Green Bay scored 24 unanswered points from the second through fourth quarter to secure the victory before giving up a late touchdown. At 3-3, Green Bay is now tied for first in the division but would win the tie-break because they are 2-0 within the NFC North (the Bears are 1-0 and Vikings 1-1 in the division).
However, the Packers actually staved off a virtual elimination Sunday by earning the 27-17 victory. While a loss would have left them only a game back of the Vikings and Bears, this was a must win because of the upcoming schedule.
Over the next four weeks, the Packers host the Colts, who are finally hitting their stride, before the bye week. Then the team travels to Tennessee (still unbeaten) and Minnesota (3-1 since changing quarterbacks). Without a win in Seattle, they may have been facing mathematical elimination the following week against the Bears, more than a week before Thanksgiving.
Coming into the game, I expected both teams to run for close to 150 yards. Not only were both teams struggling in run defense, both had injuries at the quarterback position they could be expected to protect by committing to running the ball.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was playing with a separated shoulder. He winced on every warm-up throw before the game and did not practice passing all week. He even admitted that any time he threw more than three passes in a row, the pain was tremendous. Thus, he needed to be given as few throws as possible.
The Seahawks also needed to run more to take pressure off their third-string quarterback, Charlie Frye. (It is interesting to note, however, that Frye has 14 more career starts than the entire quarterback unit of the Packers.) They feature a deep backfield, with Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, and T.J. Duckett coming in with at least one year each as a feature back.
However, the three combined for just 69 yards in 18 carries (3.8 per carry). Furthermore, the Seahawks only broke the century mark because of a 27-yard scramble by Frye and a 13-yard run by FB Leonard Weaver on their last drive that began with 5:15 left and a 17-point deficit. Up to that point, they had 21 carries for 73 yards (3.5 per carry).
Both teams finished with exactly 113 yards, but the Packers Ryan Grant needed 33 carries to get his season-high 90 yards (2.7 per carry). Including his two kneel-downs, Aaron Rodgers had six carries for 23 yards and the only rushing TD of the game.
So while the Packers only managed 2.9 yards per carry, their commitment to the run did achieve the goal of taking pressure off Rodgers' throwing arm. It also helped reduce the pass rush: He was sacked only twice, once causing a fumble when he clearly should have gotten rid of the ball sooner.
But he had another stellar day passing, completing 70 percent of his passes for over 200 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Thus, he accounted for three TDs and only one turnover again, but I am sure that will do nothing to sway all those who are determined to blame him for the team not doing as well as it did last year under Favre, even though his stats are better than Favre's were last year and it is the defense failing the team.
This Sunday, however, the defense rose to the occasion, holding the Seahawks to just 177 yards and forcing two interceptions (Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams) and three sacks. Even the penalties that have plagued the team were absent, as they were assessed for just 45 yards on five infractions, one less for five less yards than the home team.
If they can play like this against a team led by a bona fide quarterback, then I will regain hope they are a playoff team. Otherwise, at best they can compete in a bad division for the right to lose in the first round.
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about 1 month ago
Good article MJ...it was a must win and they won it convincingly. In all reality, that should have been a huge blow out. But Grant needs to be better next week or we won't beat Indy. Indy has been up and down, but they may have hit their stride now. Pack is back on track though, at least for one week.
What do you think our record will be coming out of this 4 game stretch?
from about 1 month ago
I would like to say we'll win one that we shouldn't in this stretch, but I will not predict it since that may not happen until later in the year. so I will say 4-6. After that, I think we only have three more wins coming: the Lions, the Texans, and either the Jaguars or Panthers--even if we beat both the latter two, we finish 8-8. Injuries have just killed us, and even with most eventually coming back, we're eliminated from the playoffs by the Winter Solstice.
But on the bright side, we'll be that much better next year for having gone through all this.
from about 1 month ago
I hope your not right, because I can just picture it now: Everyone will be calling for the heads of McCarthy, Rodgers, and most of all GM Thompson...I think we go 10-6 and win the North, but my glass is always half full.
about 1 month ago
I would have to say around 9-7. This year was a clear rebuilding year in my mind. The chance to get Rodgers known and settled as the starting QB. If he sent them farther into the year then great..but at least he is posting the numbers needed by a playoff quarterback. The game this week is simple. If I was McCarthy..I would blitz the hell out of Manning. If you rattle the cage then mistakes will come. Unfortunetly that is not Sander's style.
Your right though, if they go like 8-8 then people will be screaming for blood. Not everyone can respect a good coach going through a rebuilding year with his team. My favorite example is when San Diego canned Marty after he brought the Chargers back from the dead a couple years back. I like to think they would keep them around unless they have an absolutely devestating season.
from about 1 month ago
Manning usually kills blitzes because of his football IQ and audibles. I would start with a standard set and blitz if that doesn't work.
Any assumption we will do better than 8-8 is frankly not just optimistic, it is unrealistic. That doesn't mean it can't happen, but expectation don't translate into wins--you have to have the personnel and we just don't anymore.
Fans will be calling for heads, and I will only defend the team in so far as Rodgers is concerned, because he's not our problem. McCarthy is only a little bit our problem, and probably won't be overly abused because he did so well the last two years. But Thompson is the guy who has not spent any of our cap money, traded away Corey Williams even though he played a position well in which we have little depth, and has drafted like crap on day one (and like a genius on day two). He deserves the heat.
As for Marty, he was canned because he is the worst playoff coach ever. No one I can think of loses that many home games in the playoffs. There is no point in having a great regular season if you can't win anything in January.
about 1 month ago
That is correct..but I don't think they had to get rid of him. Just personal oppinions. Manning does defend well against blitzes..we have all seen him do it...but unfortunetly if coaches go into that nice little "prevent" defense...it makes it even easier to pick them apart. I would rather go after him and hit him really hard a couple times.
Thomson has had his ups and downs. I do respect him for making some smart moves..but of course he has made some really stupid ones. Like Williams. I will be happy with as much as they can give this year. I can't see myself being overly disappointed. I'm just glad Rodgers has the ability to make the big plays.
from about 1 month ago
True but I would have.
True, but I wouldn't unless not blitzing fails, or we could be in a bigger ho;le than we can dig out of.
True, true, exactly, and me, too.
about 1 month ago
Well I have a feeling were gonna have to try just about anything to stop them. So we will see what happens...
about 1 month ago
MJ I actually agree with 99% of what you wrote lol. Someone should write an aricle on that.
My only bitch is even though I know the icreased carries for Grant was to help Aaron; 90yrds on 33 carries againt SEATTLE! is sickening! The running game has to get going fast!!!
from about 1 month ago
I know, I totally agree! At least he got the job done at the end, getting that rushing first down to put the game away.
about 1 month ago
Not to take anything away from the Packers (I can't--my husband is a fan) Seattle seems like a shadow of its former self. They no longer seem like much of a contender. And speaking of shadows, good for Rodgers. He needs every victory to get out from under the shadow of the one we won't name.
from about 1 month ago
True dat true. Your husband sounds like an insightful man of taste who is a keeper, plus I can see from you profile photo he proposed to you at a Packers-Niners game...looks like it was at the Stick, but I'm sure we won anyway, since we always do!
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