Giants/Packers review
Green Bay was able to edge out New York on Sunday night 23-16 at Lambeau Field behind a nice defensive performance without both starting cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Sam Shields. With the win, Green Bay improved to 3-1, while the Giants fell to 2-3. The Packers outgained the G-Men 406-219, including the rushing matchup 147-43. In the first four games, the Green and Gold have not allowed an opposing team to rush for 50 yards. The teams the Packers have played are not great run offenses, but still impressive. I was worried about Odell Beckham Jr., especially after Green Bay announced Randall was announced an inactive. But the Packers were able to hold Eli Manning to 199 yards yards passing, which was a huge factor in the win. Green Bay did not play great, as it left a number of points on the field, but I am sure the Packers will happily take the victory.
The biggest positive to come out of this game was the defense. New York is struggling, now having lost three games in a row. However, with the Packers holding Manning to less than 200 yards, despite being without Randall and Shields, is impressive. Quinten Rollins played very well as the No. 1 cornerback, covering Beckham. The second-year cornerback from Miami (OH) was the main player covering Beckham and he held the All-Pro to 56 yards on five catches and a touchdown. The pass rush was terrific once again, sacking the Giants four times and putting pressure on the Giants quarterback all night. The run defense was very good once again, holding New York to 43 yards on 15 carries. Starting running back Orleans Darkwa had seven carries for 11 yards. The run defense will need to be in top form once again next week against Dallas, which is No. 1 in the league in rush offense.
The offensive line was also very impressive. Aaron Rodgers had all day to throw and Eddie Lacy had a monster day on the ground for the Packers. I am not sure how much of the protection was the offensive line being good or the Giants having a pathetic pass rush. Lacy ran for 81 yards on 11 carries before exiting the game with an injury. It is uncertain if he will play next week against the Cowboys. As a team, the Packers rushed for 147 yards on 32 carries.
One thing that has me a bit concerned is the Packers inability to deliver the knockout punch. It happened against Jacksonville and Detroit and then again against New York. Green Bay had a chance to deliver the kill shot, but were not able to do so. The Green and Gold had a first down on the Giants 10 with a chance to give them a three score lead and end the game, but had to settle for a field goal. That almost came back to bite them. Green Bay also had several drops, mostly by the usually-reliable Jordy Nelson. One of his drops went off his hands and into the hands of New York’s Janoris Jenkins when the Packers were on the brink of a 14-0 lead. Others would have been big completions and/or third down receptions that would have kept the drive alive. That is a concentration thing, though, and I expect Nelson to bounce back in a big way this week.
It was not always pretty, but the Packers won and improved to 3-1 on the season. There was plenty to take from the game, both positive and negative. Green Bay will have to play better if it wants to knock off the 4-1 Cowboys.
