Summary: QB Rodgers was 13 for 23 for 269 yards, threw two touchdowns, and ran for another to lead the Packer over the stubborn Rams 36-17. RB Grant had 99 yards. FB Kuhn had two touchdowns. The Packers revamped 3-4 defense got big plays including a blocked field goal, two forced fumbles, and a key 4^th quarter interception.

 

Video Highlights: NFL.com. Game Summaries: 1. Espn  2. Jsonline 3. Packersnews.

 

Quotes:    

                                

1. Coach McCarthy: “Big plays equal points. You see it every week. It was very evident today.”

 

2. CB Woodson: "It feels good to get the win, but it’s probably one of the uglier wins you could have.Yeah, we scored 36 points, but it should’ve been much worse than that. You’ve got to be realistic about it.  St. Louis is not a very good team. We didn’t seem to be much better than they were.”

 

3. WR Driver: “My mind was a little more focused today to go out and prove that just because I’m 34, that doesn’t mean I’m old.  My thing is people talk about me all the time, that I’m getting old and this and that. But I tell people I have God on my side.”

Game Balls: CB Woodson.  QB Rodgers.  WR Jennings.  WR Driver.  HB Kuhn.  DE Jolly.

 

Game Reviews: Big Plays.  Three Long Drives.  Big Okie & Bishop.  Grant. 

                              We're getting Closer.  Big Okie Just Okay.  Good enough.

 

 

Pass Offense—B.  B. After getting two turnovers in the red zone in the first-half, the red zone offense had to settle for only two field goals. Early, QB Rodgers was not sharp missing a wide-open WR Driver in the end zone.  RT Barbre struggled giving up one of two early sacks.  Also, in the first 58 minutes, the offense failed to convert a single third down. Yet, they lead 23-14 at the half. Rodgers settled down completing downfield passes and running for three first downs to set up three long touchdown drives. WR Jennings had two catches for 103 yards. WR Driver had four catches for 95 yards and a first-half touchdown.

 

Rush Offense—B. C+ RB Grant ran 26 times for 99 yards. FB Kuhn had a great day getting two touchdowns.  Simply, the offensive line did a pedestrian job of opening holes.

 

Pass Defense—B-.  B- In the first half, DE Jolly blocked a field goal and forced one fumble of two fumbles.  Yet, in the second quarter, the defense struggled allowing the Rams to go two-for-two in the red zone.  On two touchdown passes to TE Fells, LB Chillar got burnt struggling in his new 3-5 “Big Okie” role. Still, in the second half, they held the Rams to 3 points.  CB Woodson got a key interception to ice the game.

 

Rush defense—C.  C-. The Packers did a better job using a 3-5 defensive formation with LB Chillar on the field. Yet, RB Jackson still got 117 yards and 167 total yards.  Still, Jackson was held to 11 carries of 1 yard or less and the Rams finished 4-of-14 on third downs.  LB Bishop replaced LB Barnett for most of the second half and finished with two tackles including one for a loss.

 

Special teams—B-. C. The kickoff and punt coverage were barely average.  The kick and punt returns were below average.  K Crosby hit all three field goals, but he missed an extra-point.  P Kapinos had 4 solid punts averaging 50 gross yards, 44.3 net yards & 4.55 seconds of hang time with 3 inside the 20.

 

Coaching—B. B. The game plan and execution were good enough to beat the Rams. Also, game adjustments appeared to be better too.  They were only 2 for 9 in third-down efficiency. They had 6 penalties for 51 yards. 

 

Overall Game—B-. The Packers blew a 16-0 lead, but they showed overall team improvement.Yet, they have a long way to go to win the division.  CBS Sportsline Grade: B-  They kept the Rams around for a while, but QB Rodgers made big plays when they were needed. The defense played better than a week ago, with CB Woodson getting an important pick.  RB Grant ran for 99 yards.

 

CheeseheadTV Good, Bad, & Ugly: Good--Rodgers, Driver, & Pickett; Bad--Colledge, Barbre, & Barnett; Ugly--Chillar.

 

Rodgers vs. Favre series: week 3.    “Silver Fox” Vikings 3-0; Packers & Bear at 2-1.

 

Commentary:  On October 5^th, prime time Monday night, the Packers face their 1st showdown at the Vikings who won through classic Favre heroics getting the sports headlines: "On the Money; That Old Favre Magic."  Former Packer K Longwell: "The legend continues to grow." Next up: Favre-A-Palooza. As Scout pointed out, our questions are their strengths.  Hmm, let us see how the pundits put it: "Either way, great football" for Packer nation.  LB Kampman: "It will be a big stage."