Green Bay Packers v. Washington: Gut Reactions & Highlights

Once again it wasn’t always pretty, but the Green Bay Packers came away with the win to improve to 10-3 on the season. Here are your gut reactions and highlights from today’s game.

The way this game began, it looked like the route was on and we were in store for a very fun day at Lambeau Field. However for much of the game after that, the Green Bay Packers’ offense struggled to move the ball through the air and the defense had issues slowing the Washington run game.

But the important thing is that they won, move to 10-3 on the season and inch closer to clinching a playoff berth. As always, here are my gut reactions and some highlights from today’s performance.

• Ahhhh meaningful football at Lambeau Field in December. Oh how I’ve missed you!
• First off, when are they putting up the statue of Tyler Ervin outside the stadium? If you recall, the Green Bay Packers came into this game with a punt return total for the season in the NEGATIVE. But in Ervin’s debut, he would total 51 yards and 12.8 yards per return!
• It was nice to see the Packers focus on getting Aaron Jones his touches this game. He was very quiet the last two games but rushed for over 125 yards today while also adding six receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown.

• Where was Allen Lazard in the first half? We didn’t see him make his first catch until late in the second quarter and before that he wasn’t even on the field that often. My question is, why?
• I alluded to it above, but it was great to see the Packers run game find some success once again. This offense is so much better when Jones and Jamaal Williams are effective running the ball.
• What a throw at a crucial point in the game by Aaron Rodgers. My goodness.

• Prior to this game, Washington had given up the seventh most sacks of the season and the Green Bay Packers took full advantage of that by sacking Dwayne Haskins four times and hitting him an additional eight times.
• To add-on to the previous bullet point, it was great to see Mike Pettine dialing up blitzes in an effort to fluster the rookie quarterback. There’s been a number of times this season where it feels like they play too conservatively.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1203742731358605313

• After having a rough month, it was a second consecutive solid performance from J.K. Scott. He averaged over 40 yards per punt and was able to pin Washington inside the 15 on two separate occasions.
• I’ll be curious to see the All-22 film but the passing game had their issues once again. Was it due to the receivers not getting open or Aaron Rodgers holding the ball too long?
• In the Preston Smith Revenge Game, he came up with a sack against his former team. That has to feel good!
• And perhaps the most noteworthy bullet point, WE HAD A BOBBY TONYAN SIGHTING IN THE END ZONE!

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1203746505473044486

• Despite knowing that Washington was going to run the ball for most of the day, the Green Bay Packers still couldn’t stop them. As a team they’d rush for over 120 yards.
• And on that note, can Adrian Peterson retire already? Or at least move to the AFC? I’m tired of him running all over the Green Bay Packers.
• The Washington pass rush is the best unit on this team and we saw that on display today as they were able to sack Rodgers four times, hit him six times, and forced a fumble.
• In case you missed it, T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton were on the field pregame chugging beers. Simply, fantastic.

• It was a sneaky good day for Jimmy Graham who caught three passes at 16.3 yards per catch and had some nice blocks as well.
• And as always, Za’Darius Smith was making big plays once again. Pretty standard stuff at this point, but still incredibly impressive. And good thing his injury wasn’t too serious.
• Speaking of impressive, Kenny Clark may not have put up the big numbers early in the season but as of late he has been coming on strong and today he was a one man wrecking crew.

• I do love how Matt LaFleur continues to play aggressively. Today the Packers were 2/2 on fourth down attempts.
• Fortunately, he was down but Geronimo Allison continues to struggle. Even after making a nice play he was stripped from behind. But as I said, fortunately he was down before that happened.
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling was nowhere to be found again. He didn’t even have a target in today’s game.
• Today was a productive day for Adrian Amos. His sack was highlighted above but he also came away with an interception, seven tackles, and two pass breakups.

• The Packer passing game still has some work to do. Still way too much inconsistency.
• Lastly, despite how this game ended, 10-3 is 10-3.

Next week the Green Bay Packers will be back at home to face the Chicago Bears who are getting hot and now sit at 7-6 on the season. These are always hard-fought games but what a tremendous opportunity the Packers have to end Chicago’s playoff hopes at Lambeau Field.