Simple adjustments could have saved this game, yet Green Bay did nothing. Any Packers hopes for a wild comeback were dashed following an Aaron Rodgers sack in the end zone for a safety.
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TYING FAVRE: Manning’s 186th career regular-season win tied him with Brett Favre for the most all time, and he can set the National Football League record next week at Indianapolis, where he registered 141 of those wins. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 77 yards but got sacked three times for 27 yards in losses.
“It’s a good defence”, Rodgers said, “a really good defence”. Suddenly, the Packers had to respect Manning’s arm strength – something that he hasn’t been able to make teams do this year – and that opened things up for offense, both on the ground and with short passes.
When the Broncos forced a safety on the Packers in the fourth quarter, it cemented the victory. Smith also had 145 passing yards for two scores. The punt stayed in play, and Marcus Murphy returned it across the 50 and fumbled, but the Saints recovered the ball and the Giants were flagged for a face mask penalty which put the winning kick within achievable distance and Forbath slotted it.
But Denver regained separation behind their resurgent running game, which scored more rushing touchdowns against the Packers than it had in the previous six games (two). The Bears picked off Teddy Bridgewater right before halftime and turned it into seven points which tied the game at 10-10.
The Broncos play the Colts next week. Manning threw for 340 yards. The lone score in the second quarter for the Vikings came on a Blair Walsh 43 yard field goal which gave them a 10-3 lead. They started the quarter with the ball on their own 48 yard line.
Demaryius Thomas came out to play like a true No. 1 receiver from the first whistle.
The injury ravaged Cowboys got receiver Dez Bryant back after five games on the sidelines with a broken foot, but he had just two catches for 12 yards. He played a lot once Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins left with shoulder injuries in the first half. A fair catch by Micah Hyde put the second quarter in the books. However, late in the half, he helped lead an 80-yard drive that ended in Eric Lacy’s 2-yard touchdown run.
No one knows what Denver’s defensive lineup will look like by the end of the month.
Ravens 29, Chargers 26 – Justin Tucker kicked a 39-yard field goal on the final play of the game, and Baltimore (2-6) overcame three touchdown passes by Philip Rivers to squeeze out a victory over San Diego (2-6), which has lost four straight.
The same issues that plagued the Packers’ defense in the first half continued to do so in the third quarter. Then, shortly after Clay Matthews had to leave the field after having his ankle rolled up on by Damarious Randall, the Broncos attacked the middle of the field with C.J. Anderson, who scampered for a 28-yard touchdown up the gut where Matthews would normally be aligned.
Once again on the next drive, the Packers’ offense failed to generate anything substantial as Rodgers continued to struggle.
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The game matched the top two defense in points allowed, but it was all Peyton Manning and company as he led his team to 500 yards in total offense. The rookie laid out for a pass at the right-hand numbers and took it away. It is time to panic in Green Bay, but hopefully Rodgers can pull another R-E-L-A-X moment out of his bag of tricks and get his team back on track throughout the remainder of the season. In beating the Packers, they beat one of the last undefeated teams in the league to remain undefeated themselves.
