The Green Bay Packers took care of business today in Lambeau Field with a dominating 34-7 win over the hapless Buffalo Bills. Linebacker Clay Matthews continues to make mincemeat out of opposing blockers while racking up three more sacks to give him six in two games, putting him on pace for 48 this year.
Because of Matthews the Bills pretty much quit trying to pass in the second half. Even though they were down from the get-go they only threw the ball 18 times. Obviously they know their limitations. Matthews was coming from all directions and if he didn’t get home somebody else did. It was fun to watch, and it will be much needed next Monday night in Chicago.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw two more TD passes this week but still looked a little out of sorts. Like last week though Rodgers improvised, adapted and overcame, putting the game away in the second half.
The Packers’ running game was an absolute joke though, which doesn’t make Rodgers’ job any easier. When John Kuhn is your leading rushing you have problems. I hate to admit it but the A.J. Hawk for Marshawn Lynch trade looks a lot better today than it did yesterday. Brandon Jackson did nothing to show he can carry the load and the fact that Kuhn and newcomer Dimitri Nance carried the ball as many times as Jackson did says a lot about the Packers confidence in Jackson.
Jackson showed pretty much nothing in his chance to shine, he ran into his own blockers and couldn’t break a tackle if his life depended on it. The drop-off from Ryan Grant was painfully obvious. I think Ted Thompson has to make the move – get Lynch, even if it’s only for 14 games. Much like the Andre Rison pickup in 1996, sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
The Packers are 2-0 without coming close to playing the way they are capable of playing. Like any Super Bowl favorite, the Packers are not flying under the radar this year, which is a little different than the last two years. They looked better this week and I think they will continue to improve as they adapt to what teams are doing to them.
The first really big game of the year is next week when the Packers’ travel to Chicago to face the Bears on Monday Night Football. The Bears got a huge win over the Cowboys in Dallas today and are riding high at 2-0 like the Packers. First place in the NFC North on the line on national TV. The Packers can make a real statement to the NFL by winning that game, it would justify them as Super Bowl favorites.
But the Packers will need Jackson to quit talking the talk and start walking the walk if they are to get to where they want to be. It will be interesting to see if they pull the trigger on a trade for a running back this week. Even if they do it won’t be in time for next week’s showdown.
Either way, Aaron Rodgers vs. Jay Cutler should be good. I doubt they both throw for over 400 yards like what happened in Washington today, but it should be a shootout none the less.
More to come…