It’s not yet a well-oiled machine – after all, it was the first time quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson played a game together in almost 13 months – but in a 27-23 road win over the Jaguars, it was an acceptable start to a season chock-full of expectations.
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The Jaguars had a shot to pull off the upset when they forced Green Bay to go three-and-out and regained possession with 3:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. Keeping both Allen’s under 75 yards and no touchdowns is a huge win for the Pack, and a huge reason why they won the game.
The Packers did a very good job in Jacksonville for most of the game. Peppers played only 29 of the Packers’ 72 defensive snaps (40 percent), and for the first three quarters he played nearly exclusively as an inside rusher in the dime package.
Shields said a year ago that he also had a concussion while playing in college at Miami (Fla.).
Minutes after losing for the seventh time in eight games, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith stood in the middle of the locker room, surrounded by teammates and coaches, and let it all out. The Packers took the second-half kickoff and kept the ball for 13 plays, 68 yards and 4:48.
The pass to Robinson went for 22 yards and saw the ball squirt loose when safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix landed a square hit, but Robinson managed to recover and continue the Jaguars’ drive. That drive also died near the goal line, with a third-and-goal run from the 2 going nowhere as the offensive line pass blocked rather than run blocked.
Cobb’s 57-yard game was the most of any receiver against Jacksonville. When you know you are going to win, you are shocked if you lost, and that is what this team is feeling now. The Vikings offense needs to play better if they want any shot against the Packers.
“They were gassed, for sure”, Rodgers said.
The Jaguars mounted a late drive that came up short on a fourth-down play.
Sitton’s replacement, left guard Lane Taylor, fared well in his third career start. And on Sunday against Jacksonville, he broke up a long pass on which he ran with 6-foot-3 receiver Allen Robinson stride for stride and looked like the intended receiver when he almost intercepted the pass as the two fell out of bounds.
Jacksonville controlled most of the play in between those scores.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs for a 6-yard touchdown past Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks (99) during the first half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 11, .
While the Jaguars are definitely an improved team the lack of a pass rush allowed Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all day to throw.
Jameis Winston bounced back from an early interception to throw four touchdown passes, and Tampa Bay claimed a winning record for the first since 2012 by opening the season with a 31-24 victory over the Atlanta. The only problem is that left Rodgers and Co.
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Fourth down: Looking at the final stat sheet it would be easy to say new tight end Jared Cook was a non-factor (two targets, one catch for seven yards).
