Written by Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com
The Packers addressed complaints Monday night like the effective boss you never had, ripping through the fans’ suggestion box one by one.
» Have Aaron Rodgers throw in rhythm, rather than relying on improvisation? Check.
» Vary the team’s offensive formations and personnel to avoid predictability? Check.
» Rediscover the team’s dormant pass rush and avoid defensive self-immolation in the first quarter? Done and done.
Green Bay’s thorough 27-13 dismantling of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night doesn’t save thePackers’ season, but it provides a roadmap back to January in a deeply flawed division.
This vintage, nearly flawless performance from Rodgers has been building for the last month. It’s just that no one noticed while the Packers’ defense fell apart. He’s getting rid of the ball on time and finding receivers faster. He fit the ball into keyholes Monday night. Davante Adams’ quickness and ability to make tough grabs has been a constant for more than a month. Green Bay’s two drives totaling 30 plays and nearly 15 minutes time of possession were a masterclass in closing out a game and protecting a vulnerable defense.
There is a risk to overreacting to one win, but this was the Packers’ last stand for the 2016 season and they delivered their best game of the season. Somewhere, Lions and Vikings fans watched football’s most talented quarterback play at his peak and thought with a sense of dread:
“Oh no, not again.”
Narratives that were busted
1) Russell Wilson started his finishing kick early this season, inspiring hope that he could sneak into the MVP race and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. It’s hard to imagine those alternate timelines occurring after Seattle’s three-point offensive performance in Tampa.
There were bright sides, though. Wilson showed he can still run for 80 yards because he had to. As far as losses go, the Seahawks can afford this. It was their second East Coast trip in three weeks and injuries were a big factor. The top NFC Seed is out of reach now but was likely gone anyway unless theCowboys stumbled hard. Seattle remains in good position for the No. 2 seed.
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