Is it still surprising? Or, are Green Bay fans coming to expect dominant performances by the Packers D?
Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field the Packers defense, which has been surprisingly good this season, turned in a performance for the history books as it held a (recovering from injury but) still dangerously explosive Seattle offense to zero points. The 17-0 win upped the Packers’ record to 8-2 on the season and marked the first time in Seattle Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson’s career that his team was scoreless with him as a starter. Packers Safety Adrian Amos provided perspective in a post-game presser, “You can’t say you’re the best in the middle of the year, you have to say it at the end of the year.”
The Packers’ offense sputtered throughout the game as QB Aaron Rodgers, who was returning from Covid protocol, missed on several throws. Rodgers’ rust combined with dropped passes, a missed field goal, and penalties limited the Green Bay offense to 17 points. Rodgers spoke about his return to the team, “Good to be back with the guys, good to be back at home, good to be on the field, really…walking off the field after the game got me a little misty,” Rodgers said of his emotions following a 10 day Covid protocol period in which the MVP QB quarantined at home.
Game Clinching Play
The biggest play of the game came in the third quarter and from the Packers’ defense. On 3rd and 10 with Seattle driving towards its first score of the game at the Packers’ 12, Wilson scrambled left then threw a pass into the end zone. Packers’ CB Kevin King intercepted the ball (a controversial call which held after replay review) and the Packers ended the Seahawks 11 play drive. Packers’ Head Coach Matt LaFleur spoke of his defense following the game, “Our players, our coaches, Joe Barry [Defensive coordinator]…I really like the culture we have on that side of the ball…these guys believe and they are playing at a really high level right now.
Tick, Tick, Tick…
The Packers nearly doubled the Seahawks’ time of possession, 39:09 minutes to 20:51. Normally, TOP is normally an ignorable stat, but when you double up a team, TOP is a big deal.
The Facts:
Seahawks 0 Packer 17
Turnovers: 2/1
Sacks: 1/5 vs 3/28
3rd&4th DN: 7/16 vs 7/15
Rushing: 16/75 vs 32/106
Passing: 20/40 fro 133 vs 23/37 for 287
Penalties: 5/39 vs 3/43
The Feelings:
A collective sigh of relief could be felt Saturday morning in Wisconsin as, while many Packers’ fans were watching the Badgers game, the message came across TV screens: Rodgers had cleared doctors’ approval and could play Sunday. Rodgers’ return, the win, and the increasingly stout play of the ‘D’ have Packers fans happy as Green Bay again owns the top spot in the NFC playoff picture.
Concern is another emotion likely common in Lambeau-Land. Concern about the Pack’s kicking game as Mason Crosby missed a 42-yard attempt in the 1st Quarter ending Green Bay’s opening drive. Crosby is now just 14 for 21 this season in FGA and whispers of replacing the Packers veteran kicker by seasons’ end have grown to conversations among the Packers’ fan base.
The Packers next play Sunday in Minnesota.
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