porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
9 years ago
An efficient offense and swarming defense led the Packers to their 11th victory of the season, putting them one game closer to winning the NFC North, and clinching a first-round bye.

A week after Buffalo manhandled them, the Packers offense rebounded. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 31-of-40 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown. Receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson each went over 100 yards receiving, and running back Eddie Lacy rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

Sunday afternoon belonged to the defense, though. The front seven wreaked havoc on Tampa quarterback Josh McCown, sacking him seven times. Linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers combined for 4.5 sacks, bringing their combined total to 17 this season. This is the most by a Green Bay pass-rushing duo since 2010, when Matthews combined for 20.5 sacks with defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins.

Road wins have been especially difficult for the 2014 Packers, as they finished the season 4-4 away from Lambeau. Baring a St. Louis victory in Seattle next week, it appears the Packers may have to win at least one more on the road if they’re to play in the Super Bowl.

Turning Point

The only life Tampa’s offense showed came in the final minutes of the first half. The Bucs drove into Green Bay territory, in large part because receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans made plays on the outside. However, thanks to a third-down sack by Peppers, the Bucs had to settle for three points. Kicker Patrick Murray made the kick, but they needed to inject fire into their offense going into the half. A touchdown does that. A field goal doesn’t.

Stud of the Game

Rodgers bounced-back with an efficient performance, but the defense deserves credit for turning in one of their best pass-rushing performances of the Dom Capers Era. Leading the way was Matthews, who finished with six tackles, and led all defenders with 2.5 sacks. He now has 10 sacks on the season, with 7.5 of them coming after the week nine bye.

Play of the Game

It’s time to take the leash of Lacy. His 44-yard touchdown run was a thing of beauty. He received good blocking from center Corey Linsley, ran through linebacker Danny Lansanah's attempted tackle, and outran Tampa defenders to the end zone. It’s time to feed him the ball, even against Detroit’s top-flight run defense.

Looking Ahead

Already, there seems to be a reluctance to give the Packers their due for a 17-point victory. The offense didn’t score enough. Therefore, the win isn’t impressive on paper.

Can you imagine the same kind of reaction if the final score ended up being 37-20 instead of 20-3?

Teams tend to rely more on their running game and defense in order to win in the postseason. This type of performance -- along with their three-point victory in Minnesota -- shows the Packers have that capability, albeit it’ll be a more difficult challenge against Dallas or Seattle.

The Detroit Lions (11-4) await the Packers next week in a winner take all matchup. The victor clinches the NFC North title, and earns the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The loser plays at Dallas the following weekend. The Lions do present a matchup problem for the offense, as they’re able to pressure with their front four. Nonetheless, losing at home isn’t an option for this year’s Packers. It is that kind of mindset that has helped contribute to their home success.

The schedule may say the start of the playoffs is on January 3.

However, inside 1265, the playoffs have already begun.

Visit Row12.com  for more sports articles.
Zero2Cool
9 years ago
I think the defense has been the shinning aspect of the big three units the last several games. The thing I notice is more people complaining the Packers offense isn't putting up 35+ but what the defense is doing goes unnoticed and thus unappreciated.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."
Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Bears get OL fixed amd we might have a problem
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Pretty sure they already have scouting reports on guys who aren't even starting for their college team. The future is now for me.
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : I tend to let Gute and Co. Worry about the future.
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Jaire and Evans Williams are both ACTIVE! Good news.
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : The badgers really need to change the whole offensive scheme. No draws no screens plus the quarterback is marginal
Cheesey (17-Nov) : If the Badgers had a decent QB, they would have won. The guy can't hit a wide open receiver
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : chop block
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : there was a very questionable job Block call that upon viewing replay was very borderline
beast (17-Nov) : How so? (I didn't watch)
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Badgers got hosed vs Oregon
packerfanoutwest (16-Nov) : damn,he hasn't played since week 2
Mucky Tundra (15-Nov) : poor guy can't catch a break
wpr (15-Nov) : wow. That three different things for the kid.
Zero2Cool (15-Nov) : MarShawn Lloyd has appendicitis according to Matt LaFleur.
Zero2Cool (14-Nov) : He probably plays DB.
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