Travis Duncan
Cheesehead
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Benny Sieu-US PRESSWIRE
By Travis Duncan
Packer Forum writer
Good Protection
After allowing eight sacks against Seattle. Green Bay's offensive line came to play. Rodgers was not sacked and just one QB hit was recorded on the official box score.
Rodgers found running lanes for 13 yards on five rushes.
"They played great," said Rodgers. "The offensive line took a lot of heat, obviously, for what happened in the first half last week, but counting the last three halves, zero sacks. So we’re figuring something out."
Quick Start
Green Bay's 14-point first quarter was the highest output of the season, and the 21 total points for the first half was also the most the Packers have scored in the first half this season.
Jermichael Finley drop
Finley caught four of five passes thrown his way. But for those keeping rack, the tight end did drop a touchdown pass with the Packers 1 and 10 at the Saints 12 in the first quarter. Finley finished with four catches for 54 yards. He has one touchdown on the season, which came in the Packers opener against San Francisco.
Some may point to the talented tight end's habit of dropping passes as a reason why the unsourced rumor that Finley's future is in doubt in Green Bay has some merrit.
In Sync with James Jones
There has been some suggestion that Jones and Rodgers were out of sync. That was not the case Sunday. Jones and Rodgers were so aligned that Jones caught one pass with his view obstructed by a Saints defender.
Jones finished with two touchdowns, on five receptions for 56 yards.
"Thank God; the Lord was with me," said Jones. "I saw the ball thrown inside and I stuck one hand down there. Sometimes you get lucky in football, and that’s what that was. I caught it under his elbow on the other side of his body and pulled it in. The biggest thing about it is that it was a first down. We could run the clock out and get out of there with a victory.”
"The catch he made to seal the game, that’s two plays where we were on the same page," said McCarthy.
Tempo change-Refs change
Jeff Triplette and his crew made their share of mistakes Sunday but the game was kept moving which is an advantage to teams like the Packers. It may have a little to do with the Packers best offensive game of the season.
Green Bay got away 66 offensive plays, 25 rushes and 41 passes. Cedric Benson carried the ball 18 times for 84 yards. The 41 passing attempts is the second highest of the season for the Packers. Rodgers threw 44 times in Week 1 against the 49ers.
Green Bay’s 30 first downs in the game were the most posted by the Packers since they registered 31 at Detroit on Nov. 12, 1989.
Greg Jennings 50 career TDs, injury
Jennings recorded his 50th career NFL touchdown in the second quarter. He is now No. 6 in Packers all-time TD receptions, breaking a tie with James Lofton.
Jennings left the game early with a groin injury. The natural speculation is that Jenning's durability and or his age will cost him a home in Green Bay. His durability issues may cost him years, or salary on his next contract but it doesn't necessarily mean he won't be a Packer.
Meanwhile, McCarthy said Monday that it is a possibility Jennings will not play next week against Indianapolis due to the injury.
Indianapolis does not have a great pass defense, and the opportunity may present itself to allow Jennings to sit, and rest up for Houston on Sunday Night Football.
