porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
10 years ago
In the first outdoor clash in Minnesota between the Packers and Vikings since 1981, it seems appropriate the Packers powered their way to a 24-21 victory behind the legs of running back Eddie Lacy.

Green Bay needed all 60 minutes to put away the pesky Vikings on Sunday, yet there was never a point where they didn’t seem in control of the game. Nonetheless, the Vikings had plenty of opportunities for big plays, particularly in the passing game, but quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was off target with several of his throws. A veteran quarterback would’ve connected on some of them, so this could be a wake-up call for a defense that is currently getting ready for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Penalties were also disconcerting, as the Packers had seven of them for 75 yards. Still, for the first time all season, the Pack stand alone atop the NFC North with an 8-3 record.

Thanksgiving week is when teams hope to begin to hit their strides. Now is the time for the great ones to separate from the herd.

We’ll find out how great Green Bay is next weekend, as the 9-2 Patriots come to Lambeau.

Turning Point

Great teams know how to finish, and the Packers finished this one off with an 11-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that took up nearly half of the fourth quarter. The drive ended when quarterback Aaron Rodgers shuffled the ball to Lacy, who rumbled his way across the end zone.

Stud of the Game

This was Lacy’s game to win. The Packers came out intending to run the ball, and they stuck with it through the game's duration. His 25 carries and 125 yards were both season highs. He also added 13 yards receiving, and scored two touchdowns. More important, he sealed the Vikings' fate on the final drive by carrying the ball on five consecutive plays to kill the clock.

Play of the Game

Lacy’s fourth-quarter touchdown may never have happened if Rodgers and receiver Jordy Nelson didn’t convert a key third down midway through the drive. The Vikings -- especially cornerback Xavier Rhodes -- did a fine job of covering Nelson all game long, but Nelson made them pay on this crucial play. On third-and-2, Nelson beat cornerback Josh Robinson inside, giving Rodgers a huge window to throw the ball into. The play isn’t spectacular, but it shows that the little things matter. Many quarterbacks force their No. 1 receivers the ball, but Rodgers doesn’t. He’s an assassin on the field, who waits patiently for an opportunity to strike. The Vikings finally gave him one by not matching Rhodes up with Nelson on this play, and the Packers’ top duo made them pay for it.

Looking Ahead

There have been many tough hills to climb this season for the Pack, but the New England game has lingered in the background, like a mountain casting a shadow.

Last week, I wrote about Green Bay re-establishing their home-field advantage, so the Packers should have an advantage in Lambeau. Yet, the Patriots are the most respected franchise around the league. Bill Belichick is the reason why, and I worry about him out coaching Mike McCarthy in this matchup.

The key for the Packers is to be themselves. Don’t shy away from Randall Cobb because Darrelle Revis is covering him, and don’t ignore Nelson because Brandon Browner is getting physical. McCarthy should trust his players to challenge New England‘s secondary.

The game will have a playoff atmosphere, as the media hypes it as a Super Bowl preview.

As usual, I say don’t bet against No. 12.

I just don’t know which No. 12 I’m talking about this week.

Please visit Row12.com  for weekly articles done by myself on college and fantasy football. In last week's College Football Preview, I did a breakdown of Melvin Gordon's Heisman chances. Check that out here . We also have a great staff of writers that covers every major sport.

nerdmann
10 years ago
These penalties seemed to come every single time our team made a play. Pretty ugly. In the 4th quarter, it seemed like we finally got a couple calls.

Agreed on Lacy. Someone commented that this was the type of game we would normally have lost before we had Lacy on this team. I agree with that assessment. Dude shows up every week ready to play for a full 60. Never shits himself.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
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dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
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