Aaron Rodgers says with Packers in a three-game losing streak it could be time to 'crack the whip'

We're not going to get a R-E-L-A-X proclamation from Aaron Rodgers, or a statement that the Green Bay Packers are going to "run the table" at the moment.

But with the Packers in the midst of a three-game losing streak and with a 3-4 record, their four-time MVP quarterback nonetheless feels there needs to be more accountability.

"You have to really be cognizant of when is the right time to speak and when is the right time to listen," Rodgers said on "The Pat McAfee Show" during his Tuesday appearance. "We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. There are times to listen and then there are times where you’ve heard enough. And now it's that time to really crack the whip a little bit. Could be that time. Could definitely be that time. Could be time to look for a little more opportunities to crack the whip a little bit."

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Aaron Rodgers says too many mental mistakes by Packers offense

In the aftermath of the team's latest loss — the Packers fell to the Washington Commanders, 23-21, and now as a double-digit road underdog to the Buffalo Bills for this Sunday's game — Rodgers said Tuesday that players making repeated miscues shouldn't be on the field.

Rodgers said the number of mental mistakes in a game for the Packers this season is consistently in the double digits, which he estimated at about 20% of the total offensive plays. That's "way too high," Rodgers said.

"In the past, we’re looking at less than 10%," Rodgers said. "We have to fix that. Whatever that is. Guys who are making too many mistakes shouldn’t be playing. Got to start cutting reps."

Rodgers' quarterback rating has been under 100 the last four games, and he threw for less than 200 yards against the Commanders for the first time since the Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The receivers had several drops, Amari Rodgers fumbled a punt and as a team, the Packers had nine penalties for 69 yards.

Aaron Rodgers claims Commanders defense didn't do anything special on Sunday

In the second quarter, three of the Packers' drives totaled -13 yards and the average duration of those possessions was 1 minute, 32 seconds. The drives averaged just over three plays per possession, all of which led to punts. So was the Commanders defense doing anything special?

"Nothing," Rodgers bluntly said. "They didn’t have to do anything. They rushed four guys, played cover four, a couple weak inserts and a couple man coverages. That was it. They got good players. As far as schematically? (Nothing)."

It boiled down to the "mental errors," Rodgers said.

When asked about whether the loss of offensive coaches from last year could be playing a role, Rodgers said while he misses them, there shouldn't be a drop-off in execution because the offense runs through one person.

"This is Matt’s offense," Rodgers said, referencing head coach Matt LaFleur. "It doesn’t matter who is in that place (offensive coordinator). It’s not like they have their own system."

Aaron Rodgers says players have to 'take ownership'

For his part, Rodgers said it comes down to the players performing.

"I think when the players really take over," Rodgers said, "then you’re going to see the possibility of us making a run. We take ownership of the plan. We need everybody on the same page to make the plays that are possible.

"There’s too many times in the game there’s simple, simple things that are not being accomplished."

Rodgers later emphasized "it's on the players for sure, some of it is on us. Some of it’s on the coaches making sure we’re getting every detail. But ultimately, it’s on the players. Players win, players lose. It’s on us to get this fixed. Have to look at the habits, at the details. Those are correctable. We’re not getting dominated man to man. We’re beating ourselves most games."

Rodgers, though, said he's not losing confidence in his teammates.

"I’m too big of an optimist," Rodgers said. "I expect that high level. Sometimes they test my optimism for sure. It’s the good with the bad."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers says Packers should 'crack the whip' on Pat McAfee Show