This game was supposed to be about McCarthy versus LaFleur. Aaron Rodgers versus Dak Prescott. Cowboys-Packers and their connected history. McCarthy and his Packer history. Rodgers and his public disconnect with McCarthy. The Cowboy vaunted defense. The Packers’ patchwork offense and defense trying to salvage their respectability while dealing with injury after injury. The season seemed set to collapse for Titletown fans. Losing to the Dallas Cowboys has an extra taste of bitterness for every Packer fan. After dominating them in the Lombardi era, years of defeats by Troy Aikman and the Cowboys of the early 1990s, especially those playoff losses from ’93-‘95, still burn hot. For Mike McCarthy to come out before warmups, wearing a Lombardi like coat was…odd at best, comically absurd at worst. I don’t think one pundit predicted that the Green Bay Packers would execute in crunch time and pull out a thrilling overtime victory. But that’s how this game played out and it was capital T; Thrilling.
A comeback like few others. From a team that could have looked at the bad plays, and there were some doozies, and given up. But one thing you can never say is that Aaron Rodgers isn’t a competitor. When the Packers needed a perfect pass, Rodgers delivered on Sunday time and again. It was Rodgers who was throwing blocks, and a good one, to break out Aaron Jones in the final minute of the game. It was Aaron Rodgers barking at his head coach when communications failures took precious time and a time out off the clock as the game was winding down. It was Rodgers who shrugged off the worst game of his career last week to make a difference. And when he needed help, Aaron Jones did his job to the tune of 138 yards on 24 carries and 2 receptions for an additional 18. If you watched the game, the numbers do not do Jones justice. Add on Christian Watson (4-107- 3TD’s) and you had a recipe for a thrilling victory.
Christian Watson hosted a, “Welcome to the NFL” party Sunday at Lambeau Field. Lucky for us, every Packer fan was invited. Before this game, Watson’s biggest talked about play was his drop of a sure touchdown on the first offensive drive of the season. Watson, the small school phenom with unique size and speed measurables, has spent more time in the training room hot tub than he has on the field. After being held out after one play/catch last game, it looked like he was about to be labeled a brittle bust. On Sunday, Watson had the breakout game many fans have been fantasizing about since his draft card was announced last April. His first 100 yard game. His first multiple TD catch game. But even more important, during crunch time, Aaron Rodgers looked for the rookie and he delivered. It all ended with a thrilling win for the Packers and a devastating loss for Mike McCarthy.
Both teams mounted multiple failed drives in the first half. The Packers Mason Crosby left a 54 yard field goal short on their second possession. Even with Dallas benefitting from the decent field position, the Packer defense forced a second three and out and the Cowboy offense punted. The Packers responded by punting for the second time and then Dallas surgically took apart the Green Bay defense with a bit of help from a 12 man on the field penalty. On that flagged offense, LaFleur all but knocked a ref over to try to get a timeout, to no avail.
The offense then gave Dallas the break they were looking for when Rodgers was stripped of the football, giving Dallas the ball in the red zone. But Dak Prescott gave the ball right back, throwing it into the arms of Packer defensive back Rudy Ford, who snatched the pigskin at the goal line and returned it to the Packers 33. The Packers had the ball and some momentum and Christian Watson cashed that momentum into six points with a great over the shoulder catch of an accurate deep pass from Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had just had his thumb checked on the sideline after the strip-sack, so his deep throw with perfect touch was a welcome sign for every Packer fan at home and in the stadium.
The Packer defense then started strong but gave up a quick pass interference penalty. After another stuffed couple of run plays, Devonte Wyatt went down with an injury. Things looked bleak. On third and six, the defense gave up five and ½ leaving another first down and less than a yard for the Cowboys. Dallas had overpowered the Green Bay defense three times on their touchdown drive on similar plays with less than a yard to gain for a first down. The Cowboy offense set up fast, seemingly catching the Green Bay defense off guard. On this fourth attempt to stuff Dallas on 4th down and one yard to go, the Packer defensive surge stopped Prescott behind the line of scrimmage, but when Darnell Savage had a chance to tackle his legs and stop him in his tracks, he instead tried an arm strip of the ball, letting Prescott slip by him for the first down.
