Defense once again ruled the day for Green Bay against Denver
2-0 Green Bay was in a relatively close battle all Sunday afternoon with the 0-2 Denver Broncos at Lambeau Field in week 3. The two teams traded touchdowns, a 42-yard passing touchdown from Aaron Rodgers to Marquez Valdes-Scantling (offsides free play); then Bronco RB Phillip Lindsay scored from the line at the beginning of the second quarter. After back-to-back punts, they then traded field-goals; 42 yards from Mason Crosby and 30 yards from Brandon Mcmanus, the score was tied at 10 with less than 4 minutes left in the second quarter.
A 50-yard punt from JK Scott in the second quarter and a fair catch from Denver’s Devin Spencer led to the Broncos offense starting on their own 18-yard line. They ended up not going anywhere as Green Bay’s defense (and more specifically Preston Smith), sacked Joe Flacco; causing a fumble which was ultimately recovered by the Packers at the 11. The offense capitalized on the turnover by cashing in with a 7-yard touchdown run from RB Aaron Jones. After forcing a punt from Denver, Rodgers knelt it to end the half up 17-10.
Fast forward to 13:50 left in the 3rd quarter; Denver on 3rd and 2, Flacco throws a four-yard pass to rookie TE Noah Fant; Jaire Alexander strips and recovers the fumble for Green Bay. This would lead to a Packer touchdown (4 plays, 37 yards), to put Green Bay up 24-10 with 12:09 left in the 3rd quarter. This would then see Denver go on a 12 play, 75-yard touchdown drive; which took 6:10 off the clock, it culminated in a 1-yard Phillip Lindsay touchdown run to cut the lead to 8 at 24-16 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. The Packers’ defense was now tired and a bit gashed. The offense couldn’t muster anything on the Packers’ next drive, punting after three plays.
With four minutes and thirty seconds left in the third, Green Bay’s defense once again recorded a turnover; it’s eighth through two weeks of play. This one was from rookie safety Darnell Savage; his first interception of his young career. Green Bay couldn’t capitalize on it though, once again going 3 and out, resulting in a second consecutive punt from JK Scott with 16 seconds left in the third quarter. Denver was then also forced to punt after a 3 play, 7-yard drive.
Green Bay started the 4th quarter with an 11 play, 51-yard drive, taking 7:41 off of the game clock. This would result in a 43-yard field goal from Mason Crosby putting Green Bay up 11 at 27-16 with less than 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Denver’s final offensive drive resulted in a turnover on downs; it was a 10 play, 18-yard drive, taking 3:30 minutes. Green Bay then took 5 plays to drive to Denver’s 27-yard line, stopped on 3rd and 6, Mason Crosby was once again set up for another field goal. This one was 45 yards; which he missed wide right. The score stood at 27-16 with 1:05 left in the 4th. Denver tried its damndest to tie it up but it ended up not coming to fruition as the ensuing drive culminated in a game-ending sack by Za’Darius Smith; his second of the day and the team’s sixth overall. Green Bay won 27-16 and was 3-0. Up next: Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field. I think they’ll once again be up to the task of defending their home turf in primetime. With the win, Green Bay extends its lead in the NFC North by one more game at 3-0. It’s certainly a great start, now they must maintain it while also finding a rhythm in the offense.
Rodgers spoke about that during the postgame on Sunday: “We gotta clean some things up. We gotta keep finding ways to stay in that rhythm. I feel really good about the offense and the potential [of it], but the potential has gotta start getting closer to the actual performance.” He also spoke about himself & his play in games recently: “I wanna play better; I want to score more points. Obviously you love having a defense but I don’t take any satisfaction in having an ok performance, no. I wanna have greatness out there.” Obviously Rodgers knows and understands the potential of the offense, now it’s a matter of executing it out on the field and it starts on Thursday night at Lambeau against Philadelphia.
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