There is nothing bigger than a divisional game and it’s a fitting game for Sunday Night Football.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, alongside his team, announced plans to donate $100,000 each to the Green Pay Police Foundation.
Minnesota’s defense might not be the only challenge for Green Bay. Nobody has given up more yards to Peterson than the Packers.
One was an incomplete pass, the other lost a yard. That averages out to 21 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown every time Peterson has taken the field against Packers. In fact, the Jacksonville offense won the time of possession battle and numerous key stats on offense. There were many positives: Luke Joeckel looked good; defense played well against a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback; the offense looked competent and moved the ball like they did last season, if not in a more composed manor; Gus Bradley’s team appeared to be well prepared; etc. The play is going to have to match the expectations that go along with having seven first-round picks, including one from each of the last five drafts.
“Yeah, when we we’re planning for this game, I expected our best”, he explained of his pre and post game emotions.
But, Week 1 proved to be reason for concern heading into the home opener at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Mike Pennel’s four-game drug suspension left the Green Bay Packers thin on the defensive line and vulnerable against the run heading into their season opener in the Florida heat Sunday.
Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson made his return to the field after missing all of the past year, and he wowed in his return – which included hauling in career touchdown number 50 – breathing new life back into a passing attack that was stale and stagnant in 2015. The word was out – you can run on the Packers and achieve some success. No one made THE play on defense to win the game. The team left Pressley inactive during its Week 1 tilt with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s no secret that the Packers run game struggled past year under the number one back, but Lacy’s week one performance gave fans everywhere reason to be hopeful. Ivory was hospitalized Sunday with a “general medical issue”. The Jaguars tried again and again and again – with no success. T.J. Yeldon took his place and was unimpressive (39 yards, 1.9 yards per carry). It was similar to Peterson’s production on Sunday. The fact is, the Jaguars played well enough to win the game, but they did not have anyone make the play to win it. Allen Robinson will be the fist to tell you he should have come down with the touchdown at the end of the game. The result was clear. He was burned twice in the first half, including once for a touchdown, but made a terrific pass breakup in the end zone in the final minute.
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The play ended a thrilling drive during which Bortles hit receiver Allen Robinson for a 22-yard gain. He started the play as a blitzer/spy over center, but when quarterback Blake Bortles threw about nine yards downfield over the middle, Thomas turned and chased the ball, and when it was deflected around he was there to catch the carom.