Savage’s gaffe was redeemed by Rudy Ford’s second interception return to the 28 of Dallas.
With the clock winding down in the first half, the Packers gave it to their one true consistent superstar; Aaron Jones. Three running plays by Jones capped off with a 12 yard TD scamper cutting back across the Dallas defense, giving the Packers the lead at 14-7. That lead did not last long. The Packer defense played it safe and let Dallas drive all the way to the end zone in less than two minutes. The story of the Packer 2022 defense played out in that half. Two interception turnovers. Two drives where they were picked apart.
The second half started with the Packers offense marching backward, facing a second and 22 after a Nijman holding call, but the Packers converted on a Rodgers’ back shoulder toss to Watkins. The drive all but ended when Rodgers’ ‘perfect deep pass near the goal line to Christian Watson was off his hands. Replays seemed to show Watson quitting on the route, not seeing the ball until it was too late. Then the Packers “special” teams gave the momentum to Dallas as Amari Rodgers coughed up the ball, returning the Dallas punt, his fourth fumble of the season. Rodgers’ days as the punt returner are probably over. Dallas quickly took advantage, scoring a touchdown on a draw play against a Packer blitz attempt that failed.
The next Packer possession had touchdown potential taken away when Rodgers was sacked on third down.
The defense then looked to have Dallas pinned back with a 2nd and 21, but they gave up two pass plays to allow a first down. On the conversion Darnell Savage was beaten in coverage by Cee Dee Lamb who at that point had 9 catches for 100 yards almost all off of Savage. But he was not done, as Savage watched Lamb walk into the end zone on a following pass catch to give Dallas a 14 point advantage. If you had watched the Packers in 2022, you would have been tempted to turn the TV off right there. Dallas had just notched 21 unanswered. The Packers had made critical mistakes to get 14 down. The broken record was skipping again. If you did, boy did you miss a classic. The responding Packer drive had Rodgers looking off target on a couple of throws leading to a 4th and seven.
Packer fans had seen this before this season. Then, the Packers stepped out of their losing 2022 ways. Rodgers floated a perfect strike to Christian Watson for a 39 yard touchdown to cut the gap to seven. Now it was up to the defense to make a critical game changing stand. Preston Smith came up big, hitting Prescott as he threw on 3rd down, forcing an incompletion and punt. Could this offense that had not been able to string scoring drives together shake their bad habits? Yes, the Packers and Aaron Rodgers came alive. A fantastic drive combining the Aaron Jones and Christian Watson shows had Watson capping it off with his third TD catch of the game.
Tied at 28 with two minutes left, up to the Packer defense to stand tall. The defense did its job again and Rodgers got the ball back with over 90 seconds left. The Packers ran the ball and the clock to 30 seconds, had a third and two, called a time out, and tried a pass that Rodgers threw away. Rodgers was blowing mad on the sideline and let LaFleur have it with an f-bomb tirade. But his chances of stealing a victory were still ahead. The defense needed to make another stop. And they did. Overtime. The overtime question of the day: Only Mike McCarthy knows why the Cowboys made the decision to go on 4th and four while on the edge of field goal range in an overtime game while the Packers had an ailing field goal kicker. The key is Dallas gambled and lost. Every Packer fan saw the resulting pressure on Prescott and the floating incompletion. That failure gave the ball to the Packers with decent field position in OT. Two runs to Aaron Jones had the Packer offense facing a short yardage 3rd down. Most saw a run coming as the last drive failed on a short pass try.
But LaFleur and Rodgers went with a quick slant to Allan Lazard and they hit big. A thirty six yard strike that put the Packers in field goal range at the 22. One more run by Jones, a nice block by Aaron Rodgers and a face mask by Dallas set up the chip shot by Mason Crosby. A thrilling finish that must have been a gut punch to McCarthy. Not quite equal to his last chat with Mark Murphy, but tough nevertheless.
First i should say…i’m extremely proud of what i saw in that game.
I had no expectations of the Packers winning.
About the same expectations i have in a Gutekunst 3rd round draft choice.
It reminded me back to the 2016 divisional game with the Jared Cook sideline catch against the Boys to win it with a 51 yard Crosby field goal
You remember Tommi, when Rodgers rallied the troops to victory.
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Credit to the new kid catching dimes from Rodgers.
