With a convincing 38 - 10 over intraconference rival Seahawks, Green Bay announced reports of their demise were exaggerated.
Aaron Rodgers hit DeVante Adams on the third play of the game for a 66 yard touchdown.
It was a great start. This fan's nerves took a bump, wondering if this would be the game where the team put it all together.
Seattle responded with a long drive, but the Pack defense made enough of a stop to limit them to a field goal and preserve a 7 - 3 lead.
OK, it wasn't a three and out, but it showed some defensive tenacity.
For the game, the Packers turned Seattle over six times, five of them interceptions of quarterback Russell Wilson. Those statistics rest with the QB, but at least two of those picks bounced off his receivers.
One of Coach Mike McCarthy's calling cards is a favorable Turn-over Ratio, with his team taking care of the ball while taking it away from the other team. It's a good formula for winning records, and McCarthy's been winning throughout his career as head coach.
Coming into Sunday's game, the team was -5 on the year. By game's end, they improved to +1!
In addition, Aaron Rodgers was virtually perfect as far as quarterback stats are concerned with a rating of 150.8. Perfect is 158.3.
The Pack lead 21 - 3 at halftime on the score by Adams, a short TD run by receiver/running back Ty Montgomery, and TD catch by Jordy Nelson.
Seattle is one of the best teams in the league, so the lead wasn't safe. Seattle got the ball first, and were driving when the ball bounced off the back of Packer defender LaDariis Gunter into the hands of Quinton Rollins. That play kept the ball rolling the right direction as Rodgers and Nelson connected again for another touchdown.
The rest was icing on the cake.
This was, by far, the best overall performance of the season - offense, defense, and special teams.
Aaron Rodgers wasn't his usual mobile self and left after three quarters. There wasn't any word of a new injury to #12, if that's the case, the Pack can rest and get ready for a trip into the Bear's Den on Sunday.
From a season's perspective, the Packers improved to 7 - 6 and stay within two games of Detroit who came from behind to beat the Bears. Minnesota took down Jacksonville.
In the NFC North, Detroit leads with a record of 9 - 4 while Minnesota and Green Bay are each two games back with three to play.
Detroit plays the Giants in New York next Sunday, then in Dallas the day after Christmas.
Green Bay plays in Chicago before hosting Minnesota on Christmas Eve.
There's a long way to go and it's far from over, but I'm feeling better about things.
It's getting interesting and it feels like the Packers are finally on the right track. Go Pack, Go!
Comments
Post a Comment