Aaron Rodgers begins quick, finishes sluggish as Packers cling on to win
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Effectively, no less than the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers began quick this time.
Now they need to work on their end.
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And by the seems to be of issues in Sunday’s 21-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings, Rodgers and first-year coach Matt LaFleur have some lengthy days and nights forward of them.
Clad with a playcalling cheat sheet on his left wrist to assist LaFleur get the calls in additional shortly, Rodgers carved up the Vikings on the way in which to 3 consecutive touchdowns to begin the sport. Per week after the Packers managed simply minus-12 yards of offense within the first quarter and totaled simply 213 yards for the sport, they jumped out to a 21-Zero lead — and within the course of received Professional Bowl receiver Davante Adams (seven catches for 106 yards) going. Though they sputtered within the second quarter, they eclipsed final week’s yardage whole within the first half with 230 by halftime.
But it surely wasn’t fairly after their 167-yard first quarter. They completed with 335 yards, however they could not even run out the clock. They nonetheless needed to punt it away another time with 6 seconds left.
At the least they prevented their fourth loss in franchise historical past after main by no less than 21 factors. It has occurred 3 times, however none for the reason that 1983 season, after they misplaced to the Falcons, based on ESPN Stats & Info.
If ever a 2-Zero begin to the season may very well be thought-about ugly, then that is it.
Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to 21 factors within the first quarter on Sunday however failed to attain the remainder of the way in which. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports activities
Describe the sport in two phrases: Division win. It wasn’t fairly the previous black-and-blue division win that was the 10-Three sport in Chicago final week, however these are the sorts of wins that may pay dividends on the finish of the season relating to tiebreakers. The Packers have already got performed one-third of their division video games and have an honest probability to win their first three NFC North video games given the subsequent division opponent is the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Area on Oct. 14.
Troubling pattern: If you happen to had “underneath six quarters into the season” when Rodgers would come off the sphere yelling within the route of LaFleur, you then’re a winner. On the ultimate possession of the primary half, a three-and-out that ended with a Rodgers throwaway on a third-and-16 from his personal 19, he gave the impression to be upset and expressed his displeasure as he approached LaFleur. It was not instantly clear what Rodgers was upset with. Within the third quarter, LaFleur made the weird transfer to take a seat on the bench subsequent to Rodgers whereas the protection was on the sphere. The 2 gave the impression to be reviewing one thing on LaFleur’s name sheet. Rodgers completed with simply 209 yards, though he had two touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing.
Zero:25
Kirk Cousins forces the ball into double protection and Kevin King rises as much as reel within the terrific interception.
Promising pattern: Look, Mother, a 100-yard rusher. Aaron Jones rushed 23 occasions for 116 yards and a landing per week after the Packers averaged simply 2.1 yards per run towards the Bears. It was the Packers’ first 100-yard speeding sport since Jones did so final yr on Nov. 11 towards the Dolphins (15 carries, 145 yards).
Pivotal play: Final week it was Adrian Amos’ fourth-quarter interception ultimately zone. This week, it was Kevin King. What number of occasions can the protection maintain bailing out the Packers? King did it with an acrobatic interception ultimately zone to protect the lead with 5:10 left within the sport. The offense promptly went three-and-out, and the protection got here up with one other cease.