porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
10 years ago
Monday night’s victory over Atlanta wasn’t the thoroughly dominate performance we’re accustom to seeing from the Packers at home, but it counts as a win nonetheless.

Green Bay improved their record to 10-3 this season, fending off a late charge from the Falcons. The Packers led 31-7 at the break, but Atlanta flexed their offensive firepower in front of a national audience, scoring 30 second-half points. The final score was 43-37.

It’s hard to believe Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan picked apart the same defense that allowed just 21 points to New England quarterback Tom Brady just a week ago.

Behind a makeshift offensive line, Ryan carved up Green Bay’s secondary for 375 yards. He had total command over the offense, calling his own shots at the line of scrimmage. The Packers played a lot of zone, and their performance was reminiscent to their late-season struggles in 2009, when they allowed major passing numbers to Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Arizona’s Kurt Warner.

The secondary had no answer to receiver Julio Jones, who caught 11 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown. His 259 yards is the most single-game receiving yardage allowed by the Packers in team history. Atlanta used motion and bunch sets to get the matchups they wanted. The Packers made very few adjustments, opting to live and die with their zone coverage.

In the end, though, Green Bay prevailed behind the arm of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Falcons opted to play coverage rather than bring pressure, a tactic not very different from what New England used last week. Unlike against the Patriots, the Packers converted in the red zone.

The defense should be on alert following their lackluster play. However, despite what the final score says, the Packers were never in real danger of losing the game.

Turning Point

Atlanta’s biggest misstep came in the second quarter when they were trailing 17-7. On the second play of the drive, safety Morgan Burnett intercepted Ryan‘s nonchalant pass toward the sideline. Burnett returned the ball 32 yards to the 15-yard line, setting up a touchdown for the Packers who extended their lead to 17 points.

Stud of the Game

Rodgers went 24-of-36 for 327 yards and three touchdowns, yet the star of Monday’s game was on the other sideline. Julio Jones routinely won his one-on-on matchups, catching everything thrown his way. While he was unable to finish the game, he was the primary reason the Falcons were able to make it interesting in the fourth quarter. The debate over the best receiver in the league normally centers on Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, and Calvin Johnson. Last night, Jones proved he belonged in that class.

Play of the Game

The offense had a rather methodical night through the first three quarters. Instead of relying on explosive plays, they were content with spurts of 10 to 15-yard gains. That all changed on one play, though. Nursing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, Rodgers found receiver Jordy Nelson for a 60-yard touchdown off play action. Nelson beat his man with a double move, and the safety help was late coming over the top. It was the seventh time this season that Nelson had a touchdown of 60 or more yards. All of them have come in Lambeau.

Looking Ahead

The numbers may suggest otherwise, but this is the best Green Bay’s offense has played in the Mike McCarthy Era.

In previous years, the offense was dependent on passing. No longer is that the case, as the running game is performing admirably, and the offensive line continues to exceed expectations. The latter is a huge development.

The Packers are finally playing well in the trenches. In fact, this is the best the unit has played during Ted Thompson’s tenure as general manager. They’re moving defenders off the ball in the running game, and keeping Rodgers upright in the pocket. They also don’t commit many penalties.

That could all change on Sunday. The Bills have arguably the nastiest front in the AFC. Two of their defenders, Marcell Dareus and Mario Williams, have double-digit sacks. They’re also respectable against the run, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry.

The Packers have a good offensive line. The film confirms this.

They’ll need to be great if they’re to come out of Buffalo with a victory.

