Rendered one-dimensional and playing catch up, Packers defenders dialed up their pass rush.
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The NFC North’s top two teams won’t meet again until the regular-season finale January 3 in Green Bay.
“This team you saw play today, it wasn’t us”, said Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher who was held to 45 yards on 13 carries.
That certainly seemed to be the case. Green Bay won, and won easily, but it didn’t pass the eye test. The Packers played better, but not necessarily well.
Starting in place of Marshawn Lynch, out with an abdominal injury, Rawls posted his third 100-yard rushing game of his rookie season and the second time topping 160 yards. They got great penetration all day and we tackled well on the back end.
Coach Mike Zimmer’s message to his players a day after the Minnesota Vikings bungled the franchise’s biggest game in years was part nurturing and part kick in the trousers. “We left a ton on the field today”.
That was certainly true.
Then the reality set in of having to turn around quickly to prepare for another game on Thursday. Green Bay didn’t score its first touchdown until there were only six seconds left before halftime.
The overwhelming talent everyone said the Packers possessed early in the season wasn’t going to be enough. “They’re riding a five-game winning streak, holding teams to less than 17 points per game, winning by running the football”, we said. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but I’d expect a winning streak for the Packers. If so, Green Bay said something.
“We answered the questions”.
“We were kind of pressing a little bit”.
Their last match was a 30-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings also last Sunday at the TCF Bank Stadium, via Daily Mail Online. Rodgers has now won 10 of his last 11 starts against Minnesota. No, these Packers aren’t flawless.
Five divisions are nearly wrapped up, and Green Bay has a big edge in the sixth, but the NFC East and AFC South are going to stagger to the wire.
Through 10 games, though, the Packers rank just 22nd in passing offense. In fact, he was statistically equal to Rodgers (16-34, 212 yards, 2 TDs).
To put themselves two scores clear, the Packers went for a two-point conversion, with Rodgers picking out Jones for the third time in four plays to put the visiting side 14 points up early in the fourth.
Rodgers and James Jones (six catches, 109 yards) were certainly in sync against the Vikings. But Rodgers still isn’t on the same page as wideouts Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, and tight end Richard Rodgers. I’m disappointed in our performance, but I’m not discouraged about our future.
Like Dikembe Mutombo waving his finger at anyone so unwise to challenge him in the paint, several National Football League teams sent reminders Sunday that they’re still viable in the playoff race.
The best development was that all of the players and position groups that had come under the most scrutiny from the media and fans found redemption, a few in a big way. But Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t putting too much stock in one victory. It was a team that let the emotions of the moment take over and throw off the chemistry that’s made this such a surprisingly successful season.
The struggles of the offense continued for the majority of the first half. While Dallas may have the moniker of America’s Team, and my beloved Black & Gold may have the most Super Bowl rings, the trophy is still named after the patron saint of the Packers.
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“I thank my teammates for believing in me even when I had those bad games and wasn’t playing up to my standards”, Lacy said.
