A Win For Flynn!

Aaron Rodgers sustained a left clavicle fracture early in a November 4th game against the Chicago Bears. That game quickly slipped away from the Packers, giving way to a veritable landslide, and victory hadn't been tasted since. Until today. Yes, it was Matt Flynn—thrice cut and unemployed on that November night—who would lead the team to victory for the first time in 5 weeks, as the Packers fought tooth and nail to narrowly defeat the Falcons 22-21.

Here are some key takeaways from Matt Flynn's performance:

 Matt Flynn: 24/32,  258 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 95.6 rating. Photo: Packers.com

Poise and Persistence: There were some poor throws, some questionable decisions, and of course the flukey off-the-foot pick six courtesy of Sean Weatherspoon, but Matt Flynn's stoicism never wavered. Under duress, amid home-crowd boos, and with the very real pressure of a season seemingly slipping away, Flynn remained focused, and consistently moved the chains.

Small Ball: The game plan was clear: A no-huddle offense predicated on quick play-action throws to establish rhythm and confidence. Of his total 258 passing yards, 126 (roughly half) of those yards were notched by tight ends and running backs. TE Andrew Quarless was targeted 7 times, nabbing 6 balls for 66 yards.

A Rare Shot Downfield: I've often criticized Flynn for his "noodle arm." Harsh words, I know. But credit must be given for what was a well-thrown 46 yard strike to Jordy Nelson. The ball may have taken longer than I'm comfortable with to get there, and may have taken 30 minutes of play-action to set up, but it provided a spark as the Packers looked to overcome an eight point deficit early in the 3rd quarter. That drive would produce a field goal, bringing the Packers to within a touchdown at 21-16.

Taking His Lumps: Matt Flynn was sacked 5 times tonight, and that's not entirely a bad thing. One huge difference between benched backup QB Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn is care for the football. In 2.5 games, Tolzien's TD/INT ratio was 1/5. He was often guilty of making a hasty throw under pressure. Say what you will about Matt Flynn's arm strength or his inability to make it to his third read, his willingness to take his lumps behind the line and not risk a costly interception proved to be a winning strategy in a close game at Lambeau.

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