Packers/Falcons Recap
Did we just win the Super Bowl last night?
I woke up this morning expecting to see a couple articles on the Packers much needed win over Atlanta but Holy effin' Crap... each Packer web site I went to, had about 5 or 6 articles on the game.
I'm going to stick mainly to the Game Summaries for this post and later I'll post some of the 'puffier' pieces.
I tried to keep the synopsis of the articles to a minimum... and I'll let you decide which articles to read on your own.
Enjoy!
Packers' Offense Shows Major Improvement
in 38-10 Victory over Falcons
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com
Whether it was the change at offensive line or the change in opponent, the Green Bay Packers displayed a much different, and much sharper, offense Saturday night than in coach Mike McCarthy's debut a week ago. After a discouraging preseason debut against the San Diego Chargers' talented defense, McCarthy and quarterback Brett Favre found a rhythm Saturday night. Favre was given far better pass protection by the work-in-progress offensive line in the Packers' 38-10 in the Midwest Shrine Game at Lambeau Field. With rookie Tony Moll playing his first game at right guard, Favre led the Packers to 17 first-half points, including 10 in three series against Atlanta's starting defense. Favre converted five of eight third downs and put up a passer rating of 118.4 points.
"I think he managed the game very well, except for that backed-up series at the beginning of the second half," McCarthy said. "The tempo was where it needs to be. If we play at that tempo and get that production on third down, I think we're going to be fine on offense." MORE
Packers whip Falcons, 38-10
By Todd Korth / Packer Report
Many football experts are not giving the young Green Bay Packers a chance of achieving much of anything this season. But on Saturday night the Packers proceeded to quiet their critics in an exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons. Brett Favre and the Packers offense came to life, and Green Bay’s defense overcame a slow start against Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons as the Packers went on to a 38-10 win in the annual Midwest Shrine Game before 69,845 fans at Lambeau Field. MORE
Favre Razor Sharp
As Packers Top Falcons 38-10
Jacked from Packers.com
A couple of their touchdowns might have come on fluke plays, but the Green Bay Packers offense suddenly looked legitimate on Saturday night. One week after being held to a single field goal in San Diego, the Packers put together several sustained scoring drives in a 38-10 preseason victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Brett Favre was 16-of-22 for 134 yards, throwing two touchdown passes to cap long drives and leading the Packers to a field goal after an interception by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. MORE
Improved and Impressive:
Team Effort Fuels Packers Victory
By Nathan Hager / Packers.com
There's an old adage that you have to crawl before you can walk and the 2006 edition of the Green Bay Packers might just be the perfect example of that theory. In only their second game of the Mike McCarthy era, the Green and Gold showed considerable improvement from last week's 17-3 loss to the San Diego Chargers. There were plenty of highlights to go around, but perhaps the most impressive feat of the night belonged to a first team offense that seemingly fired on all cylinders in the Green Bay Packers 38-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Not surprisingly, Brett Favre led the charge, completing 16 of his 22 passes on the night for 134 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive showing by the home team. Of course, number four had help and it all started up front with a revamped offensive line that featured new right guard Tony Moll, a fifth round selection out of Nevada. Also to no one's surprise, Donald Driver continued to be Favre's go to guy, hauling in seven catches for 91 yards, good enough for a 13-yard average. The eighth-pro was at his finest on the Packers most impressive scoring drive of the evening, (13 plays, 70 yards, 7:00 time of possession) when he caught three Favre passes for 41 yards.
According to Driver, it was just another day at the office for him and his quarterback. "What can you say?" Driver asked. "I'm not surprised. He (Favre) keeps himself in such good shape. He's ready to go." MORE
Counterpunching Packers Show Promise
By Chris Havel
Mike McCarthy urged his team to throw the first punch. It responded by coming out swinging. "I definitely think we hit the targets that we intended to hit," the Green Bay Packers' first-year coach said. "We wanted to get out there and generate home-field advantage, and I think we took advantage of that. I'm pleased with the enthusiasm we played with tonight."