After two drops, and misplaying another target, The rookie came up big utilizing his speed and displaying soft hands
This does not a career make however. Watson still has two issues he has to deal with, drops and staying healthy.
But he’s a hero in Wisconsin right now so you can’t help but feel good for the kid.
I don’t expect him to ever be the route runner Adams is. That isn’t his strength.
But if he’s a better version than MVS (and he should be based on his draft pick).
Then all the better.
If Watson succeeds, the Packer passing game succeeds, because it opens the offense up and hopefully, we’ll see more open receivers and less contested catches.
Even more importantly, hopefully less of the dink and dunk jamboree we see.
You don’t need a HOF QB to dink and dunk around the LOS.
Hell… Jordan Love and Brett Hundley can do that.
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McCarthys walk out into Lambeau pregame, was all for production, as was his wearing of the coat. I don’t think a video crew “just happened to be there”
That’s like saying Jordan Love fell to the Packers.
Nostalgia comes naturally, it isn’t chirographed. Like his fake throwing of his headset, he was “pissed” that the refs called a guy offsides, when the guy was clearly….offside.
McCarthy is such a tool.
Maybe that’s why his family didn’t follow him to Dallas.
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Now we find out if this game was an anomaly. I mean…how do you look like you did against Detroit, then play like this against the Cowboys.
Makes no sense to me other than what i always say…different team, different match-ups.
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Good article Mr. Edwards.
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Christian Watson’s coming out party could have happened weeks ago if Rodgers had bothered to throw him the ball. Instead he punished not just Watson but the team because of “trust” issues. Its only with Rodgers do you hear of such nonsense. While Watson has missed some time over minor issues he’s been virtually ignored when he did play. You get the sense that it was Watson who pushed back when Rodgers called out his WR’s weeks ago as reported in the media. On a side note Tom Brady is closing in on Aaron Rodgers record for consecutive games without an INT. It important to note Tom Brady is having perhaps his worst statistical season of his career. Which only proves how worthless Erin’s stats really are.
I said I wouldn’t reply to your dumb trolling ass the day you said Kevin King wasn’t a problem. But Brady is closing in on Rodgers record for consecutive games without an int? You don’t even watch the games do you? He was catching up on consecutive passes without an int and it ended against the Seahawks this week when he went;
Player CP/ATT YDS TD INT
Tom Brady 22/29 258 2 1
You posted this 57 minutes ago when the game happened Sunday morning. Time and time again you prove you don’t know anything about what you’re talking about. Just stop. Learn to listen to someone other than Skip and Cowherd. One day you’ll understand that you can take multiple opinions and views to form your own little buddy. Variety is the spice to life, avoid the echo chambers. You can do it!
Why that’s great news Packat87! Your hero’s record remains intact! Let us all rejoice this meaningless stat remains Erin’s alone! Oh how you must have been losing sleep over it. Now if we could just get Jordy to come out of retirement and make a run…..
If it was a meaningless stat Tommi, then why did you bring it up in the first place?
Is it safe to assume you understand why other readers in here think you are a twat?
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You are a special kind of moron Tommi. Well, JP thinks your special i guess, you’re still here.
Though i don’t have the first clue why.
I don’t care about those records. Every televised game has some record no one ever cares about or heard of being broken, your dumb ass brought it up! Sorry YOUR hero in Brady wasn’t able to add another meaningless record to his stats. Don’t turn your ignorance around on other people, especially when you don’t see me defending Rodgers he’s been part of the problem. But it’s a problem that was originally created by this front office and you’re hate boner has taken all the blood from your brain to the point, as I stated previously, you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. So stop. You’re literally defending the fact that you were an ignorant piece of shit by attacking me with shit you use on P4? Get help dude.
