Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Rodgers powers Packers past Browns 31-3
 

By TOM WITHERS (AP) 4 hours ago

CLEVELAND On Green Bay's first offensive series, quarterback Aaron Rodgers got his helmet ripped off and punched in the face.

The Cleveland Browns hardly touched him again.

The Packers were the bullies.

"One of the linemen came over and said, 'Who was it? We got your back,'" Rodgers said. "That means a lot to me and that means a lot to our team."

Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, Ryan Grant rushed for 148 yards and the Packers warmed up for Brett Favre's first visit back to Lambeau Field next week with a 31-3 laugher Sunday over the Browns, who got over the flu but can't shake other problems.

It would have been understandable if the Packers (4-2) had overlooked an inferior opponent with their eyes on Favre's hyped return to Wisconsin with the Minnesota Vikings. But Rodgers and his teammates took care of business against the pathetic Browns (1-6), who have scored just four offensive touchdowns and 72 points all season.

Rodgers, who steps a little further out of Favre's immense shadow with each win, spent the afternoon focused on the Browns not Brett. So when did he allow himself to consider the rematch with the Vikings and No. 4, who beat the Packers 30-23 on Oct. 5 in Minneapolis?

"Just now," Rodgers said with a smile.

He finished 15 of 20 for 246 yards and the three TDs a 71-yarder to Donald Driver and 41-yarder to tight end/linebacker Spencer Havner in the first half, and a 5-yarder to James Jones to cap a 99-yard drive in the fourth quarter after the Packers defense stopped Cleveland at the 1.

Despite being without injured starting left tackle Chad Clifton, Green Bay's offensive line did not give up a sack after allowing a league-high 25 coming in and blow open huge holes for Grant. Rodgers' white No. 12 jersey had no grass stains. He had plenty of time to throw and picked apart Cleveland's secondary.

In the first quarter, Browns linebacker David Bowens had tried to rough up Rodgers by yanking off his helmet during a tackle.

Rodgers didn't name Bowens, but said "96" when asked about the incident, which he called "kind of a dirty play."

Bowens said he was just playing hard.

"I was just trying to grab anything I had," he said. "It wasn't malicious, I was just trying to get a stop. I apologized to him for it. He can call it what he wants to call it, but the refs didn't call it. I'd treat him different if he was passing the ball, that's different. But if he's running the ball, he's a running back. It's called football."

Right now, the Browns aren't playing football.

They were outclassed again, dominated by the Packers, who outgained them 460-139 and seemed to know their every move.

Leading 7-3, Rodgers hooked up with Driver on a simple play the Packers practiced all week. Watching tape of Cleveland's loss at Pittsburgh, they noticed the Browns blitzed their safety in certain packages. So when Rodgers saw Abram Elam coming, he threw to the open spot and hit Driver in stride. The Packers' wide receiver shook off two tackling attempts by Wright and high-stepped into the end zone.

Rodgers said Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop did a better job in practice showing the defensive look that the Browns did in the game.

"We went long count and I was sitting there thinking, 'I hope that guy comes because if he comes it'll be a big play,'" Rodgers said. "I threw it quick and he looked quick and the rest was Driver being Driver."

Unlike Rodgers, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson was under duress for four quarters. He completed 12 of 29 passes for 99 yards just 44 after the first quarter. The Browns had 1st-and-goal at the 1 the fourth, but failed to score on two running plays and two incompletions.

By game's end, Browns Stadium was mostly empty and the only noise was coming from Green Bay fans chanting "Let's go Pack."

"We aren't good right now," Anderson said. "That's it. Period. We haven't executed. We haven't done the right things to win ballgames. We haven't run the ball effectively, thrown it where we needed to. We haven't protected up front like we need to and caught it when we need to."

Ending a tumultuous week with a lopsided loss was not what Browns coach Eric Mangini had in mind.

"It's a very disappointing performance across the board," Mangini said. "I don't think we played very well. I don't think we coached very well. I thought we were making progress in a lot of areas. I don't think we showed that today at all."

NOTES: Packers TE Jermichael Finley injured his left knee after a catch in the first quarter and did not return. WR Brett Swain also sustained a knee injury. The team said both would undergo further tests Monday. ... Cribbs (7,214) moved into 18th place in career return yards, passing Bruce Harper (7,191).

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


UserPostedImage
porky88
15 years ago
I guess the arguement that Rodgers would be one of the best QBs if not the best QB in the league if he had time has some merit.

