DOMINATING

Packers D Dominates and Shines in SF

 

It was over almost before it began. In an impressive showing the Green Bay Packers so thoroughly dominated the San Francisco 49ers in every facet of the game Aaron Rodgers wasn’t needed to step into a phone booth to save the day. Rodgers was, by Rodgers’ standards anyway, very ordinary in the Pack’s 17 – 3 win over their former tormentors.

For the day Rodgers was 22 of 32 good for 224 yards and 1 TD. After taking the opening kickoff Rodgers methodically marched the Packers down the field and into the end zone in a drive that lasted 5:58. The drive ended when a scrambling Rodgers danced around and ducked under a stiff 49er pass rush and when it appeared Rodgers was ready to run for the end zone he pulled up quickly and fired a dart to TE Richard Rodgers for a lead the Pack would never relinquish. Rodgers also added 33 yards running for the day. Eddie Lacy led the way with 90 yards on the ground to lead all rushers.

But the defense as a unit was the real star of the game. The Green Bay defense showed some bite

and toughness not seen in Titletown in a while now. Colin Kaepernick had been a Rubicon for Packer defenses in the past with his ability to run and pass and run some more. While he put up 57 yards rushing on his 10 attempts Kaepernick was the biggest yardage generator for the Niners. RB Carlos Hyde was rendered to playing Hyde and seek as Green Bay’s ferocious front 4 limited him to just 20 yards on 8 carries and Reggie Bush had the princely sum of 0 yards. Mike Pennel, Datone Jones, B.J. Raji, Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion have very systematically been improving every game as a unit.

Keeping the Niners to just 77 yards on the ground was key. Defenses around the NFL have come to figure out the forcing Kaepernick to beat you by being a quarterback is the way to force San Fran’s hand and it worked on Sunday. Kap’s carries did little to dent the D that was bolstered by the return of Letroy Guion. Guion was sharp and was ready after serving a 3 game suspension to start the season. B.J. Raji checked in with another huge game and is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Raji has been whipping his man off the blocks and his penetrating pushes are a constant disruption to any offense.

For the day the Packers logged 6 sacks of Kaepernick. The D had stars littered generously on the

Packers’ side of the ball. Three defensive standouts are making a very early claim on their next contracts in the coming off season. Raji, DE Mike Daniels and LB Nick Perry all are in contract years and each one is making a strong case for an extension. Daniels has subtly but undeniably become an anchor of the defensive line. His high motor approach has been effective and has rubbed off. Perry picked up 2 sacks to lead the Packers and Jayrone Elliott has done nothing but make plays since he got onto the field. Elliot added a sack to his body of work and has been the most pleasant of surprises.

Sam Shields chipped in with a beautiful interception when Kaepernick attempted to go long and deep after being flushed from the pocket. Shields is one of the fastest men in the NFL and he matched former Ravens blazer Torrey Smith step for step and when he stepped in front of Kaepernick’s long heave it was Shields coming away with the rock.

San Francisco cobble together a 12 play, 72 yard drive in the 2^nd quarter that saw Kaepernick drive them to the Green Bay 5. But consecutive sacks by Nick Perry and Jayrone Elliott pushed the Niners back to the 22 where they had to settle for a field goal instead. While the lead was a slim 7 – 3 at halftime the sense was the packers were in complete control of the game in spite of the close score. Rodgers had driven the Packers 54 yards at the end of the half but Mason Crosby missed a 44 yarder by a narrow margin as the 1^st half closed out.

The second half began almost like the first half. The Packers stuffed San Fran’s opening drive and

Rodgers followed that with a precision-like 9 play drive that featured another Rodgers-to-James Jones bomb of 38 yards that kept the drive going. Rodgers also showed that Kaepernick is not the only running QB in the game. Facing a 2^nd and goal from the SF 18 Rodgers slipped to his right, stepped up and took off for the end zone. Before reaching the promised land Rodgers stepped out of bounds at the 1 as LB Navarro Bowman was closing in. John Kuhn barreled into the end zone after Rodgers and Eddie Lacy executed the fake of the game. So good was the phony handoff the TV cameras followed Lacy and it took the 3^rd shot to find Kuhn with ball.

San Francisco is a mere shell of the team that once was Green bay biggest headache. It wasn’t that long ago Kaepernick was kissing his bicep after wearing the pack out yet again. But players have a long memory. Clay Matthews is one of those players. It was Matthews that touched off a near riot a few seasons back when he pasted Kaepernick out of bounds ion the season opener. Matthews has been chasing Kaepernick around and finally got a measure of revenge on Sunday.

As Matthews collared Kaepernick and sacked him in the 3^rd quarter television audio picked up

Matthews sneering derisively at Kaepernick by saying “You ain’t Russell Wilson bro.” With that Matthews stood up and mocked Kaepernick by kissing his own bicep in front of the prone QB. Julius Peppers had another strong game and the Pack keep somehow getting contributions from them most unlikely sources. Elliott had a sack. Newcomer Joe Thomas was one of the last cuts of camp but when Sam Barrington went down Ted Thompson plucked him from Dallas’ practice squad and Dom Capers promptly inserted him into the lineup. Thomas followed up last week’s strong showing against Kansas City with a forced fumble against San Francisco. Even rookie CB Damarious Randall had a pass defensed.

With every passing week the Packers have improved. This campaign has the earmarks of something special and as the Packers once leaky defenses becomes a force in its own right the Packers can dictate how games go. No longer is it necessary for Rodgers to carry the team alone on his back. While the gaudy, eye popping Madden-esque numbers making TV execs go all weak in the knees when a team can come out and lay the lumber to its’ opponent as the Packers defense did on Sunday the ceiling is unlimited.

Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers has drawn and undue and unfair amount of criticism. This

defense is as complete a package as he has had in his time in Green Bay and should certainly warrant some much deserved respect for the job he’s done. The defense made a compelling case for itself on Sunday. Once again a quality running back was bottled up and there are contributors at every position. The new names on the D – Nate Palmer, Joe Thomas, Jayrone Elliott, and Damarious Randall – are in the flow and are making plays. The leaders of the D – Matthews, Peppers, Daniels, and Raji – are stepping up and leading the way. Green Bay has not had such balance in Mike McCarthy’s tenure.

It is not just the offense covering up for a subpar defense by outscoring other teams. The Pack’s 15-1 campaign following up their Super Bowl win was a study in offensive dominance but the first time the D was tested the Giants ousted the Packers from the playoffs in the first game they played. There is no reason to believe that such will be the case this season. The offense showed it can win a very workman-like, very ordinary offensive game and the defense is more than capable of putting then offense on its’ back and win a game. The St. Louis Rams are next on the plate. As the defense grows more ravenous opponents have even more to fear when facing the Packers.

Something very magical is brewing in Titletown. Time to savor this win and to simply enjoy the ride because it looks to be a very long ride.