The Green Bay Packers’ winless streak is finally over. After gutting out a 22-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons the Packers are back in the hunt for the NFC North title thanks to the Eagles beating the Lions yesterday. If Dallas were to beat the Bears tonight the Packers would be all alone in second place.
Looking back at the game it really never should have been that close. A Matt Flynn fumble gave the Falcons a short field and a fluke interception gave them a free touchdown. And after a shaky first half the Packers’ defense actually shut out the Falcons in the second half, allowing the offense to chip away at an 11-point deficit.
Even though head coach Mike McCarthy made one of the worst coaching calls of his career on the Packers last drive of the first half, I have to give him credit for designing a game plan around Flynn’s weak arm. It was also good to see the no huddle offense again, at least in the first half. I’m pretty sure I even saw a first down pass or two as well. The Packers did move the ball fairly well but they need to put more points on the board if they are going to beat a team like Dallas next week.
The maligned Packers’ defense played its best game by far since Aaron Rodgers got hurt and even came up with the key turnover when it was desperately needed. But I would have laughed at you had you told me that the Packers would win with 22 points after scoring the go ahead touchdown with 12 minutes left. I was just hoping to hold the Falcons to three and give Mason Crosby a chance to win it in the end. But the defense held the Falcons in check and even got a game-ending interception from Jarrett Bush.
It was much needed win even if the Packers are unable to make a playoff run. Flynn played OK and managed the game well and didn’t make any really stupid mistakes other than the pass that was intercepted, which was thrown behind John Kuhn. Lacy looked good again and hopefully he will be able to play next weekend after McCarthy damn near broke his ankle when he choose not to take a knee with 15 seconds left in the first half and the Packers on their own 30-yard line. Come on man!
It’s looking more and more like Aaron Rodgers will be out for the rest of the season so the Packers will be hard pressed to make a serious run at the playoffs. Beating the Cowboys in Dallas would have been tough with Rodgers, its probably not doable with Flynn.
We’ll worry about that later, though. For now I’m just happy to have enjoyed a victory Monday for the first time in what seems like forever.