porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
10 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
10 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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Zero2Cool (4h) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (8h) : Who?
Zero2Cool (9h) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (13h) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (13h) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (23h) : 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
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