These plays set a trend by which the Packers followed for the rest of the afternoon.
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The Green Bay Packers accomplished their goal of starting the season 1-0, but the young Jaguars did not make it easy.
Another issue with the timeouts is that they were taken due to mental or matchup problems. Most spectacularly, he showed his strength by firing in a 29-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams with 13 seconds remaining in the opening half, all while a defender firmly tugged on his jersey.
Newton was repeatedly battered, but only one penalty was called against the defence (and it was negated when Newton was called for intentional grounding). However, No. 1 CB Sam Shields left the game with an undisclosed injury late in the fourth quarter and did not return. “Seeing that that’s how the game is being called, I’ve got to adjust my physicality to the game”.
With Rodgers again urging his coach to go for the end zone, McCarthy saw the value in guaranteeing his team a seven-point edge, calling on special teams instead.
Otherwise, Rodgers played closer to his two-time MVP form than his shaky self for most of 2015. The secondary covered his weapons as long as it could and then some. Whether it was a 38-yard catch downfield by Allen Hurns or a 37-yard reception from Marcedes Lewis off a screen pass, the Jaguars were able get yardage quickly. Kicker Jason Myers was 3-of-3 on field goals, including a 50-yard strike.
The play ended a thrilling drive during which Bortles hit receiver Allen Robinson for a 22-yard gain. The first three attempts were successful. Taking risks can lead to big results – and in this case – kept the Jaguars in the game.
The story of the game however, was the Green Bay defense. But at the end of the day, it comes down to football, making plays. It was Jordy’s first catch in over a year and a half.
Rodgers ran in from six yards to give his side an early lead, but the Jags replied with a touchdown of their own. 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. It was a tight window to get the ball in there, but the window was cracked. He had a great throw to Hurns just a few plays earlier.
The rehabilitation of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s left knee will require recovery from multiple ligament reconstruction.
“We kind of knew that was what they were going to do”, said Blake Bortles, who completed 24 of 39 passes for 320 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. On the third possession, Adams had a chance to make a big play on a third-down bomb but the ball went through his hands; Adams said it was tipped by cornerback Prince Amukamara. Bortles was sacked three times, but at least two of those were not on the offensive line. “I think I screwed them on that one (sack)”. He took a step forward, started to move left, backpedaled and then sprinted to his right.
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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.