Please visit Row12.com  for more coverage on a wide range of sports.
Zero2Cool
9 years ago
I miss reading these every week.
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Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Agreed; you stinks
Zero2Cool (12h) : I'm not beating anyone. I stinks.
Mucky Tundra (13h) : rough injury for tank dell. guy can't catch abreak
beast (14h) : So far the college playoffs have sucked... One team absolutely dominates the other
beast (17h) : Well even if you weren't positive towards a guy, you wouldn't nessarily want to tell the media that (if they don't know about it)
Martha Careful (17h) : I think MLF want Love to look past the end half issues, and feel good about his play. Our coaches generally keep a very positive tone.
beast (17h) : I think a great running game will do that for most QBs
packerfanoutwest (18h) : Coach Matt LaFleur has said quarterback Jordan Love is playing the best football of his career.
beast (21-Dec) : Oh, that's how you keep beating buckeye, with cheating
Zero2Cool (20-Dec) : There is a rule that if your name starts with 'b' you lose 15 points. Hey, I don't make the rules, I just enforce them!
wpr (20-Dec) : and then there is Beast. Running away with it all.
beast (20-Dec) : As of tonight, 3 way tie for 2nd in Pick'em, that battle is interesting!
beast (20-Dec) : Lions vs Vikings could be the main last game as it could determine division winners or #1 vs #2 seed
Mucky Tundra (20-Dec) : Or if KC needs to win for the #1 seed
Mucky Tundra (20-Dec) : Right now it looks like the only prime worthy games are Det-Minny and KC-Denver (if Denver can clinch a wild card spot)
Mucky Tundra (20-Dec) : The entirety of week 18 being listed as flex is weird
Zero2Cool (19-Dec) : Matt LaFleur today says unequivocally "Ted Thompson had nothing to do with the drafting of Jordan Love."
Zero2Cool (19-Dec) : Apparently, the editing is what pieces comments together. That Ted thing ... fake news.
Zero2Cool (19-Dec) : LaFleur "opportunity that Ted Thompson thought was too good to pass up"
Zero2Cool (19-Dec) : Jordan Love pick was Ted Thompson's idea.
Mucky Tundra (19-Dec) : Kyle Shanahan on signing De'Vondre Campbell as a FA last offseason: “We obviously made a mistake.”
packerfanoutwest (19-Dec) : Alexander’s last season with GB
Martha Careful (18-Dec) : if I were a professional athlete, I would probably look to see who the agent is for Kirk Cousins and then use him
beast (18-Dec) : $100 million fully guaranteed Kirk Cousins gets benched for rookie
Mucky Tundra (18-Dec) : a lower case b
Mucky Tundra (18-Dec) : The real lie is how beast capitalized his name in his message while it's normally spelled with
packerfanoutwest (18-Dec) : haha that's a lie
beast (17-Dec) : Despite what lies other might tell, Beast didn't hate the Winter Warnings, it felt refreshing to Beast for some reason.
Zero2Cool (17-Dec) : whiteout uniforms in general are pretty lame and weak. NFL greed at it's worst
Martha Careful (17-Dec) : The Viking uniforms, the whiteout uniforms specifically absolutely suck
beast (17-Dec) : Thanks Zero2Cool, looks a lot better now
beast (17-Dec) : Seems like someone has a crush on me, can't stop talking about me
Zero2Cool (17-Dec) : Should be gooder now. The forum default theme went to goofy land.
Zero2Cool (17-Dec) : What the hell
packerfanoutwest (17-Dec) : yeah beast hates the Winter Warning Unies
Mucky Tundra (16-Dec) : Okay I'm glad to know it's not just something happening to me lol
Mucky Tundra (16-Dec) : Zero, did you copy the Packers uniforms from last night and white out the board?
beast (16-Dec) : Oh crap, is the board going to the Winter Warning Uniforms too?!? It's all white on white right now!
Zero2Cool (16-Dec) : WR Odell Beckham Jr is officially a free agent after clearing waivers.
Zero2Cool (16-Dec) : Packers are 6th in sacks.
Zero2Cool (16-Dec) : RB David Montgomery will undergo season-ending knee surgery.
Mucky Tundra (16-Dec) : Dan Campbell on onside kick with 12 minutes left: In hindsight, wish I didn’t do that
Zero2Cool (16-Dec) : They have that whole 12th man thing so ...
Zero2Cool (16-Dec) : Of the times we've played there, I just can't recall hearing our fans.
wpr (16-Dec) : Well done jdlax. Well done.
wpr (16-Dec) : I think more likely to be Pack fans that live in the area.
wpr (16-Dec) : Pack fans represent. I pointed it out early in the game to my wife. Announcers said Packers travel well.
Zero2Cool (16-Dec) : That was crazy to hear go pack go in Seattle of all plays. That 12 man thing an all
Mucky Tundra (16-Dec) : jdlax, good man!
jdlax (16-Dec) : Mucky, there were too many of us there to credit any single one but for sure i was 60% responsible.
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