The Green Bay Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons in a shootout that many expected would happen last week against the Patriots. But to do so they had to overcome their usual special teams gaffes that are getting closer and closer to costing them a game. Yes, there is plenty of blame for the defense, but a blocked punt and extra point were the biggest blunders of the night. One lead directly to seven points and one cost them a key point late in a game in which the winning margin ended up being six points. Inexcusable.
Thanks to another magnificent performance from Aaron Rodgers, the Packers won for the seventh time at Lambeau Field this year and again jumped out to a huge lead in the first half. The Falcons mounted a furious fourth quarter comeback to close within one score with two minutes left. But for the third straight week the Packers were able to run out the clock for the win.
Now, about that aforementioned defense. I’m not going to panic one game after they shut down Tom Brady and Patriots. The Packers, from almost all indications, let down a little in the second half and nearly paid a dear price for it. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones can light up anybody and usually do, even though they don’t win very many games anymore.
I think it was big mistake to start Sam Shields after he missed all week with a concussion. Devon House is capable of filling in and was fresh off a halfway decent job against New England. It didn’t make sense to me to run a guy out there who hasn’t practiced all week. Besides that, I think it was mostly between the ears for the defense in the fourth quarter. I think we will see a different mentality next Sunday in Buffalo, where the defense may very well be called upon to win the game because the Bills defense is fantastic.
The Buffalo defense is ranked fifth in the league and they are coming off a game in which they kept Peyton Manning from throwing a touchdown pass for the first time in 51 games. The Bills’ offense isn’t much to speak of but they are good enough to have won seven games and are on the fringes of the playoffs in the AFC.
The Packers can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a Cowboys’ loss, which would be nice, but the division title and top seed in the NFC are the bigger goals. But they need to play them one at a time and play for all four quarters. Lesson learned.