The Green Bay Packers improved to 5-2 by winning their fourth straight game and in the process beat a premier read-option quarterback with a premier defensive performance. This Packers’ defense is getting better by the week and when the game against the Panthers was being decided they were dominant.
While Aaron Rodgers were going on three long scoring drives the Panthers were going three-and-out. 21-zip, thanks for coming. Drive home safe.
While the Packers’ progress on defense may not show up in the stats yet, they have been as big a part of this four game winning streak as the stellar play of Rodgers. With Julius Peppers adding a new dimension the Packers’ have been getting after opposing quarterbacks. They may only have 16 sacks but they have been applying heat on a consistent basis.
The Packers are so deep in the secondary that they didn’t even miss injured cornerback Sam Shields. Davon House filled in quite well and may be playing himself into a starter’s role next year – either here or somewhere else. The Packers may have to choose between him and Tramon Williams in the offseason. Tough call.
Offensively it was the most consistent the Packers played all year. For once they didn’t have that lull which usually included a stretch of three-and-outs and stressed their defense. This time they scored the first three times they had the ball and had 28 points by halftime. For the second time this year Rodgers was able to take the bulk of the fourth quarter off.
Hard to find anything to complain about in this performance so I won’t even try. It’s on to New Orleans in what is a much more winnable game than I thought it would be at the start of the season. The Saints are early two-point favorites. Leaning toward the dog right now.