macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Top-10-individual-performances/b7379ae0-3ed7-43e3-a7ab-9f432e3df860 

http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Top-ten-performances/48236462-ff51-487b-bace-d9c0ed7211cd 

Packers.com is conducting a retrospective of the 2010 season with a series of 'Top 10' lists, which will look back at all the big happenings that helped produce the franchise's 13th world championship.

New heroes emerged almost weekly during the Packers championship season. It made this team click.

Here are 10 individual performances that stood out the most, ranked in ascending order of excellence.

One caveat: In the interest of honoring 10 different players, no individual could make the list twice. Only the best performance of any single player is noted here.

10. Erik Walden surprises Bears, Jan. 2
Signed off the street in late October, Walden wasnt even with the Packers when they first faced Chicago back in week three. By the regular-season finale, he epitomized the Packers season-long ability to overcome injury with his performance in the playoff-clinching win.

Walden was the fifth different player to see significant time at the outside linebacker spot opposite Clay Matthews, but after this game the depth chart no longer mattered. In just his second career start, he was named NFC defensive player of the week with a career-high 16 tackles and three sacks.

Spying Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler much of the game, Walden sacked him on third-and-goal to force the Bears to settle for a second-quarter field goal. Then as the third quarter wound down and the score tied at 3, he made three consecutive plays to thwart a Chicago drive that started at midfield.

With help from defensive end Howard Green, Walden sacked Cutler for a 9-yard loss on first down. He then tackled tight end Greg Olsen after just a 4-yard gain on second down, and he sacked Cutler again for an 11-yard loss on third down. The net loss of 16 yards forced the Bears to punt from their own 34, and the Packers scored the winning touchdown on the ensuing drive.

9. Tim Masthay grounds Jets, Oct. 31
Head Coach Mike McCarthy called it the finest punting performance hed ever witnessed, and it was hard to argue. In a field-position battle, Masthay pinned the Jets inside their own 20 five times, tying a single-game franchise record since the stat was kept in 1976.

New Yorks best field position following any of Masthays eight punt was its own 23, and late in the third quarter with the Packers leading just 3-0 he pinned the Jets on their own 5.

With a net average of 41.5 yards on the eight punts, and just one touchback, Masthay became only the second punter in team history to win NFC special teams player of the week.

8. Matt Flynn fills in at New England, Dec. 19
Aaron Rodgers was out with a concussion. The Patriots were 11-2, having blown out the playoff-contending Jets and Bears by a combined 81-10 the previous two weeks. Tom Brady had won 26 straight regular-season games at home.

That was the backdrop to Flynns first NFL start, in prime time no less. Seemingly no one outside Green Bays locker room gave the Packers a chance. So imagine a national television audiences shock as Flynn was taking a fourth-down snap from the New England 15-yard line on the games final play, well within striking range of a game-winning touchdown pass.

Flynn never got off that pass, getting sacked as time expired, but he still arguably outplayed Brady. Flynn was 24 of 37 for 251 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a 100.2 rating. Bradys rating was 110.2 but with more pedestrian numbers (15 of 24, 163 yards, two TDs).

If not for two miscues a miscommunication between Flynn and receiver James Jones leading to a gift-wrapped 36-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kyle Arrington, and a special-teams blunder allowing New England lineman Dan Connolly to return a kickoff 71 yards the Packers probably pull the upset and this game is much higher on this list.

7. Greg Jennings torches the Vikings, Nov. 21
Minnesota had no answer for Jennings, whose seven catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns highlighted a 31-3 blowout win at the Metrodome.

Jennings first score featured some nifty improvisation with Rodgers, who scrambled to his left and signaled for Jennings to cut back the other way in the end zone for an 11-yard pass. His second touchdown, a 46-yarder, broke the game open early in the third quarter, as he caught a deep comeback route, spun away from a defender and then made safety Madieu Williams miss the tackle along the sideline. The third touchdown, which made Jennings the first Green Bay receiver with three TDs in one game since Javon Walker in 2004, came on a perfectly executed 22-yard fade to the corner.

Jennings 152 yards marked the second-best single-game total of his career and became the first of three straight 100-yard games as the five-year veteran made the NFC Pro Bowl squad for the first time.

