Yes, the roughing the passer call on Clay Matthews was nonsense. The Green Bay Packers had plenty of opportunities to beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, however. They should have beat the Minnesota Vikings.
Mason Crosby could have made that field goal at the end of regulation. The Packers could have turned one of Crosby’s five field goal makes into a touchdown. The defense couldn’t have given up 22 points in the fourth quarter.
I suppose the silver lining is the Packers remain undefeated. A very unsatisfactory 1-0-1.
Let’s get on with it.
Running Game No Help
Per usual, Aaron Rodgers carried the Packers’ offense. This supposedly stout running game the Packers have this year was a no show for the second week in a row. In total, the Packers had just 98 yards rushing. The highlight was Ty Montgomery, who averaged 6.2 yards per carry. Naturally, he only got five carries. Jamaal Williams, for all of his upside in pass protection, hasn’t run the ball well this year. He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry on Sunday. He’s averaging a pedestrian 3.4 yards per carry on the season. The good news? Aaron Jones returns from suspension this week. The stupid news? Mike McCarthy probably won’t give him more than a few carries.
Offensive Line Woes
On several occasions I noted these guys getting blown up — Bryan Bulaga, Justin McCray, Lane Taylor. The line gave up four sacks and allowed Aaron Rodgers to be hit nine other times. Three of those sacks went to guys who you wouldn’t consider great players. They were Mackensie Alexander, Danielle Hunter and David Parry. These guys seemingly haven’t gelled yet, as McCarthy likes to say.
Graham Up, Cobb Down
The Bears made a concerted effort to take away Jimmy Graham in week 1. Randall Cobb went wild. This week was more or less the opposite. Graham came through with six catches for a team-leading 95 yards. Cobb had only four catches for 30 yards. Davante Adams was again solid, with eight for 64 and the only receiving touchdown. Geronimo Allison continues to impress as the team’s No. 3 receiver. He finished with six for 64. Again, Marquez Valdes-Scantling was the No. 4 receiver and he got his first NFL catch, although it only went for three yards. Also, it should be noted that Jordy Nelson has just five catches for 53 yards and no TDs for the Raiders this season. Moving on from Nelson appears to be the right move.
Great Scott
We wondered what the hell Brian Gutekunst was doing spending a fifth-round pick on a punter. So far, JK Scott looks like the real deal, though. That pick looks like a good investment. Scott pounded the ball on Sunday. His net average was 51.8 yards. He hit a long of 63, which came from deep in Packers’ territory and drove the Vikings back to their 19. As they say, flip the field. Scott has been doing that.
Clark Checks In
Kenny Clark didn’t start sacking the quarterback until the end of last season. Clark notched his first of the year on Sunday. He also added four tackles a QB hit and a pass defensed. Defensively, Clark was the highlight for me. Blake Martinez was a solid second, with a team-leading nine tackles. Interestingly, the Packers used a long list of defenders. Inside linebackers Korey Toomer and Antonio Morrison played roles. So did safety Jermaine Whitehead. Outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell got his first action of the season. Lastly, in terms of the pass rush, Reggie Gilbert was the team’s best pass rusher on Sunday. He finished with three QB hits and a half a sack.
This tie at home is equal to a loss because the Packers now have to win in Minnesota or the Vikings have the tie breaker.
Yup, I realized this after the game as well. That game is already a recipe for a loss, too. Three days after thanksgiving, on the road.
Game was not shown here because I live in a town w a shitty AFC team. Couldn’t make it to local packers bar so I ended up getting updates on Red zone and tracking the football icon on ESPN – which was really tracking game well for most part at least compred to POS official NFL Tracker that was 1/4 behind at one point….
The interesting thing about ESPN is they show real-time odds in bottom right corner… Don’t know what it’s based on – but From the time of the last GB interception The Packers’ odds of winning was 98.6% ….
That ranks up w the infamous Asleep In Seattle playoff choke….
Sorry for going “Killjoy” on you and “waxing poetic” w the long intro
I don’t remember the last time I ever got excited about a punter, of all things. JK Scott is a fucking monster. Hope he can keep this shit up when Winter starts rolling in.
Punter has been a weakness for so long…this dude is a defensive weapon. I don’t curl up in the fetal position watching him kick like I did for every Green Bay punter since Craig Hentrich.
Our problem was offense kicking g field goals for points as stated. Also, it can’t be overstated, our defense melted in the 4th quarter. If you seen any difference then Capers, whom I’m happy is gone, please tell me. Pettine failed in fourth Q, no rush again, Perry eating a hot dog, and our d backs lose site of where they are at. Perhaps Pettine should get his lazy ass out of the booth and get down there ri for them up. I didnt see much energy by teammates either.
Maybe if McCarthy and the offense could sustain a drive of more than 5 plays the defense wouldn’t be gassed. That and not having Davon House on the field for King who pulled his groin or some shit. I didn’t see the secondary getting torched regularly like we did all those seasons under Capers, so I dunno what game you were watching. Defense isn’t the problem as much as McCarthy being the same fool he has always been. Why not blame it on Crosby, I mean he only made 5 of 6 field goals because the offense wasn’t doing dick all. Special teams scores 23 points but it’s the shitty defense at fault?
This ^^^^
Damn straight Empacador. The offense has been doing this for a long time. Not that Capers didn’t deserve to get fired, but last year how is the defense supposed to keep up when the offense doesn’t score a single point all game? Getting blanked twice and being down 27-3 against Detroit in the 4th. McCarthy has just as much blame as Capers, if not more, and he’s still around. Take about scapegoating.
The announcers brought up talking to D. Adams. It seems Adams doesn’t think he’s getting enough respect Nationally as one of top receivers in the league.
I can remember a former #1 Packer receiver who could make tough contested catches on a regular basis, and he wasn’t thought of as a top receiver in the league by many.
So maybe when Davante can make some of those contested catches he’ll….. A) Get more respect. B) Catch a TD pass that puts the vikings away.
Bulaga has been garbage for years now; consistently getting beat on the edge and frequent penalties. 2019 draft picks should only be OL, pass rushers, and safety
Agreed, He seems to have helped make Khalils debut even more successful last week….
And remember, wasn’t Bulaga one of those guys that refused to take a pay cut? Of course it isn’t like the Packers have 4 TEs on the roster to help out, or even have a FB on the practice squad with none on the active roster. Let’s run the same “new” old play concepts McCarthy designed this off season that feature everyone wide, needing about 5 seconds for the play to develop while the troops come marching in at will.
This debacle goes right on the shoulders of the new GM. The GB safeties suck at playing the ball. Hell, they suck at knowing who needs help. They cannot identify a WR breaking free. It would be different if their were no options, but there are. At least bring Reid in sit him down and say what is more important to you, playing football or your BS anthem kneeling nonsense? If he does not give the right answer, offer a #1 to Seattle for Thomas. Do your freaking job Gute!