Even more impressive in the Packers' 38-10 preseason victory against Atlanta was the way they counterpunched. When the Falcons scored the game's opening touchdown, the Packers responded with 10 unanswered points. When Atlanta made it 10-10, the Packers countered with consecutive touchdowns to make it 24-10. "It's a style of play," McCarthy said. "You have to play this game a certain way, and I think our guys have grabbed hold of the rope for that mind-set." MORE
WR Jennings shows why he's the future
Rookie receiver Greg Jennings has had a spectacular training camp, but the Packers' coaches wanted to see what he could do in a game. In the fourth quarter, Jennings grabbed a pass from Rodgers that was tipped at the line and ran it 85 yards for a touchdown. He celebrated by doing his first Lambeau Leap.
Hanging on
The Packers came up with three interceptions. Rookie safety Tyrone Culver intercepted Michael Vick late in the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, cornerback Jason Horton intercepted Matt Schaub and ran it back 44 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, rookie defensive end Johnny Jolly intercepted a pass from Bryan Randall.
Injury update
Offensive lineman Todd Williams was carted off the field with a knee injury during the fourth quarter. Fullback William Henderson also injured a knee, but McCarthy said he didn't know how serious the injury was.
Running backs Ahman Green (quadriceps) and Samkon Gado (groin), linebacker Brady Poppinga (knee), safety Marquand Manuel (calf) were listed as game-time decisions, but none suited up. Cornerbacks Mike Hawkins (knee), Patrick Dendy (ankle), Will Blackmon (foot) and Atari Bigby (hand), linebacker Kurt Campbell (hamstring), safety Marviel Underwood (knee), offensive lineman Will Whitticker (hamstring) and defensive linemen Dave Tollefson (ribs), Kenderick Allen (abdominal muscle) and Kenny Peterson (ankle) did not play because of injuries.
Rayner rewards Green Bay for its trust in him
Rayner hit a 30-yard field goal in his only attempt, nailed all five of his extra-point tries and displayed a heavy leg on kickoffs by getting the football into the end zone six times in seven chances.
"Obviously he had an opportunity tonight and it looked like he took full advantage of it," said coach Mike McCarthy. "He's a young guy, he was given a great opportunity and he performed. I know he feels good about it and we feel good about it right now, too."
Where Rayner really took a step forward, though, was on kickoffs. He registered a touchback on his initial attempt - thanks in large part to a miscommunication by the Falcons' returners - and then sent his next five at least a yard deep into the end zone. Each of those was returned. His last kickoff was taken at the 9-yard line.
Making a statement
Arliss Beach got a long look in relief of Davenport in the second half and led the Packers with 50 yards in nine carries. A 5-foot-10, 219-pound rookie free agent out of Kentucky, Beach battled injuries throughout the off-season and the early portion of training camp but undoubtedly helped himself with his showing against the Falcons.
"I'm in favor of tough guys," said McCarthy. "He's a tough, physical football player. He put his foot down and ran with a lot of forward lean. I think he's a young man that has a bright future."
Highly efficient
Green Bay picked up first downs on three consecutive plays on its third drive of the game. The team also showed a nice mix in doing so, starting with a Brett Favre pass to Robert Ferguson for a 14-yard gain, a 19-yard gain on a reverse by Donald Driver and a 10-yard run by Noah Herron. Add in two more first downs on the final three plays of their previous drive, and the Packers moved the chains on five of six over that span. Driver picked up six of the Packers' 11 first downs in the first half, including four in one drive that set up a 5-yard scoring pass to Davenport late in the half. All told, the Packers gained 23 first downs to the Falcons' 14 and converted 9 of 13 third downs (69.2%). "The tempo was where it needed to be," said McCarthy. "If we play at that tempo and with that much production on third down, we're going to be just fine on offense."
Second-half starters
Favre and the rest of the offensive starters opened the third quarter with a three-and-out before giving way to Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the No. 2s. All told, the No. 1s took 38 snaps in the first two quarters of play. "That was the plan going in," said McCarthy. "That's kind of a normal progress. Sometimes you wait until the third game to do that; I wanted to it in the second game because I think it's important. We're new, we're young."
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Atlanta - Duckett 5-37, Jackson 7-20, Norwood 8-19, Shockley 2-14, Vick 1-12, Griffith 2-6, Schaub 1-3. Green Bay - Beach 9-50, Davenport 11-29, Herron 7-23, Driver 1-19, Rodgers 1-5, Favre 1-0.
PASSING: Atlanta - Schaub 5-9-1-61, Vick 5-7-1-59, Shockley 1-5-0-10, Randall 2-3-1-23. Green Bay - Favre 16-22-0-134, Rodgers 3-6-0-111.
