The Green Bay Packers shook off any shellshock from last week’s trip to San Francisco and delivered a decisive win over the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, using four touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers and three takeaways from Mike Pettine’s defense to deliver an 18-point victory.
Here are seven quick observations from the Packers’ 31-13 win:
– LaFleur dials up good stuff early: Matt LaFleur’s scripted plays early were hugely successful. He clearly wanted to use run fakes to manipulate the middle of the field and set up downfield shots. On both deep completions to Allen Lazard, the Packers drew the Giants out of position on the backend and Aaron Rodgers and Lazard did the rest. The 37-yard touchdown was produced when a run fake – that looked exactly like the run play one snap earlier – left Lazard one-on-one with a safety. Rodgers’ first touchdown pass, an 8-yard strike to Davante Adams to end the opening drive, was another clever call. It used a mesh concept in front of Adams, who sat down in the middle of the field and was wide open after the linebacker jumped one of the crossers.
– Fourth-and-10 turns the game: The game’s turning point came in the third quarter with the Packers clinging to a 17-13 lead. The Packers were suddenly struggling to move the football, while the Giants had just kicked a field goal and were threatening to get off the field on fourth down in their own territory. That’s when Aaron Rodgers produced a little vintage magic. Bryan Bulaga got beat by Markus Golden on the edge and Elgton Jenkins found himself pushed two or three yards deep in the pocket, but Rodgers bought just enough time and room to get the ball to Geronimo Allison on an in-breaking route against slot corner Grant Haley. It was a game-changing conversion. The Packers scored on the drive, scored again a drive later, and the game was essentially over. Who knows how the game would have swung if the Giants had produced a fourth-down stop.
– Penalties push offense: After the first quarter, the offense lost rhythm and produced a mostly disjointed effort, but big penalties and short fields kept the operation moving. The aforementioned touchdown drive in the third quarter got going thanks to a pass interference penalty on third down. Another pass interference penalty in the end zone on third down helped get the Packers in the end zone a drive later. Overall, the Packers benefitted from four first downs via penalty, including three on third down.
– When it’s right: The defense got consistent pressure on Daniel Jones and eventually sped up his clock in the pocket, which resulted in a few easy takeaways in obvious passing situations. The defense’s first two interceptions were both on third-and-long, and Jones made two terrible throws despite pretty good protection on each play. The consistent first-half pressure from Za’Darius Smith and others kept Jones uncomfortable in the pocket. The Packers can certainly replicate this formula on Sunday against rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. But can they do it against a veteran quarterback?
– Attacking the middle: Our film review of the Giants defense revealed a major weakness covering the middle of the field. Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur saw it, too. The Packers found the majority of their big plays in the passing game in the middle of the field. All three of Allen Lazard’s catches came inside. Davante Adams found openings from the slot. Geronimo Allison and Jimmy Graham both converted first downs with catches in the middle of the field. For much of his career, Rodgers has preferred throwing to the perimeter, but he attacked between the hashes and sliced and diced the Giants defense.
– Excellent kick coverage: The Packers held Giants kick returner Cody Latimer to a 19.3-yard average on six kick returns, with a long of only 23. Twice, Allen Lazard got downfield and helped make a tackle. Kyler Fackrell, Josh Jackson and Oren Burks were also standouts covering kicks. They got off blocks, found the ball and swarmed to Latimer. Throw in a couple of punts downed inside the 20-yard line, positive punt return yardage from Tremon Smith and Mason Crosby’s perfect day, and the Packers actually had a solid outing on special teams.
– Offensive line rebounds: The Packers offensive line got pushed around in San Francisco, but they bounced back on Sunday. Bryan Bulaga was a warrior on the right side, and the interior did a good enough job against Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Dalvin Tomlinson and B.J. Hill. Aaron Rodgers was comfortable moving around the pocket, clearing throwing lanes and getting the ball out on time. It helped that the Giants had little to no edge rush.