He's now 2nd in the league in QB rating with 11TDs and 2INTs.

The only thing that is missing is a statement like win which he has a chance to earn along with the rest of the Packers next week.
Zero2Cool
15 years ago
I thought beating the Bears with less than 2 minutes to go in the game was a nice statement. Hey, that's just me though.
UserPostedImage
Rockmolder
15 years ago

I thought beating the Bears with less than 2 minutes to go in the game was a nice statement. Hey, that's just me though.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Of course, but that was just a clip out of one complete game. The offense sputtered a little the rest of the time.

Then again, 'The greatest game ever player' followed that scenario.

Still, a win against the Vikings would be great and iconic for Rodgers. If they get him some time against Jared Allen and the Starcaps Wall, I'm pretty sure that he'll succeed.
LambeauEast
15 years ago
Damn, when they said they had his back, they actually HAD IT. Nice!
UserPostedImage
porky88
15 years ago

I thought beating the Bears with less than 2 minutes to go in the game was a nice statement. Hey, that's just me though.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



That throw to Jennings was a monkey off your back type of play. It wasn't a statement win though. No more than beating Minnesota in week one of last year.
Zero2Cool
15 years ago

I thought beating the Bears with less than 2 minutes to go in the game was a nice statement. Hey, that's just me though.

"porky88" wrote:



That throw to Jennings was a monkey off your back type of play. It wasn't a statement win though. No more than beating Minnesota in week one of last year.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



It was a statement win. I said so and the voices in my head agree with me. Correction four of the five voices are in agreement with me.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (4h) : Jets released K Riley Patterson and signed K Anders Carlson to the practice squad.
wpr (4h) : Thanks guys
Mucky Tundra (23h) : Happy Birthday wpr!
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Anders Carlson ... released by 49ers
dfosterf (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday!😊😊😊
wpr (7-Nov) : Thanks Kevin.
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday, Wayne! 🎉🎂🥳
beast (7-Nov) : Edge Rushers is the same... it's not the 4-3 vs 3-4 change, it's the Hafley's version of the 4-3... as all 32 teams are actually 4-2
Zero2Cool (6-Nov) : OLB to DE and player requests trade. Yet folks say they are same.
beast (5-Nov) : In other news, the Green Bay Packers have signed Zero2Cool to update their website 😋 jk
beast (5-Nov) : Might just re-sign the kicker we got
beast (5-Nov) : Are there any kickers worth drafting next year?
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Preston Smith for Malik Willis
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Getting a 7th rounder from the Stillers
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : At least we get 7th round pick now!! HELLO NEW KICKER
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Steelers getting a premier lockdown corner!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Packers are trading edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per sources.
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Preston Smith traded to the Steelers!!!!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : CB Marshon Lattimore to Commanders
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Bears are sending RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals, per sources.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : ZaDarius Smith continues his "north" tour.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Let the Chiefs trade a 5th for him
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Nearing 30, large contract, nope.
Martha Careful (5-Nov) : any interest in Marshon Lattimore?
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : What does NFL do if they're over cap?
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : They've been able to constantly push it out through extensions, void years etc but they're in the hole by 72 million next year I believe
hardrocker950 (4-Nov) : Seems the Saints are always in cap hell
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Saints HC job is not an envious one; gonna be in cap hell for 3 years
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Dennis Allen has now been fired twice mid-season with Derek Carr as his starting QB
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Kuhn let go
beast (4-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers would have any interest in Z. Smith, probably not
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Shefter says Browns and Lions will figure out how to get a deal done for Za'Darius Smith..
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Packers are more likely to have 1,000 yard rusher than 4,000 yard passer
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : It's raining hard.
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : Packers inactives vs. Lions: CB Jaire Alexander S Evan Williams C Josh Myers Non-injury inactives: WR Malik Heath OL Travis Glover DE Bren
packerfanoutwest (3-Nov) : Malik Willis: My focus is helping the Packers win, not proving I can start elsewhere. But he could
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : I had Texans, but the loss of another WR flipped me
wpr (1-Nov) : I thought about taking the Jets but they've been a disaster. Losing to the Pats last week
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : Surprised more didn't pick Jets in Pick'em.
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 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

18h / Around The NFL / beast

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / GameDay Threads / Cheesey

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

4-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

2-Nov / Around The NFL / wpr

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.