The Green Bay Packers just kept rolling. The Minnesota Vikings just kept sucking. Aaron Rodgers was the difference.
The Packers thumped the Vikings by a score of 38-25 to keep their march toward the playoffs alive. That was largely due to Rodgers, who finished 28-of-38 for 347 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Rodgers, apparently wanted to show that the leg injuries were behind him, also ran for a TD.
If Aaron Rodgers isn't in the MVP conversation now and you have a vote, you shouldn't have a vote. #fuckthequeens
— Total Packers (@totalpackers) December 24, 2016
Most of those passing yards went to Jordy Nelson, who caught nine for 154 and two TDs. Interestingly, with Randall Cobb out, the Packers turned to undrafted rookie Geronimo Allison early and often. Allison caught four for 56 and more notably, has obviously passed both Jeff Janis and Trevor Davis on the receiver depth chart.
While there has clearly been a changing of the guard at the bottom of the Packers’ receiving depth chart, there’s also been one at the top. We’re going to retract our earlier statement — that Davante Adams is the Packers’ No. 1 receiver — and give the obvious credit to Nelson.
The Vikings certainly did so. They started the game with Terence Newman, their No. 2 corner, on Nelson. Well, that didn’t work so well, did it? They had switched their No. 1 corner, Xavier Rhodes, over to Nelson in the third quarter and possibly earlier.
That’s a clear sign of two things. Who the opposition has realized the Packers’ No. 1 is and that Jordy Nelson is really, now, fully back to his old form.
Regardless of all that talk, what Rodgers did on this day is even more impressive since — HUGE surprise here — Mike McCarthy completely abandoned the running game. Despite running for 162 yards last week, Ty Montgomery touched the ball just 13 times (nine rushes, four catches).
The Packers had just 13 designed rushes on the day. That’s not how you win in the playoffs, but we’ll ignore that for now.
Defensively, the Packers certainly didn’t crank it up early.
It took them about a quarter or so to get it going and when they did get it going, Clay Matthews was a huge part of that.
I actually criticized him early in the game, along with the Packers’ lack of a pass rush. The Packers were facing maybe the worst offensive line in football, after all. They did nothing in the first quarter to inspire any confidence in their anemic pass rush.
Someone must have told Matthews. After he knocked down a pass in the first — totally unblocked, by the way — he came out like a ball of fire from thereon.
Three tackles, a sack, two passes defended, and three quarterback hits.
THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, MOTHERFUCKER!
I love it when I criticize Clay Matthews and then he starts playing out of his ass. #fuckthequeens
— Total Packers (@totalpackers) December 24, 2016
Great game. That’s the Clay Matthews we need and want to see. He makes a difference on that defense.
And Nick Perry? Coming back from a broken hand with a club, who we thought would be ineffective? Two sacks — a team-leading 10 sacks on the season.
Maybe not the most important sacks, but great for Nick Perry and great for the Packers’ defense.
As we all know, the Packers’ secondary is garbage.
Garbage.
Read that again.
Adam Thielen — 12 for 202, two touchdowns. Remember when Stefon Diggs went for career highs in week 2. There’s shitbag Adam Thielen’s career high.
Just play against the Packers’ secondary and you will be great!
Nonetheless, the Packers did what they needed to do on this day. They relied on a great Aaron Rodgers, their pass rush got home and they stayed away from the Vikings’ great returners.
One game. The Detroit Lions. Win and any losing streaks early in the season are all moot.
The Packers will again own the NFC North and make the playoffs.
Merry Christmas, you heathens!