Don’t be a pussy Packat87. Your starting to sound like Aaron Rodgers. No one is attacking you. Did I cry like a little girl because you challenged me? No! My point is championships trump stats. And they always will. Aaron Rodgers can no longer give you stats. He’s a 50 million dollar game manager. While everyone talks of Rodgers throwing “dimes” and how Rodgers miraculously “saved” the season. What I want to know, is why the hell did it take Rodgers 10 games before he started throwing the ball to the most talented WR on the team? How many of those 5 loses in a row could have been wins had Rodgers not been a dick and ignored Watson when healthy then threw him under the bus in the press. And here’s something else I didn’t like. After the final series before OT Rodgers comes storming off the field yelling at LaFleur on National TV. Now just imagine had LaFleur did the same after that turd of a game Rodgers had the week before at Detroit. Rodgers would have been crying like a little bitch. He can call out his teammates and coaches but when the media starts asking him tough questions he gets all butt hurt and defensive. Just like you Packat87.
Why the hell did it take 10 games for Rodgers to start throwing the ball to Watson? How many of those 5 loses in a row could have been wins had Rodgers not been a dick and ignored Watson when healthy then threw him under the bus in the press? Very legit questions and it needs to be investigated from the start of the season game by game to find the answer.
Week 1 Watson had 40 snaps. First pass was to Watson.
Week 2 Watson had 22 snaps. Watson hurt/tweeked his hamstring during the game.
Week 3 Watson was inactive because of injured hamstring during week 2 game.
Week 4 Watson had 18 snaps. It is common to reduce snaps to manage hamstring injuries. See week 2 and 3.
Week 5 Watson had 18 snaps again. See week 4. Except oh shit Watson further damaged his hamstring during the game on a deep route.
Week 6 Watson was inactive due to hamstring injury aggravated during week 5 game.
Week 7 Watson again inactive due to hamstring injury aggravated during week 5 game.
Week 8 Watson has 6 snaps before leaving game for concussion.
Week 9 Watson has 17 snaps before leaving game in 3rd quarter due to head/shoulder/chest injury?
Week 10 Watson remains healthy for first time since Week 1 and receives 54 snaps and 3 TD throws from QB#1.
I looked at the questions posed and came up with answers as follows:
Rodgers did throw the ball to Watson when Watson was healthy enough to be available. Watson missed the majority, if not all of 8 out of the 10 games because of injuries and the teams management of hamstring and concussion injuries. That is not on Rodgers.
How many of the 5 loses in a row (weeks 5 through 9) was because of Rodgers being a dick and not throwing to Watson? Let us see. Week 5 Watson aggravated his hamstring (18 snaps). Week 6 Watson inactive/hamstring (0 snaps). Week 7 Watson inactive/hamstring (0 snaps). Week 8 Watson leaves game after 6 snaps, concussion. Week 9 Watson leaves game after 17 snaps for head/chest/shoulder injury. Was pulled by medical staff. In the 5 losses in a row Watson missed almost half of each of 2 games, and missed all or the majority of the other 3 games (6 total snaps).
The reason Rodgers didn’t throw to Watson in the 5 losses in a row is because Watson was injured the majority of the games, thus forcing Rodgers to not be able to throw to Watson, as Watson was in street clothes, a tent, or locker room. When Watson is open and available, health wise, Rodgers does throw to Watson even after Watson drops passes.
I know it is a long season, but it is not hard to remember that Watson has had injury issues during the year that has caused several fully lost games and lost snaps in other games due to management of hamstring and concussion injuries.
The only thing that amazes me (besides all the lies and false statements) more than Tommi’s ignorance and stupidity, is the fact that he seemingly, doesn’t even realize how ignorant and stupid he is, so then maybe, he could self correct his demeanor on his own.
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I think Packtat87 said it best concerning Tommi.
“Get help dude”
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I mean…you’d have to be somewhat fucked up in the head, to even keep coming back in here if you’re Tommi.
Howard, you are the man.
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I would add one more thing. How much was Watson available in camp during his recovery from knee surgery that he had to have shortly after coming to Green Bay? Because it was ALL “Erin’s fault” that HE wasn’t there to mentor and gives reps to those new receivers.
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Yeah, sure.
I try to not give Tommi false credibility about the stupid shit he writes, except for a quick, dry response that says to him…. you really are a dense mofo.
Or, of course, just to make fun of him 😉
Thank you Howard! I don’t read Tom’s comments because he admitted he wasn’t a Packer fan so that makes him a troll. Or if he claims he is still a fan than that makes him a liar. But seeing comments from Packat87 and PF4L I knew what was being said by whom and I couldn’t help but wonder “What if Howard pointed out something involving Rodgers, would Tom resort to calling Howard a bitch, girl, etc”. Cause if anyone even remotely appears to be defending Rodgers, Tom labels them as Rodgers’ supporters and calls them some misogynist term. You know, because that’s his signature move here. Then I scrolled down and see your answer! Again, thanks for being a voice of reason here.
