After a nail-biter win against the Bailey Zappe led New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers (3-1) hosted the New York Giants (3-1) in London, England to become the final team in the NFL to play a game in London. The Packers head into this week hoping for a more convincing performance than last week’s unnecessarily close win in overtime. Still trying to have a complete game from the offense, the Packers looked to rebound against a weaker Giants team. The defense, looking for a bounce back performance after giving up 24 points to the Patriots 3rd string QB, also in prime position to do so, facing Dnaiel Jones. Saquon Barkley is worrisome for the Packers defense however, who allowed 5.1 yards per carry last week. How did both sides of the ball fare given such a great opportunity to bounce back?
The Packers started the game off strong, the offense found a solid rhythm and took their first drive down the field before settling for a 46-yard field goal. The defense would then shut down the Giants offense on their first drive, the first time not allowing an opening drive score this year. After trading punts, Aaron Rodgers would drive the offense down the field and hit Lazard on a wide receiver screen for their first touchdown of the game. The defense would let up a long drive but would hold the Giants to a 48-yard field goal. On the ensuing drive the Packers offense would once again drive down the field with ease on the way to a touchdown pass to Mercedes Lewis. The Giants would respond with another long drive, this time capping it off with a two yard rushing score by Daniel Bellinger. With little time left, Rodgers would execute a beautiful two-minute drill and set the Packers up for a 48-yard field goal to put them up 20-10 going into the half. The first half was solid all around for the Packers, the offense looked like they had finally found a rhythm in the quick pass and rushing game, while the defense looked to be containing the Giants offense, despite a couple big plays and having some rough penalties that hurt them.
That would be the height of the Packers day unfortunately, as the second half would bring a lot of frustration for both sides of the ball, something that has been on brand for the Packers all year. The Giants could have started the drive taking a sack from Rashan Gary, but another defensive penalty would give them a first down, the second time a sack would be negated today. That drive would end in a 37-yard field goal. The offense would struggle to find anything this half, with all four of their drives ending without a score (two punts, a turnover on downs, and the clock running out). The defense, like the offense, would also struggle, giving up a scoring drive on every drive in the second half ( a field goal and two touchdowns) save for the last one, where the Giants took an intentional safety. The Giants had their way with the Packers on both sides of the ball, going up 27-20 late in the fourth, and back-to-back bats at the line of scrimmage in the red zone would seal the game for the Giants. An intentional safety would give the Packers two more points, making the final score 27-22 in favor of the Giants.
Player of the Game
Randall Cobb: The 32 year old wide receiver would put up an almost 100-yard performance as Rodgers clear number one guy this game. Racking up seven catches for 99 yards, Cobb was ol’ reliable for Rodgers today, making big plays on 3rd down to give the offense life, including a spectacular toe-drag catch.
Injury Report
Christain Watson left the game with a hamstring injury and was questionable to return.
Once again, the Packers struggled to put together a complete performance on offense, this time though the defense wasn’t there to bail them out. After putting together a great first half on both sides of the ball, the Packers would simply fall apart. Questionable play calling on offense and poor defensive coverage against an offense not nearly as talented lost this game for the Packers. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon combined for only 18 rushes today. Jones and Dillon are two of the best players on the Packers offense, so there is no reason they shouldn’t combine for anything less than 25 touches a game, especially averaging nearly five yards per carry. The Packers simply do not have the wide receiver group necessary to justify throwing nearly 40 times.
The defensive coaching was also very questionable today. With the talent the Packers have on defense there is no reason to play soft zone coverage and allow shallow crossing routes to be open every single play, especially when those crossing routes carved up the defense as much as they did. They also need to limit the mistakes, having two sacks negated due to penalties cannot happen. This was a game the Packers needed to and absolutely should have won.
The Packers head back home to Lambeau to host the New York Jets (2-2) next week.
Same shit every year. Without Rodgers, this team is going to fall apart. I don’t think LaFluer is as good as advertised, and the offensive line has taken a major step back. I’m starting to worry.