Green Bay Packers v. Panthers: Gut Reactions & Highlights

After a disappointing loss a week ago, the Green Bay Packers bounced-back today against Carolina with a much-needed win. Here are the gut reactions and highlights from their performance.

The game got off to a shaky start as the Green Bay Packers fell behind 7-0 quickly, but the defense was able to slow Christian McCaffrey, get after Kyle Allen, and came away with a few turnovers. Meanwhile on offense, Davante Adams had a big game, and they were able to rely on Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to carry them victory.

Let’s take a look at the gut reactions and highlights from today’s performance.

• After a nine yard run by Aaron Jones to start the game for the Green Bay Packers’ offense, a Jimmy Graham false started followed and two plays later a punt. I had flashbacks to last week’s game in Los Angeles but luckily, for the most part, the sloppy play didn’t continue.
• The big play was once again an issue for the Packers as they gave up a 38 yard reception to D.J. Moore which led to an eventual touchdown. However, to their credit they tightened up after that play, but this is an issue that needs to be fixed.
• Elgton Jenkins continues to impress as a rookie and although he won’t get any consideration for Rookie of the Year because of his position, he has definitely been one of the best in the NFL.

• Unfortunately for the Packers, David Bakhtiari continues to not look like himself this season. He leads the Packers in penalties and at the end of the first half, he completely whiffed on Gerald McCoy, who blew up the play in the backfield.
• It sure is nice having Davante Adams back and seeing him and Aaron Rodgers connect downfield once again.

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• Coming into this game, we knew the game plan for the Green Bay Packers should be running the ball and that is exactly what they did with Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones who ripped apart this Panther run defense.

• At the end of the half with two seconds left, the Green Bay Packers had the ball at the one yard line and decided to go for the touchdown instead of the field goal. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out but I am 100 percent loved the decision to go for it. All gas, no brakes.
• In his first game back after being activated from the PUP list, Ibraheim Campbell gave the Packers that physical hybrid linebacker that they had been missing. In total he’d finish with six tackles and a forced fumble.
• Green Bay Packers football at Lambeau Field in the snow. Does it get any better than that?

• Aaron. Jones. What else is there to say, except, continue giving him the ball.
• Although he hasn’t been involved in the passing game, rookie tight end Jace Sternberger is seeing a lot of the field since being activated. Mostly as a blocker.
• And for as much flack as Jimmy Graham has received for his blocking ability – and at times deservedly so – he has been much better over the last month. He also had his longest reception of the season today and picked up some yards after the catch.

• We are only 10 games into the 2019 season but Preston Smith has set a new career high in sacks with his ninth of the season on Kyle Allen and he would add another later on.

• And of course, if Preston Smith tallies a sack, Za’Darius Smith has to get one for himself as well.
• After playing more conservative the last few weeks defensively, it was nice to see Mike Pettine send more pressure this week and they were able to get after Allen when they did.
• Despite their issues at times, this Green Bay Packers’ defense continues to come up with timely turnovers. The first was a fumble recovery at midfield which led to a touchdown and then an interception by Tramon Williams in the end zone.

• Kevin King has been very up and down this season but today was a solid day for him. He had a few pass breakups as well as a couple of tackles in the open field, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
• As good as the start of the season was for J.K. Scott, he has struggled as of late, particularly today in the cold. Scott would average just 35.3 yards on his four punts, but I will say his punt around the 10 minute mark in the fourth quarter was very nice.
• We don’t know how it would have played out, but after not scoring before halftime the Packers’ offense had a 2nd & 26 to start the third quarter only up 14-10. But Aaron Rodgers found Davante Adams down the sidelines for a first down. This was one of the key plays of the game.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1193668389115351040

• We knew coming into this game that Christian McCaffrey was going to put up yards, he’s just too talented to stop. But credit needs to be given to this Packer defense that didn’t allow him to break off the big play.
• Lastly, there was a lot of panic after last week’s dud, but as I mentioned then, I think that was just one of those games that we will look back on at the end of the season as an outlier. And I think what we saw from this Packers’ team today proved it.

The Green Bay Packers make it to a well deserved bye week at 8-2 and alone at the top of the NFC North. In two weeks they will travel west to face the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, in what will be a critical game for playoff seeding.