RECEIVING: Atlanta - Blakley 3-31, Jenkins 3-24, White 2-32, Pathon 1-27, Jamison 1-12, Youngblood 1-11, Jennings 1-10, Norwood 1-6. Green Bay - Driver 7-91, Jennings 3-115, Ferguson 2-21, Franks 2-8, Davenport 2-5, Herron 1-4, Alcorn 1-1, Martin 1-0.
A - 69,845.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST QUARTER
Green Bay: Bubba Franks, 3-yard pass from Brett Favre (Dave Rayner kick), 3:04 left. How they scored: On third and 11, Favre hit Donald Driver for 13 in the middle of the field with S Lawyer Milloy in coverage. Jennings worked inside against CB Jason Webster and Favre completed a 16-yard pass to him. A 7-yard pass to Robert Ferguson became a gain of 21 when CB Jimmy Williams grabbed his face mask for a 14-yard penalty. Driver stopped inside a zone and Favre found him for 9. On first and goal, Favre moved right on a bootleg. His hard and high pass bounced off the hands of David Martin, over the head of Milloy and into the waiting hands of the uncovered Franks in the right corner of the end zone. The drive: Eleven plays, 75 yards, 6:09. Packers 7, Falcons 7.
Green Bay: Rayner, 30-yard field goal, 12:43 left. How they scored: Vick threw late down the middle to TE Eric Beverly and Culver intercepted. Ferguson ran a crisp curl route against Webster for 14. Driver circled right end for 19 on a reverse to open the second quarter. Noah Herron ran 10 yards through left guard to the 16. From there, Vonta Leach recovered a fumbled exchange between Favre and C Scott Wells, David Martin couldn't catch a pass in traffic at the 11 and a shovel pass to Herron gained 4. The drive: Seven plays, 47 yards, 2:34. Packers 10, Falcons 7.
Atlanta: Koenen, 51-yard field goal, 9:42 left. How they scored: Rayner's kickoff carried to the 1 with a phenomenal 4.28 seconds of hang time, but Rossum still was able to run it back 42 yards. Matt Schaub replaced Vick. Roddy White ran a deep comeback for 19 with Harris in coverage. From the GB 38, Blakley couldn't haul in a long pass with Hawk in coverage, T.J. Duckett bulled for 5 and Schaub threw a poor pass to WR Jerome Pathon, who had slipped away from Charles Woodson. The drive: Seven plays, 25 yards, 3:01. Packers 10, Falcons 10.
Green Bay: Davenport, 5-yard pass from Favre (Rayner kick), 2:42 left. How they scored: Driver beat Webster inside on third and 5 for a 16-yard completion. On third and 8, Driver made a 14-yard catch despite tight coverage by Webster. On third and 5, Favre found Jennings for 5. On third and 5, the Falcons left Driver uncovered in the slot and Favre popped it to him for 11. On first and goal, Favre had all day in "empty" formation against the exhausted Falcons' pass rush and found Davenport all alone in the left corner for the score. The drive: Thirteen plays, 73 yards, 7:00. Packers 17, Falcons 10.
Green Bay: Jason Horton, 44-yard interception return (Rayner kick), 58 seconds left. How they scored: Schaub threw inside to Pathon on third and 5. The ball was behind Pathon and hit his chest. It bounced to Horton, who raced untouched to the end zone. Packers 24, Falcons 10.
THIRD QUARTER
No scoring.
FOURTH QUARTER
Green Bay: Jennings, 85-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Rayner kick), 7:45 left. How they scored: Mike Montgomery registered a pair of sacks, forcing a punt. On third and 10, Rodgers tried to throw a quick slant to Jennings. The ball was tipped at the line by DT Chad Lavalais and caught by Jennings at the 25. He raced down the middle of the field and outran CB Jimmy Williams to the end zone. The drive: Three plays, 85 yards, 53 seconds. Packers 31, Falcons 10.
Green Bay: Zac Alcorn, 1-yard pass from Rodgers (Rayner kick), 4:59 left. How they scored: Bryan Randall's pass was tipped by DE Jason Hunter and intercepted by DT Johnny Jolly, who returned 4 yards to the 12. On third and goal, Rodgers found Alcorn in the right corner of the end zone. The drive: Five plays, 12 yards, 2:03. Packers 38, Falcons 10.
Published by PackerPundit On Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 9:05 AM.
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