6. James Starks runs wild in playoff debut, Jan. 9
McCarthy said it himself: He established a hot hand early, and I rode it.

Starks, the rookie sixth-round draft choice who got his first NFL carry just 35 days prior, helped lead the Packers to a 21-16 NFC wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia with 23 carries for 123 yards, a franchise postseason record for a rookie.

When Starks went around left end for 27 yards on his first carry with just under six minutes left in the first quarter, he was well on his way to breaking Travis Williams previous rookie playoff record of 88 rushing yards (Dec. 23, 1967). He gained at least 5 yards on seven other carries, including a 19-yard burst in the third quarter on Green Bays 80-yard touchdown drive.

After missing his senior season in college due to a shoulder injury, Starks played in his first game in nearly two years on Dec. 5 vs. San Francisco. Questionable practice habits landed him on the gameday inactive list twice in the next three weeks, but come playoff time, he became the viable running threat the Packers had been searching for all season.

5. Sam Shields elevates his game, Jan. 23
The biggest difference between Green Bays defenses in 2009 and 2010 was Shields, an undrafted rookie who not only made the team but solidified the nickel cornerback spot. The stability and depth Shields provided helped the Packers avoid the type of pass-defense meltdown that ousted them from the playoffs a year earlier.

Shields intercepted just two passes in the regular season but equaled that total in the NFC Championship in Chicago to emerge a playoff hero.

First, with the Bears in Green Bay territory in the last minute of the first half, Shields ran stride-for-stride with Johnny Knox down the left sideline and leaped to intercept Jay Cutlers deep ball at the 3, keeping the Packers ahead 14-0 at the break.

Then, with Chicago down 21-14 and facing fourth-and-5 from the Green Bay 29 in the final minute of the game, Shields intercepted third-string quarterback Caleb Hanies pass intended for Knox at the 12, sealing the NFC title.

Earlier in the game, Shields also recorded his first NFL sack, and he was coming on a blitz in the fourth quarter when Hanie threw his ill-fated pass to nose tackle B.J. Raji for an interception and touchdown return.

Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, Shields became the first Packer and just the fifth NFL player to record two interceptions and a sack in a postseason game.

4. Charles Woodson dominates Detroit, Oct. 3
The 48-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the third quarter, which landed Woodson on the cover of Sports Illustrated, is the play etched in memory (and was one of packers.coms 10 plays that saved the season).

Nearly as instrumental in the victory, though, was the three-play sequence midway through the fourth quarter that held off the Lions rally.

Detroit had come back from a 28-14 deficit with four field goals and trailed 28-26 with a first down at the Green Bay 38. The Lions didnt even need another first down to try a potential go-ahead field goal, but they managed just one more yard, thanks to Woodson.

On first down, Woodson knifed through the line to bring down running back Jahvid Best after a 1-yard gain. Then on both second and third down, he broke up passes intended for receiver Calvin Johnson, who thought Woodsons physical coverage warranted a flag, to no avail.

Rather than try a 55-yard field goal, the Lions punted from the 37 and the Packers ran the final 6:32 off the clock. That one yard was Detroits last.

3. Matthews ravages Eagles, Sept. 12
Matthews set the tone for the game, and his season, when he shot up the middle on a delayed blitz on the first Philadelphia third down and sacked quarterback Kevin Kolb for an 8-yard loss.

He went on to post three sacks in the opener, though he wasnt credited with the third until a film review later in the week of his second-quarter chase-and-tackle of Kolb from behind. A typical never-quit effort from Matthews, he knocked the ball and Kolb out on the play the ball went out of bounds; Kolb went to the sideline with a concussion and saw his job taken by Michael Vick.

Matthews then spearheaded the play of the game when Vick tried to convert fourth-and-one in Green Bay territory with a QB keeper and two minutes left. Beating two different blockers at the line of scrimmage, Matthews got penetration and gave Vick nowhere to run as a host of defenders cleaned up for the game-winning stop.

The statistical correction on his sack total was too late for Matthews to win NFC defensive player of the week an award he won twice later in the season (week two vs. Buffalo, week nine vs. Dallas) but this was his most impressive outing. He had missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury too, but who could tell?

