Just when you thought Aaron Rodgers couldn’t get any better, he puts on a performance like he did Sunday that just blows your mind.
Two rushing touchdowns. Four TD passes. More than 400 yards passing and, yes, one interception but that was more bad luck on his part than a bad decision. In short, a brilliant performance.
The rest of the Packers offense also put on a clinic Sunday, dismantling the Denver Broncos 49-23 in a game that should put any critics to rest re: the Packers’ chances at repeating as Super Bowl champs.
Yes, the secondary needs some help. I missed Nick Collins today, and I’m willing to bet Mike McCarthy did at several points too, but the defense also recovered a fumble and picked off Kyle Orton three times — including Charles Woodson’s brilliant pick-6 late in the first quarter.
Special teams also didn’t screw the Packers over in any way Sunday, which in itself is an accomplishment. Then there was that crazy onside kick that took everyone, especially Denver, by surprise. Nicely played, Shawn Slocum, nicely played. Write that down because it’s the only time I’ll probably ever, ever say that again.
James Starks did an admirable job picking up the slack in Ryan Grant’s absence, rushing for 63 yards and grabbing five passes for 38 yards. Greg Jennings had another Greg Jennings-like game, making some unbelievable clutch catches and racking up more than 100 yards receiving. He had a touchdown catch, as did Jordy Nelson (97 yards receiving), James Jones (48 yards receiving) and Old Reliable, aka Donald Driver, who came back from what looked like a scary injury to catch a TD pass in the fourth quarter.
In short, this was a great game on pretty much all facets.
The Packers didn’t get to Orton as much as I would have liked, only sacking him once, and again the pass defense looks a bit like a lost puppy dog at times but Green Bay is 4-0 and is riding some good momentum heading into next week’s tough matchup against Atlanta.