the 30 are 16/20 with 4 TDs and 0 INTs for a 135.8 rating, second-worst in football. Part of that comes from a lack of top-tier talent in their primes. Clay Matthews isn’t a field-tilter and Nick Perry runs too hot and cold. While Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson could be stars in the future Green Bay Packers T-Shirt , they’re not ready to put a defense on their back and there are too many holes right now in communication and execution when defending the goal line. Situational defense should improve as the defense works more in unison, but they also need some of these young players to grow into playmakers. Kevin King must stay healthy, with his impact on this defense so evident. There may not be a way to hide the obvious deficiencies of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Kentrell Brice, but Pettine will have to find a way. This defense has flashed brilliance and utter incompetence. If this defense can just replace the latter with mere competence, it should be good enough to give Aaron Rodgers and this offense plenty of chances to score enough to win. The Green Bay Packers might get injured inside linebacker Oren Burks back for their game Sunday against the Washington Redskins.The rookie appeared to be in line to open the season as the starter inside alongside Blake Martinez when he hurt his shoulder during warmups before a preseason game last month in Oakland.He was cleared on Wednesday to return to practice as a full participant.Depth has also been replenished at running back, where Aaron Jones figures to return on Sunday after missing the season's first two games after being suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.At the least, the returns of Burks and Jones will help the Packers on special teams. They have each shown the talent to contribute in other ways too.Jones, who was also bothered by a hamstring injury in the preseason, ran for 448 yards and four touchdowns on 81 carries last year. He had two 100-yard games, including 125 and a score on 19 carries in a win at Dallas on Oct. 8.Coach Mike McCarthy has said that Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery will remain atop the depth chart. Jones gives the Packers another option in the backfield with his slashing ability."Give the defense a little bit more to worry about," Williams said Thursday. "Aaron's just a sparkplug, really. He's always trying to open holes, especially if one's closed, he'll find another one really and bounce it outside."A third-round pick out of Vanderbilt Green Bay Packers Hats , Burks moved up the depth chart after Jake Ryan was lost for the year in training camp with a torn ACL. The Packers traded for Antonio Morrison from the Colts to help with depth at inside linebacker after Burks went down. They also picked up Korey Toomer and James Crawford before the season started.Burks remains atop the depth chart inside next to Martinez, having raised his profile during the preseason."We'll see what the week brings us, McCarthy said before practice on Thursday. "You could see him progressing through training camp, so it will be great to get him back out there."Burks played inside linebacker and safety in college. His experience in coverage could help against the Redskins and running back Chris Thompson, who leads Washington with 19 receptions.RODGERS UPDATEMcCarthy expected quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is playing with a left knee injury, to follow a practice plan similar to last week before the Vikings game. Saturday was the only day that Rodgers practiced last week. He played well, especially considering the injury, completing 30 of 42 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown in the 29-29 tie with Minnesota.This week, McCarthy gave the whole team off from practice on Wednesday and elected to do a walkthrough instead, feeling that his players could use a break after a season-opening night game followed by the overtime game against Minnesota. Rodgers was due to focus on rehab on Thursday.INJURY REPORTBesides Rodgers, CB Kevin King (groin) also missed practice. ... CB Davon House (biceps) and S Josh Jones (ankle) were limited.