Empac….Think Barney
Tommi isn’t a troll because he is or isn’t a Packer fan…
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He’s a troll, because he’s a troll, Packer fan or not.
Hey Kevin! Where were all those”dimes” Rodgers was throwing against Detroit? Had your boyfriend bothered to throw to Watson the week before against the Lions we don’t lose that game. But it’s far more important Erin teaches Watson a lesson in “trust” than win games, right Kevin?
^ Kids…Don’t be this guy ^
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Such an angry viking fan…Were you ever this angry over your vikings QB’s like Christian Ponder, Sam Bradford, Brad Johnson, Teddy Bridgewater, Brett Favre, Casey Kasem, Tarvaris Jackson, Matt Cassel, Donovan McNabb, Joe Webb, Josh Freeman.
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Some of them, a very serious waste of 1st round draft picks.
It was as if..Brian Gutekunst was picking 1st round QB’s for the vikings.
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Now tell us killer…..if you in fact, turned in your viking fanship card to hop on the Packer bandwagon, at what point in time, did this transformation happen. I’m guessing it would have been shortly after the 2019 season, or early 2020 when Rodgers wanted to be traded.
Which would make sense in the timeline aspect.
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Lastly, can you tell us why you are such a miserable human being, didn’t your parents love you?
Did they have good reason not love you?
Tom M 53 mins ago
On a side note Tom Brady is closing in on Aaron Rodgers record for consecutive games without an INT.
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Well Tommi…..you go ahead and tell Tom Brady to keep reaching for the stars.
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Tom M 53 mins ago
It important to note Tom Brady is having perhaps his worst statistical season of his career.
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It also important to pass your GED exams.
We’re all pulling for you Tommi!! 😃
LOL….This fucking guy…right?
He should have stayed down like i told him to, two years ago.
It’s not fair…it shouldn’t be this easy.
Poor miserable bastard.
Amari Rodgers got his walking papers and was shown the door. I didn’t think they would pull the trigger so quick but I’m glad they did. As soon as he left the building he ran right into a group of people and dropped his belongings. Oh well.
Mitch, I don’t know if many remember? After the second day of the 2021 draft Gutekunst had a press conference and said in part, that the second round pick (wells) was a choice between Wells and Amari Rodgers. Gutekunst picked Wells over Rodgers because Wells was the bigger body. I guess if it wasn’t for Wells being available, Amari would have been a second round pick?
I don’t agree with all the comments about Gutekunst. I do strongly believe the Packers have been well below the Mendoza line in the success of their draft picks over several years compared to other teams. In addition there is no doubt Gutekunst targets/falls in love with certain players during the pre-draft process such as Josh Jones, Love, Savage, and Amari Rodgers to name a few.
Since he traded up for Watson also, i think we could include him possibly, which may end up being a feather in his cap, time will tell.
Wells?
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Maybe Josh Myers?
Yes, meant Myers.
That happens when a GM (finally) admits to a mistake. I’m not sure who is next, but it’s a slow process, as GM’s who are terrible after round 2 in the draft generally don’t like the spotlight on them.
Future coming to Jesus moment’s will include our favorite tight end/fullback/car salesman Mr. Dequara.
Our favorite “he fell to me” QB Jordan Love.
Tommi’s 10 years starter Royce “the QB’s open door” Newman.
Sean Rhyan should make it through the season….i guess.
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Thinking out loud…..
Whatever happened to Cole Madison.
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Gutes active starting players, drafted in rounds 3 -7 from 2018-2022 (5 drafts) = 0
Ain’t this is about the time of the season that the Queens fold like a cheep suit?
January is when Rodgers folds like a cheap suit. It’s unlikely Rodgers gets that far this time around. He’s getting increasingly hostile towards the media in his press conferences. He wants to be asked about his book club and how smart he is. Not why it took him over two months to get the ball to Christian Watson…..