2. Tramon Williams demoralizes Falcons, Jan. 15
Having faced the Falcons in the regular season and upon thoroughly studying their offense again in preparing for the NFC divisional playoff, defensive coordinator Dom Capers called it the most efficient unit the Packers had faced all season.

Almost singlehandedly, Williams wrecked that machine.

With the score tied at 14, 2:30 remaining in the first half and Atlanta at the Green Bay 26, quarterback Matt Ryan tried a pump-and-go to receiver Michael Jenkins. Williams never lost sight of him or the ball and leaped to haul in the interception in the end zone.

Moments later, after the Packers had grabbed a 21-14 lead, Atlanta was in scoring range again. At the Green Bay 35 with 10 seconds left in the half, Ryan tried to run one more play to get a little closer for kicker Matt Bryant. Big mistake.

Williams recognized the formation and anticipated Ryan would roll to his left and try to hit Roddy White along the sideline. He hung back, baited Ryan into making the throw, and then jumped the route for a stunning interception that he returned 70 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the half.

Instead of leading by four points at intermission, the Packers were up 28-14 and never looked back. White, who ranked first in the league in receptions (115) and second in yards (1,389) during the regular season, was held to just six catches for 57 yards by Williams half of that production coming after the Packers led by 28 points late in the third quarter.

1. Rodgers amazes in Atlanta, Jan. 15
The way he dodged pass rushers when there appeared no escape and fired bullets with impeccable accuracy, there was no stopping Rodgers.

His final numbers 31 of 36, 366 yards, three TDs, no interceptions and a 136.8 rating almost dont do justice to how well he played, particularly as a visiting playoff foe in a noisy dome.

Four receivers compiled at least 75 yards each, three caught TD passes, and Rodgers even ran for a score. Beginning with the touchdown drive that tied the game at 7, Rodgers led the offense to the end zone five straight times he touched the ball.

Rodgers 31 completions are a team postseason record. So is the 86.1 completion percentage, which also ranks first in league history for a quarterback with at least 35 attempts in a playoff game.

Rodgers posted a higher rating (141.3) at Minnesota in week 11, threw for more yards (404) against the Giants in week 16 and won the Super Bowl MVP, but he played no better than on this night.

Packers.com wrote:

Greg C.
14 years ago
A very nice list. The only one I have a problem with is the Matt Flynn game. He put up some nice numbers, but the Packers lost, and Flynn couldn't get it done on the final drive. Sorry, but that's not a great game.

They probably could've replaced that one with a performance by one of the following players: B.J. Raji, Desmond Bishop, Jordy Nelson (remember the Super Bowl?), or even Chad Clifton. Jermichael Finley had a couple of nice games early in the season too.
blank
macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

A very nice list. The only one I have a problem with is the Matt Flynn game. He put up some nice numbers, but the Packers lost, and Flynn couldn't get it done on the final drive. Sorry, but that's not a great game.

They probably could've replaced that one with a performance by one of the following players: B.J. Raji, Desmond Bishop, Jordy Nelson (remember the Super Bowl?), or even Chad Clifton. Jermichael Finley had a couple of nice games early in the season too.

"Greg C." wrote:



I agree I would have liked to see Jordy Nelson's SB performance make the list, but I think they needed to make it a Top 11 individual performance list, because I wouldn't have wanted to take Flynn's game off the list.

It was a loss, but it was the beginning of our playoff run to the SB. And Flynn was terrific--a QB rating of over 100, against the team with the best record in the NFL, in their home stadium. By our back-up QB.
Greg C.
14 years ago
I didn't think it was a great performance. It was good for a backup, but basically the Patriots let him have the short stuff, so he put up good numbers, and when they challenged him to throw deep, he didn't have the skills to do it.

I don't want to knock the guy for a nice game in relief of Rodgers, but it wasn't top ten, and it was not the beginning of the playoff run except in the sense that the Giants and Bucs both lost that day, giving the Packers a new lease on life. The playoff run began the following week, when they smoked the Giants.
blank
macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

I didn't think it was a great performance. It was good for a backup, but basically the Patriots let him have the short stuff, so he put up good numbers, and when they challenged him to throw deep, he didn't have the skills to do it.