Killer getting defensive about his vikings in responding to Stickman, pulling out the Rodgers card. Surprise Surprise Surprise….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ym_Yo829I
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Then as Tommi explains, Rodgers never gave Watson a chance, claiming it took Rodgers over two months to give the ball to Watson.
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Of course, everyone knows that isn’t true and is a boldface lie, but that’s the Tommi, J P made us live with.
This three TD game by Christian Watson is huge because it opens up the entire offense. This is why the Packers drafted Watson in the first place, so that if teams put 8 guys in the box to stop the run game, Watson would make them pay. This threat is something the Packers have not had in years and now it’s on tape for all the defensive coordinators to worry about. Watson did something few rookie receivers have ever done, catch 3 TDS in a game. James Lofton, Randy Moss, Ja’Marr Chase and O’Dell Beckham are a few receivers who also did it. Sterling Sharpe never did it.
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I think part of Watson’s problem is that he overthought things. Watson is a smart guy, beating even Aaron Rodgers on the Wonderlick. Now he just needs to add about 10 or 20 pounds of muscle to his frame so he can take a hit.
Lets remember that MVS was drafted to spread the defense also. Sometimes he did, sometimes he was his own worst enemy.
I thought towards the end of MVS’s time with Green Bay, he showed flashes of some decent intermediate route running.
MVS’s production with the Chiefs is similar to his 2020 season with the Packers, but without the TD production.
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Watson is similar in some ways to MVS, but only concerning the drops.
I hate to speculate based on 1 standout game, but i think that Watson may be able to improve the flaws in his routes quicker than MVS, even simple routes like a go, or a post route. Except for one time i saw against Dallas, Watson seemed to keep his stride clearly better than MVS did with the Packers.
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Hopefully we continue to see that.
We all loved what we saw from Watson’s 3 TD catches after the initial missteps. He was definitely a hero in that game.
Give the kid credit and enjoy it.
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But the realist in me will say it again…one game does not a career make. He has to battle the same thing MVS does, consistency.
In his routes, and catch percentage.
Because tomorrow, presents new challenges and….new opportunities, it’s what he does with them that counts.
Check out some of the film on #9 after he made those nice plays.
His first couple of strides were amazingly fast.
He simply ran by the defender!!
Stickman, I mentioned the below quote after the draft about Watson.
“ The one thing that may get Watson more deep looks over MVS is the 10 yard split time. MVS had a 1.55 10 yard split time vs Watson’s 1.45. A tenth of a second faster can equal a yard to a yard and a half difference down the field. What is more impressive to me is Watson had a 2.45 20 yard split vs MVS at 2.58. Calvin Johnson also had a 2.58 20 yard split. Not sure what moss had, but Desean Jackson was at 2.52. Watson can fly in the first 20 yards reducing space between corners and/or safeties quickly. This can cause the db’s covering Watson to show their hand or I should say hips earlier than a db covering a player such as MVS. Watson’s early speed can help Rodgers determine earlier in his progressions if he is going to go with the deep shot to Watson.”
In addition Tyreek Hill who everyone knows is fast had a 1.50 10 yard split and a 2.51 20 yard split. Early speed is a very good quality for Watson. Good health and better hands need some work.
I get your points on MVS PF4L. I would be careful of the comparisons though; Watsons skillset is far greater than MVS’s ever was. Hes faster, taller and more athletic.
I hear that…
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I thought i gave him greater due than MVS in my post.
But at the end of the day, he still has a ways to go, as was/is expected.
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His major problem, besides having almost no blocking skills and easy drops, judging on this season, is his availability.
Those are the 3 concerns with Watson at this point, with blocking being the lesser of the three.
But like i said…..we’ll wait and see how that develops.
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I don’t see many Championship teams without a 1 and 2 receiver.
When we have a clear #1 and #2 receiver, which hasn’t been the case since before Rodgers injury in 2017, i’ll feel better.
Right now, we don’t even have a #1.
Maybe it’s Doubs and Watson some day…just not today.
But holy shit….it better get addressed pretty f…. soon.
How long does it take…5, 6 7 years?
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Not like it matters, it seems people get 5 year extensions just for coming to work.
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Hell….Ted got paid for 3 years while living in Texas.
Well, his kids did.
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The bar of accountability is set pretty low in Green Bay.