I don't want to knock the guy for a nice game in relief of Rodgers, but it wasn't top ten, and it was not the beginning of the playoff run except in the sense that the Giants and Bucs both lost that day, giving the Packers a new lease on life. The playoff run began the following week, when they smoked the Giants.

"Greg C." wrote:



I disagree on the run began the following week. True, it wasn't a win, but it set up the following weeks. The team was down because they had just lost 7-3 at Detroit. Playoff hopes were looking dim. The strong performance against the Patriots in their stadium, yada yada yada, gave the Packers the confidence that they could play with the team with the best record in the NFL.

I also consider it the start of the run because McCarthy was forced to not abandon the run since AR was out. Against Detroit the week before, we had a 37-15 pass-run ratio.

The pass/run ratio against the Patriots was 37-35, Giants 37-33, Bears 28-16, Philly 27-29 (More runs than passes--I thought MM got too conservative in this game, and had an opportunity to put it away if he had passed more instead of trying to run out the clock too early. We didn't need to be sweating out an interception in the end zone at the end of the game to secure the win), Atlanta 36-28, and Chicago 30-25.
gbguy20
14 years ago
Jordy Nelson's super bowl has to be on that list.
BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.
porky88
14 years ago
Did I seriously not read Aaron Rodgers vs. N.Y. Giants?
Greg C.
14 years ago

Did I seriously not read Aaron Rodgers vs. N.Y. Giants?

"porky88" wrote:



One of the rules was only one game per player, and Rodgers' best performance was against the Falcons in the playoffs, which is #1.
blank
beast
14 years ago

A very nice list. The only one I have a problem with is the Matt Flynn game. He put up some nice numbers, but the Packers lost, and Flynn couldn't get it done on the final drive. Sorry, but that's not a great game.

They probably could've replaced that one with a performance by one of the following players: B.J. Raji, Desmond Bishop, Jordy Nelson (remember the Super Bowl?), or even Chad Clifton. Jermichael Finley had a couple of nice games early in the season too.

"Greg C." wrote:



I didn't think it was a great performance. It was good for a backup, but basically the Patriots let him have the short stuff, so he put up good numbers, and when they challenged him to throw deep, he didn't have the skills to do it.

I don't want to knock the guy for a nice game in relief of Rodgers, but it wasn't top ten, and it was not the beginning of the playoff run except in the sense that the Giants and Bucs both lost that day, giving the Packers a new lease on life. The playoff run began the following week, when they smoked the Giants.

"Greg C." wrote:



I agree with you, it was a good game by Flynn but it wasn't great. He did a very good job of taking what the defense gave up. But all of his throws 20+ yards field where off target and he missed some wide open WRs down field...

They also ran the ball 35 times which the normal average for the season was less than 22 per runs a game... so Flynn was being used much more as a role player... than Rodgers had been...



The beginning of the playoff run was one of two times...

The Giants game which was the first play out game, in other words in the Packers lost another game they would be out of the hunt for the Super Bowl.

Or the one I prefer more... right after they got physical man handed, out played and embarrass by the Lions... IMO that was the wake up call... just like losing to Tampa Bay in 09 was the wake up call... it's when the team has an embarrassing loss that they have woken up and turned their seasons around.
UserPostedImage
porky88
14 years ago

Did I seriously not read Aaron Rodgers vs. N.Y. Giants?

"Greg C." wrote:



One of the rules was only one game per player, and Rodgers' best performance was against the Falcons in the playoffs, which is #1.

"porky88" wrote:



Yeah, I missed that. It's a stupid rule. His performance against the Giants is among the best performances in the league last year. Frankly, I would argue outdoors in cold Lambeau is tougher than indoors in the Georgia Dome.
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Who?
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
beast (21-Mar) : Unsigned FA QB Rodgers is supposedly in the Steelers building
Martha Careful (19-Mar) : But I don't own a car! So can I still use it in my apartment?
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : btw, new site auto updates
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : Woohoo!
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM
Eagles
Recent Topics
2-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

2-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

1-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

1-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

31-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

30-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

29-Mar / Random Babble / wpr

28-Mar / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / dfosterf

28-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

26-Mar / Random Babble / Mucky Tundra

25-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

24-Mar / Random Babble / packerfanoutwest

24-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

21-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

19-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.